Stephen P. Johnson '67 (left) accepting the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from Ross Donahue '67.
Stephen Philip Johnson, Vice President for Cornell University Government and Community Relations, directs the University’s legislative efforts and coordinates its involvement with government-focused higher education associations. Working from offices on the Ithaca, Albany, and in Washington, DC, the Office of Government and Community Relations serves as liaison between Cornell and elected officials and agencies at the state, federal and community levels. He also represents the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
In his 41-year tenure at Cornell, Steve has been closely associated with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Program, state relations, and federal advocacy. An alumnus of The Pennsylvania State University, he also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. He serves on the boards of the local economic development agency, Tompkins County Area Development, and Excell Partners, a regional economic development partnership focused on Upstate NY.
Steve lives with his spouse, Lorraine in Lansing, NY. They have two adult sons, Chris and Marc.
Front row, left to right: John Bean, Distinguished Ambassador, David Roush, Outstanding Young Alumni, Rawley Cogan, Outstanding Alumni. Back row, left to right: Presenters Melanie Hatch, Jean Wolf, Diane Bernardo, David Spigelmyer, and Michael White.
David Roush '04 (right) accepting the 2013 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Diane Bernardo
David L. Roush ’04, COM Lib, is an instructor of media communications and video production at Harry Sx Truman High School and a freelance news reporter and anchor at News 12 Networks in New York City. Roush began his career during his freshman year at DuBois Area High School working as a freelance writer for the Courier-Express and on-air personality at Sunny 106 WDSN. After graduation from Penn State, he transitioned into television as the DuBois Region Bureau Chief Reporter for WJAC-TV Channel 6 News covering a four county area. Roush also served as a contributing author to “The Sinfonian” magazine, the national alumni publication of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
In 2007, Roush moved to the largest television market in the country as a reporter with News 12 the Bronx. There he covered a broad range of news, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President George W. Bush and Pope Benedict XVI. After covering several stories at Truman High School, he accepted the role of instructor for the school’s brand new media communications academy.
Roush has received numerous awards and recognitions. He was selected as a 2013 New York City “Big Apple Awards” nominee for excellence in teaching. He received first-place honors from the Collegiate Fraternal Editors Association for a personality profile he penned for The Sinfonian Magazine. Roush represented Penn State with a first-place finish in the 2002-2003 William Randolph Hearst Journalism Awards Competition in the Radio Broadcast News Feature category. Additionally, his students were nominated for a New York Emmy Award and have won thousands in scholarship prizes from various video contests.
Roush is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association. He is an alumni volunteer with the Penn State New York City Admissions Office and has sent several of his students on to various Penn State locations including the DuBois Campus. He remains active with the Phi Mu Alpha New York City Alumni Association.
Roush is the son of Karen Gralla and the late Donald Roush. He has three brothers, Donald Roush ’07 Bus, Lib, Matthew Roush and Mike Gralla, both Clarion University graduates. He currently lives in the Throggs Neck neighborhood of the Bronx.
John Beam (right) accepting the 2013 Distinguished Ambassador Award from Jean Wolf
John W. Bean, Chairman of Symmco Inc. Currently, semi-retired, John W. Bean is Chairman of Symmco, Inc., a leading manufacturer of powdered metal engineer parts, located in Sykesville, Pa. He began his career at Ideal Products, Inc. retiring as President after 40 years of service.
Residing in Sarasota, FL since 1994, his current pursuits include serving on the board of Children First, the Head Start provider for Sarasota County, three times nationally recognized as a Program of Excellence. Additionally, he is a Trustee of the New College Foundation in Sarasota, supporting the Honors College of the Florida State system.
In the recent past, Bean has served as Trustee of Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA, where he received his BA in Political Science and Economics in 1965, and Vice Chair of the Board of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL a leading research institution of epiphytes; orchids and bromeliads. Bean served in the US Army in various overseas and domestic assignments.
He has enjoyed his long and productive association with Penn State DuBois, supporting the continuing efforts of the DuBois Educational Foundation and the Materials Engineering program thorough his association with Symmco, Inc. He and his wife Alexandra enjoy their family; daughter Tara, son in law Greg, grandchildren Peter, Yuri and Sava and great grandchildren Devin and Amanda. They also enjoy their Pomeranians, Kalinka and Misha.
Rawley Cogan '79 '81 '91 (right) receiving the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award from David Spigelmyer '82
Rawland D. Cogan, ’91 M.S. (Forest Resources Wildlife & Fisheries Science); ’81 B.S. (Recreation); ’79 A.S. (Wildlife Technology) currently serves as the President and CEO of The Keystone Elk Country Alliance, a non-profit Pennsylvania-based conservation organization whose mission is to conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s elk country for future generations. The Keystone Elk Country Alliance operates and manages The Elk Country Visitor Center, which is located in Benezette, Pennsylvania. This premier conservation facility, which has earned a LEED Certification with a Gold Designation, has thus far attracted approximately half a million visitors from thirty-three countries and all fifty states. Mr. Cogan has served as the President and CEO of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance since May 2010.
In 2009 Rawland created and managed The Rawley Cogan Consulting Business, the purpose of which was to fund-raise and to provide project management for the completion of The Elk Country Visitor Center. His business and consulting firm, which was under contract with Pennsylvania’s Parks and Forests Foundation, worked directly with PA DCNR to complete The Elk Country Visitor Center.
From 2002 to 2009 Rawley was an integral part of The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, serving as Development Officer and Lands Program Manager. He represented this organization from both a regional and a national level as he expanded the mission of conservation.
Cogan began his very distinguished career with The Pennsylvania Game Commission, where, from 1982 to 2002 he held various positions, including Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer, Wildlife Technician, Wildlife Biologist, and culminating his career with the PGC by holding the prestigious position of the State Elk Biologist. During his tenure with The Game Commission Rawley was instrumental in developing and coordinating all research activities associated with Pennsylvania’s Elk Management Plan. Under his guidance and expertise Pennsylvania’s elk herd developed into a healthy and viable population. Rawley developed, implemented, and supervised a vast array of research and management projects, a few of which included the annual aerial elk survey, the Elk Trap and Transfer Project, disease testing projects, and elk reproductive and calf survival studies. As The State Biologist he served as the Chairman for Pennsylvania’s Elk Hunt Advisory Committee and the Senior Author of Pennsylvania’s First Modern-Day Elk Hunt Plan, as well as the Senior Author of Pennsylvania’s Elk Management Plan.
Rawley has authored a large number of articles and research reports, which have appeared in many conservation, outdoor, research, and professional magazines and periodicals. He has made guest appearances on such television programs as Pennsylvania Outdoor Life, Outdoor Journal, and Jack Hubley’s Wild Moments. He also serves as a host on the national television show, Friends in Wild Places, which airs on both ABC 23, Fox 8 and on The Pursuit Channel. He is a highly sought after guest speaker for many professional and civic organizations.
Rawley, a life member of both The Keystone Elk Country Alliance and RMEF, is also a member of The National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, and The Eastern Chapter Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Throughout his life he has been the humble recipient of many conservation-based awards from such foundations and organizations as The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, C. Ted Lick Conservation Foundation, and The Pennsylvania Game Commission. He has also been honored by the Pennsylvania Senate with their Special Recognition Award and by The Pennsylvania State University with the David T. Wanlass Wildlife Award.
Rawley and his wife, Lana, are members of the Penn State Alumni Association, reside in Weedville, Pennsylvania and are the proud parents of two sons, Cody and Jess.
Front row, left to right: Craig Pearce, Outstanding Alumni, Joyce Fairman, Distinguished Ambassador, Robert Ellinger, Outstanding Alumni. Back row, left to right: Presenters Melanie Hatch, Henry Sims, Derek Fairman, Jim Fragle, and Amy Fatula.
Joyce R. Ritenour Fairman of DuBois, is self-employed in the oil and gas production field and is part-owner of Fairman Corporation, an operator of natural gas wells. She previously worked for 20 years as the Accounting and Systems Manager for Atlas Pressed Metals, a local powdered metal manufacturer, retiring in 2011. Ms. Fairman earned a Masters of Business Administration Degree in 1984 and a bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in psychology in 1976, both from IUP. While in college, she served as Vice President of Sigma Kappa Sorority, ran for Homecoming Queen and was honored to be chosen as the Student speaker at Sociology/Anthropology Graduation ceremony.
Fairman is the President of the Board of Directors of the Fairman Family Foundation. The foundation, established by her late husband, Alan Fairman, financially supports activities that promote the physical and mental health of young people in the local communities.She also serves as a member of the Council of Trustees for Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The council is responsible for financial oversight of the university and ensuring compliance of university policy with state law.
Fairman is active in her community, including serving as treasurer of the St. Catherine Church Fundraising Committee and as treasurer of the Association of Women Investors Organization. She is a past board member of DuBois Area YMCA, DuBois United Way, DuBois Public Library and is a former member of the Penn State DuBois Athletics Fundraising Committee.
A native of Bridgeville PA, she is a graduate of Chartiers Valley High School. She is the proud mother of two grown children- Derek R. Fairman, a graduate of IUP, who is married to Lindsay V. Fairman, and Lisa Fairman Pfingstler, a graduate of Gannon University and the Penn State College of Medicine, who is married to Jude Pfingstler. Fairman also boasts four grandchildren - Tyler, Reed, Avery and Zachary.
Fairman Family Foundation contributions to PSU DuBois:
Founding contributor to create the Anita D. McDonald Endowment for the Support of Children and Youth at Penn State DuBois.
Substantial supporter of the first BEST Robotics Competition at Penn State.
DuBois Naming contributor for the renovations to the Higgins House, now known as the Alan R. Fairman House, showcasing the Honors Program.
Craig L. Pearce, Ph.D. ’87 CBA is University Distinguished Professor at MEF University in Istanbul, Turkey and Chief Learning Officer of 5.11 Tactical in Irvine, California. He specializes in executive leadership development. He is the founding Director of the Deloitte Leadership Institute at Ozyegin University in Istanbul, Turkey. He was formerly the Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship at the American University of Nigeria and was the Donald Clifton Chair in Leadership and the Director of the Institute for Innovative Leadership at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Previously, he was a professor at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito School of Management.
Craig received his B.S. with honors and distinction in management and a minor in psychology from Penn State in 1987, his MBA in management from The University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988, and a Ph.D. in management and organization from The University of Maryland-College Park in 1997.
He has received several awards including an award from Center for Creative Leadership in the Walter F. Ulmer Applied Research Award competition; the Ascendant Scholar Award from the Western Academy of Management; and the Asia Pacific Human Resource Leadership Award from Asia Pacific Human Resource Congress. He has presented or authored more than 100 professional publications. His research has been cited more than 5,000 times in scholarly outlets, with an h-index of 30, while he is cited on the web more than 4,000,000 times.
Craig is an entrepreneur and co-founder of an agricultural biotechnology company. He also founded a heavy equipment leasing and construction company and a real estate development firm. He owns a working ranch in California that raises livestock and ornamental drought resistant plants, such as palm trees and succulents. Thus, he is both a leadership development expert and a leader, drawing from real life leadership experience to inform both his scholarship and his leadership development perspective.
Robert Ellinger '80 receives the the Outstanding Alumni Award from Jim Fragle
Robert O. (Bob) Ellinger ‘80 Smeal College of Business (graduate with distinction) – is Senior Management Advisor for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International Ltd. He is currently serving as South Sudan Country Director residing in Maridi, South Sudan, Africa with a home address of Treasure Lake. He is Chief of Party for the Electrification Sustainability Program (ESP), overseeing a technical assistance program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) supporting the process of achieving long-term sustainability for three recently constructed electric generation-distribution utilities serving the towns of Kapoeta, Maridi and Yei in the Equatoria States of South Sudan. Prior to his current assignment, Bob worked on several short-term assignments in the African countries of Uganda and Liberia. In 2011 he completed a three year assignment as Chief of Party for the Rural Electrification Development Program (REDP) in Bangladesh.
Bob began his career in rural electrification as the Energy Management Advisor for United Electric Cooperative in DuBois. He has more than 25 years of experience in rural electrification programs having served in staff positions in DuBois prior to moving to Delaware, Ohio where, at the age of 34, he became Ohio’s youngest general manager of an electric distribution cooperative. While in Ohio Bob served as vice president of the Ohio Managers Association and chairman of the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives Youth Committee.
Prior to joining NRECA International in 2008, Bob served in senior positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Service (RUS), Washington, DC culminating in his selection as Director, Southern Region Division where he managed the activities of the engineering and financial operations departments and 15 field representatives located throughout 20 states and territories. During his tenure with the Federal Government, Bob served as chairman of the Electric Operations Committee and as member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) - Energy Resources and Environment Committee.
Ellinger earned an associate degree in business administration from Penn State DuBois in 1980, and was awarded membership in the Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. He is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and an avid follower of Penn State athletics both in DuBois and University Park.
Donor Ross Kester was the first to establish an Open Doors Scholarship at Penn State DuBois. The retired instructor in the campus engineering program named his scholarship in honor of his late colleague William H. Keown. Kester is pictured with Keown's daughter Mary Ruth Wilson.
