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Introducing the Leadership Venango Class of 2023


Leadership Venango is a nine-month program designed to identify, educate, involve and motivate individuals who desire to become more effective leaders. This is the fifth year of the program and there are 15 people in the Class of 2023.

Learn more about the program at leadershipvenango.org

Class of 2023

Amanda Barber works for Patterson Auto Wrecking, She is a FLEX member and has also volunteered with Venango County 4H, the Izaak Walton League, and VARHA.

Amanda Barker is the Branch manager of the Cooperstown Library. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in Library Science, both from Clarion University. She was nominated for FLEX Young Professional of the Year in 2021,  started a German Speaking Club in Franklin, and works with the Heritage Society in Oil City.

Jeanne Best is Marketing and Training Coordinator and WEDnetPA Partner for the PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center. She is also a business owner of 10 years with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Jeanne has also volunteered for Clarion County ABATE, CASA of Venango County,  and been a member of Rotary.

Jess Funk is the Economic Development Specialist for the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation. She has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. Jess is a Board member of Clarion Blueprint, and serves as Secretary/Treasurer for Clarion Area Young Professionals.

Stacy Ginkel is the President of KJ Consulting & Environmental Services, which she founded in 2018. Stacy has been involved with the American Society of Highway Engineers since 2002. She currently serves on the Board of the Oil Region Alliance and ARTinCC, and is an avid runner with a love for working with trail groups to develop local trail systems.

Seth Herrick is a Project Analyst at UPMC Northwest. He began his career with UPMC as a Radiologic Technologist, then became the Clinical Coordinator of the Radiologic Technological Program, and now serves as an analyst in Operations and Administration. He has a master’s in Health Services Administration and is working on his doctorate.

Heather Hondel is the Marketing Assistant for the Venango Chamber as well as the Entrepreneurship Program Manager for Venango eAcademy, where she teaches local seniors. She enjoys being involved in her church, choreographing musicals for Cranberry High School, and being involved in shows at the Barrow Civic Theatre. 

Bill Hricsina is a Diesel Technician at Klapec Trucking  Company in Reno where he inspects, repairs, and maintains the fleet of around 80 trucks and 175 trailers. He earned his diesel technician certification from WyoTech  Blairsville and earned his CDL through Klapec Trucking Company. Bill is also a member of the Franklin Elks Club.

Bridey Keller is the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Venango County where she is responsible for recruitment for all County positions as well as day-to-day functions. She previously worked in marketing for the Punxsutawney Spirit Newspaper for 6 years and has volunteered with the Girl Scout Troop #26493.

Daniel Newbury is a Real Estate Entrepreneur who focuses on property renovation and development in Venango County. He was formerly a biology teacher in the United Arab Emirates and has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in biology. Daniel is also involved in Youth Connection and a member of FLEX.

Deb Shevitz is a General Ledger Accounting Manager with North Carolina-based business called The Logistics Company. She  has earned bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance from Penn State Behrend. Deb was elected Jackson Township Auditor and volunteers as a Cooperstown softball coach and with a Relay for Life team.

Christian Snyder is the Human Resources Manager for the Crawford Area Transportation Authority. Christian has 12 years of experience in the Human Resources field, working previously for Vanderbilt University and the University of Pittsburgh.  He spends some of his free time coaching the Franklin Middle School baseball team.

Ben Vincent is a Senior Civil Engineer Supervisor in the Maintenance Unit with PennDOT, where he has worked for 11 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Ben started volunteering with Cranberry Little League this Summer when his son started T-Ball.

Kate Whitling is the Project Manager at Schake Industries where she is responsible for scheduling, customer relations, risk management, business development, budgeting, and more. She has a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Slippery Rock and is working on her master’s degree in Project Management from Penn State University.

Kaitlinn Young is the Human Resources Coordinator at Webco Industries, who has locations locally in Oil City and Reno. She is currently working towards earning a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. Kaitlinn is responsible for setting up interviews and assisting with the hiring process, as well as coordinating events.

These bios were also published in the Venango Chamber’s November 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.

FYI Newsletter – November 2022


For young professionals, by young professionals. This monthly newsletter is published by Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the young professionals group of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce.

Click here or the image below for a PDF of the FYI.

Find articles from the FLEX FYI on the Chamber’s blog.

The Skills Gap in Today’s Workforce


By Pam Watkins, Watkins HR Strategy

Recently I was asked, “What is going on with the labor pool in our country? We can’t find any qualified applicants.” I answered with some key points about our current labor force that I believe are impacting workforce challenges:

• Baby Boomers are retiring every day. Some are retiring earlier than predicted. When they leave your organization, the “tribal knowledge” goes with them.

• The pandemic impacted the labor market. There are individuals that are not back to work in full-time capacities. Those that are, may have reset their priorities and want job flexibility including hybrid options.

• The U.S. birth rate has been declining since 2007. This leaves us with less people to fill the gaps that are open by those exiting the workforce. You can find additional information on the annual percent change in the U.S. Population from 1990-2021 by looking at the U.S. Census.

• In my professional opinion, we have, for the past few decades, also focused too heavily on formal degree programs and not enough on trades and technical education. We are feeling the effects of this now as manufacturers struggle to find skilled employees.

In summary, the workforce skill gap is widening. Employer staffing needs are growing. Add to that inflation, and a myriad of other culture-related concerns, and we are in about to be swept up in the “perfect storm.”

My advice for employers who want to harness workforce potential is to ensure that strategy, communication and training and development are at the top of your strategic plan list for 2023. Get ahead of the storm. Strategize, communicate, and train your workforce for the future.

Pam Watkins is an HR expert and owner of Watkins HR Strategy.
For more information, visit watkinshrs.com.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s October 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.

Gearing Up for the Holiday Season


Fall is in full swing which means the holiday season is also approaching. This time of year can be fun and exciting—spending time with family and friends, attending parties, practicing annual traditions, enjoying great food and games, and more—but it can also bring stress when it comes to balancing work and your personal life.

So, how can you keep up with everything as we get into this busy season, and finish the year strong? Some FLEX members have ideas:

Set Boundaries
“It’s important to set boundaries for yourself and with others. Make it clear when you are available and when you won’t be,” said Devin Zagar. “Also allow for spontaneity. Life is about so much more than work. Set that project down and do something out of the blue–call a friend and get together, take your significant other on a date, etc.”

Create A To-Do List & Prioritize
Tessa Byham told us: “At work, I first get everything I need to do out of my brain and onto paper, then I prioritize that list and decide what I can reasonably accomplish. I also try to start working on year-end projects now, so I’m not cramming everything in the last few weeks of the year.”

Use the Weekend to Reset & Prep
“I utilize the weekend to reset,” Laura Ordaz said. “I take time on weekends to do laundry, clean the house, prep food (whether that’s meal prepping or just prepping veggies for meals), review the week’s schedule so I know what meetings and other obligations are coming up, and plan my exercise routine.”

Plan A Budget
“With so much planning for the holiday season, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and experience burnout between work and family,” Amariliz Sanchez added. “To avoid this and actually focus on sharing these beautiful moments with our loved ones, I like to plan ahead with three specific budgets for each holiday: gifts, decorations and holiday menus. Sticking to the budget will allow me to work with what I have and make the most of these special moments.”

Make Time For Loved Ones
Kyle Peasley agrees that family should be a focus. “I try to make time to visit family, especially over the holidays. My mother and sister don’t live in Pennsylvania and it’s hard to visit often with my work schedule, so the holidays are particularly important for us.”

Finding a balance between work and personal life can be a challenge. This season, we hope you can find ways to complete your work, while also getting into the holiday spirit and making time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

Photo above from last year’s FLEX Ugly Holiday Sweater Party.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) October 2022 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.

FYI Newsletter – October 2022


For young professionals, by young professionals. This monthly newsletter is published by Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange (FLEX), the young professionals group of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce.

Click here or the image below for a PDF of the FYI.

Find articles from the FLEX FYI on the Chamber’s blog.