Two Lawrence Park natives who left the area for a while, have returned, and together, are working to share the missions of local organizations, along with other businesses around the nation.

For these two Erie County natives, there's no place like home. They are using their skills to connect the community. They are the owners of Parker Philips. 

"In Erie, a lot of people know us for our PR work, but around the country we're known for our economic impact analysis," said Kate Philips. 

Kate Philips is the CEO. It was in her living room in 2016 that she and company president and co-owner Nichole Parker, started the business. 

"At the beginning, it was really just trying to get up a website, and make sure that people felt that we were credible enough to sell this work," said Nichole Parker. 

Their backgrounds paid off. Now, the former Iroquois High School graduates have clients all over the country, while still maintaining their Pennsylvania base.

They have a staff of 12 people, some in office. But even pre-COVID, the firm was virtual.

A firm where Kate, who was the press secretary for former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and spent years working in government, uses her communication skills. 

Nichole is dedicated to social development and economic analysis, she is the mind behind the numbers. 

The company wrapped up an economic impact analysis of the Erie Philharmonic

"It captures how an organization financially impacts their specific geography," said Nichole. 

Days after the Erie Philharmonic report was released, so was one the company did for U.S. Steel.

Their very first client was ECGRA, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, still a client to this day. But Parker Philips is dedicated as a firm, to working in the public education space 

"It's something that a lot of our campaigns, Pre-K for PA, Level Up PA, PA schools work are fighting for everyday and trying to increase that public education investment," said Kate. "We think its the best thing for them, and for our community." 

Because, there's no place like home, wherever you land.