speakers
meet our 2022 speakers
Feyisola Akintola
Manager, City of Pittsburgh (Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs)
Feyisola Akintola is a creative, an active community member, and the manager of the new Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs…
Neil Ashbaugh
President & CEO, New Century Careers
Neil Ashbaugh has over 30 years in the advanced manufacturing industry, serving 2 registered apprenticeships and a variety of roles in production and administration…
Matt Bittner
Chief Program Officer, Life’sWork of Western PA
Matt is an experienced nonprofit leader with over 19 years of progressive development and management experience, including community outreach, relationship building, training and mentorship communication…
Nate Broadus
Workforce Specialist, Catalyst Connection
In his position as Workforce Specialist, Nate engages local job seekers, community organizations and employers via the REAL Jobs Initiative to create new employment pathways…
Michel Conklin
Executive Director, BotsIQ
Michel Conklin, Executive Director, leads the development and expansion of the BotsIQ’s manufacturing workforce development initiatives…
Josh Cramer
Education and Workforce Director, Organizational Development, America Makes
Josh Cramer joined NCDMM in 2018 as the Education and Workforce Director for America Makes, providing overall program leadership responsibility for all America Makes’ Education and Workforce initiatives…
Scott Dietz
Director of Workforce Education Initiatives, Catalyst Connection
Scott is responsible for the program development and delivery of Catalyst Connection’s STEM initiatives. These include an in-school project based program called Adventures in Technology and two…
Jonathan Donath
Kristen Goodell
Manager of Workforce Partnerships, Catalyst Connection
Kristen is a strategic leader through powerful partner collaborations, committed to career equity and empowering others with skills and confidence…
Jillian Jensen
Coordinator of Drug & Alcohol Services, Life’sWork of Western PA
Jillian Jensen joined Life’sWork of Western PA in October 2019. Jillian has been certified as a Recovery Specialist since 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy from Seton Hill University…
Byron C. Kohut
Dean, School of Technology, Westmoreland County Community College
Byron C. Kohut, Ed.D., is currently the dean of the School of Technology at Westmoreland County Community College, Pennsylvania (PA)…
Stephen Leonard
Operations/Program Manager, Digital Foundry
Over 35 years experience product design, development engineering, manufacturing and education…
Gina Masciola
Managing Director of Education, WQED
Gina began her career as a classroom teacher/early learning consultant for Head Start. Gina served with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit for 15 years and as an early learning consultant…
Bill McShane
Associate Director for Integrated Learning, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
Bill McShane is the Associate Director for Integrated Learning at the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business…
Petra Mitchell
President & CEO, Catalyst Connection
Petra Mitchell is the President and CEO of Catalyst Connection, a private, nonprofit economic development organization dedicated to helping manufacturers with management consulting…
Sam Moore
Executive Director, Moonshot Museum
Sam leads operational buildup, a multimillion dollar funding campaign, exhibition design, and program development for the world’s first museum focused on career and community…
Sabrina Saunders Mosby
President & Chief Executive Officer, Vibrant Pittsburgh
Sabrina Saunders Mosby currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Vibrant Pittsburgh, a premier economic development organization working to attract, retain, and elevate a diverse regional workforce…
Genna Mucci
Executive Assistant, JV Manufacturing
I recently started at JV Manufacturing as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President…
Reggie Overton
Account Executive/Director, Community College of Allegheny County
In 2004, Reginald Overton joined CCAC as executive/college director of the college’s workforce training division…
Toni Porter
Emergency Room Tech, UPMC
David Rea
Managing Director of Human Capital Team, Catalyst Connection
In his position as an Organizational Development Consultant, David specializes in helping manufacturers optimize employees through hiring, development and retention best practices.
Shaun Reddick
Teacher, Burrell High School
I was a middle school physical science teacher for 25 years. I have always considered myself someone that likes a new challenge and I enjoy technology…
Debbie Reynolds
Director of Techworks, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Debbie is the Director of TechWorks, with Commonwealth Charter Academy – Pennsylvania’s largest public K-12 charter school…
Babs Sefiane
Senior Director, Corporate Development & Annual Fund, Life’sWork of Western PA
Babs Sefiane joined Life’sWork of Western PA in November 2017 after having over 20 years in the energy and sustainability industry…
Alexander Schwall
Chief Science Officer, Rhabit Analytics
Alexander Schwall, PhD is co-founder and Chief Scientist at Rhabit Analytics…
Emily Siegel
Workforce Consultant, Catalyst Connection
Emily Siegel joined Catalyst Connection in October of 2021 after working as an intern with the Human Capital team…
Govardhan Singh
Site Head – Saxonburg Supply Center, Bayer US LLC
Govardhan has been part of Bayer for over 15 years in various capacities. He has been in leadership roles across 4 manufacturing sites in US and Australia…
Kendra Slis
Sales Engineer, MECCO
Kendra Slis is an Inside Sales Engineer with MECCO and part of the inaugural class of Catalyst Connection’s Manufacturing Navigators program…
Sharon Steele
Managing Director of Corporate Support, WQED
Sharon initiated WQED’s multifaceted Future Jobs initiative in 2018, and continues to be involved in this project in collaboration with WQED TV Production…
John Skelley
Retired Vice President – Human Resources, JWF Industries
John recently retired after 13 years as the vice president – Human Resources for JWF Industries in Johnstown…
Jonathan Title
Quality Engineer
Todd Tommaney
Senior Organization Excellence Consultant, Catalyst Connection
Todd Tommaney joined Catalyst Connection in August of 2018 as an Operational Excellence Consultant. Prior to joining Catalyst, Todd has had over 12 years of experience in leadership positions…
Nathan Wadding
Co-Founder & CEO, Skinny Tie Media
Strategist and storyteller for visionary companies and organizations looking to make a difference in the way we live, work, & connect.
She’Cholle Winmon
Manufacturing Technician, RE2 Robotics
She’Cholle Winmon started her career in manufacturing by purchasing a 3D printer for her and her children.