Josh Fye

EMLENTON, Venango County — Joshua Fye of Slippery Rock has been hired by the Farmers National Bank of Emlenton as assistant vice president, commercial loan officer.

Fye will be responsible for developing and maintaining business relationships in Butler, Mercer, and surrounding counties. He has most recently worked as a commercial lender with First National Bank of Pennsylvania.

Fye earned a master’s in business administration from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University. He also has attended the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School at Bucknell University.

Peoples TWP asks for rate reductionPeoples TWP, formerly the T.W. Phillips Oil and Gas Co., in Butler, has filed for a decrease in natural gas prices with the state Public Utility Commission.Peoples TWP is asking for a 5 percent decrease, but the company reminds customers that how the decrease affects their billing is based on usage.The monthly bill for the average residential customer using 87,000 cubic feet per year could drop from $91 to $86 per month.The company’s request is on file with the PUC in Harrisburg, but consumers may file complaints with the request by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, Pa. 17105-3265.

CHAMBER elects 8 board membersTHE CHAMBER of Commerce, which covers Cranberry Township, has announced its newest board members elected for the 2012-2015 term.They are: Jerry Walkins, Send Out Cards; Steve Carpenter, Northwood Realty; Kent Clifton, AXA Advisors; John Laslavic, Thistle Sea Business Development.Also, Jim Boltz, Minuteman Press; Andrew Chiapusio, First Commonwealth Bank; Kiersten McCort, McCort, Martin and Baker, and Dan Penberthy, First Commonwealth Business Banking.

Rex Energy reports growth in 2011STATE COLLEGE, Centre County — Rex Energy has announced 82 percent growth in proven reserves and 92 percent growth in annual production.The Marcellus Shale natural gas company, with wells in Butler County, said as of Dec. 31, 2011, the company has 366.2 Bcfe (billion cubic feet) in proven natural gas and oil, natural gas liquids and condensate.Rex Energy reports 54 percent of its growth in proven reserves is attributable to expanded horizontal drilling in Butler County.Thirty-one wells have been drilled, 19 wells fractured and 21 wells were put into production in Butler County in the past year.The Sarsen cryogenic gas processing plant in Jackson Township, jointly owned with Keystone Midstream Services, was processing about 34.6 MMcf (million cubic feet) of natural gas per day in December 2011.This inlet is expected to grow to 40 MMcf when the Voll Compressor Station. also in Jackson Township, is completed in February.

F.N.B. names new CEOHERMITAGE, Mercer County — The F.N.B. Corp., parent company of the First National Bank, has announced Vincent Delie Jr. has been elected chief executive officer, effective Jan. 18.Delie succeeds Stephen Gurgovits, who will now serve as chairman of the board. Delie, who was also elected to the board of directors, will remain president of F.N.B. Corp., and CEO of First National Bank.

PERSONNEL FILEMark Stallsmith of Stallsmith Financial in Butler has earned his chartered special needs consultant designation from The American College in Bryn Mawr.This means he has been trained to help with financial planning for people with disabilities.