— Local doctor gives keynote address

Johnstown physician Jessica Masser recently gave the the keynote address for a leadership program at her alma mater.

Masser spoke at Frostburg State University’s Sloop Institute for Excellence in Leadership program, supporting upcoming leaders at the Maryland school.

A 2001 graduate of Frostburg, Messer went on to complete medical school and earn a master’s degree in biomedical science at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007. She received several awards.

She went on to complete her residency training in Memorial Medical Center’s family practice residency. She is now a faculty member and assistant program director for the residency program.

Bank exec advances to senior VP

AmeriServ Financial has announced that Rusty Flynn of Duncansville has been promoted to senior vice president of the bank’s retail lending division.

In his new position, he will be responsible for managing consumer, residential and microbusiness lending, along with a new mortgage partnership with a statewide member organization.

Flynn earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Clarion University.

He joined AmeriServ in 2006. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Hollidaysburg.

AmeriServ executive gains promotion

AmeriServ Financial has announced that Diana Karpen has been promoted to assistant vice president/retirement services officer for the bank’s trust company. She recently earned her QKA Designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.

In 2007, Karpen was hired as senior trust accountant for the specialty real estate division. In 2008, she was promoted to portfolio manager of the division.

In 2010, because of her experience with qualified plans, she moved to the retirement services division as a retirement services officer.

Karpen has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, with nine of those years in trust services and six years of qualified plan experience. She is responsible for the administration of profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, IRAs and investment management agencies accounts held within the retirement services division.  

She was a member of the committee that implemented recent Department of Labor regulations governing fee disclosure for qualified plans.

Karpen is magna cum laude graduate of St. Francis University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

She is a volunteer for the Humane Society of Cambria County.

Mortgage expert elevated at bank

AmeriServ Financial has announced that Tracy L. Fritz has been promoted to assistant vice president of the mortgage application center of the bank.

She formerly worked as a CRA loan specialist and mortgage underwriter at AmeriServ, where she developed and maintained the bank’s participation in serving the credit needs of local communities.

In her new position, she is responsible for managing the daily activities of the mortgage application center, a newly created department within the bank specializing in mortgage origination by phone.

Fritz earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Firm lauded for environmental impact

CJL Engineering received the 2012 Commercial Project of the Year Award from the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania for its work on UPMC East, a new LEED Silver hospital in Monroeville.

John J. Wilhelm, president of the company, accepted the award on behalf of the

75-year-old firm.

UPMC East is the newest hospital in the Greater Pittsburgh region. It incorporates innovative design and reduced energy consumption, while providing a positive impact on the surrounding community through redevelopment, sustainable infrastructure and meaningful employment.

Three staffers join Community Foundation

The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies recently announced three new part-time staff members.

Brenda Chapple-Fulton was named administrative assistant. Her background includes experience in the fields of health care, medical insurance, government contracting, education and general contracting. She worked for Conemaugh Township Area School District, Memorial Medical Center and Concurrent Technologies Corp.

Lori Huska was named accounting assistant. She has worked locally as a professional office assistant, doing all aspects of office tasks for more than 35 years.

Anne McGrath was named grants and scholarships coordinator. This is a new position at the foundation. She worked as a communications consultant for several area corporations and nonprofit organizations since relocating to Johnstown in 1994.

Judge serves on panel during conference

Judge Linda Fleming served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges mid-annual meeting in Pittsburgh.

Fleming participated on a panel with judges from Allegheny, Beaver and Lancaster counties to discuss “Conducting Effective Pre-Trial Conferences in Custody Cases.”

She oversees the Domestic Relations Division in Cambria County.

Professor emerita recognized

Ruth Shirey, professor emerita of geography at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has received the Association of American Geographers Ronald F. Abler Distinguished Service Honors Award in recognition of her outstanding efforts in promoting the discipline of geography in elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools.

Shirey served as the executive director of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) from 1988 to 2002 and as state coordinator for the Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance for 14 years.

She was project administrator for the National Geography Standards Project and participated in the writing of the Pennsylvania state geography standards.

She also received the Pennsylvania Geographical Society Distinguished Service Award and the George J. Miller Award for Distinguished Service from NCGE in 1996. Shirey also was recognized for her service to the Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geography Honor Society and received the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Outstanding Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she was a faculty member and interim associate dean prior to her retirement in 2007.

Currently, Shirey serves as vice president of the Society of Woman Geographers and Fellowship chairwoman overseeing SWG’s National Fellowships at UC Berkeley, UCLA and Penn State, and the Pruitt National Dissertation and Minority fellowship programs.

She is a graduate of Conemaugh Township Area High School, Davidsville, and IUP.

Business relations expert to speak

Rick Cosgrove, director of business relations in Cambria County for Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy, will present a seminar called “Charging the Hill (Leadership in Business)” on March 27 at the Holiday Inn-Downtown Johnstown. The lunch-and-learn program will feature a lecture from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and it will conclude with networking opportunities for attendees until 1 p.m.    

To register for the program, contact the Greater Johns­town/Cambria County Chamber of Commerce at 536-5107 or chamber@johnstown­chamber.com. Cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonmembers.



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