Bits of Business | RentCollegePads.com sets up shop in State College

About 800,000 students have used it, and soon Penn State students will get their shot, too.

RentCollegePads.com recently launched its Penn State network of off-campus housing, which can be used starting Sept. 1. A Milwaukee start-up, its website centralizes apartment advertising and shopping to help students find the right place to live.

Rent College Pads Director of Marketing Jeremy Schmidt said the company’s founder, Dominic Anzalone, felt the pain of finding a place when he went to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“He had trouble finding places to live with the websites that were out there and couldn’t find any service truly geared toward students,” Schmidt said. “He took some money he had, and he created a site and a team and started with schools near where he was. He started for students to use to find leads on places they’d like to live. It’s really turned into an opportunity for students and landlords to intersect.”

Schmidt said the company’s employees reach out to landlords for information about their apartments.

“When we reach out to them, we get places that want college students,” Schmidt. “We work with all of them to get accurate information and pictures to make sure students can make the most informed decisions.”

Growing up fast

Two local companies were named two of the fastest-growing private companies in Inc. Magazine’s 34th annual Inc. 5000 list.

The rankings were based on percentage of revenue growth from 2011 to 2014.

TMMData, a seven-year old Philipsburg-based company that provides flexible data management software, was named 657 on the list. It’s revenue more than quintupled, according to the company, and increased its workforce sevenfold.

“As a growing technology company in the fast-moving field of analytics we are honored to be named to the Inc. 5000 list,” TMMData Co-founder Chris Walsh said in a release. “This recognition is a testament to our growth and keen ability to meet the ever-changing data analytics needs of our clients, which has resulted in the expansion of TMMData’s product capabilities as well as our client roster, which now includes clients across industries including telecommunications, education, health care and consumer products.”

AE Works, a local architectural and engineering firm, made the list for the third consecutive year and ranked 1,797. It grew 222 percent from 2011 to 2014, according to a company press release, more than double the growth rate of the engineering industry.

“Our team is honored to be among the companies making this year’s Inc. 5000,” AE Works Founder and President Michael Cherock said in a release. “This diverse group of companies is actively working to enhance the business landscape in our country, creating opportunities for jobs, innovation and community. AE Works is proud to represent our city and our region, and the great state of Pennsylvania on this list.”

Stay calm and drive digital

Customer service isn’t what it used to be. It’s just not all about face-to-face interaction.

It’s over the phone, on Facebook, via email and increasingly it’s on-demand through websites.

Weis Markets in Bellefonte recently announced it would join the party and offer customers online shopping in-store pick-up at 170 Buckaroo Lane.

“This is an extremely convenient service,” Weis Markets’ Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Sales Richard Gunn said. “Customers can place their orders at any time and schedule a convenient pick-up time that suits their schedule. These orders can also be ready in four hours.”

Customers using the service pay through PayPal system or at the store with curbside checkout. The service is free for orders of $150 or more, and $2.95 for orders under $150. People can also use their Weis cards to save on orders and earn gas rewards.

Peers enjoy their taste

Harrison’s Wine Grill serves up food and drinks worthy of a national award, which the restaurant received not too long ago.

The eatery got the Culinary Hospitality Award for Sustainable Cuisine in the Mid Atlantic Region from Santé, a national restaurant trade publication.

“The Santé Awards were created to honor the dedication and hard day-to-day work of restaurant and hospitality professionals,” Santé magazine Editor and Publisher Mark Vaughan said. “Being peer-judged makes the awards particularly special to the recipients.”

Harrisons co-owners said they couldn’t have done without local support.

In response to the award, co-owner Kit Henshaw said “we are proud of community we have created with our customers who come to enjoy each special menu, especially with ingredients sourced from our hard working, high standard, local food growers and producers.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 1:27 AM with the headline "Bits of Business | RentCollegePads.com sets up shop in State College."