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.
Leif Solveson, 2005
civil engineering technology
Leif married Chelsi (Welch), '11, mass media communication, in May 2018. They welcomed a son, Finley, in October 2019. They reside in Muncy.
Rachel Hill, 2018
landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis
Rachel owns Brush Valley Floral. She resides in Rebersburg.
Stacey French, 2017
applied human services
Stacey is a family preservation and reunification counselor for Family Intervention Crisis Services. She resides in Montoursville.
Dora (Scholl) Walter, 1995
business management
Dora is retired and resides in Lewisburg.
Mike McNamara, 1976
ornamental horticulture technology: floriculture
Mike is a horticulturalist for Spring Lake Golf Club. He resides in Toms River, N.J.
Dan Gerard, 2020
automated manufacturing technology and metal fabrication technology
Dan is a machinist for Jones Racing Products. He resides in New Britain.
David Hoover, 1981
machine tool technology
David spent more than 30 years working with companies across the U.S. in the electronics connector field and is currently employed with world-renowned arms manufacturer SIG Sauer in ammunition manufacturing research and development as an R&D tooling manager. He is the co-author of an Association for Talent Development (www.td.org) award-winning toolmaker apprenticeship program with an employer in New Albany, Ind. He resides with his wife in Ward, Ark., where they welcome opportunities to share what they've learned with the younger generation, especially their three grandchildren.
Jonathan Shaffer, 1972
business administration
Jonathan retired from the U.S. Army as a major/GS-13 senior military analyst. He resides in Seal Beach, Calif.
Amanda Suda, 2018
landscape/horticulture technology: plant production
Amanda is a program assistant in the orchard at Milton Hershey School, where she helps to plant and transplant on the school's farm; harvests produce for a student-run, on-campus market; prunes orchard trees and provides other farm maintenance; and assists with student interns and after-school clubs. She resides in Harrisburg.
Victoria Sosar, 2020
business administration: sport and event management
Victoria is a social media manager for ConversionWorx Media. She resides in Berwick.
Stephanie (Puckly) Biltz, 2017
welding and fabrication engineering technology
Stephanie is a weld engineer II for BAE Systems, responsible for the amphibious combat vehicle for the U.S. Marines. In 2018, she earned a master's degree in management and organizational leadership from Penn State. She resides in Felton.
Gary Koppenhaver, 1965
Mechanical Drafting
Gary retired in 2007 as an engineering technician designer after 42 years of service with Gannett Fleming. He resides in Enola.
Joseph Simon, 2010
business administration: management information systems
Joseph is a purchasing administrator for PMF Industries. He resides in Williamsport.
Nathaniel Wright, 1997
graphic communication
Nathaniel is a job trainer for the Lancaster/Lebanon Intermediate Unit. He resides in Elizabethtown.
Melani (Grady) Decker, 2006
dental hygiene
Melani welcomed baby No. 4 in August 2019. She earned a master's in dental hygiene education in 2015. The family resides in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Todd Mason, 1991
landscape/nursery technology
Todd is director of sales and development, turf and ornamental, for Sipcam Agro USA. He is responsible for the sales organization across the U.S. and works with university researchers to develop new products. He is a member of the Penn College landscape/horticulture advisory committee, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Maryland Chapter Board of Trustees and RISE committee. He resides in Easton, Md.
Jason Praster, 2005
welding and fabrication engineering technology
Jason is a welding engineer for Zachry Group, a provider of construction, engineering, maintenance, turnaround and fabrication services. He resides in San Antonio with his wife, Sarah (Jinar), '06, physical fitness specialist, and their son.
Alex Hackenberg, 2020
information technology: network specialist
Alex recently moved to the Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C., area to begin full-time work as a systems administrator for M.C. Dean. He is also commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Cyber Reserves.
David DeWalt, 1979
toolmaking technology
David is the president and owner of Maitz Home Services. "After working in my field of study from WACC, the desire to own a business led me to the HVAC and plumbing field," he said. He resides in Zionsville.
Skyler Cline, 2020
welding and fabrication engineering technology
Skyler is a welding engineer for Axis Integration. He resides in Erin, N.Y.
Diane Shaheen, 1988
individual studies
Diane is heading back to school to complete a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She resides in Lee, Mass.
Mike Moran, 2020
software development and information management
Mike is a software development and IT coordinator for AIDS Resource, a nonprofit serving several counties in central and northcentral Pennsylvania. He resides in Williamsport.
Matthew Doherty, 2008
technology management
Matthew has been a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service since 2015. He recently changed offices and is working at NCIS Resident Agency New London, Conn. He resides in Gales Ferry, Conn.
William Lehman, 1975
civil engineering technology
William will officially retire on Aug. 4, 2020, after 34 years as a county planner. He has been a licensed professional land surveyor since 1979 and served as president of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors in 2010. He resides in Somerset.
Karen Gair, 1997
occupational therapy assistant
Karen is retired and resides in South Williamsport.
Adam Waigand, 2005
building construction technology
Adam owns Craft Masters Construction LLC. He and his wife, Jennifer, married on Nov. 24, 2018, and welcomed son Seiler Haze Waigand on Aug. 22, 2019. They reside in Conway, S.C.
Stephanie Tempesco, 2012
legal assistant-paralegal studies
Stephanie is a senior paralegal/office manager for Malee Law Firm. Her daughter Cortney N. graduated from Penn College with a bachelor's degree in nursing in May 2020. They reside in Williamsport.
Sean Harp, 2001
automotive service technician
Sean is an emergency management specialist for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. He resides in Linglestown.
Joshua Fox, 2006
civil engineering technology
Joshua is a water and wastewater practice area leader for Herbert, Rowland & Gubric Inc. He was named one of Engineering News-Record MidAtlantic's 2020 Top 20 Under 40 Young Professionals. The list represents the best and brightest emerging design and construction leaders from across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Fox resides in Harrisburg.
Travis Gibbon, 2014
information technology: network specialist
Travis owns Island Rentals of Hilton Head. He manages 75 vacation rental properties for private owners and resides in Hilton Head Island, S.C.