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St. Vincent Hopsital

Official Website

Located on West 25th Street in Erie, Pa, Saint Vincent Health Center, better known as Saint Vincent Hospital, is one of the areas two major hopsitals.  Saint Vincent Health System, a group of hospitals and medical centers based in Erie with locations throughout northwestern Pennsylvania, is also one of Erie’s largest employers with nearly 3,000 employees.

Originally founded on September 5th, 1875, by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Erie’s first medical institution – St. Vincent’s Hospital – is a three-story, 12-bed hospital staffed by one surgeon and seven dedicated Sisters, who handle everything from nursing to laundry.  Over the next 130 years, the original building was expanded, other buildings were constructed and the health center “campus” was formed. Saint Vincent Health System grew to encompass sites such as other health care facilities and physician practices that are in the regional community.

Hamot Hospital

Official Website

Founded on July 1st of 1881, Hamot Medical Center, more commonly known as Hamot Hospital, is a large medical facility located along Lake Erie in downtown Erie, PA.  Hamot has been recognized numerous times as one of the 50 best hospitals in the United States.  With 3,000 employees, Hamot is one of the largest employers in the Erie region.  The complex features several large buildings, including a heart institute.  Hamot’s marketing campaigns have used a variety of themes, including “…it matters where you go”, and “leading the way to better health”.

GE Transportation

GE Transportation Systems, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric Infrastructure (which also includes GE Aircraft Engine). The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad industry as well as other industries requiring large propulsion systems. It is based in Lawerence Park, a suburb of Erie, Pa, and is the largest employer in Erie County.

GE Transportation Systems is a major producer of diesel locomotives, for both freight and passenger applications, under the AAR reporting mark GECX. It also produces related products, such as railway signals, railway switching networks, and parts for locomotives and railroad cars, as well as providing repair services for GE and other locomotives.

In the spring of 2007, GE Transportation Systems rolled out a prototype hybrid diesel-electric locomotive to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.  Major locomotive customers BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSXT, Ferromex, Kansas City Southern, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, China, Pilbara Rail-Australia, CVRD-Brazil, and MRS-Brazil.

In addition to railroad locomotives and equipment, GE Transportation Systems also produces large electric motors and propulsion systems for the mining, oil drilling, and wind turbine industries. GE also is providing medium-sized, medium-speed diesel engines for several smaller vessels, mostly tugboats and other similarly-sized vessels. These marine engines are marinized versions of their locomotive engines.

Erie Insurance Group

Official Website

Erie Insurance Group, listed as “ERIE” on the NASDAQ exchange, is a multi-line insurance company, offering auto, home, commercial and life insurance through a network of independent insurance agents.  ERIE’s geographic presence currently extends through eleven states, mainly in the north east region, and the District of Columbia.  Territories include Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.  The home office is located in downtown Erie, Pa, and is Erie County’s second largest employer, behind only General Electric.

Erie is the 15th largest auto insurer in the country based on direct premiums written, and the 3rd largest auto insurer in Pennsylvania.  As ranked by Fortune magazine in April 2007, Erie Insurance Group is the 463rd largest U.S. corporate group, in terms of revenue.  Erie Family Life ranks as the 119th largest life insurance company based on admitted assets, and the 140th largest life insurance company based on premiums written.

Erie Insurance Group has over an 80 year history.  The Pennsylvania Insurance Department issued a license to the Erie Insurance Exchange as an automobile insurer in 1925 and operations began on April 20, 1925. Erie Insurance Exchange was formed as a reciprocal and Erie Indemnity Company was formed as its managing company. The annual premium charge per auto was $34. The founding purpose of the company was the same as it is today: “To provide our policyholders with as near perfect protection, as near perfect service as is humanly possible and to do so at the lowest possible cost.”

In 1940 the company added a new line—fire insurance— allowing independent agents to more fully depend on ERIE to fulfill the insurance needs of their customers. In September, 1967 the Erie Family Life Insurance Company was founded adding life insurance to the protection offered by ERIE Agents.