Tobyhanna Army Depot Recognizes Interns on National Intern Day Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) observed National Intern Day on July 29 by shining a spotlight on depot employees who joined Team Tobyhanna through internship programs. The Pathways Program provides streamlined Federal employment opportunities for students near graduation and recent graduates. Current students can participate in the Internship Program for temporary summer jobs while recent graduates can apply for permanent jobs at Tobyhanna. Scott Corti, an Information Technology (IT) trainee in the Production Engineering Directorate, joined Team Tobyhanna last October after a neighbor encouraged him to seek federal employment. “I always wanted to serve in the military, and I have a medical condition that kept me from enlisting. After hearing about how great Tobyhanna is, I applied to serve as a civilian,” adding that the depot’s location was also a benefit for him. “Because my family is very important to me, I wanted to remain in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My position at Tobyhanna allows me to do that and also have a true purpose in my work.” As an IT trainee, Corti works with senior IT specialists to ensure the security of military information systems. He says the position is a perfect match for his outside of work pursuits. “My grandfather bought me a computer when I was four years old and they’ve [computers] have been my hobby ever since. It was really exciting to be able to translate my interest into a profession.” Corti will graduate with his Bachelor’s Degree from Wilkes University this fall and looks forward to a long career with the depot. “I enjoy government service and believe I can make a difference as part of Team Tobyhanna.” Hannah Gaul, a logistics management specialist in the Production Management Directorate, also finds gratification in her role in the Sustainment Planning Division (SPD). “The positive culture and mission focus here are my favorite things about being a part of Team Tobyhanna,” she said. “I know what we do matters.” As a student at the University of Scranton, Gaul gravitated towards marketing and operations management – fields that aligned with her interest in customer service. The Pathways program allowed her to intern at Tobyhanna during her senior year of college. She says the experience prepared her well for a full-time position in SPD. “Being enrolled in college courses while simultaneously interning at Tobyhanna allowed me to connect my learning experiences in the classroom directly to the workplace,” adding that she was grateful the University’s career development office shared depot career opportunities with students. Business development is a main focus for SPD, with Gaul focusing on the development of public-private partnerships (P3s). P3s allow the Department of Defense to leverage unique capabilities available in the private sector to support operational readiness in the most effective and efficient fashion. In the future, Hannah hopes to gain her Project Management Professional certification and expand her ability to support production management requirements across the depot. Chris Urban and Anthony Bojnowski are both interns in the Systems Integration and Support (SIS) Directorate, supporting refinishing operations on a variety of military assets. While working in a similar capacity, they are in different stages of their intern experience. Urban, a senior Corporate Communications major at Penn State’s Scranton campus, expects to graduate in the spring. Although he’s been working in a field different from his planned career, he says the experience has been extremely valuable. “Before my internship, I didn’t even know Tobyhanna existed. Working here as an intern has helped me understand how the business works on the shop floor and, since I plan to work here after graduation, I believe that will benefit me no matter what position I end up in.” Bojnowski agreed. “Everything I am learning here is truly beneficial and I know I will use it later in life.” Still a high school student, Bojnowski entered the Pathways Program to expand his industrial skill set. A student at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center, he plans to work as a licensed electrician in the future. Both interns lauded the internship program and, specifically, the SIS leadership for facilitating such an incredible experience for students. “The team and leadership here is great,” Urban said. Students interested in future internship opportunities with Team Tobyhanna can apply through USAJobs at www.usajobs.gov. For more information, students can visit the Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/
Woodloch Pines Resort Honors its Employees After an extremely challenging year and three-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Woodloch Pines, an all-inclusive family resort in the Pocono Mountains, was more eager than ever to recognize the hard work and dedication of its longtime employees. Although the annual in-person staff meeting and celebration could not take place, the Kiesendahl Family, who have owned and operated the business for over 60 years, took the time to honor and reward their loyal team members with gift certificates and golden nametags in recognition of their service. Woodloch has a very special history, which is a large part of what creates such an exceptional staffing base. When Woodloch founders Harry and Mary Kiesendahl first purchased the property back in 1958, the couple was looking for an escape from the hectic hustle bustle of life in New York and a way to reconnect as a family. As the resort grew over the years, both guests and staff alike grew to become family members as the Kiesendahl’s welcomed them with open arms. Of the 1,091 part and full-time workers, 199 have served the company for at least a decade. Considering that the hospitality industry is well-known for its high turnover rate, this is certainly a notable accomplishment. 99 of these staff members have worked for the family resort for at least 20 years and another 40 for 30-plus years. One such employee, John Taninies, is celebrating his 40th year working at Woodloch. After graduating high school, Taninies began his career during the summer of 1981 working the waterski dock on the family resort’s lake. He also washed dishes in the evening and was asked if he would like to work in the kitchen full-time. He enjoyed the experience enough to pursue his culinary degree at Sullivan County Community College in New York from 1983 to 1985 while maintaining his job at Woodloch. During the summer of 1984, Taninies worked with a classmate who owned a catering company that was serving athletes and staff at the U.S. Open and the Los Angeles Olympics, after which he returned to Woodloch. He went on to help open the brand-new kitchen and bakery at The Inn at Woodloch, built to accommodate the growing number of guests at the Poconos resort. After 21 years of managing The Inn and spreading his talents across Woodloch’s various kitchens, Taninies found his way back to where he originally began his culinary career — the kitchen of the resort’s Main Dining Room — which he has been managing since 2006. “John has been a dedicated part of Woodloch’s team for the past forty years. He continues to share his expertise and leadership to this day. His strong guidance and work ethic have earned him the respect of his peers throughout Woodloch, and we have been fortunate to have John as part of our extended family,” remarked Bob Kiesendahl, co-owner and Food and Beverage Director of Woodloch Resort.“Our staff members are second to none. We are where we are because of them, and we couldn’t be more grateful, especially given the past year’s challenges,” continued Bradley Kiesendahl, Woodloch’s President and C.E.O. “Thanks to their efforts, Woodloch has maintained its longstanding reputation of providing first-class hospitality through our most difficult days. We are deeply appreciative of the hard work, genuine care, and unending compassion our team members display each and every day.” The Poconos resort is excited to announce that it is currently hiring new employees. For more information, please visit: https://www.woodloch.com/view/careers/.
Crystal Window AC85 Acoustic Window Receives Industry Recognition National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems and its impressive product line continue to receive fenestration industry recognition. Leading national trade publication US Glass Magazine named the Crystal Acoustic Window AC85 Aluminum Window the winner in the façade/glazing systems category of its annual “Readers’ Choice Awards,” featured in the December 2020 issue. This is the second year in a row and the third time in the past five years that a new Crystal product was picked as a favorite. “The Crystal Series AC85 Acoustic Window delivers industry leading acoustic sound transmission reductions,” said Sabrina Leung, Crystal’s R&D/Architectural Sales Manager. “Independent lab testing of the AC85 window for a recent project in New York certified an outstanding Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) sound reduction rating of 42 using double pane insulated glass. This means properties in high noise areas near highways, rail lines, airports, or heavy traffic can use these windows to provide very comfortable interior environments.” The aluminum frame Crystal AC85 Acoustic Window is available in either casement or fixed window styles. The heavy-duty aluminum 7-⅞” depth thermally-broken master frame window features a dual-sash configuration for both styles. For the casement, the interior sash opens in and the exterior sash opens out. The AC85 dual sashes each have a 1-¼” glazing pocket which accepts double or triple pane insulated glass units. With appropriate glass, Low-E coatings, and argon filling options, notable U-values of 0.28 are achieved. The US Glass Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by the publication’s national and international subscribers voting online during November for the most impressive new products featured in the publication during the year. Crystal was a previous Readers’ Choice Award winner in 2019 with its Magnus Commercial Vinyl Series 4500 uPVC window line and in 2016 with its aluminum Series 8500/8600 projected window line. US Glass is the most widely read architectural glass industry magazine, offered monthly in both print and online editions. The associated US Glass online information platform provides a daily email service to subscribers and offers the latest industry news, product information, commentary, and observations of leading industry experts.
