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Alumni Association

Lifelong Education Center, Rm. A230 · (570) 326-3761, ext. 7380 or 1-877-PCT-ALUM (toll-free)

Alumni Career Feature

We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.

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Keara Brussell

Keara Brussell
Keara Brussell

Keara’s Background

Keara developed many valuable traits growing up on her family’s farm, but the most significant stemmed from her responsibility for family meal preparation.  During high school she also started working at a local restaurant, bringing recipes home to test on family members.  She discovered a love for baking and decided to explore an education in the baking and pastry field.  She chose Pennsylvania College of Technology and, in 2005, Keara earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Baking and Pastry Arts Technology.  She then continued her education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Management.

Beach Lake Bread

Beach Lake Bread is an artisanal bakery specializing in scratch, small batch, hand-formed, European-style bread as well as  a full line of pies, quick breads, cookies, and pastries. Keara is the production manager at Beach Lake Bread.  Not only must she manage the production of all products, she must manage the people creating these goods as well.  Organizational and time management skills are crucial when creating a quality product and Keara credits Penn College for providing the education and hands-on experience needed to successfully perform her responsibilities.  With new ownership and Keara’s management, the company’s sales have grown by 70 percent. 

Advice

Keara offers a variety of advice to those interested in her field.  Establish solid fundamentals and continue to develop your skills.  Take advantage of internship or lab opportunities. You need not be afraid to learn new skills and techniques, as cross training is a very important aspect in the baking business. Your role may change and you need to be prepared.  Keara also recommends the College’s Technology Management program to all interested in advancing in the hospitality field.  When it comes to managing products and people, effective organizational skills are key to the successful operation of a business.    

Future

Keara enjoys her work at Beach Lake Bread and plans to have an extensive career with the company. She attends trade shows to stay current with industry and continues to gain experience and develop professionally. She would like to establish a greater role in the business with a possible focus on employee training and quality control.  She and the owner share mutual goals and continue to learn from one another.  Keara appreciates this positive work environment.  She looks forward to helping the company grow and achieve full potential.