Tobyhanna Employees Lauded for Selflessness and Attention to Detail Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) recognized two stellar employees this week, honoring them as the newest Employees of the Quarter (EoQs). Ariana Katchur of the Resource Management Directorate was named EoQ for the Junior category, while Janet Warnick of the Installation Services Directorate was named EoQ for the Senior category for the second quarter of 2023. Warnick serves as a Lead Chemist in the Installation Services Directorate’s Environmental Branch, where she is responsible for coordinating, tracking and approving all hazardous materials used at the depot. She also plays a key role in liaising with other organizations both on and off-post to meet regulatory reporting requirements about Tobyhanna’s environmental efforts. Paula Mesaris, Chief of the Environmental Branch, championed Warnick for the honor. In her nomination package, Mesaris noted that Warnick consistently goes above and beyond. “Jan is always willing to step up and help others. She conducts research outside her normal job tasks to provide thorough responses to our customers and is always available to answer questions.” Mesaris outlined a host of accomplishments in the nomination package; most notable was Warnick’s support of a project that enabled Tobyhanna to recycle solvent materials, reducing hazardous waste as well as labor and costs. The project enabled personnel in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate to recoup nearly 80% of solvent for future reuse. The accolade was a complete surprise, according to Warnick. “I was absolutely shocked and honored to be named as Tobyhanna EoQ,” she said. “I have always enjoyed seeing others receive this award, and it is truly special to be recognized myself.” Much of Warnick’s career has been spent in the environmental sector – a byproduct of her upbringing. “I was always outside as a kid, and that fostered a love for the environment that has stayed with me. I always wanted to do meaningful work, and I love being able to preserve our beautiful Earth for generations to come,” she said. Warnick previously worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, where she often crossed paths with depot personnel. Those experiences, and a lifelong passion for the military, led her to seek out employment with the depot. “When the opportunity to come work at the depot arose, I jumped at it. My previous experiences with Tobyhanna were extremely positive, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to help make our nation strong and free,” she said, adding that she knows she made the right choice. “My work is very fulfilling, but I couldn’t do it without the great team that I work with. Their support and contributions are vital to us achieving our mission!” Warnick also regularly volunteers her talents for community engagements, wowing crowds with her stunning renditions of “God Bless America” and the National Anthem at Warfighter of the Quarter events across the region. Community Relations Specialist Katie Nolan commended Warnick on her enduring commitment to Tobyhanna, on and off-post. “Jan’s incredible talent for singing has elevated every community event she has supported with Team Tobyhanna – her professionalism and enthusiasm are a testament to the Army’s assertion that our people are our greatest asset,” she said. Katchur is an Accountant for TYAD’S Financial Analysis Division in the Directorate of Resource Management. Working as a TYAD accountant requires a meticulous attention to detail, a commitment to best practices and a steadfast dedication to the mission of the organization. In nominating Katchur for this honor, Chief of the Financial Analysis Division Andrea Vozzi said Katchur, combines the aforementioned qualities with an inquisitive and determined work ethic to excel as an accountant. “Ariana always acts with fiduciary responsibility at the forefront. Despite being the newest member of the accounting team, she is not afraid to ask questions to expand her knowledge and understanding. Additionally, she is not afraid to bring her concerns to the surface, prompting conversations which improve TYAD processes,” said Vozzi. One instance of Katchur’s attention to detail was her investigation of unmatched Transportation Account Codes (TACs). Vozzi said Katchur successfully resolved 20 rejected freight shipping invoices totaling $200K which had been in suspense. In addition, Katchur is currently developing a local regulation regarding TACs to provide clear guidance. Vozzi said this instance is a microcosm of Katchur’s work ethic and altruistic approach to her work. “Ariana is a model of selfless service within the organization. She continually performs extensive research and asks detailed questions to ensure that TYAD processes are audit-worthy and improve efficiency without ever thinking about whether she will be recognized for her efforts. The driving force behind her actions is always upholding her fiduciary responsibility to TYAD and all stakeholders, from customers to warfighters to taxpayers,” said Vozzi. Katchur was humbled to be recognized in this way, saying the recognition reinforces the idea that her work is recognized by her fellow members of Team Tobyhanna. “I am truly honored and humbled to be named Employee of the Quarter. It came as a complete surprise when my name was announced. Like most, I come into work and try my absolute best every day, not thinking anything of it. Being named Employee of the Quarter is an honor and shows that people throughout the depot and at all levels see and appreciate the work I do each and every day,” said Katchur. Katchur enjoys her role because her work enables TYAD to best support our warfighters. “Through monitoring our financials every day, I can catch discrepancies and work with other directorates to get them fixed so that the decision makers have an accurate picture of how TYAD is functioning overall. This is essential, as it affects every part of keeping TYAD in business so we can accomplish our most important mission of supporting the warfighter,” she said. While recognition is nice, Katchur said the best part of working at TYAD is the ability to help her fellow team members and come together to accomplish tasks. “A major part of my job involves working with other directorates and areas to solve issues or brainstorm the best way to approach a situation. I truly enjoy when my expertise in certain areas can help make another person’s job that much easier and I’m happy to help anytime I can!” Recognition of outstanding employee performance across the enterprise through the Employee of the Quarter program directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, and specifically the Invest in Our People line of effort. All four focus areas of the plan are: Invest in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense’s premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
Marywood University To Host 2023 Open House Marywood University will hold a summer undergraduate open house for high school students and their parents on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Fireplace Lounge at the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus, and the last campus tour departs at 1:45 p.m. The event will include informative tours of the campus, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch for all guests, and the opportunity to meet with current Marywood students, faculty, and athletic coaches. Information sessions with admissions and financial aid counselors will also be available. For more information and to register, visit marywood.edu/openhouse, email YourFuture@marywood.edu, or call Marywood University’s admissions office at (570) 348-6234.
Sinclair’s Home Care Registry to Host Charity Event Sinclair’s Home Care Registry will be hosting an afternoon of fun on Sunday, June 25th, 2023 at the Draft’s Bar and Grill in Lake Ariel, PA. The event will begin at 1:00 pm and there will be music, dancing, raffles, food, and much more! All proceeds from the raffles will go towards the walk to end Alzheimer’s.
Gaelic Gathering at the Everhart Celebrate Irish traditions at the Gaelic Gathering at the Everhart, a fun, 21 and older Irish-themed event on Friday, July 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Gathering takes place on the Museum grounds in Nay Aug Park and features a slate of exciting elements. All is provided with the cost of registration of $50 per person.
Wayne Bank Donates to Local Nonprofits Jim Donnelly, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Bank, is pleased to announce that Wayne Bank has supported the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties and the Canaan Christian Academy with a donation through the PennGift Foundation. Jerry Birmelin, Managing Director for the PennGift Foundation, accepted a check in the amount of 25,000 from Mr. Donnelly. The United Way of Wayne and Lackawanna counties works with a dedicated team of educators and community stakeholders to help better align Early Childhood Education and school districts while building a strong bridge for families to help ensure every child in our community is supported through all the stages of growth of and development. The Canaan Christian Academy is known for its commitment to educate and train students to achieve their full potential in all facets of life.
The Institute and WVIA Seeks Survey Takers Take a short online survey for a chance to win one of five $100 Visa Gift cards. See information below. .
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Recognition Join the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging and Telespond Senior Services for a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Ceremony and the Older Adult Advocacy Center Groundbreaking Ceremony.
NET Credit Union Awards Scholarships NET Credit Union awarded $10,000 in scholarships to two local recipients at an annual meeting. Each recipient won a $5,000 scholarship. Each applicant must be a NET Credit Union member, have proof of a B average or better, proof of attendance, and must submit a 1,000 word essay with a cover page answering the scholarship question. Congratulations to Maya Chorba and Tara Sweeney for winning this year’s scholarship.
The Dime Bank Brings Personal Finance Education to Students The Dime Bank contributed $9,000.00 to the nonprofit, Brighter Financial Futures, doing business as the Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy. This donation, which was made through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, supports students in the Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, and Delaware Valley school districts and Canaan Christian Academy through the Personal Finance Education Program. The Personal Finance Program hosts three programs in one: a personal financial curriculum teaching personal finance and business; a stock market challenge simulation that teaches students how to invest in the stock market; and a personal budgeting game simulation where students learn about credit, budgeting, net worth, and financial balance for quality of life. The first-place winners of the Stock Market Challenge were Wayne Highlands Middle School student Claire Goldstein and Delaware Valley High School student Ritesh Patel. Each student received a Chromebook, a $100.00 gift card, and The Dime Bank gift basket. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich commented, “Personal finance skills provide a solid foundation for future success, and we feel this program is very worthwhile for our future leaders to gain a greater understanding of the world of finance.”
Tobyhanna Army Depot Improves its Fire and Emergency Process For Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Branch, time is of the essence. A well-organized storage area is paramount to a time-efficient response during an emergency. TYAD F&ES leadership keenly understands the importance of this and recently invested in it. Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Ward tasked members of F&ES with a Lean/6S project to organize and inventory the firehouse equipment storage area. Lean is a program of continuous improvement based on eliminating unnecessary steps in a process such as rearranging an area to improve workflow and increase efficiency. Over the course of the three-month endeavor, a team led by firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) Eric Reddinger inventoried, labeled and organized everything in the storage area in a more logical fashion. In addition to that, the team created a rack layout chart so anyone can easily find whatever they are looking for at a glance. Reddinger said the project addressed the issues of equipment being stored randomly or unnecessarily. “Essentially, for years (the storage area) has been the catch-all for anything that didn’t have a home. There was no rhyme or reason to how stuff was stored, and we came up with an easy-to-follow layout to label everything and get it organized,” said Reddinger. “We got rid of a 30-yard dumpster of old supplies, and we had one dumpster of metal products that went to recycling. We made a lot of room.” Assistant Fire Chief Palmer Johnson said getting the storage area to this point has been an example of continuous growth. “When the project first got started, we did have things in storage bins. However, we did not have a very good process of knowing what was in each bin and the quantity. So, Eric and his team inventoried every container. They said ‘Okay, so we have four things in one container – they don’t all go together. Let’s put these two things in one, and we’ll put these two in another,’” said Johnson. That concerted effort to organize things in a logical way means finding equipment is a quicker process and keeping tabs on inventory is much easier. The knowledge of where things are and how much of something is available is critical because, according to Johnson, the team is only going to the storage area during the worst of emergencies. A hurdle faced by the F&ES team has been keeping the area organized once a system is put in place. This time, Reddinger said, the team is determined to keep it in pristine condition after all the hard work that went into the project. “It took a whole bunch of people to get it done. We’re all going to be mindful of it and keep after it. It’s a standing rule.” Johnson recognized Reddinger for his comprehensive vision, dynamic leadership and effective communication throughout the project, adding that the unorthodox schedule of firefighters can make it easy for there to be a breakdown. “Our schedules are challenging for a project like this. Because when Eric works for two days, this is what he’s focused on for those two days. But when he goes home, he needs to be able to pass on the vision to the rest of the group that’s going to be here moving things around, so when he gets back what he envisioned to be on this wall isn’t somewhere else. And he did that. He came up with a plot and a map and a clear explanation,” said Johnson. Firefighter Chris Uhrin is new to TYAD, and the organization project was one of the first things he worked on. He said the project was the perfect introduction to F&ES and the heightened organization makes it so everyone can use the building to its greatest potential. “Now that everything is organized the way it is, it will make a great impact on just knowing that everyone who’s here, no matter what shifts, is able to use the building to the fullest ability to be able to quickly locate supplies,” said Uhrin. A particular point of pride for this project was the teamwork shown by F&ES. Johnson praised the collaborative effort starting with leadership to the project lead to the entire F&ES team. “(Pat Ward) started the project and if Eric had changes, he presented me a map, we reviewed the map and made sure his vision matched ours. It really was a team effort; just about everybody was out here at some point participating in some way,” said Johnson. TYAD F&ES provide invaluable support not only to TYAD but also to our great surrounding community.
