In search of more space, Penn Credit moving HQ out of Harrisburg

Forty years later, the Silver Spring Township resident has grown the company, now known as Penn Credit Corp., from a three-person operation collecting about $15,000 a month into a national agency with licenses in all 50 states and sales offices and call centers across the country. Penn Credit now does about $15,000 every hour.

But growth has prompted Donagher to look for office space in recent years. He tried to buy neighboring properties around the company’s headquarters and call center at 916 S. 14th St. and 1400 Randolph St., but said he couldn’t find the right deal.

Now he is moving the company to 2800 Commerce Drive, a 12-acre property that straddles Susquehanna and Lower Paxton townships. He is paying about $7.6 million to buy a 35,000-square-foot office building and add an 8,000-square-foot addition. The deal for the property is slated to close on Monday.

The new suburban complex will give him ample room to expand Penn Credit, which employs about 160 people in Harrisburg and more than 200 nationwide.

“We want to get to 400 people in Harrisburg,” Donagher said.

Penn Credit’s clients include utility companies, health care providers and hundreds of municipalities and counties, as well as state governments including Pennsylvania’s.

Donagher said he hopes to expand into student loan collections and sees continued growth in working with health systems to collect delinquent bills.

An avid helicopter pilot, who often flies his personal helicopter between his West Shore home and East Shore business, Donagher said he intends to seek permission for a helicopter landing pad at the new headquarters.

He previously tried to get permission for a landing pad at a property on Park Drive in Susquehanna Township, but the plan was met with  opposition and he turned his attention to Commerce Drive.

“I don’t give up,” he said.

As for his company’s current home, Donagher has listed the Harrisburg headquarters and call center with Greg Rothman and Derek Bicksler of Lemoyne-based RSR Realtors. The asking price for the 17,532-square-foot Class A facility is $1.6 million. It was recently renovated to the tune of $400,000 to give employees a better break room.

“It’s hard to find something in this area that offers the same upscale amenities and unbeatable location,” Bicksler said. “This space is designed for the comfort of employees, with attention to every detail and maintenance need.”

Penn Credit has occupied the building since 1994.

New HQ for Penn Credit