See this week's print edition for a special UPBPW insert celebrating

National Business Women's Week - Oct. 15, 21

            The Upper Perkiomen Business and Professional Women recently honored their 2023 Woman of the Year and Employer of the Year

            The Woman of the Year, Annie Skoraszewski, joined Upper Perkiomen Business in 2019.  She quickly volunteered to be a part of the board, taking over the Treasurer position in the extremely difficult "COVID" years. 

            She then took on the role of Recording Secretary for UPBPW, a role she currently holds.  Annie has championed our newsletter, "Perky Pages", since 2020, adding in content that she feels we would all enjoy. Annie makes sure that we have a central place for documents that may be needed or all of the important dates to BPW. 

            When there is a community "First Monday Meal", Annie always steps in to help, whether it is baking at home before the dinner, contributing items, or being there on that day to assist in any way possible.  This year, she took on a state BPW role, chairing the "Secret Sisters" effort, where women secretly lift the lives of those members whose names they received.

            Annie attended Kutztown University and Penn State University, with a pending bachelor's degree, because of her perseverance to improve her life, the lives of those around her, and our community.

            At her work at Family Caregivers, she is always striving to do better and will be seen at their many volunteer events, to let everyone know how their services can better benefit the community.

            Annie and her husband Tim have fostered children. They love their dog and two kitties who started as feral and stray animals.

            The Employer of the Year, Perkiomen Valley Printing, was chosen due to its commitment to the community and the way they care for employees.

            PVP was started as a part-time business by Henry Thomas and Terry Derstine in March 1977. On January 11, 1980, the business was incorporated and began operating on a full-time basis. 1983 brought changes to the management team. Terry resigned leaving Henry and wife Bonnie as the owners. Steve Thomas, Henry and Bonnie's son, joined the company full-time in June 1984. In 1996, Tina, Steve's wife, joined the company. In 2021, Steve became president and in 2023 Henry retired to care for Bonnie, turning the business over to Steve and Tina.

            Perkiomen Valley Printing, Inc. has occupied several different locations around the Upper Perkiomen Valley since 1977. After starting in a house on Main Street in Pennsburg, the business moved to a bus bay at Perkiomen Tours, then to a building on Campbell Road, and spent just over 20 years in a converted barn on Gravel Pike in Red Hill. From the barn the company moved to the former Bauman Paint Store/Bridg-it Fabricators building on Main Street in East Greenville. They have occupied this location since June 2015.

            Over the years there have been many employees who have come and gone and come back again. Along with Steve and Tina, there are two full-time and four part-time employees, along with several seasonal employees.

            Steve and Tina have two grown daughters, Shelby and Ally. In their spare time, Steve and Tina enjoy being at home, playing Frisbee with their three-year-old yellow lab, Maisie, camping, and spending time with family and friends.