Class Notes shares the achievements and milestones of alumni of Pennsylvania College of Technology and its predecessors, Williamsport Area Community College and Williamsport Technical Institute. Share your story.
Alicia Maines, 2015
dental hygiene and dental hygiene: health policy and administration (2016)
Alicia is a traveling dental hygienist through GoTu. She resides in Philipsburg.
Gavin Seip, 2019
diesel technology
Gavin is employed by Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. He resides in New Ringgold.
William Sanford, 1980
forest technology
William is retiring from Colorado State University after more than 28 years as an associate professor in hydrogeology. After graduating from WACC, he earned a bachelor's in geology, a master's in geophysics and a doctorate in soil and water engineering. "I've used much of the practical skills I learned at WACC throughout my career and personal life," he said. "It was great training for the real world." He resides in Fort Collins, Colo.
Alexa Scatamacchia, 2020
culinary arts technology
Alexa is a cook for Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. She resides in Fleetwood.
Kyle Scheid, 2013
computer aided product design and computer aided drafting technology
Kyle is a project manager for Pyramid Construction Services LLC. He resides in Manheim.
Allan Cohen, 1972
automotive mechanics
Allan is president of Wm. Cohen & Sons Inc., which will celebrate 75 years in business in 2025. He resides in Downingtown, has been married for 48 years and has a daughter and a grandson.
Sydney Telesky, 2023
human services & restorative justice
Sydney is a long-term care planner for Steinbacher, Goodall and Yurchak, an elder care law firm. She's also a public notary, certified end-of-life doula and certified dementia practitioner. She resides in Williamsport.
Erin Bannon, 2016
health information management
Erin is a quality assurance coder for UPMC. She resides in York with her wife, Brittni Fennell '17, manufacturing engineering technology.
John Hopkins, 1968
architectural technology
John is retired and resides in DuBois.
Dennis Morehart, 1965
electronics technology
Dennis retired as a design and development specialist from GE, where he worked 1970-2002. He spent 15 years designing printed circuit boards then wrote real-time software. He was the in-house expert for a real-time operating system called QNX. He resides in Salem, Va., with his wife of 60 years. They have three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He takes bus trips and plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin and Xbox.
Nicole (Smulligan) Smith, 2022
human services & restorative justice
Nicole is a family advocate for STEP Head Start. She married Conrad Smith '18, heavy construction equipment technology: Caterpillar equipment emphasis, on Sept. 21, 2024. They reside in South Williamsport.
Richard Fetter, 1975
business management
Richard married Ana Victoria, of Costa Rica, on July 14, 2022. He is retired, resides in San Jose, Costa Rica, and enjoys his grandchildren, the beaches, the mountains and Latin culture.
Nicholas Bruce, 2018
welding and fabrication engineering technology
Nicholas is a field sales representative for Fronius USA, a leading manufacturer of solar inverters and welding power sources. He resides in Troy.
James Bodnar, 1972
mechanical drafting
James retired from Bechtel Corp. as a project startup manager. In his 39 years with the company, he worked on the startup of several nuclear, coal and gas-turbine power plants, as well as copper mines in Utah and Arizona, Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Department of Energy sites in Nevada and South Carolina, and he spent nine years as the manager of the commissioning group at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Since his 2016 retirement, he makes road trips to historical sites and museums across the U.S. He resides in Milford, Del.
Pennie (Call) Billiot, 1991
business management
Pennie is supervisor of case administration for the Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division. She has held the position for 24 years, has been married for 10 years and has three sons and a daughter. She resides in Woodworth, La.
Tom Isenberg, 1977
carpentry & building construction technology
Tom is retired after owning Iron Mountain Construction for 33 years. He holds a bachelor's in construction engineering from Spring Garden College in Philadelphia. He worked for Turner Construction in Washington, D.C., then Omni Construction in Richmond, Va., before founding Iron Mountain in New Jersey. "Many thanks to all at Penn College for offering so many opportunities for students. I had a great career," Tom says. He resides in Stewartsville, N.J.
Steven Douglas, 1981
aviation maintenance technician
Steven has enjoyed a 50-plus-year career in aviation. He retired from a consulting firm as vice president, aviation sector, after five years, and from the Federal Aviation Administration as senior executive, service, after 22 years. He was previously director of maintenance for an air ambulance company. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a C-141 flight engineer and a B-52 aircraft mechanic. He resides in Babcock Ranch, Fla.
James Zbick, 1971
journalism
James, a retired journalist, opened the Faith, Family and Country Heritage Museum in Branson West, Mo., in 2023. He resides in Blue Eye, Mo.
Amanda Suda, 2018
landscape/horticulture technology: plant production
Amanda owns Helianthus and Lace, a wedding and event floral design business. She resides in Harrisburg.
John Frentz, 1981
aviation maintenance technician
John is a quality control senior inspector for AAR Corp., which provides aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul. He resides in Indianapolis.
John Millard, 1965
electronics technology
John resides in Hamilton, Ohio, and celebrated his 62nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 7, 2024. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1959-63 and has two sons.
John Earnest, Jr, 1976
electrical technology
John retired from University of Kentucky in 2014, where he had been a technical engineer in agricultural research engineering and applied engineering in agriculture. He holds a bachelor's in electrical technology from Penn State Harrisburg, where he also received an ROTC commission. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, active and reserve duty, and has been a part-time certified police officer/collision reconstructionist. He is married, has a daughter and a grandson, and resides in Princeton, Ky.
Ryan Swartz, 1992
forest technology
Ryan is deputy chief for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Great Basin Smokejumpers. The team responds to emerging wildfires by airplane and parachute. He resides in Boise, Idaho.
Amber (Kreitzer) Zechman, 2018
baking and pastry arts
Amber is a pastry chef supervisor for Compass Group at Bucknell University. She married Dylan Zechman on Sept. 14, 2024. They reside in Port Trevorton. Amber also holds a Penn College bachelor's in applied management (2019).
Whitnie (Mays) Haldeman, 2014
applied technology studies and advertising art (2012)
Whitnie is a senior associate, product marketing, for Textron Aviation. She resides in Wichita, Kan.
Spencer Pehonsky, 2014
building construction technology
Spencer is a carpentry instructor for Bradford Area School District. He resides in Bradford.
Paul Gardner, 1970
technical illustration
Paul retired as senior illustrator and publications coordinator for F.L. Smithe Machine Co., a manufacturer of envelope machinery and narrow web flexographic printing presses. He was offered the job two months before graduation. He illustrated parts manuals, wrote technical illustration manuals, and produced the company's advertising brochures and printing plate graphics for machine demonstrations. "My 39-year career saw the transition from the drawing board to the digital world with the aid of AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and PageMaker," he said. He continues to use his graphic design skills to help his church and other nonprofits. He resides in Duncansville.
Judson Bailey, 1978
machinist general
Judson, retired since 2020, owned and operated Cayuga Tool & Die for 30 years. He designed and built assembly automation and final test equipment for most major automotive companies. He resides in Groton, N.Y.
Andrew Slovensky, 1985
technical illustration
Andrew works for Parsons Corp. as a quality assurance officer/auditor for Pennsylvania Emissions and State Inspection Stations across Southeast Pennsylvania. He worked for Lockheed Martin for 26 years as an illustrator, manager of the proposal development center and creator for process improvement and training. He resides in Fort Washington.
Nicholas Witherite, 2019
engineering design technology
Nicholas is a drafting engineer for GE Vernova. He resides in Pittsburgh.