Over the River
A Healthcare Marketing Firm Makes the Move to Bucks
In 2011, Toni Donina and Hal Pitkow decided to move their healthcare marketing company, Baldwin Publishing, to Washington Crossing, PA*.
And they haven’t looked back since.
The company, which produces health magazines and digital healthy cooking videos and recipes, was previously based in Lambertville, New Jersey. But Bucks County, PA was increasingly seen as a more attractive place to do business.
"We needed to triple the size of our space, and it was more affordable to do it in Pennsylvania," said Toni Donina, President and CEO. "In Bucks County, we found the space we needed."
Donina and Pitkow worked with the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC), which helped secure financing for the business partners to purchase a commercial property at 1107 Taylorsville Road.
The 2.5-acre property with six buildings sits at an optimal location at the intersection of Rt. 532 and Taylorsville Road, hence its name — The Crossroads at Washington Crossing. Baldwin Publishing operates from the keystone building on the site, an 18th century Bucks County farmhouse.
"We were able to bring 21st century technology into a 250-year old building, "said Donina. Executive Vice President and CFO, Hal Pitkow, explained that "It’s not always easy to retrofit a historic structure with network cables and production studio lighting, but with support from the BCEDC, we were able to do that."”
Founded in 1993, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. creates print and digital marketing content for hospitals, health insurers and private companies. Baldwin Publishing is the nation’s premier producer of healthy recipe videos, licensed as Health eCooking®, and web content for bariatric weight-loss surgery, childhood obesity and employee wellness programs. Baldwin Publishing works with Bucks County organizations such as Doylestown Hospital, as well as Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Donina and Pitkow used the loan to renovate and modernize the offices, as well build a test kitchen and production studio on the property. Now, Baldwin Publishing often invites some of their 400+ clients "into the country" for a day to sample new recipes and watch the filming.
The business owners also specifically chose Bucks County because of its proximity to commuter corridor I-95.
"Our move made the commute much easier for our staff," said Donina. "In coming closer to I-95, we cut most employees’ drive by up to half an hour every day."
Since moving to Bucks County and working with the BCEDC, the partners have seen their business flourish.
"We’ve added six full-time employees since we’ve been here," said Pitkow. "Creating jobs is important to us and BCEDC, and we’re proud that we were able to do that."
Pitkow and Donina are grateful for the business insight, and support they continue to receive from the BCEDC, particularly Loan Manager James Pawlikowski and Executive Assistant Kelly Doughty, under the direction of Executive Director Robert Cormack.
"Jim was instrumental in helping us decide to come to Pennsylvania, and in preparing our loan application," said Pitkow. "Even now that we’re settled, he’s still always in touch, looking for ways to help us run more efficiently and save us money. Bob and Kelly support Jim completely and made working with BCEDC easy and pleasant."
"There were a variety of economic reasons we moved here, but perhaps most importantly, we live here in Bucks County and we want to contribute to our local community," said Pitkow.
"Thanks to the BCEDC, we’ve been able to help ourselves and help Pennsylvania."
*Hal Pitkow, Esquire, also relocated his boutique law practice, limited to occupational disease cases, to the same offices in Washington Crossing.
For more information contact Carly Baldwin, Director of Print + Digital Content, Carly@baldwinpublishing.com, Phone: (800) 705-6522. Baldwin Publishing, Crossroads at Washington Crossing, 1107 Taylorsville Road, Suite 101,Washington Crossing, PA 18977, www.baldwinpublishing.com