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

  • Brian Harpster, 1993

    electronics technology: fiber optic/communication

    Brian is a senior quality engineer/laser safety officer for II-VI Inc. He is responsible for worldwide customer engineering support for opto-electronic amplifiers and network devices. He's also the laser safety officer for the research and development laboratory. He received a bachelor's in electrical engineering from Alfred University in 2002. He resides in Painted Post, N.Y.

  • Tiana

    Tiana Rawls-White, 2021

    applied management

    Tiana is a caregiver for Shared Support Inc. She was the Fall 2021 commencement speaker and founded the college's Black Student Union. She resides in Northumberland.

  • Richard Norgard, 2013

    Technology Management

    Richard is the owner/operator of RN Woodworks LLC. He resides in Toms River, N.J.

  • Ariel

    Ariel Torstrup, 2021

    nursing

    Ariel is a registered nurse for UPMC. She resides in Williamsport.

  • Gary Obert, 1986

    service and operation of heavy construction equipment

    Gary is a senior regional director, finance, for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. He resides in Arlington, Va.

  • Shaun

    Shaun Slimmer, 2002

    computer-aided product and systems design

    Shaun is the Mid-Atlantic business development manager - defense & space for Carlisle Interconnect Technologies. He finds new opportunities in the defense and space market for the company's radio frequency/digital interconnect capabilities. He resides in Keymar, Md., with his wife, Sabrina '01, physical fitness specialist, and their two daughters. They will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in March 2022.

  • Paul Hitesman, 1981

    forest technology

    Paul is a training manager for Wood Mode LLC. He received a bachelor's in technology management from Penn College in 2003 and resides in Allenwood.

  • Paul Catalano, 1981

    nursery management

    Paul is manager of grounds maintenance for Yale University. He manages 300-plus acres with union staff. He resides in Branford, Conn.

  • Joel Steppe, 2011

    forest technology

    Joel is a horticulturalist for Penn College at the Earth Science Center campus. He resides in Jersey Shore.

  • Patrick Cullop, 2008

    diesel technology

    Patrick is an electrical apprentice for Freestate Electrical Service Co. He resides in Monrovia, Md.

  • Eric Burson, 1994

    heavy construction equipment technician

    Eric is a materials supervisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He oversees the testing of physical properties of all cement products approved for use by PennDOT, as well as specialized testing for new cement products submitted for approval. He resides in Kulpmont.

  • Kenneth Ritter, 1973

    service and operation of heavy construction equipment

    Kenneth is retired. He's been married for 43 years and has two children and four grandchildren. He resides Coopersburg.

  • David Heggenstaller, 1972

    diesel technology

    David is a retired sergeant first class in the Army. He was a maintenance supervisor/platoon sergeant. He resides in Pleasant Gap.

  • Gregory Wentz, 1980

    service and operation of heavy construction equipment

    Gregory is a quality assurance inspector for KME Fire Apparatus. He resides in Lehighton.

  • George Barrett, 1973

    forest technology

    George is retired and resides in Ewing Township, N.J.

  • Stanley

    Stanley Geiswhite, 1982

    forest technology

    Stanley is a local LTL (less than truckload) driver for Estes Express. He resides in Northumberland.

  • Dave Cole, 2006

    forest technology

    Dave is a forester for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. He is a service forester for Mercer and Lawrence counties and was named Service Forester of the Year in 2017. He resides in Greenville and is studying and working to develop a garlic farm based on regenerative agriculture methods of enhancing soil health.

  • Kyle Johnson, 2009

    heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis

    Kyle is a lowboy driver for City Hill Construction. He resides in Clifton Springs, N.Y.

  • Michael McNamara, 1976

    floriculture

    Michael is a horticulturalist for Spring Lake Golf Club.  He holds a certificate from DuPage Horticultural School (1977) and a bachelor's in agriculture from South Dakota State University (1988). He resides in Toms River, N.J., and is fighting myelodysplastic syndrome cancer.

  • Greg Dangle, 2011

    diesel technician

    Greg is a diesel technician for Ground Shaker Motorsports. He resides in Williamsport.

  • Chris Weaver, 1993

    diesel technology

    Chris is an assistant professor and department head of diesel equipment technology at Penn College. He also holds Penn College degrees in diesel technician and technology management and is a recipient of the Caterpillar Teaching Excellence Award. He resides in Danville.

  • Makenzie Witmer, 2018

    heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis

    Makenzie is a project manager intern for HRI. She is continuing her education toward a Penn College bachelor's degree in construction management and resides in Bellefonte.

  • Mark Dumais, 2018

    heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis and operator emphasis

    Mark is an equipment operator for Allan Myers. He resides in Aberdeen, Md.

  • Scott Cummings, 1995

    forest technology

    Scott is the president of Cummings Lumber Co. The family business includes a sawmill, dry kilns, flooring plant and pellet plant. He resides in Troy.

  • Donald

    Donald Chilson, 1981

    forest technology

    Donald is a lead software engineer for Wells Fargo. He resides in Concord, N.C.

  • Cameron Porter, 2017

    heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis and operator emphasis

    Cameron is a field service technician for Komatsu America Corp. He is a member of the Central Mountain High School Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee and a volunteer for Penn College's diesel technology CTE competition. He is married with two children and resides in Mill Hall.

  • Blake Martz, 2021

    welding technology

    Blake is a welder for MCS. He resides in Hyndman.

  • Lonny Horst, 1979

    service and operation of heavy construction equipment

    Lonny is a business development manager for Trinity Drilling & Blasting. He resides in Manheim.

  • Maureen (Benfer) Payne, 2005

    floral design/interior plantscape

    Maureen is a senior customer service representative for United Concordia Dental. She resides in Lewisburg.

  • Karen Ruhl, 2002

    floral design/interior plantscape

    Karen is a part-time floral design instructor for Penn College, where she received Alumni of the Year (2016) and Part-Time Teaching Excellence (2021) awards. She resides in Williamsport.

Submit a Class Note

Your Information
Your name
 Name that appears on your diploma
Your major and year of graduation
Your major or program name: e.g., Nursing or Computer Science
Your contact Information
This is a cellular phone
Your address
Professional Information
Employment
I am responsible for ...
Have you received any Professional Awards or recognitions you’d like to share?
Are you a Member of Professional Organizations that contribute to your ongoing professional development?
Have you continued your educational journey since graduating from Penn College?
Name school, graduation year and degree obtained.
$
Graduates' salaries are important in advising future students about career opportunities in their field. Please share your annual salary, which will be treated confidentially.
Additional Updates
Personal Information
Did you participate in any of the following activities?
Greek Life
Student Organizations
Athletics
Marriage
Are you married?
Yes
No
Is spouse an alumni?
Children
Do you have any children?
Yes
No
List child name and birth year
  Marriage, additions to your family, etc
One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, png.
I agree to allow Penn College to use my information in publications, including Penn College Magazine.