Pitt-Bradford grads contribute to area workforce
While many people in the community see Pitt-Bradford as someplace they can send their children to, two of the area’s largest employers see Pitt-Bradford as a place they can get workers from.
Chief among those is Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, a private, not-for-profit, social service agency that provides professional, educational and behavioral health services to young people.
Beacon Light employees 547 people across four different Pennsylvania counties, according to Jodie Wagner, human resource manager.
A full 110 of those graduated from Pitt-Bradford, including 15 who received a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work’s program at the Bradford campus.
“Typical bachelor-level degrees we look for are psychology, education, criminal justice, human services, etc.,” Wagner said, adding that Beacon Light employs five graduates of the Pitt-Bradford nursing program as well.
Currently, Beacon Light works with the nursing program to send a few of its employees back to school to receive a nursing certification.
“We’re very good about working around Pitt-Bradford students’ school schedules for their work schedules,” Wagner said. “Most of our summer workers are Pitt-Bradford students, and many continue on to full-time employment during the school year or after graduation.”
In addition, Beacon Light makes use of training available through the Center for Rural Health Practice and Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development, both at Pitt-Bradford, for training in social work and behavioral health.
While Beacon Light concentrates on education and social work,American Refining Group uses Pitt-Bradford graduates in a number of areas, not just the chemistry majors who fill positions in research and development and environmental safety.
ARG employs about 330 residents of the surrounding community, and its sister company, ARG Resources, located near Kane, employs another 50 individuals.
Interns also work in the areas of human resources, engineering, information technology and communications.
Sarah Hayden, human resources manager for ARG and herself a Pitt-Bradford alumna, said, “In four or five cases, that’s resulted in hiring those individuals.
“Internships are the most successful way we’ve partnered with the university. It helps educate the student population as well as add to the great career opportunities students have in their own back yard.”
ARG employees have also used the company’s education benefits to obtain an Associate of Science degree in Petroleum Technology. Some have also taken advantage of industry-specific training offered through the university’s cooperation with the North Central Oil and Gas industry partnership.
Others have attended trainings put on by Pitt-Bradford through the McKean County Training Consortium and customized training programs designed specifically for ARG.
Pitt-Bradford also serves as the WEDnet PA program provider to both ARG and ARG Resources and, in doing so, brings additional training resources and opportunities to the employees of both companies.
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