Tobyhanna Celebrates Interns Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) observed National Intern Day on July 27 by spotlighting 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. Blake Praschak is bringing the knowledge he has gained as an Electrical Construction Technology student at Johnson College to Tobyhanna Army Depot’s Electrical Cable Branch. Praschak said joining Team Tobyhanna was easy because “everyone talks about how great (TYAD) is.” Seeing it firsthand, Praschak agrees with the sentiment. Blake has been supported and mentored by his colleagues in the shop. “I learn something new every day by watching, paying attention and soaking in as much as I can. And when it comes time to apply what I’ve learned, work leaders know you will make mistakes and are happy to work with you. They tailor your work to get you different experiences.” Praschak has gained valuable hands-on experience with soldering and cable manufacture through his work in the cable shop. Most importantly, he feels he is being molded into the best employee he can be for a noble cause. “Tobyhanna’s mission helps you get up in the morning. Knowing that your work is important to the safety of our nation’s warfighters is a rewarding feeling.” Chief of the Electrical Cable Branch Bob Olshefski said Blake, and all student workers, are part of a long-term strategy to ensure that experienced team members are mentoring the brightest minds of the next generation. “Students offer a fresh perspective and are eager to learn processes. Having students in the shop helps to create a synergy and rejuvenates the shop into a learning and teaching mode. This generation of students has displayed respect, want to learn, and an appreciation of the knowledge they are receiving.” Penn State student Megan Askew recently joined Team Tobyhanna in March. A lifelong admiration for America’s military personnel led her to their current position as a student trainee Production Controller in the Production Management Directorate. “My father is a U.S. Navy veteran, and I was interested in working as a civilian to support servicemembers like him,” she said. The Pathways program affords Askew the opportunity to work alongside experienced production controllers and logistics management specialists to learn the business side of Tobyhanna’s mission. Assigned to the Joint Threat Emitter program, she monitors cost and schedule, collaborating with production floor personnel to ensure a timely, quality product for the warfighter. Although her career aspirations were originally not focused on the logistics field, Askew noted how her experiences here have shaped her future plans. “I really enjoy what I do, and I can absolutely see myself having a long career at Tobyhanna Army Depot,” she said. “There is so much opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it,” She also wants to further her education by gaining a Master of Business Administration degree when she graduates from Penn State next year. Askew praised her experiences thus far at the depot. “Tobyhanna is a great place for interns.” An artist at heart, Megan spends her free time painting, singing, and learning new musical instruments. Internships can often be the foundation for a long and rewarding career, according to Chase Gardner, Chief of the Project Engineering Branch. While a junior at Penn State, Gardner entered the Pathways program’s predecessor, the Student Career Experience Program, as an intern and worked part-time at Tobyhanna while completing his degree. He says the experience was extremely valuable. “Interning allowed me to gain practical experience that complemented my academic studies,” he said. “The opportunity also allowed me to see what types of skills I would need to be an engineer at Tobyhanna and then ensure I took those classes to round out my skillset.” After graduation, Gardner joined Team Tobyhanna as a full-time electrical engineer. As a lifelong learner, he sought out additional developmental experiences in the Production Management Directorate; the Command Group; and through various leadership trainings – all of which led to his current position. “During the first seven years of my depot career, I had a singular view of the depot. Developmental assignments helped me understand the business as a whole, a critical skill to advance in my career. Gardner encourages self-starters to pursue a depot career, noting the vast array of career options. “Endless opportunities exist at Tobyhanna. You just need to seek them out.” 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/ Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, dubbed TOBY2035, has four strategic focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications and aims to posture the organization for future success. The Invest in Our People team is focused on recruiting the best talent to join Team Tobyhanna, including interns, who bring a fresh and unique perspective to the workplace.
Tobyhanna Showcases Agility with New Satellite Terminal Project A unique and dynamic new mission is expanding Tobyhanna Army Depot’s portfolio of capabilities. Personnel from the depot’s Production Engineering Directorate recently completed the inaugural Hardened Transportable Terminal – Modified, or HTT-M — the perfect example of how Tobyhanna Army Depot’s dynamic workforce and innovative approaches position the organization to deliver superior C5ISR readiness for the joint warfighter. Depot personnel worked with the Missile Defense Agency and Department of Defense contractors to design and manufacture a modification of the existing Hardened Transportable Terminal. The term “hardened” refers to the terminal’s ability to endure interference produced by high-altitude electromagnetic pulse threats. The HTT-M is the key communications support element to the deployed AN/TPY-2 radars. The HTT-M provides high-altitude electromagnetic pulse and survivable nuclear, biological, and chemical communications. The asset is a subset of the modernization of enterprise terminals — or MET — program, a multi-year, multi-million-dollar mission to upgrade nearly 90 communication terminals worldwide. The modernizations provide heightened stability and ten times more bandwidth for satellite communications used by Soldiers and DOD officials globally. While the HTT’s main purpose is to serve as a temporary bridge between METs, it can become a permanent fixture when a MET is not a viable option due to space constraints. According to Jonathan Strzelec, chief of the Production Engineering Directorate’s SATCOM and Site Installation Division, the three-year design, development, and manufacturing project represents a major success for Team Tobyhanna. “Tobyhanna Army Depot has taken on similar projects in the past, but this is the first of its kind for this specific variant. We built the entire thing from floor to ceiling in an effort that was like building a house — we even built the kitchen sink, for lack of a better term,” he said. The prototype HTT-M includes several storage containers with environmental control units, a generator, and a hardened operations and maintenance van. Engineering Lead Nicholas Paras outlined the herculean effort, noting that it included the talents of artisans from across the depot. “This build required the fabrication of more than 1,800 piece parts as well as extensive welding, wiring, and painting by team members in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate,” he said. “[The Systems Integration and Support Directorate] also completed the integration of the shelters and worked closely with engineering personnel for installation tasks,” adding that engineers and engineering technicians conducted extensive testing once the HTT-M was fully assembled. Mike Vivlemore said the workload allowed TYAD engineers to challenge themselves and reaffirm depot capabilities. “This was an exercise in proving our capabilities. This project both challenged and improved our already lofty design capabilities,” said Vivlemore. Vivlemore serves as the chief of the Production Engineering Directorate’s Design, Development and Fabrication Division. Strzelec lauded the effort and its benefits for both the customer and Team Tobyhanna. “This project adds to the already impressive list of assets Tobyhanna has provided to our Nation’s warfighters,” he said. The satellite communications enabled by the HTTM are a critical part of warfighter readiness, and the mission directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, which has four focus areas: Investing 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.
Applications Open for the 2023–24 TechCelerator Program A technology business idea in Lackawanna County could lead to $10,000 to jump-start an entrepreneur’s dream. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is announcing the second program year of TechCelerator @Lackawanna County: a collaborative effort of Lackawanna County, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA, The Chamber and its affiliate IGNITE, and tecBRIDGE. “Lackawanna County is thrilled to help facilitate the funding for entrepreneurs to see their dreams get started right in our county. Individuals who are even considering starting a tech-base business should apply to the TechCelerator @Lackwanna County program. Our goal is to see our community’s base diversify and new businesses be successful from start to finish in their entrepreneurial journey,” shared Jerry Notarianni, Chairman of the County Commissioners. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty returns this fall. The program is a ten-week, in-person experience where participants have access to mentors, educational opportunities, and access to subject matter experts on topics like business formation strategies, customer discovery, marketing, financial planning, and risk management. The result of the ten weeks is to build, share, and pitch for their early-stage start-ups. The program is presented in collaboration with the University of Scranton’s Small Business Development Center, Carbondale Technology Transfer Center, Penn State Scranton’s Launchbox, and the Venture Lab at Lackawanna College. “Supporting entrepreneurship is at the core of the Chamber’s mission—to Attract, Sustain, and, in this case, Grow in our region. This is a natural extension of our ongoing efforts to assist business start-ups through the IGNITE program, where our regional network of partners is working together to provide the platform for entrepreneurial success,” says Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty is a competitive application process. All Lackawanna County residents with tech and for-profit business ideas or early start-ups are encouraged to submit applications, but not all will be selected to participate. To apply, visit the Chamber’s entrepreneurship and incubator affiliate, IGNITE, website, www.IGNITE.ScrantonChamber.com/TechCelerator. Applications will remain open until Thursday, September 14, 2023. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about The Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Urban Co-Works Progresses in Construction of Scranton Site Urban Co-works hopes you are doing well and thriving in your work endeavors. Urban Co-works is thrilled to share some exciting updates about their new Scranton, PA location! Walls are being built! Their 19,000 + square foot space has been completely cleared out. The floors, the walls and drop ceilings are all gone! Check out their new, huge space. In a few weeks, Urban Co-works location will look like this. Urban Co-Works is the premier office environment for entrepreneurs, startups, non-profits, consultants and business professionals. Located in the heart of downtown Schenectady, NY, we are steps away from some of the best cafe’s, restaurants and entertainment in the Capital Region. We are excited to announce our newest location in Scranton PA, opening later this year. At Urban Co-Works, members make valuable connections and stretch their dollars in an all-inclusive office setting. Our flexible options include free WiFi, utilities, conference rooms, printing and a host of other amenities. Spacious workspaces and private offices are available.
Johnson College Now Enrolling Students in Driver Training Course Johnson College in partnership with Ancora Education is now enrolling students in its Class A CDL Driver Training course that begins on August 21, 2023, at the College’s new satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center, in Hazle Township. To learn more or to enroll in the Class A CDL Driver Training course, visit johnson.edu/hazleton-cdl or contact the College’s Continuing Education department at continuinged@johnson.edu Students will learn to inspect and operate tractor-trailers and to assume driver responsibilities on the road and at pickup/delivery points. Emphasis is placed on vehicle inspections, defensive driving, range maneuvers, motor carrier safety regulations (DOT 380 -397 and a certificate for entry-level drivers), trip planning, cargo handling, size/weight laws, general maintenance procedures, hours of service, and accident prevention. Participants in this 160-hour program can obtain their CDL in as little as four weeks. The course complies with the new Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules established by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), which went into effect in February 2022.
Keystone Mission Introduces New CEO Keystone Mission introduces Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre as their new CEO & Executive Director. Her vision is to continue the journey together with the NEPA community for Keystone Mission to be a beacon of hope for the homeless and marginalized in Northeast PA.Keith-Alexandre has a background of 20+ years working with individuals experiencing HIV+/AIDS, substance abuse, homelessness, and other marginalized communities through non-profit programming and contract management.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Human and Social Services from Walden University.
Tobyhanna to Host Industry Day Tobyhanna Army Depot will host an in-person Industry Day event on Thursday, August 24 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The event will include briefings on depot partnership and contracting opportunities as well as tours of Tobyhanna’s industrial operations. Industry representatives, prospective vendors, and businesses with a focus on service and supply related industries are invited to attend and may register here 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 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, 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.
Tobyhanna Retains Industry-Standard Certification After Audit Members of Team Tobyhanna pride themselves on providing only the highest quality equipment to our nation’s warfighters. Confident in the products it provides, and in order to ensure that those lofty standards are being upheld, Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) recently underwent a lengthy external audit of its quality management system (QMS). Representatives from National Quality Assurance (NQA) U.S.A., Inc., an accredited international organization for standardization certification body, conducted the audit, which verified Tobyhanna’s conformance to the Aerospace 9100/9110 Standard (AS). AS 9100 requires a more rigorous QMS to support TYAD’s aerospace and defense workloads. Only 21,000 companies have been certified to the AS 9100 standard and a mere 880 hold the more complex AS 9110 credentials. The assessment consisted of more than 100 on-site auditor hours, and more than 40 hours in preparation with auditors remotely. The audit team was comprised of individuals from across the nation – some who had visited TYAD several times before while others received their first look at Tobyhanna’s facilities, equipment and capabilities. These varied levels of familiarity with the depot meant TYAD officials could trust in the process and show growth but also get a novel perspective from fresh eyes. Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist Bill Stevens said TYAD’s long relationship with the team inspires confidence. “The depot is looking for an honest assessment, and the long relationship with the audit team creates trust and brings confidence in decision-making. We know they will be fair; however, because they have experience with our QMS, we know they will be tough critics,” said Stevens. Stevens added that bringing back familiar faces also allows TYAD to showcase the areas in which they’ve made meaningful strides, saying “Familiarity provides an opportunity to see growth. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made.” Prior to conducting the audit, members of the audit team said one area of interest was TYAD’s transition from AS9100 Rev C to AS9100 Rev D, which focused quality functions on the process level, according to audit team member Keith Beaulieu. Other areas of interest were calibration, growth and TYAD’s overall progress from its initial certification. Audit team member Don Ashford stressed that the team comes into each audit with an open mind, saying the team is “not looking for non-conformances, but instead for conformances.” Members of TYAD’s QA Division guided auditors through several work areas across the depot, including painting and refinishing, fabrication and assembly, machining, cable manufacturing, electronics and more. The audit team lauded the QA personnel for ensuring an efficient, yet thorough audit. John Kasaczun is currently on a developmental assignment in the QA Division, so being a part of the external audit process helped him to become a more well-rounded employee. “I’ve been on several internal audits and have been on the opposite side of external audits as well; it was nice to see an external audit from this vantage and how they tie together. It is nice to see that TYAD is continuing to produce products of excellent quality,” said Kasaczun. At the conclusion of the audit, the team presented overwhelmingly positive results. They praised organizational growth, the incorporation of innovative technology to improve quality, the commitment to organizational philosophy and the hard work of Team Tobyhanna. Audit team member Keith Beaulieu said TYAD has taken its lofty standards to new heights since his last visit. “The cleanliness of the depot is immensely improved. I enjoyed the metrics Tobyhanna uses for each cost center and how they work to them. Division chiefs had action plans on how to meet metrics and how to correct in the event metrics weren’t met. The people really understand the importance of what they do – supporting the warfighter,” said Beaulieu. O’Hara said each shop’s commitment to organizational standards and training ensures quality will continue to improve into the future. “Each shop uses the same process – they’re well-organized, well-kept and are taking care of the customer’s product. Everything is improved (since my last visit); it’s a testament to process and training,” said O’Hara. TYAD QA personnel were equally impressed with the honest, constructive and meticulous work of the auditors. Wayne Daniels said it was particularly gratifying to have the auditors witness growth firsthand. “The audit team was very professional and precise. Being that they did initially certify us, it was awesome to have them come back to see growth from inception to now,” said Daniels. The audit team cited minor nonconformances to AS, none of which were repeat nonconformances – a huge success, according to Stevens. Most of the nonconformances focused on recordkeeping and process discipline, two cultural items that are easy to address, he said. Members of the audit team will return to TYAD in late April to validate the effectiveness of the corrective actions related to the nonconformances and offer further collaboration to foster growth for Team Tobyhanna. O’Hara thanked TYAD on behalf of NQA and said the organization strives to be value added to TYAD. Stevens said most importantly, the results of this audit will better position TYAD to support its mission. “I appreciate the attentiveness and honesty of the audit team. (TYAD) will use this audit experience and its results to improve quality and ensure only the best products are being provided to our nation’s warfighters.” QA Division Chief Vincent Nguyen praised the depot workforce for their efforts in making the audit a success. “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intentions, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution. Achieving the AS9100/9110 recertification required total commitment from the entire TYAD team. For that reason, I would like to thank the entire TYAD workforce for their continued dedication to our QMS and willingness to deliver quality products to the warfighter,” he said. Stevens, Daniels and other QA personnel maintain a year-round program to surveil TYAD’s QMS and ensure TYAD is always working within the AS standard. Maintaining the AS certification and a healthy QMS across the enterprise is directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035. The plan has four strategic focus areas: Invest in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications and aims to posture the organization for future success. 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, postproduction software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,200 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.
Wright Center to Host Backpack Giveaway To celebrate National Health Center Week, The Wright Center for Community Health will host backpack giveaways in Hawley and South Scranton. The backpacks, funded by The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, contain much-needed school supplies – including pencils, pencils, notebooks and folders – to give kids a good start to the school year. Sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers, National Health Center Week celebrates America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers, which serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. The week begins Sunday, Aug. 6 and ends Saturday, Aug. 12. WHAT: Backpack giveaways in Hawley and South Scranton to celebrate National Health Center Week. WHERE/WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health Hawley Practice, 103 Spruce St., Hawley; Saturday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Side Farmers Market, 526 Cedar Ave., Scranton. A Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, The Wright Center for Community Health is an essential community provider of safety-net primary and preventive health services, a state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, and a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic. The Wright Center for Community Health operates 10 locations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties include a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health that serve more than 33,0000 unique patients annually and ensure everyone in the service area has access to integrated, high-quality, affordable health services, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.