City woman
honored in 'Top 25'
Rettew announces the selection of Laura Templeton, regional manager for Rettew's Williamsport office, as one of the Top 25 women in business by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
She is highlighted for her dedication to community engagement and the value she places on people, a news release from Rettew said.
"One of the best things about my job is that, at its core, my purpose is to help people both inside and outside my company to become more successful," Templeton said.
Templeton is a principal of Rettew Associates Inc., and has been leading the Williamsport office since 2011. She is responsible for business development and operations, with an emphasis on public outreach, project management and client communications. She joined Rettew in 2001 and has 20 years of experience in the engineering industry, having worked as director of client services, communications leader, and bureau director.
The publication selected Templeton for her expertise, grit in an industry dominated by men, intentional communication and community involvement. As regional manager, she has moved the Rettew office into Williamsport's Central Business District and grown the businesses local presence to 40 employees who pride themselves in giving back to the community. Templeton is a member of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee and its Leadership Lycoming Class of 2013, the Manufacturer and Business Association government relations committee, PublicARTWORKS, a subcommittee of the Williamsport-Lycoming Arts Council and a board member and the special events finance chair for the Williamsport Business Association.
New counselor
for regional bank
Jeff Carr, chief retail banking officer for First Citizens Community Bank, has announced that Katie Haas has joined the bank's Blossburg office as a customer service counselor.
Haas' primary focus is to meet with loan customers to understand their borrowing needs and provide them with the loan solution that helps them buy a new home, remodel their existing home, buy a vehicle, or send their child to college, according to a news release. Although her primary focus will be lending, she will proactively help her customers with other financial services to assist them in achieving their personal goals.
Haas originally is from Enola, where she graduated from East Pennsboro Area High School before attending college at Mansfield University. In August 2012, she graduated magna cum laude, earning a B.S. degree in business administration in just three years, while working two part-time jobs and volunteering with AARP and the IRS as a tax return preparer at the Mansfield Senior Center.
"Graduating magna cum laude in just three years clearly illustrates Katie's enthusiasm for learning and hard work," said Carr. "We believe these characteristics make her a good fit for our Blossburg team."
She is a new resident of Blossburg, and looks forward to becoming more involved with the community.
First Citizens Community Bank is headquartered in Mansfield and operates 18 offices in Tioga, Bradford and Potter counties and in Alleghany County, N.Y., as well as loan processing offices in Lock Haven and Dallas, Pa.
Insurance agent
completes training
Paul Schwarzer, agent for the Baltimore Life Co. in Montoursville, has earned the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow professional designation. The designation, a news release said, is conferred only on upon those individuals who meet or exceed the exacting qualification standards determined by the two organizations that jointly sponsor the designation, The American College and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
The designation marks an agent's long term commitment to professionalism on behalf of clients, establishes the agent's competence and business experience, marks a commitment to The American College's and NAIFA's Code of Ethics and fosters additional professional development. In addition to the successful completion of five courses within a 10-course curriculum, candidates must also complete an ethics course and be a member in good standing of NAIFA.
Conferees are honored during The American College's national Knowledge Summit and Commencement exercises. The event takes place Nov. 20-22 in Las Vegas.
Employees of the
year selected
First Citizens Community Bank named its 2012 Employees of the Year at their bi-annual winter party held at the Corning Radisson in January. Receiving the awards were Donna Williamee, loan accounting representative, and Wendy Southard, marketing officer.
To be eligible, a news release said, recipients must show an outstanding level of dedication, professional attitude, and concern for the customer and fellow employees of First Citizens Community Bank and both Williamee and Southard consistently embody these attributes.
Williamee joined First Citizens in 1989 as a part-time teller in the Blossburg office. She continued to work in the branch network until 2002, at which time she assumed the position of credit services representative in the bank's Loan Central department. In 2003, she moved to her current loan accounting representative position. Williamee resides in Mansfield with her husband, Davis. They have two grown children, Lynn and Cheryl. She enjoys gardening, and is a doting grandmother to three girls, ages seven, twelve, and 19 months.
Southard joined First Citizens in 1991 as marketing department secretary, and was promoted to marketing officer in 1995, and to assistant vice president and marketing officer in 2008. She is a 2003 graduate of the American Banker's Association School of Bank Marketing & Management, and is a certified financial marketing professional. She is a deaconess and treasurer at Covington Church of Christ, and enjoys spending time with her family. Southard and her husband Lou reside in Covington, and are parents to two grown children, Trisha and Chris.
