NAME: Linda Rhinehart, 47 WHERE YOU LIVE: Harrisburg HOMETOWN: Sioux City, Iowa COMPANY: Hershey Philbin Associates, Inc. POSITION: Vice President of Government Relations DATE YOU JOINED COMPANY: September 2001 Thursday, July 19, 2007 Issue The Patriot News www.pennlive.com Q: What are the challenges facing your industry? A: The influx of integrated electronic communications such as blogs, virtual videos and instant polling has changed the rules of politics, campaigning, legislating and doing business. Staying in step with this accelerated environment will require innovative communication methods and working with the government will become more intense as the public gains a stronger voice. My job requires being aware of emerging issues, keeping up with forecasting analysis and integrating technology into the policy-setting arena. Q: How did you end up working in the midstate? A: Coming from working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg appealed to me because of its sense of community, adequate size and manageable traffic. Q: What are the best things about doing business and working in the midstate? A: The best thing about the midstate is its proximity to major cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Secondly, the people who I have come across are hardworking and strive to do the right thing. They are reserved, yet at the same time, have a concern for the needs of others. Q: What are the biggest issues facing business today? A: Maintaining adequate health care for employees is the biggest issue facing business today. Small businesses especially need better tools to deal with this escalating issue. Q: Who do you admire in business and why? A: State Sen. Pat Vance is someone I admire because of her straightforwardness with her constituents and the public. She is a woman who is taken seriously by her colleagues due to her honesty and her highly regarded character. Q: What are your three keys to success? A: Three keys to success include: integrity, persistence and creativity. My family continuously encourage me to take the higher ground, to hang in there and that everything will eventually work out for the best. Q: Where do you see this region in five to 10 years? A: I felt when I moved to Harrisburg that this region was experiencing a renaissance. I believe this area will continue to see steady growth. I think the key to success for the Harrisburg area is a sense of community built on a real concern for the people. |
