Junior Achievement (JA) of Western PA, Northwest Region is excited to introduce their new and revitalized board in Venango County. JA has been working with the community to form a stronger board to help serve 1,700 students in the Venango area and, as of April, they have added eight new board members.

In March, JA held an event called “Empower Your Day, have Breakfast with JA,” sponsored by UPMC. Through that event, they were able to create awareness around their mission of work-force development, financial literacy and entrepreneurship to the leaders in the community.

This year’s Annual Campaign is led by Brian Durniok, President of UPMC Northwest. Board members include: Chip Abramovic, Venango County Commissioner; Beth Mays, Northwest Bank; Nicole Snyder, Nicole’s Bridal; Susan Martin, retired teacher, Rocky Grove; Jennifer Mays, Farmers Insurance; Ann Richar, Richar, Shields & Co. PC; Angela Shields, Richar, Shields & Co. PC; Joanne Sorenson, UPMC Northwest; Debra Sobina, Clarion University and Colleen Stuart, Venango Training & Development Center, Inc.

Hear from two current board members (below) on the importance and impact of JA in our region. For more information on JA and how you can get involved, visit their website at www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-westernpa/

“JA is an important tool to peek interests of local students (beginning in grade school) to the many wonderful options that are available to suit their individual needs for a rewarding career. Preparing youth with self-confidence and experience makes them more valuable, focused, goal-oriented, successful, and well rounded employees.”  –Beth Mays, Northwest Bank

“As a current and prior JA Board Member in Venango County, I am a passionate advocate for the curriculum that JA provides.  I have been fortunate to see how students have benefitted, by developing skills that help them with their own economic success. Our goal is to increase our engagement with the community and volunteers, from all walks of business and industry, so that we can provide this knowledge to more students.  Statistics show that the effects of Junior Achievement training and mentoring lasts a lifetime!” -Colleen Stuart, VTDC

This article was published in the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s January 2019 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.