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.