Pittsburgh's Tom Rocco Celebrates Release of Live-Recorded CD

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Presents Tom Rocco’s “My Big, Fat, Proposition 8 Wedding.”

Sunday, June 5 Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue

www.pgharts.org


Pittsburgh, PA…”Tom Rocco is blissfully brilliant on every level.” Andrew Martin, www.NiteLifeExchange.com

Pittsburgh-bred, NYC-based actor and singer, Tom Rocco, will be coming home to the Cabaret at Theater Square on Sunday, June 5th to celebrate the release of his new, live-recording CD, “My Big, Fat, Proposition 8 Wedding.”

In the past several years Rocco has added cabaret artist to his resume, culminating in his winning of a 2010 MAC Award, cabaret’s highest honor (presented by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs), for his show, “My Big, Fat, Proposition 8 Wedding.” This show had its debut in Pittsburgh at the Cabaret at Theater Square where, in fact, the soon to be released live-recording took place. “I have such deep respect for my Pittsburgh musicians and such a love of performing in front of a Pittsburgh crowd that it was a no-brainer to debut the show here,” Rocco says, citing pianist Deana Muro, bassist Paul Thompson and drummer R.J. Heid. The show then went on to have a successful run in New York City at The Metropolitan Room and Rocco even flew Muro to NYC for those gigs to continue her role as Musical Director.

Rocco grew up on Pittsburgh’s Northside and attended Oliver High School. He received a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Point Park University. He cut his teeth with the usual suspects of the Pittsburgh theater scene…from Don Brockett Productions to the Pittsburgh Playhouse to Pittsburgh Musical Theatre to CLO and has been seen onstage at the Byham, Heinz Hall and the Benedum. His credits over the past two decades also include playing Uncle Ernie in the Broadway production of “The Who’s Tommy” as well as stints off-Broadway and in national tours. Yet he always welcomes the chance for warmly-received trips home to the stages of Pittsburgh.

The show celebrating the CD release will be on Sunday, June 5th, 2011 at the Cabaret at Theater Square at 5:30pm. Tickets will be $18 with $10 student tickets available.

“It’s wonderful to come full circle, in a way,” says Rocco, “and do the show in Pittsburgh again to celebrate the CD release.”

Additionally in June, Rocco will be taking on the role of Felix Ungar in Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, PA. His friend and colleague, Gavan Pamer, serves as Artistic Director of LPPAC and Rocco is delighted to experience their state-of-the-art facilities. “It’s the kind of theater that actors dream of working in,” Rocco says. Plus, it gives him a chance to be in the Pittsburgh area catching up with friends and family. Performances of “The Odd Couple” will be 6/17-6/19 and 6/24-6/26.

For more information on Rocco, or to be directed to his clips on YouTube, please visit www.tomrocco.com.

Financial Services Champion of the Year goes to Rebecca MacBlane

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date: May 16, 2011 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-11 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Executive director who strives for lender education receives high marks from SBA as regional and local Financial Services Champion of the Year

PITTSBURGH – Each month, Rebecca MacBlane executive director of the Regional Development Funding Corporation, (RDFC) sends an email to approximately 650 Western Pennsylvania lenders and economic development organizations showcasing a borrower who has benefitted from a Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan.

This month, MacBlane, 52, became a story herself when she was selected as the SBA Region III Financial Services Champion of the Year and the Western Pennsylvania District SBA Financial Services Champion.

Like the other 68 district winners, her nomination was forwarded to her respective regional office -- in this case Region 3, which comprises 7 districts; Delaware, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia – where she became the regional winner.

MacBlane who holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in business administration spent some eight years overseeing SBA loans at local financial institutions before joining the ranks of a lending executive. “I originally got assigned to SBA lending because no one really wanted to do it,” she explained. “But, I found myself loving the details and the way SBA programs provide financing for persons that never would have gotten a loan.”

She recalled that her most exciting loan wasn’t for a big project or for a large dollar amount, but, rather for a woman starting her own upscale hair salon. “[The salon owner] was diligent and overcame a lot of challenges in her life…the odds were against her,” MacBlane added. “But, I fought like a pit bull for her because she completed everything I asked her to do and, now, when I visit her salon, I look around and smile at her success.”

In fact, MacBlane maintained she was so passionate about SBA lending that 10 years ago she opted to join the Western Pennsylvania Association of SBA-Guaranteed Lenders (WPASGL), an organization dedicated to providing training and information on SBA programs. MacBlane has served as president for the past three years and embraces the role.

“It’s a huge amount of work, but we make inroads,” she stated. “Lenders come to our training and walk out stating ‘I can do that.’”

MacBlane, who was chosen in 2006 to head RDFC, said she wanted to change the culture of non-profit lending. “I wanted to make it more competitive and I hope that I’ve been able to initiate more of a sales culture, where we focus on outreach,” she explained. “It’s helping lenders understand the programs and that it’s not too complicated.”

MacBlane believes the desire to educate centers on her background as a former elementary school teacher. “It’s about marketing the program to lenders letting them know how easy it is for banks and small business owners to partner with us and assemble a 504 Loan package.”

According to MacBlane she also utilized her training and email marketing strategy to compete with other 504 lenders for market share.

Her plan worked. In fiscal year 2010 RDFC doubled their loan and dollar-volume from 2009 and ranked second in dollar-volume in Pittsburgh SBA loan activity. The staff of three full-time and two part-time employees processed 18 loans for more than $11 million, which created more than 100 local jobs. RDFC was the only non-profit lender among the SBA Pittsburgh District’s top five SBA lenders.

According to Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, since arriving at RDFC MacBlane has posted large gains in the SBA’s 504 Loan Program. “Her leadership has enabled RDFC to capture such a high market share and they are on track to post incredible numbers again this year,” Knoblock said. “It’s pretty amazing when you consider they are a small, non-profit, economic development entity with a specialized concentration of utilizing only the 504 Loan Program.”

MacBlane and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week. Once the festivities begin, the public can “attend” Small Business Week events virtually, via the SBA’s streaming video on the Web at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php

“I am truly honored to receive the SBA’s Financial Services Champion of the Year Award, because throughout my career in SBA lending, I’ve always been an unwavering advocate of their programs,” she said. “I’ve made it my mission to help educate lenders that SBA loans really do help borrowers, financial institutions and spur economic growth in our region.”

Note: If you would like to speak with Rebecca MacBlane or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.
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Priory Hotel and Grand Hall Honored as Family Owned Business of the Year

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date: May 17, 2011 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-11 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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The Priory

Historic North Side Hotel and Monastery Honored by SBA

as local Family Owned Business of the Year

PITTSBURGH – In the 1980s, residents of Pittsburgh’s historic Deutschtown neighborhood were the recipients of the immaculate redirection.

It wasn’t a game-saving football play but an interstate blueprint redesign that kept the former Saint Mary’s church and adjacent monastery intact for purchase by Edward and Mary Ann Graf. Their artistic vision transformed the structures into the Priory Hotel and Grand Hall at the Priory.

Grand Hall at The Priory

“They were going to turn it into office space, when a friend suggested they convert [the monastery] into a small hotel for people staying at Allegheny General Hospital,” said son John Graf, vice president and director of operations for The Priory Hospitality Group. “The place had been boarded up for years and had paint peeling and water damage, but with the original woodwork and high ceilings you could see it could be something neat.”

His parents’ vision of a hotel became reality when the Priory Hotel opened in 1986. John Graf, an attorney, made a second-generation contribution to the family business by transforming the church into The Grand Hall, a majestic facility suitable for weddings and banquets.

Graf, 46, who joined the hospitality group full-time in 2002, will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the Family Owned Business of the Year. Graf and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

While his parents assembled collections of Victorian-era furniture for the rooms and added bathrooms to each guest room, as the monks shared a single bathroom, Graf has put his own touches on the thriving destination.

“In addition to the Grand Hall, I’ve updated operations by utilizing the internet to boost reservations,” he explained. “Also, when a fire destroyed a nearby apartment building and parts of The Priory, I purchased the building and added a 17-room handicap accessible addition.”

The new rooms offer a seamless transition to the original Priory Hotel, which now is complimented by The Monks Bar – an intimate pub for guests and residents to frequent. Graf also has plans for an outdoor urban garden and bike parking area.

It was his concept of a Winter White Wedding Package garnered him accolades as the Grand Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association.

“We have twinkling, white lights on the tree, the dance floor looks like a skating rink and we sell a package consisting of the Grand Hall, hotel space and cakes and we even have a bakery a few blocks from the hotel,” Graf added. “We offer a complete package with exceptional food, cake, accommodations and parking because we know that if they all are good then people will come back. If one aspect is off, guests won’t return.”

Graf even paired with Pittsburgh’s business community to offer a complimentary wedding package to a veteran of the Iraq or Afghanistan War. “Local merchants donated wedding dresses and tuxedos, entertainment and photography services and even wedding bands,” he explained. “We’ve done it for two years and we will continue until our soldiers are out of harm’s way.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Graf and his family were bold visionaries who opened a city inn and perhaps helped turn around Pittsburgh’s Deutschtown neighborhood “You can see the rehabilitation and civic pride all through this historic neighborhood,” he said.

Graf said winning this award accentuates the family side of his business.

“It’s exciting, to be a part of this business where people come for a respite and leave their problems behind, we try to do it right so they leave happy”

Note: If you would like to speak with John Graf or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103
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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.