When Peggy Weckerly retires as administrator of PA CareerLink Butler County on Oct. 12, it will mark exactly 45 years and one day of state service in which she has touched the lives of thousands of people.

Although Weckerly has spent her career connecting job seekers to employers or to job training, the path was one she almost didn’t take.

Originally from Tarentum, Weckerly attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, Franklin County, where she studied psychology and social work.

Before graduating in 1967, she took a state civil service test but didn’t give it much thought. Much to her surprise, she was offered a position two weeks later as an employment counselor at the unemployment office in Butler.

She almost turned it down because she had hoped to work in Pittsburgh. Plus, she had given thought to pursuing a master’s and doctorate in psychology. But the head of the state Civil Service Commission office in Pittsburgh at the time persuaded her to take the job.

So, just shy of age 22, she stepped into the position and found she liked the work. Plus, the yearly salary of $6,390 was good for a recent graduate.

Weckerly succeeded in working with hard-to-place job seekers, such as those with disabilities, veterans, ex-offenders, people from low-income households and even people with advanced academic degrees. In fact, she had one of the highest placement rates in the state.

She soon met her husband in Butler and settled into life north of the city.

Over several decades, she advanced to job service supervisor and then to office manager.

However, a new opportunity presented itself after the federal Workforce & Investment Act of 1998 initiated the creation of state employment centers.

Pennsylvania’s plan to comply with the legislation led to CareerLink, or the state’s brand of centers that could offer training, employment and disability services under one roof. Each county office functions as a nonprofit organization separate from the state that partners with other agencies.

The task of establishing and running such a facility here went to Weckerly.

She got a location when she discovered the Community Development Corporation of Butler County planned to build an office building on the former Pullman-Standard property.

“We started and founded (PA CareerLink Butler County) as a community-based CareerLink.

“We pulled together something like 40 agencies and met every single month in preparation for the CareerLink.

“We did that because we wanted to be based in the community, and my philosophy was: If we weren’t based in the community working with the community organizations, I just didn’t feel that the kind of CareerLink we would build would be as viable,” she said.

PA CareerLink Butler County opened in June 2002.

“My whole life has been about public service here in Butler County. That’s all I’ve done, whether I’ve served the job seekers and placed them or whether I’ve served the employers,” she said.

“It’s not about me; it’s about the whole office and what we’ve done,” she added.

Most of the first floor of the building at 112 Hollywood Drive was the CareerLink’s home for its first 10 years, but because of state budget cuts, the office condensed in December and recently moved into a smaller suite upstairs.

“There’s just so many things I still want to do with my life,” Weckerly said about her decision to retire, adding the time just felt right.

“I’ve taken the CareerLink to where I think it’s positioned so that another person can step in and hopefully keep the momentum going. Forty-five years I think is long enough. I think it’s time for fresh blood.”

She said Larry Garvin, former director of the Butler YMCA, will step in as the new administrator, effective Oct. 15. He is currently vice president of operations for Butler County Career T.R.A.C.K., which is the CareerLink training partner.

He will hold both positions.

Also, John Pileggi, who has been working as CareerLink’s program supervisor since the summer, will help lead. He supervises the state staff who work with the public, as well as all job seeker operations, including the public computer area.

Weckerly said the most significant event during her career was the closing of Pullman-Standard in 1982. She said nearly 3,000 people were out of work, creating a 19 percent unemployment rate in the county.

Plus, many of those workers were difficult to place because they lacked transferable skills or didn’t have high school diplomas.

“That was the most memorable and the most miserable time for Butler County,” she said, adding people lined up for blocks outside the former unemployment office on Cunningham Street.

Well known for her community service, Weckerly said that happened unintentionally as she was establishing the CareerLink.

Over the years, she has served, or continues to serve, the Butler AM Rotary Club, the Center for Community Resources, the Salvation Army, the Butler County Blind Association, the Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center and many others. “My whole life has been spent helping people, so it’s kind of in my blood,” she said.

Ken Raybuck, executive director of the CDC, said he first got to know Weckerly in 2009 when he was working for the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board. “I was just really impressed from day one,” Raybuck said.

He cited her energy, her understanding of both job seekers and employers, and her experience as some of her greatest strengths. “It’s hard to make up for that much experience,” he said.

Jim Ferguson, director for Penn United Technologies’ training facility, has worked with Weckerly on work force issues for about 40 years. “She has always been extremely helpful in serving the work force of Butler County,” he said.