The Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Association (MAEA) proudly announced the installation of its 2024 officers during an event held at the Mt. Valley Clubhouse. Attended by over 100 individuals, the event underscored MAEA’s unwavering dedication, alongside its members, to advancing the growth and prosperity of the region.
The newly installed officers include Chairman Chris Dende of Mrs. T’s Pierogies; 1st Vice Chairman Dennis Fink of Northeast Prestressed Products, Inc.; 2nd Vice Chairman Luke Hoak of UFP Industries Gordon, LLC; Secretary Lance Miller of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.; Treasurer Karen Kenderdine of Mid Penn Bank; and Solicitor Alvin Marshall of Marshall, Bohorad, Thornburg, Price & Campion, P.C.
Rachel Bernini from Service Access & Management, Inc. (SAM) was honored as the MAEA 2023 HR Professional of the Year for her exceptional contributions to human resources practices. With a master’s degree in social work from Marywood University and a Doctoral Degree in Social Work from Kutztown University, Rachel possesses 20 years of experience in human services. She currently leads SAM’s Employee Experience Team, overseeing critical departments such as Training and Development, Compliance, and Human Resources/People Operations. Her exceptional leadership, dedication to professional development, and commitment to creating welcoming and productive work environments positioned her as an excellent candidate for this year’s HR Professional of the Year.
MAEA Lead Worker and Management Development Certificate Series Graduates
MAEA Supervisory Development Certificate Series Graduates
In addition, MAEA, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association (PMA) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), recognized the achievements of the MAEA 2023 Certificate Series Training Graduates. These graduates received certificates acknowledging their completion of various training programs, highlighting their commitment to professional development. The Supervisory Development, Lead Worker, and Management Development series saw participation from esteemed professionals across various member companies, including Hexcel, Hydro Extrusions USA, LLC, Romark Logistics, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., and MI Windows & Doors, among others.
Attendees were also briefed on MAEA’s performance over the past year, showcasing the organization’s commitment to serving the manufacturing and employer community.
MAEA celebrated significant achievements over the past year, underscoring their commitment to supporting the manufacturing and employer community. With over 1,000 participants engaging in events and roundtables and over 1,700 individuals benefiting from various training programs, MAEA’s impact is evident. Offering seven certificate series recognized by NAM and PMA, along with consulting services covering safety, HR, IT, process improvement, and more, MAEA remains a vital resource for its members. Additionally, their benchmarking data and legislative grassroots efforts further enhance their value to the community. The year concluded with the addition of six new member companies, totaling approximately 330 and representing over 37,200 employees, showcasing the continued growth and relevance of the organization.
In addition, the Council’s The YES program now serves 20 schools, offering the YES Northeast Certificate program. With over 11,500 student participants and 3,500 graduates, it’s supplemented by coordinating 13 Schuylkill County Career Fairs, while attracting 11,500 students from grades 7-12. The YES Northeast Workshop Series, held across multiple locations including Pottsville, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre CareerLinks, saw 70 workshops last year, empowering out-of-school youth enrolled in GED classes and various other populations.
MAEA President Darlene J. Robbins expressed her heartfelt congratulations, stating, “We commend the dedication and hard work of our new board members, the recent graduates of our certificate series programs, and Rachel Bernini for her outstanding achievement as the HR Professional of the Year. Their contributions are invaluable to the growth and success of our association and the manufacturing community as a whole.”
The MAEA Board of Directors and Staff extend their congratulations to the newly installed officers, the HR Professional of the Year, and all Certificate Series Graduates for their dedication and achievements.