— Pete Skoner, associate provost at St. Francis University, has been elected to the board of directors of the American Conference of Academic Deans, Class of 2015.

Skoner was appointed associate provost of St. Francis in 2008, and holds the rank of professor of physics. He serves as associate editor for The Pentagon, the journal of the Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society, for which he is also the national historian.

He has served on accreditation and certification visiting evaluation teams for the Middle States Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Division I) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Skoner has served as president of the Laurel Highlands Mathematics Alliance and on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He currently coordinates the Pennsylvania Statistics Poster competition for K-12 students, and serves on the advisory board of the Pennsylvania Postsecondary Information Management System.

Skoner received a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from Penn State and a master’s degree in education from St. Francis College. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration and doctorate of education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Exec earns award for sales, marketing

Scott Juba has received the 2013 Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award from the Sales and Marketing Executives International, the leading professional association for sales and marketing professionals.

His selection by the Akron/Canton chapter distinguishes him as one of the top movers of the sales and marketing profession.

Juba owns and operates his consulting practice, Radar Public Relations & Consulting, through with he provides public relations and online communication services to clients across the region.

He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Baldwin-Wallace College and a master’s degree in public relations from Kent State University.

Juba is the grandson of the late Frank and Ann Lubert, formerly of Hastings, and the late John and Anna Juba, formerly of Patton.

Investment adviser attends conference

Don C. Hall II of Johns­town, an investment adviser representative with ING Financial Partners, recently attended the Adviser Insight conference.

This annual conference gathered more than 1,000 financial professionals from across the country. They received updates on the current economic and market forces impacting investment opportunities.

Hall offers securities and investment advisory services through ING Financial Partners.

Two at Wells Fargo earn corporate honor

Michael Philibin and Lori Dooley have been named to the 2012 Leaders Club at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. the recognition is based on exceeding sales in 2012 and for providing outstanding customer service.

Philibin, branch manager, has been with Wells Fargo for 13 years. This is his 10th consecutive year in Leaders Club.

Dooley, home mortgage consultant, has been with Wells Fargo for eight years. This is her fourth consecutive year in Leaders Club.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage annually recognizes team members who provide exceptional customer service and rank among the company's top sales producers.

Altoona accountant becomes shareholder

James R. Berkhimer, CPA, has become a shareholder/principal with Young, Oakes, Brown & Co. PC of Altoona.

Berkhimer has been with the regional accounting and consulting firm since 1995 and has served as a manager in the audit and tax practice for the past eight years concentrating in the areas of for-profit and not-for-profit audits, tax planning and preparation.  

He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a graduate of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2012.  

Berkhimer is an officer and board member of the Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company and Community Board.

He resides in Blue Knob with his wife, Cheri, and have two children.

Five earn promotions at S&T Bank

S&T Bank recently has promoted five employees.

LaDawn Yesho was promoted to executive vice president, chief audit executive.

In her role, Yesho will continue to oversee all aspects of the bank’s auditing functions.

She previously served as senior vice president, chief audit executive and worked at S&T Bank since 2009.  

Yesho earned a certified public accountant license and certification in risk management assurance designation.

She is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs and American Institute of CPAs.

Yesho serves on the Pitt-Johnstown Accounting Alumni Association Board, where she has been actively involved in discussing emerging risks and promoting the internal audit profession.   

 Tim McKee was promoted to senior vice president, senior financial officer.

In his role, he is responsible for compensation and benefits, shareholder relations, joint ventures and tax credit projects.

McKee also serves as the chief compliance officer, treasurer and a board member of Stewart Capital Advisors LLC, a registered investment adviser subsidiary of S&T Bank.  

McKee has been a member of the S&T Bank team since 1993. His previous roles included vice president, senior financial officer; vice president, financial projects officer; and vice president, audit manager.  

He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the National Investor Relations Institute.

Caroline Raneri was named senior vice president, S&T Evergreen Insurance managing director and COO.

She will be responsible for all S&T Evergreen internal operations.

Raneri has worked at S&T Bank for more than a decade. During this time, she has served as senior vice president, director of specials programs and senior vice president, managing director.

Raneri earned a certified insurance counselor, associate in commercial underwriting, accredited adviser in insurance and certified insurance service representative license designations.

Jeffrey Sottile was promoted to senior vice president, senior audit manager.

In his role, he will continue to lead the integrated audit team in assessing risk, planning and executing audits.  

Sottile earned a certified public accountant and certified internal auditor licenses and certification in risk management assurance designation.

He has been with S&T Bank since 2010 and previously held the role of vice president, audit manager.

Sottile is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, and American Institute of CPAs.

Tim Tyger was named senior vice president, commercial loan officer.

He is responsible for managing the business development and client retention efforts of the commercial and industrial lending division.

Tyger has been a member of the S&T Bank team since 1997 and held roles that include vice president, commercial loan officer; vice president, credit analysis support manager and assistant vice president, credit analysis operations manager.

Pizza franchise owner named to council

The National Restaurant Association has appointed Scott Anthony, owner of Fox’s Pizza Den, Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, to the first Pizza Industry Council.

The association is a nonprofit organization that represents restaurants across the country and educates the public regarding food safety. The 14 members will serve as the primary advocate for the pizza industry.

Anthony will work with top pizza executives around the country who represent different size stores of the pizza industry.

He is a 1981 graduate of Conemaugh Valley High School.

First Commonwealth hires executive

Nina M. Baranchuk has been hired as senior vice president/chief investment officer at First Commonwealth Advisors, the wealth services arm of First Commonwealth Bank.

In her new role, Baranchuk will hold the responsibility of developing a common investment framework and investment policy across all delivery channels of First Commonwealth’s Wealth Services Division.

She also will play a key role in maintaining existing client relationships and developing new Wealth business through collaboration with First Commonwealth’s Wealth Market Teams throughout the 15-county corporate footprint.

Baranchuk and her team of wealth professionals will work closely with high net worth individuals to provide comprehensive wealth management services, including tax planning, trust services, asset allocation, estate planning, insurance analysis, and cash flow and retirement projections.

She also will oversee the management of institutional investments needs, including pension plan, profit sharing, foundation and individual client portfolios.

Baranchuk will determine asset allocation recommendations and perform equity and fixed income analysis.

Baranchuk will lead the construction of First Commonwealth’s Wealth strategic business plan and also develop and implement investment policies and procedures to meet compliance requirements and risk management concerns.  

Baranchuk has more than 30 years of experience in investing and asset management.

She attended the University of Delaware where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in finance, and earned the chartered financial analyst designation.

She is a member of the Washington, D.C., Society of Financial Analysts; the Baltimore Society of Financial Analysts; and the CFA Institute.   

Pool company owner conpletes training

Janice Ott of Johnstown, owner of Pleasure Pools Inc., has completed the Doughboy University sales training, education and networking with fellow pool professionals in Tunica, Miss.

Ott has more than 34 years’ experience in the swimming pool industry.

Her son, AJ, has completed the Doughboy University installation class. He has several years of experience in the pool installations.

Pleasure Pools Inc. has been awarded a premier dealer certificate.

McCort grad earns life insurance honor

Mark D. Caldon, son of Kathleen Caldon of Westmont and the late Ross L. Caldon, has earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table.

He is an agent for New York Life Insurance Co. in Ripley, W.Va.

Caldon has been an agent since 1993, and is associated with New York Life’s West Virginia general Office in Charleston, W.Va.

He is a member of the Charleston Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, a member of the Million dollar round Table for 16 years and earned the LUTCF designation.

Caldon is a 1978 graduate of Bishop McCort High School and a 1980 graduate of Williamsburg (Pa.) Community College.

He resides in Ripley with his wife, Debbie. They have two daughters.