IN BRIEF
Columbia Gas plans pipeline projectCANONSBURG — Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania this month will start a pipeline project in Marion Township.The company will replace about 7,600 feet of steel pipe with plastic pipe along State Route 308, Goff Station Road, and Deegan Lane.The project is expected to be done this summer with construction taking place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.The project will require a temporary interruption of natural gas service for about five individual customers while their service is connected to the new gas main. Columbia Gas will make personal contact with customers prior to interrupting service and to schedule service restoration.
Newhaven Court has new assistantBUTLER TWP — Newhaven Court at Clearview has named Faith Mong as assistant executive director to help executive director Gary Renwick, while continuing her role as manager of the community’s business office.In her six years at Newhaven Court, Mong served as activities director for three years and as part of the business office since 2012.Mong attended Butler Community College, where she earned her personal care home administrator license.She briefly was the interim executive director until Renwick was hired in September 2014.Pittsburgh-based IntegraCare operates Newhaven Court at Clearview.Mong lives in Sandy Lake, Mercer County, with her husband and two sons.
Doctor comes to Slippery RockSLIPPERY ROCK — Allegheny Health Network has hired internal medicine physician Daniel Ferguson for its office in the borough.Ferguson has more than 25 years of experience practicing medicine.He received his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. He did his first two years of residency at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens in New York and his third year at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.Prior to entering private practice, Ferguson had positions as an emergency department staff physician at Butler Memorial Hospital and Jameson Hospital.His office is at Allegheny Health Network — Slippery Rock Primary Care, 621 Kelly Boulevard.
New beer promotes tree planting effortSLIPPERY ROCK — Sales of a new beer by the North Country Brewing Co. will support the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s stream bank tree planting initiative.To celebrate this new beer, the conservancy will host a fundraiser at North Country Brewing, 141 S. Main St., from 5 to 7 p.m. April 22 for Earth Day.With a $20 donation, guests will receive appetizers and two ale tokens.The new beer is called Ryeparian Rye Pale Ale.Proceeds from the event, and five percent of Ryeparian sales in Pennsylvania and Ohio, will support the conservancy’s stream bank, or riparian, tree plantings in key natural areas in Western Pennsylvania.Riparian zones are the land adjacent to a stream or river. Maintaining vegetative cover with trees and shrubs in these areas is an effective way of limiting sediment runoff and other soil disturbances that cause water pollution.
Cygnus announces 2 promotionsCLINTON TWP — Cygnus Manufacturing Co., a precision manufacturer, recently announced the promotions of Randy Dickson and Dennis Lowrie as part of the company’s growth strategy.Dickson is now the director of fabrication and assembly.Dickson joined Cygnus as a quality process manager in April 2014 and has contributed to improvements in the company’s quality and manufacturing operations, according to a news release.Before joining Cygnus, Dickson had manufacturing and quality management positions at a number of manufacturers.Lowrie is now the director of machining and processing.Lowrie joined Cygnus as a machinist in 1982 and has continued to advance through roles in production planning and manufacturing management, according to the release.
Butler High grad, engineer honoredPITTSBURGH — Lauren Parker, a Butler High School graduate and a professional engineer and principal with Civil & Environmental Consultants in Pittsburgh, on March 25 was named the Breitling Energy Future Industry Leader at the third annual Northeast Oil & Gas Awards in Pittsburgh.The award recognizes a young professional who has contributed to the oil and gas industry.Parker of Wexford has more than 11 years of civil engineering design experience, but since 2008 has primarily worked on oil and gas projects.She also is a member of the International Erosion Control Association and the Marcellus Shale Coalition.
PLS Logistics hires chief info officerCRANBERRY TWP — PLS Logistics Services has announced that Jon Herberger joined the company as chief information officer.Herberger most recently served as senior vice president and chief information officer at Imagitas, a marketing services company. He has more than 20 years of experience managing projects and providing IT solutions, according to a news release.PLS provides logistics management, brokerage and technology services for shippers across all industries.
Junior Achievement merges boardsJunior Achievement in March held its first Butler County advisory board meeting since merging two advisory boards.JA teaches students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.There had been two advisory boards: one for the Seneca Valley School District and one for all other county schools.There are 19 schools and more than 5,100 students annually involved in JAThe merged board is cochaired by Neal Jackson of WesBanco and Chris Marsico of the Marsico Financial Group.For information about JA, visit www.jawesternpa.org.
Firm breaks ground for new facilityEAST FRANKLIN TWP, Armstrong County — CWM Environmental, joined by representatives from the Armstrong County Industrial Development Authority and elected officials, in April broke ground for its new 9,600-square-foot building in the West Hills Industrial Park.The new building will consolidate the firm’s laboratory with multiple administrative offices in Western Pennsylvania. The company employs more than 50 people and plans to grow to more than 70 with the expansion, according to a news release.CWM provides services such as analytical testing, treatment plant operations, cleanout projects and sludge hauling.
Oberg selects new HR directorBUFFALO TOWNSHIP — Oberg Industries recently hired Joseph O’Brien as its new director of human resources.He will oversee all human resources activities at the company’s Buffalo Township headquarters and its Costa Rica production center.O’Brien has worked in a variety of HR leadership roles during the past 20 years. He will report to David Bonvenuto, the company’s president and CEO.O’Brien most recently was vice president of human resources and facilities for Tollgrade Communications. He earned his bachelor’s from Gannon University in Erie and holds a number of HR certifications.Oberg specializes in the production of precision machined and stamped metal components and precision tooling. It employs about 800.
Butler Downtown gets accreditedButler Downtown is one of 40 Main Street programs in the state to be nationally accredited by the National Main Street Center.Accredited Main Street programs are evaluated annually. All of the 40 communities have met 10 performance standards, which include topics such as training requirements, planning methods, and community involvement.Butler Downtown is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers. It promotes business and development downtown.
