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People in business

Bank promotes 2

West Milton State Bank announces the promotion of Dennis Keefer, vice president, to full-time senior agricultural lending officer. With that, he will be stepping down as manager of the Mifflinburg office. Keefer has served the banking industry over 40 years, and has been with West Milton State Bank since 1986. He’ll be assuming his new role effective Jan. 1.

With the promotion of Keefer, West Milton State Bank also announces the promotion of Lynn M. Swank to community office manager of the Mifflinburg branch. Swank has served the banking industry for over 15 years, and started her career with West Milton State Bank in March of 2012 as a community banking officer. She resides in Mazeppa with her husband, Matthew, and two sons.

Engineering

firm hires 2

Providence Engineering Corp. welcomes Zac C. Kurtz, P.E., joined the Muncy branch of Providence Engineering Corp. as a project engineer. Kurtz is a 2008 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering as well as bachelor of science in applied physics degree from Shippensburg University.

He joins Providence Engineering Corp. with a well-rounded foundation built on 5 years of civil structural engineering experience. His career includes the designs, renovations, and additions for a wide variety of structural applications throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Designed uses include, industrial, educational, commercial, and retail.

James P. McCloskey, joined the Muncy branch of Providence Engineering Corporation as a designer. He is a 1984 Williamsport Area Community College graduate with an architectural technology degree.

McCloskey’s extensive experience, most recently as lead architectural design/draftsman, includes design and AutoCAD drafting of architectural and low temperature facilities, building site surveys, project follow-up observation, review of contractor’s shop drawings, development, and updating departmental specifications and AutoCAD standards, and full time on-site monitoring of low temperature remediation work. Design responsibilities include preparation of bid documents for commercial re-roofing projects, roof system survey’s and analysis, review of contractor’s shop drawings, development, and maintaining office procedures, project specifications, AutoCAD standards, full time on-site monitoring of roofing remediation work and infrared thermal scans.

Established in Pennsylvania in 1992, by President Daniel Fichtner, P.E., Providence Engineering Corp. provides structural engineering design and analysis services to the building industry.

Bank promotes 2

Richard A. Grafmyre, president and CEO of Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. recently announced the promotion of two key employees. Michelle Karas was promoted to the position of senior vice president/head of institutional advancement and Mark Beatty was named chief information officer for Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc, which includes Jersey Shore State Bank and Luzerne Bank.

Karas is responsible for the company’s strategic development as well as overseeing marketing, IT and deposit operations. Prior to joining the company in 2012 she worked in banking for 17 years in marketing, sales, e-banking, training and strategic development areas. She has published several articles in various financial services magazines, presented at various banking conferences and has taught courses for the American Bankers Association and the American Institute of Banking. A graduate of Bloomsburg University and several banking schools, she is a certified professional marketer and a certified financial marketing professional.

Beatty has been an employee of Jersey Shore State Bank since 1996, in his new role as the chief information officer for Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. Beatty manages the IT function including technology equipment, networks and communications and bank security for Jersey Shore State Bank and Luzerne Bank. He is a graduate of Lock Haven University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science and Leadership Lycoming class of 2010. He is active in the local bank security group and coaches Little League

“Shelley and Mark have been instrumental during the company’s merger with Luzerne Bank,” said Grafmyre, “the skills that Shelley and Mark possess are critical and will allow us to continue to expand our company.”

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. is the $1.2 billion parent company of Luzerne Bank and Jersey Shore State Bank. Luzerne Bank operates eight branch offices providing financial services in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Jersey Shore State Bank operates thirteen branch offices providing financial services in Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, and Montour counties.

Real estate agency

presents awards

Weichert, Realtors – Premier has announced that the Williamsport agency bestowed nine awards for 2013 performance during the firm’s annual holiday party on Dec. 13.

Awards went to real estate agent Stacy Snyder as star performer, Holly Fullerton for both lead specialist and dedication, and Colleen Pricher for client satisfaction. Amie Penfield earned the Gold Service Award and the Spirit Award.

In addition, Amie Penfield received the Chatty Cathy Award, Jody Harlan, the Glass Half-Full Award, and Amy Lambert the Crack-up Award.

People in business

3 join Sun-Gazette

newsroom, advertising

Two new reporters have joined the Sun-Gazette editorial staff and a new sales representative has joined the advertising department.

Samantha Wallace will cover religion and charities as well as transportation issues. She also will cover South Williamsport and Muncy municipal news and East Lycoming and South Williamsport school boards.

Nico Salvatori has been assigned to the outdoors beat and veterans stories. He will be covering police and fire news as well. His responsibilities also include coverage of Muncy and Montgomery school boards as well as Woodward and Loyalsock Township supervisors.

Salvatori was with the Sun-Gazette as a correspondent previously and Wallace has been interning on the editing side of the newsroom for the past six months.

“We’re thrilled to have both Samantha and Nico on our award-winning staff,” said David F. Troisi, Sun-Gazette editor. “They both possess a solid work ethic and attitude for teamwork that we need to remain a top-notch staff.”

Dan Lewis has been hired as an advertising representative and will be handling the Muncy, Hughesville, Montgomery and South Williamsport territories.

“We are happy to have Dan on our staff,” said Sun-Gazette Advertising Manager John Leeser. “With his previous sales background and his graphic arts experience, we feel he will be able to work well with the accounts he’ll be serving.”

Lewis, a Jersey Shore native, is a Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate and actually began working with the Sun-Gazette as a paperboy at age 13.

City attorney

leads seminar

Clifford A. Rieders, a partner in the law firm of Rieders, Travis, Humphrey, Harris, Waters, Waffenschmidt & Dohrmann, presented his Master Works seminar for the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers on Dec. 12. The 2-hour seminar focused on some of the most vexing litigation problems encountered by lawyers around the state. These difficult and unique legal scenarios were explored in depth with the aid of a PowerPoint demonstration. Some of the subjects covered more evidentiary problems in medical professional liability cases, issues under the Mcare Act, the use of expert witnesses, and the like.

Rieders is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association Central Pennsylvania Chapter, and he is a Nationally Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate. Rieders is an honors graduate from New York University at Georgetown University Law Center. He is licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, New York State, District of Columbia, and numerous federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rieders is a noted lecturer, author and trial lawyer.

People in business

2 city attorneys

elected to lead group

The Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association held its annual meeting in early December. Local attorneys Sean P. Roman and E.J. Rymsza, both of Williamsport, were elected as president and vice president, respectively.

Roman is a graduate of Bucknell University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He has been a member of the Pennsylvania and Federal bars since 1991 and is admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He also sits on the Attorney Advisory Panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Roman is employed as the chief compliance officer for Susquehanna Health.

Rymsza is a graduate of York College of Pennsylvania and the City University of New York School of Law. He is a partner in the Williamsport law office of Miele and Rymsza, P.C. where his practice focuses on federal and state criminal defense trials, appeals and post conviction litigation. Rymsza also serves as the President of the Aids Resource Alliance and is a member of the Middle District of Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Act Panel Selection and Management Committee and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Also elected as president-elect and treasurer were Harrisburg attorneys Sarah Yerger and Robert Tribeck. Attorney Jennifer Menichini, of Scranton, was elected as Secretary.

Judges honored

at meeting

Judge Matthew W. Brann and Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania were honored by the Federal Bar Association by being named honorary members of the Federal Bar Association. Mehalchick also is the immediate past President of the Middle District Chapter.

The Federal Bar Association consists of more than 16,000 federal lawyers, including 1,200 federal judges, who work together to promote the sound administration of justice and integrity, quality and independence of the judiciary.

Real estate firm

recognizes 2

Announcement was made by William Hodrick, president, Prudential Hodrick Realty, of the Williamsport office’s monthly awards for November 2013. The award for the sales associate with top production in Listings was presented Chris Wallace while the sales award went to Michael Kuriga.

“Chris and Michael have an unbelievable drive for success. This drive has made them top-producers in our market. Yet, the real winners are their customers whom they work tirelessly to fulfill their real estate needs,” said Hodrick.

People in business

New financial adviser for firm

Michael Tilley recently joined River Valley Financial Advisors, 1601 Sycamore Road, according to branch manager Jason Dugan.

“I am pleased to welcome Michael to the Raymond James family,” said Dugan. “Adding Michael is another indicator that we’re attracting some of the very best to the industry and is further proof of the firm’s commitment to client service.”

Tilley graduated from Susquehanna University with a bachelor of science degree in finance. He recommends investment portfolios designed to allow clients to meet their long-term investment goals. He meets with select clients to review portfolios, capital markets and long-term investment goals and plays a key role in fund research and due diligence.

People in business

3 join real

estate office

Weichert, Realtors – Premier has announced that real estate agents Nancy Jean Ulrich, Barbara Stugart-Reed, and Tracy Knoebel have joined the sales team of the Williamsport agency. These three agents are the most recent additions in an ongoing company expansion.

With multiple decades as a resident of the area, Stugart-Reed will assist property buyers and sellers throughout Lycoming County. A member of the West Branch Valley Association of Realtors, she lives in Cogan Station. She serves her community as church treasurer and through service groups sponsored by her community church. She is a graduate of Montoursville Area High School.

A nine-year resident of the area and a member of the West Branch Valley Association of Realtors, Knoebel will serve clients in all of Lycoming County, especially Montoursville, Muncy, Loyalsock, Williamsport, South Williamsport, and Jersey Shore. She lives in South Williamsport. She is active with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a counselor for primary school children and has coached high school and club soccer. Holding a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and mechanics, Knoebel has a background as a laboratory associate and biomechanics engineer.

A resident of the area since 1981, Ulrich lives in South Williamsport. A member of the West Branch Valley Association of Realtors she will assist property buyers and sellers in Williamsport and the surrounding area. She serves the community through the Presents for Seniors Program during the Christmas season. She has participated in cheerleading coaching, Little League concession, Parent Teacher Organization, and as judge of elections. She has a background in the insurance industry.

Weichert Realtors – Premier, 25 W. Third St., Suite 100, in Williamsport, is affiliated with Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., the franchise division of Weichert, Realtors.

Office names

month’s employee

Don Wallish, transportation construction inspector, has been named the state Department of Transportation district office Employee of the Month for December 2013.

Wallish is a construction inspector who handles a variety of items with limited supervision.

While he is a relatively new transportation construction inspector, he was nominated for this honor, a news release from the office said, because of his willingness to go the extra mile to achieve a quality project. His supervisors have great confidence in his ability to thoroughly address all project requirements.

During extreme weather, Wallish has left the safety of his home to ensure the safety of the traveling public. For example, following a summer storm he was contacted to check the maintenance and protection of traffic, and without delay he checked all signs, fixing some himself, and then notified his supervisor within the hour.

Wallish, the news release said, has instructed interns, showing patience and fortitude. He devotes the time necessary to teach the students thoroughly.

He has completed a mix of projects, with outstanding results because of his strong work ethic and principled approach to the work at hand.

Wallish, who started as a temporary employee in 2007 became a permanent hire nearly three years ago. He lives in Point Township with his significant other Jessica Dworsky.

Former city man

wins award

Stuart Hellring has been selected for the Edison Patent Award by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey. The award recognizes the outstanding contribution of New Jersey’s research community.

Recently, six past inventors of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. were selected for a patent award from within the industrial processes catagory.

The 34th Patent Award Ceremony was held in early November at the Liberty Science Center. Hellring, formerly of Williamsport, now resides in Pittsburgh and is the son of Sid and Evelyn, now deceased.

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