PWDA Announces Governor’s Employer Award for Achievement for Local Employers and Organizations
Hershey, PA—Today, the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association announced that nine local employers and organizations were recipients of the Governor’s Employer Award for Achievement. The awardees were honored at the Association’s 41st Annual Conference on April 30, 2025, in Hershey. The Governor’s Employer Award for Achievement recognizes Pennsylvania employers who support workforce development in their communities. These employers have created jobs and partnered to hire skilled workers through Pennsylvania’s workforce development system.
“Our workforce development partners are making their communities stronger and we’re proud to highlight their leadership,” said Lauren Holubec, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association. “Businesses that receive the Governor’s Employer Award for Achievement are working with Labor and Industry and local workforce organizations to make sure workers get the training they need for opportunities close to home. They’re opening their doors for veterans and individuals with disabilities to thrive in the workforce. We commend these efforts to make sure every Pennsylvanian has a chance to build a career and succeed right here in the Commonwealth.”
“Pennsylvania’s workforce is strongest when employers and state and local partners come together to invest in people. The businesses recognized today are opening doors, breaking down barriers, and creating real opportunities for workers across the Commonwealth,” Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker said. “Their commitment to building pathways to good jobs — for veterans, for individuals with disabilities, and for all Pennsylvanians — represents the spirit of collaboration and innovation that drives this great Commonwealth forward.”
PWDA presents its prestigious Governor’s Achievement Employers Awards with its partners, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Workforce Deputate (L & I), the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and new this year the Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.
2025 Governor’s Employer Award for Achievement:
Cleanlogic | Audubon, Pennsylvania
McConway & Torley | Pittsburgh, PA
Chance Aluminum Corporation | Williamsport, PA
Orbit Software | Pottstown, PA
East Penn Manufacturing | Lyons, PA
2025 Recognizing Valor – Employers Hiring Veterans
J &J Truck Bodies & Trailers | Somerset, PA
Lockheed Martin Corporation | Davidsville, PA
M.I.C. Industries Inc. | Elton, PA
Cleanlogic | Greater Philadelphia Area
Cleanlogic, a personal care company, is committed to creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Inspired by the personal experiences of co-founders Mike Ghesser and Isaac Shapiro, Cleanlogic has woven accessibility and inclusion into the fabric of its company culture.
The company’s manufacturing and distribution center is designed with people in mind, offering specialized job aids and station accommodations to ensure success for every employee. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Cleanlogic has hired more than 10 individuals with disabilities, including individuals who are blind, neurodiverse, or living with hearing loss.
Beyond hiring, Cleanlogic hosts work-based learning and job shadowing experiences for high school students and regularly offers disability etiquette and awareness training through OVR’s Business Services team. The company has also participated in OVR-sponsored business panels to share best practices with other employers.
For its leadership in advancing inclusive employment, Cleanlogic was honored with the 2025 PWDA Governor’s Achievement Award for Employer of Workers with Disabilities.
J & J Truck Bodies & Trailers | Somerset, PA
J & J Truck Bodies & Trailers, a division of Somerset Welding & Steel and a subsidiary of Riggs Industries has been building quality steel dump bodies since 1958. Originally serving coal haulers and farmers, J & J has grown into a respected name in the region’s manufacturing economy.
J & J is proud to be a veteran-friendly employer with a company culture supporting military families and veterans. The Somerset location currently employs 10 veterans and has successfully placed veterans into On-the-Job Training (OJT) programs, including two hires in 2023. An additional OJT opportunity for veterans is open in 2024.
Human Resources Specialist Taylor Gontis has been instrumental in building J & J’s veteran outreach program. She regularly attends job fairs, identifies veteran talent for OJT opportunities, and implements strategies for recruiting and retaining veterans.
J & J’s commitment to veterans is clear, and the company and Taylor Gontis are deserving of recognition for their ongoing efforts to support those who have served.
Lockheed Martin Corporation | Johnstown, PA Region
Lockheed Martin is a global leader in aerospace and defense, and a proud veteran employer with deep ties to Pennsylvania’s workforce system. The company currently employs 60 veterans at its local facilities, including four new veteran hires in 2024.
Lockheed Martin has shown a strong commitment to workforce development by leading the creation of a group apprenticeship program for Machinists-Tool and Die. In partnership with PA CareerLink®, BWPO, SAWDB, ATO, and JARI, this program is set to expand advanced manufacturing training for the company and the region.
In addition to apprenticeship initiatives, Lockheed Martin hosts frequent job fairs and hiring events in partnership with PA CareerLink® Cambria and Somerset Counties, drawing strong attendance from local jobseekers.
Lockheed Martin’s leadership team, including Patrick McCann, is also deeply engaged in workforce planning through active involvement with the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board.
Beyond recruitment, Lockheed works closely with local schools to promote manufacturing careers and inspire the next generation of skilled workers.
Lockheed Martin’s ongoing partnership with PA CareerLink® highlights how businesses and workforce systems can collaborate to build opportunities for veterans and skilled trades professionals.
McConway & Torley | Pittsburgh, PA
McConway & Torley (M&T), a steel foundry operating since 1869, has long been a part of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage. In 2023, M&T partnered with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) to provide transitional jobs for individuals returning home from incarceration.
CEO’s on-site work crews have offered participants immediate employment and hands-on training, and five individuals have already transitioned into full-time roles at M&T. All five remain employed and continue to advance through the company’s training programs.
Starting wages range from $17.50 to more than $20 per hour, with comprehensive benefits including medical coverage and paid time off. As HR Director Tyler Malone says, “If someone is reliable, the sky’s the limit, and we will train you to do whatever you want to do.”
M&T’s commitment to second chances and workforce development makes it a valued employer and partner in building a stronger Pittsburgh community.
M.I.C. Industries Inc. | Elton, PA
M.I.C. Industries Inc., founded in 1981, is the creator of the Ultimate Building Machine® (UBM®) technology, used in over 70 countries to fabricate and construct buildings for military, industrial, agricultural, and commercial applications.
M.I.C. is a proud FCJL employer with a strong veteran-inclusive culture. The Elton site currently employs 10 veterans, and the company continues to offer On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities, with an active search for new veteran candidates in 2025.
Plant Manager Paul Erb, a former participant in PA CareerLink®’s OJT program himself, has championed veteran hiring initiatives at M.I.C. He regularly attends job fairs, screens applicants, and works closely with PA CareerLink® to connect veterans with meaningful career paths.
Erb’s personal experience with CareerLink services gives him a unique perspective on the value veterans bring to the workforce, and he has built a model partnership between M.I.C. and local workforce programs.
M.I.C. Industries and Paul Erb deserve recognition for their outstanding support of veterans and commitment to growing Pennsylvania’s skilled workforce.
Chance Aluminum Corporation | Williamsport, PA
Chance Aluminum Corporation purchased an aluminum mill in Williamsport in 2021, rebuilding the facility, retaining workers, and creating new jobs. A key strategy to the company’s success is its partnership with PA Careerlink® Lycoming County.
The consultative services of the Business Solutions Team (BST) have resulted in tailored recruitment events and job posting assistance on CWDS to ensure Chance Aluminum connects with talented individuals.
In 2024, the company welcomed 37 new employees, with plans to bring on more than 40 in 2025 and 113 full-time positions by 2027. Chance Aluminum values employee training, so when the BST discussed On-the-Job Training (OJT) through PA Careerlink®, the company was interested. The company has used OJT to equip five new employees with the hands-on skills they need to succeed.
Further, Chance works to ensure the wages they pay employees are competitive, and they utilize the labor market analysis services from PA Careerlink® and Advance Central PA to help them achieve this.
“Chance Aluminum isn’t just a business but a lifeline for our community,” says Mayor Derek Slaughter. “Their partnership with PA Careerlink® has built a strong workforce and brought hope and stability to families who call Williamsport home. They embody what it means to care about your people.”
Orbit Software | Pottstown, PA
Orbit’s journey began in 1998 when they recognized a need for more efficient and effective transportation management. At the time, traditional methods of creating bus routes were slow and costly, often leading to job cuts in education and the elimination of vital programs like music and sports. Orbit’s leadership understood the impact this had on teachers, students, and communities, and they set out to create software that would not only streamline the process but also help preserve valuable jobs and school programs. Adding another level of workforce support for their school districts, Orbit Software produced a free e-book entitled “Keeping your bus fleet fully staffed despite driver shortages.”
As the company grew, so did its dedication to the well-being of its employees. Orbit Software collaborates with the PA CareerLink® Montgomery County and its Business Services Team (BST). They stay in contact and use the BST to help with writing job descriptions, developing candidate sourcing, staying up to date with labor market statistics, and ensuring its training programs allow its employees to be successful. Orbit’s commitment to professional growth and employee satisfaction is at the core of its operations, one employee at a time.
Having used Montgomery County’s On-The-Job Training (OJT) funds for many years, in 2024, Orbit made a significant move to adjust the pool of talented individuals for the company. They increased their starting OJT wage from the OJT minimum to $20 per hour to reflect a greater investment in their employees’ future. The increased starting wage, combined with structured raises at the successful completion of each pre-arranged milestone, meant that an employee starting at $20 per hour could see as much as a $5 per hour increase in six months.
Orbit also offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employees in every aspect of their lives. Orbit strives to create a work environment where employees can personally and professionally thrive.
Although Orbit Software is a small company of less than 20 people, it has a proud legacy of significantly impacting the communities it serves. But equally important, they take pride in being an employer who values its people, offering career growth, fair compensation, and a work environment where employees are empowered to succeed.
East Penn Manufacturing | Lyons, PA
As a dedicated partner of the PA CareerLink® system, East Penn actively recruits through job fairs, on-site recruitments, and collaborative events. In 2024, the company posted and filled nine positions via PA CareerLink® while engaging in initiatives that enhance workforce readiness. The company also supports career exploration for youth through its Manufacturing Co-Op Program, which offers high school seniors invaluable industry experience and a pathway to full-time careers.
For slightly older students, East Penn has built a partnership with Reading Area Community College to prepare college students for a rewarding career in mechatronics through its Mechatronics Scholarship Program.
East Penn’s inclusive hiring practices set it apart. The company’s collaboration with the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks further demonstrates its commitment to workforce inclusivity by providing English proficiency training for employees aspiring to leadership roles and reverse ESL programs for supervisors to enhance team communication. In 2024, East Penn began offering ESL Level I classes in addition to Level II.
In addition to its internal workforce development efforts, East Penn actively collaborates with organizations to foster women’s development. It is a Platinum sponsor of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Women2Women program and sponsors employees to participate in Battery Council International’s WGBI (Women in the Global Battery Industry) program. Dozens of women are sponsored every year-36 women were sponsored in WGBI in 2024- to build relationships and enhance their skills to promote career growth.
Furthermore, through its Women’s Leadership Initiative, the company promotes gender equity by fostering leadership skills, networking, and career advancement for women in traditionally underrepresented fields like engineering and production.
East Penn’s commitment to its employees is reflected in its family-sustaining wages, comprehensive benefits, and continuous training opportunities. For the 21st time, the Best Companies Group recognized the company in 2024 as one of the “Best Places to Work in PA,” a testament to its supportive culture and dedication to employee growth. Forbes and Statista also recognized East Penn as one of Pennsylvania’s Best-In-State employers for 2024, and the company received national recognition as one of the 2025 Best Places to Work in Manufacturing, also from the Best Companies Group.
From its innovative partnerships to community-driven programs, East Penn Manufacturing continues to set a benchmark for excellence in workforce development.
The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) serves as the voice of the Pennsylvania workforce development system and a clearinghouse for workforce development information statewide. Known forPennsylvania’s premier annual workforce development gathering every spring, we provide development and capacity building opportunities to workforce development professionals, local workforce development boards (WDBs), and other stakeholders while continuing proactive advocacy efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania’s workforce development system. Learn more by visiting https://www.pawork.org
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