[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E941-E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PATRICK NAGLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Patrick Nagle 
for being recognized with the Pennsylvania Financial Services Advocate 
award given by the Small Business Administration (SBA). This award, 
which recognizes his ongoing service in the banking industry, made Mr. 
Nagle the state winner in addition to being the winner in the Western 
Pennsylvania District for 2002. Mr. Nagle serves as the Vice President 
and Small Business Manager/SBA Coordinator for Central Bank, a division 
of First Commonwealth Bank. In this position he is responsible for the 
expanding portfolio of SBA loans for Central Bank as well as the entire 
First Commonwealth system.
  When Mr. Nagle first accepted the responsibility for this program in 
1994, the portfolio

[[Page E942]]

contained only three SBA loans. Since that time remarkable progress has 
been made. At the end of the most recent fiscal year, September 30, 
2001, First Commonwealth's portfolio contained 144 SBA loans making 
them the second largest originator of SBA loans in Western 
Pennsylvania. Much of this progress is attributed solely to the hard 
work and dedication Pat Nagle has invested in his work. He helped make 
many people's dreams of owning their own business come true. With the 
addition of new businesses, vitality and growth are made possible for 
communities' consumers and entrepreneurs.
  In addition to being a member of the First Commonwealth system, Mr. 
Nagle is also active in the SBA Community Express loan program and 
various local economic development agencies. He is known by many to be 
helpful by sharing his knowledge and expertise at small business 
seminars in his and surrounding communities. By sharing what he knows, 
he makes it possible for others to provide a helping hand in starting 
new businesses. This creates a chain reaction of community growth and 
in turn the opportunity for prosperity for everyone. Many of this 
country's small businesses were made possible because someone cared 
enough to believe in another person's vision. Pat Nagle has embodied 
this spirit in his work and community activism.
  As a small businessman myself, I know exactly how hard it is to make 
payroll, schedule, keep inventory, and all the other responsibilities 
that fall under being a small business owner. I also know that in this 
country small businesses are the number one creators of jobs--and the 
more we help small businesses, the stronger our local economies will 
be.
  I would like to congratulate Mr. Nagle once again on this tremendous 
award he has received and thank him for all of his hard work. I wish 
him the very best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

                          ____________________