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Phone: (717) 299-9800
North Group Consultants
15 North Spruce Street
Lititz, PA 17543

If you were to look up the definition of family business, you would do well to skip the academic descriptions and simply visit Wengers of Myerstown. Incorporated by Carl and Margaret Wenger in 1958, Wengers’ thriving ag and construction services business involves all seven of the second-generation children of Carl and Margaret. This family business is committed to the good of their employees, customers, and communities in ways that go well beyond the ordinary.

“Big Hat, Big Heart.” Yes, that is the title of Carl’s biography. It also encapsulates the Wenger family ethic. Take the annual “Praise Dinner” for example. Held each spring at the Lebanon Expo, the Wenger Foundation hosts 750 people for dinner underwritten by the foundation and its friends. All ticket purchases for this evening are committed to four community benefit organizations. A more unique community event you would be hard pressed to find! The Praise Dinner is a rare combination of selfless philanthropy, Pennsylvania Dutch food, gospel music, and goodwill.

The distinct culture of the Wenger Family, Wengers of Myerstown, and the Wenger Foundation, is rooted in a cohesive family, a clear mission, a successful business, and a heart for the community.

“Big Hat, Big Heart.” We are grateful to serve the Carl Wenger Family and Wengers of Myerstown. They make our communities better.

“Quiet in the land” – You may have heard this phrase applied to people of the Amish and plain Mennonite faiths. Comprising nearly 10% of the population of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the impact of the Amish and Mennonite communities is significant, much more significant than most of us realize. Sure, they are a tourist draw. But much more importantly they are an undeniable part of our cultural and economic fabric. All that being said, they are not well understood.

“Quiet in the land” – The same could be said of McClarigan CPAs & Advisors. It is likely no coincidence that the advice and counsel of the McClarigan team is broadly trusted by the Amish and “English” alike. Founded in 1993, McClarigan is noted for their deep understanding of their clients, personalized service, and valued expertise given well beyond their fee-paying clientele. Kevin McClarigan and his team are a picture of selfless generosity.

We could start with a list of the organizations that the McClarigan team serves. But we won’t. We could continue with a list of the organizations to which McClarigan contributes. But we won’t. We could offer you testimonials from their clientele. But of course, they are the “quiet in the land” so testimonials don’t come easily. However, one admirer describes Kevin as one who combines “the wisdom of the mind with the kindness of the heart.”

Emphasizing the value of family and community, Kevin’s leadership example permeates his team. To serve at McClarigan demands respect for, understanding of, and a desire to serve the “quiet in the land,” as well as the surrounding population that is interwoven with the Amish and plain Mennonite communities.

We are grateful to serve McClarigan CPAs & Advisors. They make our communities better.

What does it look like for a business organization to be intertwined with a community? What is the value for a community to fully embrace what a business has to offer? What is the benefit for a business organization to fully commit itself to the wellbeing of the place they call home?

We might be able to more easily answer these questions if we took a walk around the city of Lebanon with Dave Funk. Dave, along with his brothers, Bob and Ken, are the owners/leaders of Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc. While the Funk brothers are much too humble to point this out, it is fair to say that the city of Lebanon would look very different without this third-generation contractor.

“We build communities” – churches, senior living, health care and manufacturing are just a few of the cornerstones of a healthy community. If it were just about a physical structure, we could stop the story here. But the story only begins here. Whether grandfather Arthur, father Henry, or current owners Bob, Ken and Dave, the generations change but the commitment to putting heart into the community does not.

Ask a family member. Ask an employee. Ask a sub-contractor. Ask a community leader. You will likely get a similar response. If you are a Funk team member, you care as much about what goes on in and around a building as the building itself. After all, you are building community.

We are grateful to serve Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc. They make our communities better.

The renovation of a Lancaster County chicken house. The construction of 200 CVS Stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The growth of a top tier professional general contractor. Not to mention, two business partners – who happen to be brothers-in-law – sticking together for almost 30 years. This is the story of Speedwell Construction.

Yes, it could be said that the first project to be completed by Speedwell was the renovation of a Lancaster County chicken house which served as their original office. Since that humble beginning, Gary Myer and Keith Ebersole have painstakingly grown a general construction firm with 80% repeat business. Anyone who has ever tried their hand at commercial construction has learned the difficulty of the craft. Speedwell’s consistency, professionalism, and attention to detail produces extraordinary value to clients, subcontractors, vendors and employees.

A quick reading of the Speedwell Construction website will reveal only the most basic hints of the contributions Speedwell makes to our community. A growing company means greater employment opportunity. A growing workforce produces longevity and community stability. A well-run, profitable company provides for innumerable financial, leadership, and expertise-based contributions to the well-being of our local community and the community beyond. While you may not read all of this on the understated Speedwell website, this is Speedwell Construction.

We are grateful to serve Speedwell Construction. They make our communities better.

“Our customers are our lifeblood and we are privileged ‘guests,’ invited to their tables…” is perhaps the best expression of the heartbeat of Stoltzfus Meats. From humble beginnings in 1954 on the farm of Amos and Mary Stoltzfus, Stoltzfus Meats has grown to serve hungry customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. You may have heard the phrase “before I die I must…” well, that phrase should apply to Stoltzfus Hickory Smoked Bacon! Certainly you have enjoyed it, haven’t you?

More than a rapidly expanding and profitable Central Pennsylvania business, Stoltzfus Meats benefits employees, customers, and their communities in a myriad of ways. You may know someone who had their first employment with Stoltzfus Meats. That person learned to get up early, work hard, and deal with customers in an efficient and interactive way. Several members of the current management team have been employed at Stoltzfus Meats since age 16.

Their flagship store is a destination for tourists far and wide, while at the same time serving the local community with fun, flavor, and fresh products. A trip to the lovely village of Intercourse, PA, is certainly not complete without lunch from the deli. And, you would do well to visit the original location of Stoltzfus Meats at the New Castle, DE, Farmers Market.

You have likely benefited from their generosity. Second generation owners, Myron and Sally Stoltzfus, are surely among the most generous people we know. Space would not permit us to list all of their charitable endeavors. Beginning with a heart for adoption that extends to both their children and grandchildren, and moving outward toward the eradication of sex trafficking, Myron and Sally’s generosity knows few bounds.

We are grateful to serve Stoltzfus Meats. They make our communities better.

The statistics are solidly against the survival of family businesses into the third generation. Naturally, the statistics are even more foreboding as we proceed towards fourth generation ownership/leadership. We are fortunate to live in Central Pennsylvania, an area in which those family business statistics are different than they are nationally. Rohrer’s Incorporated, currently led by third generation owners, Travis and Tim Rohrer, is a shining example that goes against the grain of these statistics.

Tracing their roots back two centuries, more specifically to 1937, the expanding family of Rohrer’s services includes stone, lime, concrete, and fleet services. At 110 employees and growing, Rohrer’s reputation for “being good to their word” is well known with customers and competitors alike. A second core value, “reinvestment,” is evident by simply driving past their flagship facility in Lititz, PA. It is likely you have never seen a neater quarry hole, a more beautiful concrete plant, or a cleaner fleet of concrete mixers and dump trucks!

How does a business make a community better? Oh my, let me count the ways! A third core value, “bringing glory to God,” animates Rohrer’s many community contributions. The recently completed “The Tree House of Lititz” – a playground accessible to children of all capabilities – is one of many community projects that has benefited from the time, money, and expertise of Rohrer’s employees.

Planning for family business continuity is a constant focus for the Rohrer family. As Rohrer’s, and other family businesses like them, carry their values from one generation to another, families benefit, customers benefit, employees benefit, and our communities benefit.

We are grateful to serve Rohrer’s Incorporated, they make our communities better.

We believe work is only one component of an abundant life. Where does this belief come from and how do we live it out at North Group?

We are proponents of organizations establishing and living by an immutable set of core values. One of our core values – encouraging balanced living – is a current topic of conversation in many organizations, worldwide. Leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the effect of overwork on their employees. Employees are leaving their positions in unprecedented numbers.

Many of us have seen the difference in vocational expectations in European and Latino cultures as compared to our own. And, we wonder. What is this “work ethic” thing anyway? How is it affected by our North American culture, indeed our Central Pennsylvanian culture?

In order to faithfully live out this core value and belief, leaders need to exemplify what balanced living and an abundant life look like. As Founder and CEO of North Group, I must closely consider the example I am setting in this area.

It seems to me that we are largely powerless to avoid the fact that many of our waking hours are consumed by vocation. Such is the construct and expectation of our North American system/ethic. But I don’t think this “abundant life” thing is strictly about hours. Rather, it is about priorities, commitment and “presence”.

And so I pose these questions:

  • Do you have a set of ranked priorities? Where does your vocation sit inside of those priorities?
  • Do you have a sense of what you are “called to”? Is this “calling” limited to vocation? Or does it extend beyond your vocation?
  • Do you have a picture of what an abundant life looks like for you and your family? Do you have a disciplined method for pursuing that life?
  • What does it mean for you to be “fully present” in each moment?
  • Once you answer the above questions, what accountabilities will you place in your life to make sure that you stay “on track”?

Pursuing the “abundant life” that God intends for you is not easy. I’m on the way, want to join me?

Like me, I suspect you learned some new techniques during the required office shutdowns in 2020 (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet and all that). You may have learned to like some aspects of “working from home” or what we now seem to be referring to as “remote work.” No need to commute, no need to “dress up,” no annoying chit-chat with your office neighbor, a private bathroom – you know, stuff like that. In addition to working from home, some of you may have walked the dog, gotten your wash done, taken out the trash, and prepared dinner all before 5:00. What’s not to like?

We have all seen a variety of prognostications about the future of the office. Experts have predicted urban flight, empty office buildings, even higher productivity as remote workers focus solely on “their work.” Homes with one or more private offices are now all-the-rage. Is the office as we have known it dead? Hmmm…Let’s think about this.

You have probably heard the phrase “culture eats strategy for lunch.” (I wish I was the author of that, but I’m not) If you believe that “culture” (the unspoken and natural way that people relate to each other within a given environment) is a factor in your organization’s success, you will want to think clearly about how you approach the remote work revolution. Without doubt, there are a number of jobs that can be performed effectively, perhaps even more effectively, when working alone. It’s not hard to think of some of the productivity advantages that remote work can produce. In addition, it is certainly possible to conduct effective meetings in a virtual environment. And, there are considerable cost savings when we think about a reduction in square footage, travel, time, etc.

On the other side of the equation, we are “created for community.” Is it possible for leaders to create a dynamic culture without being together in the same space? If the culture is already established, is it possible to maintain that culture – long-term – without being together in person? Can the depth of human connection be duplicated virtually?

You can probably guess where North Group would land with respect to these questions. However, we certainly will not have the “last word” on the degree to which the remote work movement will become sustainable. As leaders, we need to be asking these kinds of questions. We need to be evaluating not only what is best for individual employees, but what is best for our business model, our mission, our core values, our clients, the sustainability of our organizations.

We have new and effective tools at our disposal. The world around us is changing. The dynamic culture within your organization needs leadership. Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Don’t settle for the easy answers.

Over the years, we’ve often been asked the questions: “When are you going to expand your geography?” And, “When are you going to open another office?” We’ve given a variety of answers to those questions over the last 10 years or so. Now, it’s time for a different response!

We are pleased to tell you that we are opening an office in Souderton, PA. Our research and relationships indicate that there is a significant demand for organizational, team and leadership development services in that region. We believe that our mission, “Through sustained relationships, we support the development of leaders and their organizations toward their highest potential” will be well received.

We are initiating a search for a Lead Consultant for our Souderton office. If you know of anyone who would be interested in joining us in this initiative, please refer them to our website (NorthGroupConsultants.com/jobs). We greatly appreciate your advocacy for North Group!