Bits of Business | Pietro’s celebrates 50th anniversary

Pietro’s wasn’t guaranteed success.

It was started by a man, Pietro Pellicciotta, who didn’t speak English when he moved to the U.S. from Palata, Italy, in 1961.

He overcame the odds, and Pietro’s celebrated its 50th anniversary Friday and Saturday with homemade Italian cookies, beverages, give-away prizes and special discounts.

“I would hope that he would be proud,” said his daughter, Tina, who now runs Pietro’s.

“I try to do things the way I thought my father wanted. He was known to have the occasional drink or two of wine with a customer, something you can’t do anymore. During the holidays, there was always a party. Some of the girls here have been here for 30-plus years. Five have been here for 25 or 30 years. It’s fitting to celebrate 50 years.”

Despite a language barrier, Tina said her father didn’t need to speak perfect English to be successful when he founded Pietro’s on Beaver Avenue in 1965.

“He built it on his charm and charisma and making people happy,” Tina said.

“He was a very kind, generous man. He was definitely different, because he never forgot anyone. When he saw you, he acted like he’d been looking for you all day.”

Pietro’s will expand to 413 East Calder Way in early September.

Geisinger partners with German company for research

Some patients at Geisinger’s Gray’s Woods location will now have the option of contributing to research, thanks to the Danville-based company’s new partnership with Indivumed, a German company specializing in oncology.

Consenting patients undergoing surgical tumor removal may allow doctors to take a sample of tissue, blood or urine, a portion of which will banked by Geisinger at a repository and another analyzed by Indivumed to be used in the development and application of therapies for cancer patients.

“It’s an elective opportunity for patients,” said Susan Baranik, a Geisinger marketing specialist.

Geisinger was one of 63 companies in the nation recognized by the National Business Group on Health with its 2014 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award this summer.

The company was also named one of the 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Deadline for women entrepreneur expo close

The 6th Annual Entrenpreneurial Women’s Expo, a chance for local women entrepreneurs to meet and mingle with each other, is fast approaching.

The Oct. 1 event at Celebration Hall in State College will feature eight speakers, including EWE creator Jessica Dolan, Penn State Women’s Basketball Coach Coquese Washington and keynote speaker Cindy Ratzloff, who Forbes named one of the Top 30 Women Entreprenaurs to Follow on Twitter.

“We all come together to connect with one another, network, but also have some time to step back from the daily grind and actually get some good concrete information and ideas at the end of the day,” Dolan said.

About 40 exhibitors will be at the event.

“It allows you to meet people you normally wouldn’t meet on a more personable level at first and then build on that for a professional relationship later,” Dolan said.

“It’s all designed to grow us as women and to grow our businesses. It’s really cool to watch people meet one year and watch their relationship grow over the years and see partnerships form.”

Registration on ewesc.com ends Sept. 15.

This story was originally published August 23, 2014 at 9:47 PM with the headline "Bits of Business | Pietro’s celebrates 50th anniversary."