PARKER — The Central Electric Cooperative board of directors elected Margery Terwilliger president on Sept. 20.

She has been a board member since 2002 and represents Armstrong County. She has been a Central Electric member since 1953.

Other officials elected are:

• Jody P. Weaver, vice president, a board member since 2008, Clarion County

• Althea M. Smith, secretary/treasurer, a board member since 1995, Venango County

• Rick Weaver, the Allegheny Electric Cooperative director

• Terwilliger was also named the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association director

• William J. Eichner, Central Electric's newest board member, was elected at the cooperative's annual meeting Aug. 27 to represent Butler County.

Central Electric has about 25,000 members in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Forest, Mercer and Venango counties.

HERMITAGE, Mercer County — First National Bank of Pennsylvania has promoted Mark Sullivan to executive vice president.Sullivan joined First National Bank in 2007 as senior vice president and director of treasury management. He previously served as senior vice president of treasury management for Sky Financial Group in Pittsburgh, and has held senior and executive positions at National City and Mellon Bank. He has nearly 30 years of experience in financial services.He earned a bachelor's of science degree in business economics from Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio, and a master's of business administration degree in marketing and finance from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Pittsburgh Association for Financial Professionals. Sullivan lives in Wexford.

TITUSVILLE — NW PA Marcellus Shale, Keystone CEC, Oil Region Alliance and the PA Career Link, will host a two-day shale drilling seminar at the Cross Creek Resort on Route 8.The event will be Oct. 6 and 7 at the resort featuring shale drilling companies and information sessions for people looking for energy jobs and land owners considering gas leases.The event is free, and information can be found at www.nwpamarcellusshale.com or by call 814-677-4427.

GROVE CITY — Cardiologist Dr. Padmini Sircar, who is an affiliate of Cardiology Associates of Allegheny General Hospital, has joined the Grove City Medical Center's medical staff.Sircar will provide full- time cardiology services to patients in Grove City through the hospital as well as her office at Pine Medical Center, 675 N. Broad St. Extension.

WASHINGTON — The National Federation of Independent Business, which promotes small businesses, has named U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4th, a Guardian of Small Business for his voting record on behalf of America's small business owners in the 111th Congress.The federation presented this award to 202 representatives who voted favorably on key small business issues at least 70 percent of the time during the 111th Congress.

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes had their second-worst month on record in August, signaling that the housing market remains a severe weak spot for the economy.The Commerce Department says last month's new home sales were unchanged from a month earlier at a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 288,000. Sales were down by 29 percent from the same month a year earlier.From staff and wire reports