Butler Anesthesia Associates hired Dr. Regis Switala and joined the medical staff of Butler Memorial Hospital.

Switala has 10 years of professional anesthesia care experience for general, cardiac and obstetrical procedures. He has been with SWPA Pulmonary Associates since 2007, serving Washington Hospital in Washington, Pa., and at North Hills Anesthesia Associates, providing acute and chronic pain management at UPMC Passavant.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and completed his internship and residency at UPMC. He also worked in Georgia as an anesthesiologist.

He is licensed with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and is diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Switala lives in Gibsonia and has two children.

WEXFORD — The Woodlands Foundation honored NexTier Bank President Margaret Irvine Weir for her work and financial support of the organization, which provides support and enrichment programs for children and adults with disability and chronic illness.The 2008 Butterfly Ball was held Sept. 13 at the Woodlands' Bradford Woods campus, an annual gala fundraiser, which netted $70,000 so far.Irvine-Weir was joined by her father, S.J. Irvine III, and his wife, Lois. S.J. Irvine is a former president of the bank.

ROBINSON TWP — Bayer is celebrating its 50th year in Pittsburgh.The parent company of MEDRAD, which manufactures medical imaging equipment at plants in Indianola, Allegheny County, and Clinton Township, moved to Pittsburgh in 1958 when Mobay Chemical, a joint venture between Bayer and Monsanto Chemical, moved here from St. Louis.Bayer has about 1,500 employees at its RobinsonTownship headquarters, while MEDRAD has an additional 1,200 employees in the region.

PITTSBURGH — MSA was awarded two contracts to supply the U.S. Air Force with a new, self-contained breathing apparatus system for a combined value of $24.6 million.This is in addition to a 2006 $36 million contract with the Air Force.This new system is a powered air-purifying respirator and gas mask and is designed to protect air-base firefighters with a long-duration respiratory protection system with National Fire Protection Association approved protection from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear contaminant.Delivery of the systems is to be completed during winter or spring.

HERSHEY — Pennsylvania State Police announced the following promotions:<B>Corporal</B>• Jeremy Bowser of West Kittanning, Troop D in Kittanning• Steven Dowlin of Zelienople, Troop B in Washington• Christopher Murray of Cranberry Township, Troop D in Butler• Raymond Schafer III of East Brady, Troop D in Butler<B>Sergeant</B>• Nicholas Newcaster II of Mars, Troop D of Butler

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — James McGinnis, a Butler-native, was hired as a senior associate for AgChoice Farm Credit's Butler branch.He lived in West Virginia for a number of years after earning his master's degree from West Virginia University.He has 17 years of lending industry experience and recently owned a landscape company.

• Dr. Allen Budek was hired as the medical director for the Family Hospice and Palliative Care team, which serves Grove City, Volant, Sandy Lake, New Castle, Hermitage, Mercer, Greenville and Meadville.• Charles "Dick" Lynch was named executive director of the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania, with its office in Wexford.• Casey Boyd was promoted to marketing technician at Marmon/Keystone's corporate office in Butler.• Frankie Krouse, a Slippery Rock University graduate, was named operations manager for the company's Hebron, Ky., facility.

• S&T Bancorp's board of directors declared a 31 cent per share cash dividend payable Oct. 24 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 1. This dividend is a 3.3 percent increase over the same period in 2007 and a 3.7 percent annualized yield using the Sept. 15 closing price of $33.77.