Current ATHENA PowerLink® Panel Recipients
ATHENA PowerLink® 2020 Panel Recipients: Alice DeGeorge, Sarah Purvis, and Jennifer Minski with ATHENA Erie Chair Linda Stevenson
Meet this year's ATHENA PowerLink® Panel recipients. We wish them well as they embark on what's sure to be an exciting, busy, and productive year. Good luck and congratulations to all of them!
Alice DeGeorge, Owner, Presque Isle Printing Serivces
After several years of working in the print industry, Alice noticed that some key clients’ needs were not being met. Namely, local small to medium sized businesses, and local non-profits. These types of clients needed expert marketing help and had jobs that needed to be professionally designed and printed in a timely manner.
Many of these clients were left to fend for themselves and at the mercy of the big box or online printing emporiums. Many times, they didn’t get the direct customer assistance that they needed, and consequently were disappointed with the results. Alice created Presque Isle Printing Services in 2008 to help meet the needs of these clients with the goal of providing the best design, print and on-brand marketing services in the area.
After several years of working in the print industry, Alice noticed that some key clients’ needs were not being met. Namely, local small to medium sized businesses, and local non-profits. These types of clients needed expert marketing help and had jobs that needed to be professionally designed and printed in a timely manner.
Many of these clients were left to fend for themselves and at the mercy of the big box or online printing emporiums. Many times, they didn’t get the direct customer assistance that they needed, and consequently were disappointed with the results. Alice created Presque Isle Printing Services in 2008 to help meet the needs of these clients with the goal of providing the best design, print and on-brand marketing services in the area.
Jennifer Minski, Owner, PopLuck
After a visit to a popcorn shop in Pittsburgh, Jen felt strongly that something similar could be created in Erie and she was the person to do it! PopLuck, founded in 2017, offers a bright, cheerful, and very delicious experience at their retail location at the corner of 8th and Greengarden. Although routine is good, the team at PopLuck likes to be unpredictable. This means you'll always find different flavors of small batch, gourmet popcorn when you step through the door, including unique flavors with even more creative names like Netflix and Dill, Bruschetta 'Bout It, Lunchbox Hero, and Tommy Want Wingy. And for those of you who do best with structure, they offer a few "core" flavors all the time including Generic Jenny, Say Cheese (in white or orange cheddar), and classic caramel corn.
Jen also regularly partners with local businesses to feature their products (i.e. You Make Me Wanna Stout collaboration with Altered State Distillery) and with local nonprofit organizations to offer fundraising opportunities. Additionally, she has created several signature flavors centralized around classic Erie Events such as Rhapsody in Blue, a blueberry French toast popcorn, in honor of the annual Blues & Jazz Fest.
After a visit to a popcorn shop in Pittsburgh, Jen felt strongly that something similar could be created in Erie and she was the person to do it! PopLuck, founded in 2017, offers a bright, cheerful, and very delicious experience at their retail location at the corner of 8th and Greengarden. Although routine is good, the team at PopLuck likes to be unpredictable. This means you'll always find different flavors of small batch, gourmet popcorn when you step through the door, including unique flavors with even more creative names like Netflix and Dill, Bruschetta 'Bout It, Lunchbox Hero, and Tommy Want Wingy. And for those of you who do best with structure, they offer a few "core" flavors all the time including Generic Jenny, Say Cheese (in white or orange cheddar), and classic caramel corn.
Jen also regularly partners with local businesses to feature their products (i.e. You Make Me Wanna Stout collaboration with Altered State Distillery) and with local nonprofit organizations to offer fundraising opportunities. Additionally, she has created several signature flavors centralized around classic Erie Events such as Rhapsody in Blue, a blueberry French toast popcorn, in honor of the annual Blues & Jazz Fest.
Sarah Purvis, Owner, Erie Dance Conservatory
Sarah received her early training from the Erie Civic Ballet School under the direction of Arlene Ashton Hay, Robert Steele, and Sharon Filone. As a dancer, she performed with the Lake Erie Ballet Company in Classical Symphony, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.
Her choreographic projects include Untitled Baroque, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s Still Rockin’ Roll To Me, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker.
Sarah’s teaching/rehearsal experiences include the Lake Erie Ballet School (9 years), Villa Maria Academy’s Dance Department (16 years), Salt & Pepper Mine Company (1 year) Lakettes Gymnastic Academy (6 years), New Castle Regional Ballet (3 years), and Erie Dance Conservatory, now in its 14th season. In 1994, Ms. Purvis was the only former student chosen to teach at the Lake Erie Ballet School while completing her degree from Mercyhurst College in 2002.
Sarah is currently the Artistic Director of the Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Ms. Purvis has held the positions of President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Erie Dance Consortium, the 2009, 2011, and 2013 Co-Chair of the Erie Festival of Dance, held the position of Treasurer and Vice-President of and is currently the President of prestigious Regional Dance America/Northeast, a national organization of dancers, teachers, and choreographers.
Sarah received her early training from the Erie Civic Ballet School under the direction of Arlene Ashton Hay, Robert Steele, and Sharon Filone. As a dancer, she performed with the Lake Erie Ballet Company in Classical Symphony, Concerto Barocco, Coppélia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker.
Her choreographic projects include Untitled Baroque, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s Still Rockin’ Roll To Me, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker.
Sarah’s teaching/rehearsal experiences include the Lake Erie Ballet School (9 years), Villa Maria Academy’s Dance Department (16 years), Salt & Pepper Mine Company (1 year) Lakettes Gymnastic Academy (6 years), New Castle Regional Ballet (3 years), and Erie Dance Conservatory, now in its 14th season. In 1994, Ms. Purvis was the only former student chosen to teach at the Lake Erie Ballet School while completing her degree from Mercyhurst College in 2002.
Sarah is currently the Artistic Director of the Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Ms. Purvis has held the positions of President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Erie Dance Consortium, the 2009, 2011, and 2013 Co-Chair of the Erie Festival of Dance, held the position of Treasurer and Vice-President of and is currently the President of prestigious Regional Dance America/Northeast, a national organization of dancers, teachers, and choreographers.