Class Notes shares the achievements and milestones of alumni of Pennsylvania College of Technology and its predecessors, Williamsport Area Community College and Williamsport Technical Institute. Share your story.
Brad VanValkenburg, 2006
graphic communications management
Brad is a senior sourcing category manager for marketing and print for The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America. He manages the sourcing and procurement for marketing, advertising and print/mail functions for Guardian Life. In 2018, he received the CEO Award from Guardian for work on its corporate rebranding effort. In 2009, he received a master's in graphic communications management and technology from New York University. He has been married for 10 years and has three boys. They reside in Blairstown, N.J.
Ethan Arnett, 2021
construction management
Ethan is a field project engineer for Baker Concrete Construction. He resides in Laurel, Md.
Andrew Miller, 2004
civil engineering technology
Andrew started a new position in June 2021 as director of land development and engineering for Catalyst Commercial Development. He resides in Lancaster.
William Sheaffer, 1972
electronics technology
William retired after 32 years with Continental Automotive, where he developed embedded software for driver information systems, including semi-truck data loggers, bus controls and dashboard instrumentation software. "Courses at WACC in digital electronics, Boolean logic and FORTRAN programming motivated me to pursue a 42-year career in software engineering," he says. The first 10 years involved development of software tools for electronic circuit testing, followed by software development for phototypesetting machine text processing and control. He resides in McAlisterville.
Max Bower, 2016
heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis
Max has had an eventful two years: He married Caitlyn Chute in October 2019, moved to Chambersburg in spring 2020 and founded a residential remodeling business, Precision Enterprises LLC, in May 2020.
Cole Peters, 2008
diesel technology
Cole is a farmer on his family's Spruce Row Farms Inc.. Among his duties on the dairy farm, he maintains and repairs all vehicles. He resides in Meadville.
Abdulwahed Alnasr, 2016
plastics and polymer engineering technology
Abdulwahed is a quality control and mixers manager for Saudi Plastic Products Co., which produces PVC pipes. He was recognized by LyondellBasell for achieving 170,000 safe working hours as a site manager. He resides in Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
Mary Wagner, 2019
health arts: practical nursing
Mary is an LPN charge nurse for Nationwide Therapy Group. She reports: "I have worked agency since graduation which has given me a ton of experience with different situations! My salary has done nothing but increased with every agency! ... I had the opportunity to work with the Big Ten athletes at Penn State University and Coach Franklin when I was employed to perform COVID testing. What a great choice it was to choose Penn (College) for my education!" She resides in Mill Hall.
Kenneth Buchen, 1971
tool design technology
Kenneth is retired and resides in Grantsville, Md.
Sarah Nestor, 2016
nursing
Sarah is a clinician for UPMC. She resides in Lock Haven.
Patrick Gregory, 2017
heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology
Patrick is a refrigeration technician for REMCO Inc., providing service, repair and maintenance of supermarket, restaurant and commercial refrigeration systems. He's a multiple-time leak rate leader for refrigerant emissions. He resides in Berwick.
Britni Fennell, 2017
manufacturing engineering technology
Britni is a quality engineer for BAE Systems Inc. She is married and resides in York.
Scott Miller, 2000
construction management
Scott is a chief estimator/senior project manager for Benner & White Construction, a commercial carpentry contractor in suburban Philadelphia. He also received an associate degree in building construction technology from the college. He is married and resides in Skippack. They have three children and five grandchildren, with a sixth on the way.
Dale Hurlburt, 1971
mechanical drafting
Dale retired from Case New Holland in 2011 and moved to Arizona. He worked for CNH for 36 years and retired as a designer II. He holds two patents and resides in Phoenix.
George Barrett, 1973
forest technology
George is retired and resides in Ewing Township, N.J.
Janis Hofer, 1969
practical nursing
Janis is retired and resides in Williamsport.
Michael Fallon, 1975
construction carpentry
Michael is the construction director for Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. He resides in Perkiomenville.
Andrew Rhen, 2009
construction management
Andrew is assistant superintendent/construction layout for Wickersham Construction, specializing in industrial and water treatment projects in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He resides in Hummelstown.
Scott Madill, 2009
heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis
Scott is a vice president for Dal Dirt LLC, a heavy civil construction contractor. He resides in Waxahachie, Texas.
Brittany (Meade) Gansel, 2011
surgical technology
Brittany was the 2018 Employee of the Year for Globus Medical, for which she is senior clinical manager, North America-imaging, navigation, robotics. She manages the North American clinical team for ExcelsiusGPS, Globus' spine navigation and robotics platform. She married Christopher Gansel on Oct. 11, 2020. They reside in Phoenixville.
Ashley Maietta, 2014
nursing
Ashley is the health services director for Portside at Grande Dunes, a 120-bed assisted living and memory care facility. She received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Penn College in 2017 and a master's degree in nursing administration from Liberty University in 2021. She resides in Murrells Inlet, S.C. and reports that she loves living at the beach while having a job she has dreamed about since she was in high school.
Nicholas Choiniere, 2016
welding and fabrication engineering technology
Nick is a welding engineering supervisor for General Dynamics Electric Boat. He leads a team of welding engineers that provides support for pipe welding operations during the construction of nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines. He resides in Oakdale, Conn.
Maggie (Calkins) Tubiello, 2017
nursing
Maggie married Logan Tubiello '17, welding fabrication and engineering technology, in June 2021. They reside in Royersford.
Nicole English, 2013
applied human services
Nicole is working toward a master's degree in early childhood education at Bloomsburg University. She is an instructional aide for St. John Neumann Regional Academy and resides in South Williamsport.
Sandra (Walizer) Wolford, 1989
radiography
Sandra is an imaging manager for Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber, Mont., where she oversees the radiology department and manages the facility's in-house education program. "I've always dreamed of living in Montana, and my career got me here," she says. "I work in a small critical access hospital, where I go from scanning a patient in CT to assisting put in a chest tube. I have found my niche in rural medicine." She resides in Big Timber, Mont.
Robert Ruhl, 1995
wood products manufacturing
Robert is a quality manager for Conestoga Wood Specialties, a custom cabinetry supplier, at the company's Beaver Springs facility. He is also a customer care representative. He resides in Selinsgrove.
Erin (Ryczak) Chadwick, 2002
individual studies
Erin is a recruitment supervisor for the Maryland Emergency Medicine Network. She recruits emergency medicine providers for nine community hospitals affiliated with the University of Maryland. She resides in Odenton, Md.
James Walker, 2011
information technology: information assurance and security
James is a cyber security architect III for Vidant Health. He resides in Jersey Shore.
Nathan Weaver, 2004
plastics and polymer engineering technology
Nathan is a pastor in the United Methodist Church for the Endless Mountains Charge. After graduating, he worked in Virginia, then Hazleton. His journey includes back surgery, the loss of his marriage, addiction, time in a mental hospital, and losing his children. "Then Jesus found me and took my addictions away! Gave my life to Jesus and never looked back. Best decision ever," he said. He resides in Wilkes-Barre.
Charlie Kohan, 1971
automotive technology
Charlie opened CJ Automotive in 1972 and is celebrating 49 years in business. He resides in Pen Argyl.