Alumnus Recognized at Chamber's Annual Education Event

Published 03.08.2013

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Alumni News

Richard A. Grafmyre, whose distinguished banking career is rooted in a two-year business management degree from Williamsport Area Community College, was among the honorees at Thursday’s 12th annual Education Celebration.

Held at the downtown Holiday Inn and organized by the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and its partners (including Pennsylvania College of Technology, successor to Grafmyre's alma mater), the event emphasizes the workforce-development benefits of a strong relationship between business and education.



Valerie L. Fessler, director of alumni relations/annual giving, with Richard A. Grafmyre, president and CEO of Jersey Shore State Bank – and a 1973 graduate of Williamsport Area Community College.With more than 36 years of banking experience, Grafmyre is president and chief executive officer of Jersey Shore State Bank and its holding company, Penns Woods Bancorp Inc., which have more than $840 million in assets, about 200 employees and 13 branch offices providing financial services in Lycoming, Clinton, Centre and Montour counties.

Following his 1973 graduation from WACC, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Empire State College and a master's degree in financial planning from the College of Financial Planning.

He is an instructor for the Pennsylvania Bankers Association's School of Banking, School of Commercial Lending and Advanced School of Banking.

An active community volunteer, his civic involvement includes the Penn College Foundation, Lycoming County United Way, Geisinger Health System Foundation, Boy Scouts, American Red Cross, various Chambers of Commerce and the Merck/Cherokee Community Advisory Program.

Grafmyre and his wife, Donna, live in Danville.

He shared Alumni of the Year honors with Marilouise Mazzante, a 1976 graduate of Lycoming College.

The chamber also honored one teacher and one student from each of nine Lycoming County schools, and presented its Business Partner in Education Award to Anthony H. Visco Jr., Architects. A WACC alumnus, Visco chairs Penn College's Architectural Technology Advisory Committee.

The college also is connected to two of the evening's other honorees: 2013 Outstanding Student Daniel Ma, son of mathematics professor William Ma, and Outstanding Professional Educator Kathleen H. Becker, a Montoursville Area School District art teacher and wife of Frederick W. Becker, dean of hospitality.

Penn College was also represented at the event by Valerie L. Fessler, director of alumni relations/annual giving; Barry R. Stiger, vice president for institutional advancement; Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs/provost; Elliott Strickland Jr., chief student affairs officer; and William J. Martin, retired senior vice president.