Ference & Associates Hires Ian Samways

Posted on 10, May 2012 by Jonathan Kersting

Ian Samways

Ference & Associates announces the hiring of Ian Samways as a Senior Patent Agent. Ian has over twenty years experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, as well as filing patent applications internationally. His expertise is in the area of computer software and hardware, medical devices and metal forming and steelmaking processes.

Mr. Samways graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.S. in Engineering (concentration in Civil/Mechanical) and did graduate studies in Slavic and General Linguistics, and Russian/East European Area Studies at Yale University.

ChemImage Hires Chief Financial Officer

Posted on 03, May 2012 by Jonathan Kersting

Raymond Gevaudan

ChemImage Corporation is pleased to announce that Raymond E. Gevaudan joined the company as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 30th.

In his current role, Gevaudan will focus on building an efficient infrastructure to manage key business processes, work to ensure compliance with financing covenants and be the principal point of contact for investors regarding financial operations. “We are excited to have Ray join our executive team,” said Jim McGlone, President of ChemImage. “His background in finance and accounting will be vital to help us continue to drive growth, investment and profitability in the organization.”

With over twenty years of experience in the finance industry, Gevaudan brings a combination of operations, transaction and audit experience to the company. After starting his career with Ernst & Young’s Pittsburgh office, he has spent the last thirteen years focused on the challenges of venture capital-backed companies from both an investor and management perspective. Gevaudan spent eight years working with The Hillman Company and the last 5 years in financial leadership roles with local technology and manufacturing companies.

Gevaudan is a long time Pittsburgh resident, having attended Central Catholic High School, earning his BS in Accounting from Duquesne University, and later his MBA at the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. A current resident of the Ben Avon neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Gevaudan remains active in his community serving as a volunteer for Central Catholic’s Viking Victory Auction, a Finance Council member for Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth, and a girls’ basketball coach at St. James School in Sewickley.

STEM jobs Are The Future

Posted on 26, Apr 2012 by Justin Driscoll

The annual Imagine Career week is kicking off today led by the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board!

This annual event is designed to help young people from around the region explore the many different career paths available to them. The emphasis on this year’s newsletter is jobs within the STEM disciples, science, technology, engineering, and math. Many organizations from around the region are participating including many tech firms. Make sure you check out their web site for the schedule and the details to see how you and your company can get involved.

Also download the Pittsburgh Regional Compact Quarterly Spring 2012 edition, here, to read about some of the exciting STEM events and activities taking place to ensure we have a highly qualified workforce of the future! Be sure to note the Council’s about last year’s STEM Summit, which also has an eye to the 2012 Summit scheduled to take place on August 29th of this year.

6th Annual Imagine! Career Week to Focus on Regional Jobs and Connecting Youth to Career Pathways

Posted on 25, Apr 2012 by Jonathan Kersting

The Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB) has unveiled plans for its 6^th annual Imagine! Career Week, being held from April 26-May 4, 2012. Generously supported by the Citizens Bank Foundation, Imagine! Career Week celebrates the diversity of career opportunities available now in our region and helps students consider a wide range of career pathways.

“Imagine! Career Week takes a unique approach to career exploration,” explained Stefani Pashman, CEO of TRWIB. “Its focus takes participants beyond basic learning about jobs that are in demand (such as what a nurse does) to promote an understanding of the range of career pathways available to Pittsburgh’s youth. The week helps young people think about what they like to do and how those interests can lead to careers. Pittsburgh’s vibrant business economy presents our youth with a path that makes sense for them. Imagine Career Week helps them envision a bright future and learn how to get there.”

The week encourages exploration of career pathways through workplace tours, job shadowing, interactions with employers at job fairs, playing with equipment and tools at trade union training centers, building a robot or attendance at a youth leadership conference.

“This is an innovative way to help students think about their future and explore the many career possibilities that await them by learning first-hand from employers in those industries,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens forPennsylvania,New JerseyandDelaware. “We are proud to once again support this event and applaud the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board for connecting students with the business community and the employment opportunities that are available to them inPittsburghand beyond.”

On May 1, 2012, the Imagine! Career Week Breakfast sponsored by the Citizens Bank Foundation will include PA Dept. of Education secretary Ron Tomalis. This event brings together employers, educators and community partners to talk about pathways for pursuing a career, whether through post-secondary education, apprenticeship, or on-the-job learning. The winners of the Imagine! Your Future Essay and Video contest will be announced and given the opportunity to shadow someone working in their dream career pathway. Events include:

Thursday April 26

- The Future is Mine Conference (MarriottCityCenter)

- Take a Child to Work Day (Open to the Public)

- JA Days, Junior Achievement

- UPMC-POWRR Workshop (Open to the Public)

Friday April 27

- Trades Exploration Day supported by Citizens Bank Foundation

- Great Race Competition, Boys and Girls Clubs

- The Future is Mine Student Leadership Conference– Day 2

- Global Careers Symposium – World Affairs Council & Allegheny Intermediate Unit

Saturday April 28

- AugustWilsonCenter’s Youth Talent Showcase (Open to the Public)

Monday April 30

- WorkReady Pittsburgh Open Application Session (Open to Youth ages 14-21)

Tuesday May 1

- Citizens Bank® Sponsored Employer Breakfast with Ron Tomalis, Secretary, PA Dept of Education and panel discussion

Wednesday May 2

- Junior Achievement 5th Grade Career Fair

- Junior Achievement Pittsburgh’s Future is Now Contest

- AlleghenyCountyHousingAuthority – Open Your Eyes Tour

- East EndWorks Job Fair

Thursday May 3

- YouthLINK Career Fair 12:30pm– 4:00pm at the Omni William Penn (Open to the Public)

- UPMC POWRR Workshop at ENEC (Day 2, Open to the Public)

- Career Pathway Fair,PittsburghJob Corps (Open to the Public)

Friday May 4

- Junior Achievement Days – Day 2

PA Career Link will offer events open to the public that feature on-site recruitment by employers, industry driven workshops, financial literacy workshops, resume review and mock interviews. Also, Career Resource workshops will be held at neighborhood libraries. A full outline of the week’s events is available at http://www.imaginecareerweek.org/events.htm.

TRWIB is grateful to the partners who make the week possible including: The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, The August Wilson Center, The Bridge of Pittsburgh, PA CareerLink® Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, The Consortium for Public Education, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, Housing Authority of Allegheny County, The Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the Pittsburgh Regional Compact, Pittsburgh JobCorps, SmartFutures, YouthLINK, Youthworks, Inc.

SDLC Partners hires Katherine Waltz as the new Director of Talent and Organization Development

Posted on 20, Apr 2012 by theprossman

SDLC Partners L.P. is pleased to announce that Katherine Waltz joined the organization on March 19, 2012 as the Director of Talent and Organization Development. Katherine will be responsible for talent planning, leadership and organizational development, cultural advancements, and overall leadership of the Human Resource function.

SDLC’s three principal partners—Chris Simchick, Scott Barnyak, and Christy Maruca—are excited about her decision to join the leadership team and support the firm’s overall growth strategy. “We identified the need for Strategic HR Leadership as a core element of support for our growth initiatives. As we execute our rolling three year strategy having someone with Katherine’s experience and capabilities will enhance our ability to accomplish our company objectives. In a few short weeks, Katherine has already added value by organizing and aligning support strategies for our rapidly expanding Practice Areas” said Chris Simchick. Added Maruca…. “This is just another important step in demonstrating our commitment to investing in our employees and the company. Her expertise brings the dimensions of HR experience that is needed to support our recent growth and continue to build the foundation for our future.”

Katherine brings over 10 years of experience in the areas of performance management, talent, organization, leadership development, talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, and strategic business partnership. Her most recent role as the Associate Director of HR was at H.J. Heinz Company. Prior to her position at Heinz, Katherine spent 5 years at Frito-Lay, Inc. Katherine also has experience supporting corporate and field supply chain, sales, finance, IT, legal, strategy, and investor relations work groups. One of SDLC Partners core values is the growth and development of their employees. Katherine’s strategic goals and leadership skills will help pave the way for continued success in the evolution of the firm.