Thought Process Enterprises (TPE) is a graphic design, web design, web hosting, and promotional business established in November 2006 by current president, Eric Venezie. TPE currently exists as a division of the Eric Ryan Corporation (ERC), where Mr. Venezie also serves as Vice President of Business Development. Thought Process’ work is currently performed at its office location on Lawrence Avenue in downtown Ellwood City, PA.
TPE was first established as a business name for an entrepreneurship opportunity Mr. Venezie sought after in the fall of 2006. Mr. Venezie, while finishing his degree at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, had designed a creative logo and fictitious name for use in a graphic design course. He later found business designing and selling creative t-shirts and other promotional products under the name of a product line, Tommy TwoStep. Mr. Venezie had founded tommytwostep.com and resold custom designed Tommy TwoStep t-shirts on-line.
More recently in 2007, TPE began negotiations with EllwoodCity.org and Ellwoodwebs.com about partnership and ownership of intellectual properties. In April 2007, TPE purchased the rights to both websites. TPE is continuing to maintain and update EllwoodCity.org with community news, pictures, and advertising opportunities. TPE has developed EllwoodCity.org in to one of the area’s top community resources for all things “Ellwood City.” The current four-man staff includes a journalist, sales manager, and two web analysts. In addition, EllwoodCity.org has field journalists and photographers who cover the area’s local news and events.
With its new identity, TPE began negotiating with past and current Ellwood Webs Internet customers in satisfying customer web needs. Housing former web customers, TPE has assumed responsibilities in providing customer care and web design expertise to past customers as well as welcoming over 30 new customers to the World Wide Web. All included, TPE has consulted with over 100 area businesses in finding web solutions for their business.
In November 2008, TPE expanded once more, stepping in and acquiring a local printing business to further stretch TPE’s business model. The Color Center was acquired in November 2008, moved into a new and larger studio location, and has been an anchor storefront in downtown Ellwood City ever since. With its increased line of services, expanded hours of service, and newly formed design team, The Color Center has been aiding area businesses with graphic design, printing, and promotional needs for over two years at its current location, and has been servicing businesses since 1996.
With its web design, community news related, and printing divisions all comprised, Thought Process Enterprises has a staff of 12 design experts with over 55 years of experience in the field.
Eric M. Venezie President
Educated at the world famous
Slippery Rock University in Western Pennsylvania, Eric compiled
an unheralded 3.5 GPA and graduated with a Communications Degree
with a focus on Multimedia and Emerging Technology.
Eric also holds a minor in Philosophy. While balancing two
degrees, tedious schoolwork, and a what he hoped was a social
life, Eric took time to complete many out of class media
assignments and compiled a strong portfolio of work from his
days at Slippery Rock University. Eric graduated in the Fall
2005.
Now a days, when not thoughtfully
in process at work, Eric can be found hanging out with his
kick-ass nephews and family, playing any type of round ball, and attempting to make
the best of his musical talents. Give him a holler if you
want to talk sports, but don't rag on the Pittsburgh Pirates,
Eric only remembers 12 of their 17 consecutive losing seasons.
Plus, there is always next year.
Christopher M. McNamara Web Analyst, Graphic Designer
Educated at the high class Riverside
High, Chris followed up on his education by attending Pittsburgh
Technical Institute. Two Long years after breaking through the doors
at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Chris made his scholar escape in
the Summer of 2007 with an Associated Degree in Multi-Media
Technologies, and a final transcript with a 3.66 grade point
average.
Now days when Chris isn’t playing
goofy web designer, he is kicking back it at his place with his
wife, hitting some balls with the boys on the golf course, or
pushing All In on Saturday nights and taking down some monster pots
at the poker table. So if you can't find Chris doing any of the
above, it is probably football or hockey season and he is glued to
the tube screaming at the players like they can hear him.
Bob Phillips Sales Manager
The only Non-Ellwood City native of the enterprise group, Bob attended high school in Pittsburgh, PA at the prestigious Keystone Oaks High School. He followed up in his high school education by receiving an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from the Sawyer School in Pittsburgh. With an extensive background in Software, IT, marketing, and customer service, Bob possesses the expertise to guide your business down the right path when creating or upgrading it's web, graphic or print presence.
When Bob isn't servicing your company's design needs, he might be found crusing around on some back road shortcuts delivering you a pizza from his second job at a pizza shop near his current residence in Rochester, PA. When he's not working, Bob enjoys spending time with his friends, playing sports, reading, and spending time with his two nephews.
Cory J. Morton Field Photographer
After a 2005 graduation from the
highly touted Lincoln High School, Cory took the Art Institute of
Pittsburgh by storm. His creative eye for photography has
landed him many free lance gigs to balance with his current school
work. Cory is currently studying, although not in the picture
to the left, towards a Bachelors of Science Degree in Photography.
When not causing a ruckus at work or
at school, Cory is causing a ruckus on the fret board of one of his
many guitars. Cory had famously stated he enjoys long walks on
the beach, but many of his fellow staff members at TPE believe he
simply enjoys avoiding haircuts.
Jon-Paul Wimer Senior Journalist
As lead journalist at EllwoodCity.org, Jon-Paul Wimer has been with Thought Process Enterprises since October 2009. Jon-Paul received a B.A. degree in Communications in the field of journalism from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2007. Less than two years later, he obtained a Master’s degree in English: Professional Writing track. His experience in professional writing/journalism included time at Allied News in Grove City, Pa., Butler County Chamber of Commerce in Butler, Pa., and a 2-year writing center tutor at Slippery Rock University. Jon-Paul also works as an adjunct professor at both Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa. and the Community College of Beaver County in Monaca, Pa.
When Jon-Paul isn’t writing about Ellwood City or teaching others the skills of the trade, he is usually found in front of his HDTV watching Pittsburgh-area sports with a cold beverage. A huge Penguins and all around hockey fan, Jon-Paul enjoys everything hockey including watching and playing the best sport in the world. He also believes Seinfeld to be the finest sitcom of television history, and will challenge anyone who believes they know more about the show.
Chris MacDonald Manager, Color Center
Chris
MacDonald has been with the Color Center since January 1998,
maintains the title of office manager, and oversees billing and
invoicing procedures in addition to her responsibilities helping
with copying, printing, faxing, bindery, and various other processes
throughout the business. Prior to her employment at the Color
Center, Chris worked in customer service for a local bank.
Erin Thomas Print & Graphic Designer
Erin Thomas has been a graphic
designer for the Color Center since 1996 as well as a freelance
designer and copywriter for clients around the country. Erin has a
Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from West Virginia
University, where she honed her skill for logo design as an
illustrator for WVU's marketing department.
Her induction into the world of
digital design came in 1991 with a graphic design internship in
the art department at Federated Investors of Pittsburgh. In her
early years at the Color Center Erin learned all aspects of pre-
and post-press production and finishing. Erin has more than twelve
years with the Color Center and eighteen total years in the print
and advertising fields.
