Latest news with #JohnstownAreaRegionalIndustries
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
JARI chief, at her final Showcase for Commerce before retiring, says expo has 'created jobs and economic viability'
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Johnstown Area Regional Industries President and CEO Linda Thomson has long been synonymous with Showcase for Commerce. She has helped shape the business and defense contracting exposition's identity since joining JARI in July 2000. Billions of dollars of production and investment have been made in the local economy thanks in part to her efforts. Now Thomson's time with JARI and Showcase for Commerce is coming to an end. She plans to retire this summer. This year's 34th annual Showcase for Commerce is scheduled to conclude Friday with the John P. Murtha Breakfast, press conference, public exhibition inside 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial, and luncheon. 'It's just been something that I've really enjoyed, even though it's a lot of work and effort,' Thomson said. 'I think it's something that we can all be proud of and something that, as a region, we've really become known for excellence in this defense industrial base area.' Showcase was the vision of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the longest-serving congressman in Pennsylvania history. The event has brought businesses to the Johnstown region, developed the local defense contracting industry and provided networking opportunities. Thomson's first Showcase was in 2001. Murtha died in February 2010. 'Linda and I both realized that we needed to transform the Showcase to keep it relevant and to keep that value that had been created by Mr. Murtha,' Showcase for Commerce Chairman Ed Sheehan Jr. said. 'She and I were very devoted to that cause.' Sheehan is the president and CEO of Concurrent Technologies Corp., one of the defense contractors that have benefited from Showcase over its more than three decades. Sheehan said he and Thomson 'both recognized how important the Showcase was and what it meant to the region, but also what it meant to the defense industrial base and our national security.' A video tribute to Thomson was presented during the Government Acquisition Leaders Briefings and Panel Discussions Thursday. Comments were given by numerous people, including former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, current U.S. Reps. Glenn 'GT' Thompson and Dr. John Joyce, and Murtha's widow, Joyce Murtha. Thompson also spoke about Thomson during his keynote address inside the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center. 'Linda, let me summarize things up this way, we love you,' Thompson said. 'Thank you for all that you've done to make Showcase such a great success and a great model. It's pretty easy to brag about this three-day event in Washington with my colleagues from all across the country.' Showcase is put on by JARI and the Cambria Regional Chamber. Many local businesses, international companies, elected officials, colleges and representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense have also participated. 'It has just been such a pleasure and honor to work for all these years with people who are so committed to our region and to our economy,' Thomson said. When looking back at Showcase's impact, Thomson said, 'The bottom line is it's grown our economy, it's diversified our economy and it's helped bring dollars flowing into us, into our area. That has created jobs and economic viability. That's certainly the bottom line.' Cambria Regional Chamber President and CEO Amy Bradley credited Thomson for her role in that success. 'Linda is great at what she does,' Bradley said. 'She is a great convener of people and a great organizer. She's well-known and she's well-liked. I think for a lot of people she is synonymous with Showcase for Commerce.' Bradley praised Thomson: 'I've seen her really work to transform lives.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two U.S. reps to headline speaker slate at Johnstown's Showcase for Commerce defense, business expo
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two congressmen will headline the list of participants in the 34th annual Showcase for Commerce business and defense contracting exposition this upcoming week in Johnstown. Chief Deputy Whip U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Washington, whose 14th Congressional District includes Somerset County, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address during the John P. Murtha Breakfast Friday. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman U.S. Rep. Glenn 'G.T.' Thompson, R-Centre, will address the Government Acquisition Leaders Briefings Thursday. Both events are set to take place inside the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown. 'We have a couple really good keynote addresses planned,' said Linda Thomson, president and CEO of Johnstown Area Regional Industries, which co-hosts Showcase for Commerce with the Cambria Regional Chamber. The U.S. Department of Defense's usual presence will be missing from Showcase. 'We have really relied on industry speakers this year because a lot of the government personnel that we would normally invite are not able to travel,' Showcase for Commerce Chairman Ed Sheehan Jr. said. 'They have travel restrictions in place right now that preclude them from attending these kinds of events, and so we've relied heavily on industry. 'It should be very interesting and more of an industry perspective on things like advanced manufacturing and machine learning and artificial intelligence, an industry perspective on cybersecurity and then also workforce development.' This will be the first Showcase without former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. since he started serving as the event's congressional sponsor in 2013. The Democrat is no longer in the Senate, having lost last year to then-challenger and now-U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa. Neither McCormick nor U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is expected to attend Showcase this year, but both have offered 'a lot of support,' according to Thomson. A highlight of the event will once again be the opening reception from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday inside 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial downtown. 'The thing we're really excited about this year is that we are sold out as far as the booths (for the opening reception) and we have 13 new participants this year that are having booths, so we feel really good about that,' Cambria Regional Chamber President and CEO Amy Bradley said. 'I think the Showcase continues to evolve, and it's just nice to see new booths wanting to participate and to have such good turnout.' Showcase will begin Wednesday with networking activities, including a golf outing and receptions. Supplier briefings and the government contracting series are scheduled for Thursday. The expo will conclude Friday with a press conference and public exhibition.
