Penn College News

Federal Reserve Bank President Holds Briefing at Penn College

Thursday, October 22, 2015

The new president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia traveled with his team to Pennsylvania College of Technology for a special-invitation Community Development Briefing on Oct. 14.

Patrick T. Harker has held the position since July 2015 and is touring the Federal Reserve Bank’s region (which includes Lycoming County) to learn about the area and to understand the opportunities and constraints related to workforce, housing and energy.

Instructor John M. Good leads a tour of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s automated manufacturing lab for a group that includes Patrick T. Harker, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. From left are Good; Erica R. Mulberger (hidden), executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corp.; Shannon M. Munro, executive director of Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Penn College; Tracy L. Brundage, the college’s vice president of workforce development; Noelle S. Baldini, Federal Reserve community engagement associate; Harker; Elizabeth H. Lockwood (also hidden), SEDA-COG project development/grants manager and regional coordinator for Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance; and Theresa Y. Singleton, Federal Reserve vice president and community affairs officer.The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia invited speakers from Penn College, the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center, SEDA-Council of Governments, Inflection Energy representing the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corp., Lycoming County Planning & Community Development, Lycoming College, and Penns Woods Bancorp.

Tracy L. Brundage, vice president for workforce development, represented Penn College at the briefing and spoke about student demographics, the 100-plus majors offered in the college’s six academic schools, and workforce development – including opportunities and challenges in providing training to incumbent workers, underemployed, dislocated and unemployed individuals.

A "roundtable" discussion in College Avenue Labs elicits a variety of viewpoints on economic and community development.“This was a great opportunity to talk about workforce and economic development in the region and to highlight the positive impact that Penn College has on these subjects thanks to the unprecedented placement rates of our students into high-demand careers,” Brundage said.

John M. Good, instructor of automation and computer integrated manufacturing in the college’s School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, led a tour of College Avenue Labs for the new president and CEO.

For more about the college, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.