WEDnetPA celebrates 25th anniversary, visits Penn College

Published 04.23.2024

Photos by Rob Hinkal, social media specialist

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Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger (third from left) visited Pennsylvania College of Technology on Tuesday as part of a three-day gathering in Williamsport celebrating WEDnetPA's 25th anniversary. Joining Siger in a tour of college labs were (from left): Tom Venditti, executive director of WEDnetPA; Loni N. Kline, senior vice president for college relations; Shannon M. Munro, vice president for workforce development; Penn College President Michael J. Reed; Mandy Book, deputy secretary, office of business financing and workforce development, DCED; Gwen Ross (back right), director of workforce development initiatives, DCED; Jen Gilburg, deputy secretary, technology and entrepreneurship, DCED; and Patrick Marty, chief government and international relations officer.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of WEDnetPA, a three-day annual gathering is being held in Williamsport that included a visit on Tuesday to Pennsylvania College of Technology’s campus. Penn College serves as the statewide administrator of the program, currently housed in the college’s Workforce Development division.

Among those in attendance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development were: Rick Siger, secretary; Jen Gilburg, deputy secretary, technology and entrepreneurship; Mandy Book, deputy secretary, office of business financing and workforce development; and Gwen Ross, director of workforce development initiatives.

Also attending were retired DCED staff Carol Kilko and Lynne Ruby, joining the celebration due to their historic roles in the success of the WEDnetPA program.

Following a luncheon in the college’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, Siger, his staff members and attendees from WEDnetPA partner campuses and organizations were engaged in tours of Penn College’s impressive labs, including those in machining, manufacturing and welding majors.

Joining Penn College President Michael J. Reed in guiding the tour for Siger were Shannon M. Munro, vice president for workforce development; Loni N. Kline, senior vice president for college relations; Patrick Marty, chief government and international relations officer; and Tom Venditti, executive director of WEDnetPA.

WEDnetPA is a unique, collaborative partnership of community colleges, state system universities and other educational institutions working together to be responsive to the needs of Pennsylvania’s business community. Created by DCED, the program provides qualified employers training funds for new and existing employees. Since its inception in 1999, more than 20,000 companies across the commonwealth have utilized WEDnetPA job training to update and improve the skills of their workers, and in turn, enable themselves to better compete in their respective industries. The program has grown to become the primary delivery system for Pennsylvania’s incumbent workforce training. To date, more than 1.3 million workers have been supported with training funds.

Reed welcomes attendees at a luncheon in the college's Le Jeune Chef Restaurant.

Siger addresses the annual gathering of WEDnetPA partner campuses from across the commonwealth.

The DCED secretary discusses WEDnetPA's quarter century of business development successes.

Following lunch, guests like Tristan Ferguson (at center), executive assistant to the DCED secretary, enjoy mingling.

Siger converses with Penn College administrators.

A tour begins in the Larry A. Ward Machining Technologies Center ...

... where guests visit the Baja Room and connect with Casey B. Campbell, of Kennerdell, an engineering design technology student pitching in to prepare Penn College's entry in the upcoming Baja SAE international competition, being hosted by the college in May.