Alumni Career Feature
Joseph Wisniewski '92 and Tony Rife '88

Joseph Wisniewski

• A.A.S., Hospitality Management, 1992
• U.S. Army Fort Campbell Kentucky
• josephchef65@msn.com

Why Hospitality Management at Penn College?

My decision to attend Penn College happened by coincidence. I had just ended my career in the U. S. Navy and followed my girlfriend, who is now my wife of 20 years, to Williamsport. My plan was to spend the summer with her then go to a more expensive school in NY. My funds for school didn't work out. A co-worker told me about the program at Penn College. Once I looked into the program I found I liked the curriculum and the cost was within my budget, I then decided to attend Penn College.

Please explain your current responsibilities with the United States Army.

I am a Food Service Technician Warrant Officer Three in the United States Army. My responsibilities consist of ensuring the soldiers receive quality meals enabling them to complete their daily missions. I mentor, educate and evaluate performance of the Food Service Specialist (92G) under my Brigades Leadership. I ensure dining facilities maintain sanitation standards protecting soldiers from food borne illnesses and operate within the allowable budget standards. During deployments I ensure operating food service field sites receive fresh and safe subsistence. I also manage and train the Culinary Arts Team that competes in the U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Virginia. It is the largest culinary competition in North America.

At Austin Peay State University I am an Adjunct Instructor providing training to military and civilian students working towards degrees in hospitality management and culinary arts. The classes I instruct are cake decorating and decoration and design.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

The most enjoyable aspect of my job is working with the young soldiers and instructing them on the proper procedures to make a dish. then hearing the soldier receiving a compliment from a customer on how good the dish was.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is dealing with the unknowns of the battlefield while trying to get subsistence to an area knowing the enemy is out there.

Do you see your field changing in the next three to five years?

The field of food service is always changing. Consumers eating habits and taste are changing as they are exposed to new foods and taste. Exotic foods that once were unavailable have become available and decreased in cost which has increased the consumer’s appetites for new and exciting menu selections. The creativity of Chef’s is forever changing the food service industry pushing it to new levels.

Describe your transition from college to the workplace.

My transition was easy since I was working in food service while attending Penn College. The newly acquired knowledge and skills helped my performance in the restaurant setting. The College exposed me to various skills which I use on a regular basis as I perform my duties.

What should students do to prepare themselves for your industry?

Students should try to learn as much a possible while attending College and remember the learning doesn't stop with graduation. Continuing education and keeping up with current information is important to career success. They should also expose themselves to diversity and learn from every experience.

If you could "redo" your college experience, would you change anything?

Although I enjoyed my time at Penn College I would try to work fewer hours and participate more in the student activities and enjoy the College experience a little more.

Do you participate in any extracurricular activities or volunteer in your community?

I am a member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and have received my certification as an Executive Chef. I'm also working towards my bachelor degree in restaurant and hospitality management from the University of Alabama. I volunteer as a soccer and baseball coach for various local organizations.

Tony Rife

• A.A.A., Graphic Arts, 1988
• Caskey Printing, Inc.
• trife@caskeyprinting.com

Why Graphic Arts at Penn College?

I went to Penn College because it was recommended to me by my guidance counselor as one of the premier printing programs in Pennsylvania. I made my decision to go to Penn College after I visited the campus. I majored in Graphic Communications because I really enjoyed the graphic arts classes I took in high school. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be when I went off to Penn College, but I knew I wanted to be in the printing industry in some way or another.

Please explain your current responsibilities with Caskey Printing, Inc.

As Vice President of Sales and Marketing, I oversee the creation of marketing solutions to retain our company's success and I mange the team responsible for obtaining new sales and providing excellent service to our current sales. My team includes five sales representatives and three customer service representatives. I also assist in running daily operations - ranging from profit analysis, equipment analysis, financial analysis, personnel decisions and providing service to all internal and external customers.

I decided to accept employment at Caskey Printing after having interviews with multiple printing companies around the York area. I met the owner, and we just really clicked the first time we met. He was down to earth and was looking for someone who could help grow his company. In the very first interview, we talked long term about what both of us wanted from the industry. I truly believe you need to be yourself when you’re interviewing. Always remember the person sitting on the other side of the desk went through the same type of experiences you’re going though when he/she started out. I knew within 15 minutes of talking with the owner at Caskey that this was the place where I wanted to be employed.  

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

Winning and building relationships with our clients. I love to create or partner on a campaign that becomes a success for our client. Our success is defined by our client's success.

What is the most challenging?

Keeping employees focused. In today’s environment it is very easy for employees to get off track. I find this happening especially with sales personnel. The printing industry is a very competitive industry but if you have the passion and the love for the industry, you can succeed. I always tell our employees that our company is like a wheel. All our employees are spokes within the wheel. We need each other to make the wheel go around.

Do you see your field changing in the next three to five years?

Absolutely. The printing industry in my opinion is turning into communications.  Printing will always be needed to some degree, but I believe printing companies that become marketing service providers will be the companies that will succeed in the future.

What advice do you have for students interested in your field?

I would encourage every college student today who's interested in the printing industry to take as many marketing and communication classes as you possibly can take. I can’t stress enough how important it is to understand that your success will not come from ink on paper. It’s about making whatever you touch successful. There are two reasons why companies will print something; They either want to educate somebody about a product they’re offering or they want to sell something. If you can develop skills on how to communicate or create a marketing campaign for a client that’s successful, you will do well in this industry.

Join as many peer groups/seminars as you can.. I learned more from others in this industry as I did in college. I would also encourage the students to look in an employer’s eyes as they communicate with them. I have a high school son who doesn't pick up the phone and talk to anyone. I let him know all the time that there’s a good chance he will be hired by a generation that doesn’t text message. This generation wants to see how you interact with them before they will begin letting you interact with managers or clients. I usually know within 15 minutes of an interview how well the individual communicates in life. Many times that’s the deciding factor if the potential employee will have the next interview. Finally, take as many public speaking classes as you can.  You will need to communicate well with others no matter what part of the printing industry you get involved with.

What was the greatest strength of your Penn College education?

I think my greatest strength from my education was how to get along well with others. When I was at Penn College, I was introduced to students from all over Pennsylvania and other surrounding states. I came from a small town called New Oxford. I was never really exposed to others outside my rural home town. My exposure to the other students and how I could interact with them gave me a wonderful strength to get along with others throughout the country after leaving Penn College.

Any professors you admire?

I looked up to Dale Metzger, Fred Schaeffer and Tony Cillo. I worked on the college campus in the graphics department with Dale after the students went home. I learned a lot from all three of these professors from just being around them. I also worked on the college newspaper and could see the passion these gentleman had for the industry. These extra efforts really helped me grow within the industry.