The Penn State DuBois Alumni Society recognized three individuals with the annual Alumni Society Awards during a virtual ceremony on November 1. Video of the recognition can be viewed at dubois.psu.edu/alumni-awards
Each year, the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society awards individuals for their professional success as well as their support for the campus. This year, Michael Yamrick Jr., 2007, 2010, received the Dave Shaffer Outstanding Young Alumni Award; Jana Sharlow, 1997, 2000, received the Outstanding Alumni Award; and Paul Winkler, 1978, was named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Yamrick earned his associate degree in wildlife technology and bachelor’s in earth science at Penn State DuBois and went on to earn a bachelor’s focused in earth science with a minor in natural resources from Penn State in 2010. He is currently a project geologist for Triad Engineering in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania., and is a licensed professional geologist. In his current position with Triad Engineering, Inc., Yamrick manages geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as assisting with business development. These projects generally consist of proposing a scope of work to meet the client’s needs, developing work plans, data collection, data analysis, and report writing. Triad Engineering is a multi-discipline engineering firm based in the Mid-Atlantic region specializing in the areas of geotechnical engineering, civil and utility engineering, construction materials testing and inspection, surveying, environmental consulting, drilling, and other earth science related disciplines.
Yamrick began his career at Geosearch Logging only two weeks after graduation, having received a job offer during his senior year. He was responsible for the geological logging of natural gas and oil wells. In 2011, he took a position as a geophysicist with a company in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he oversaw borehole geophysical logging and analysis for environmental consultants. In 2015, he took a Staff hydrogeologist position with Geo-Technology Associates, Inc., in Abingdon, Maryland. Yamrick was able to advance to a Project Geologist position and was responsible for managing groundwater and wastewater projects. In May of 2021, Yamrick took his current position as a Project Geologist with Triad Engineering, Inc.
“It’s very humbling. It’s pretty neat to know that my name came up for something like this,” Yamrick said. “My family is very proud. I thank you all for the opportunity.”
Yamrick lives with his wife, Cassie, and their two children, Kinley and Beckett, in York, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the York County Alumni Chapter. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and fly fishing.
Sharlow graduated from Penn State DuBois with a bachelor’s degree in business in 2000. She completed a master of business administration with a concentration in strategy at the University of Pittsburgh in 2003. While attending school, she worked for Eat’n Park restaurants working her way through the ranks, from assistant manager to the field director of Leadership Development. Sharlow is currently the director of Learning at the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group (EPHG), Inc in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her career has spanned 41 years. In this position with EPHG, Sharlow leads Learning and Development which enables EPGH to successfully deliver on business objectives. She aligns learning with overall business strategy, ensures prioritization of initiatives and resources, delivers development programs focused on the retention and continued education of all team members, and supports knowledge equity across the organization. The Learning Pillar includes five dimensions: Analytics & Problem Solving, Product Management, Learning Delivery, Learning Administration, and Content Management.
Sharlow has served as a board member for the Mon Valley Initiative, Pittsburgh Technical College, Goodwill, and the Penn DuBois Alumni Society. As an ardent “Penn Stater”, she served on “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students” at DuBois. She received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the Penn State DuBois Alumni Society in 2004. She has never missed an “EPHG Volunteers for Day of Smiles” or an opportunity to participate in the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh fundraisers.
On receiving the award, Sharlow said, “I am very humbled, happy and proud. It made me reminisce on how much the campus does and how many good memories I have. I’ve very proud. And you made my dad happy, so it’s a lifetime award for me.”
In her free time, Sharlow enjoys traveling to places abroad, hiking, crochet, and glass fusing. She nurtures her entrepreneurial and creative spirit with 6RobinsonRun, the artisan-craft company she has with her three siblings.
Winkler majored in Healthcare Administration at Penn State, graduating in 1978 and continuing his studies at the University of Pittsburgh and later a residency with the John J. Kane Hospital. After seven years with the Kane Regional Centers, he joined Presbyterian SeniorCare in 1987. He is now president and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, a continuum of senior housing and care communities and services, including nonprofit supportive housing, personal care and long-term care, at 56 locations across 10 counties of western Pennsylvania serving approximately 6,500 seniors and families annually. Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is the largest senior living provider in western Pennsylvania and within the Top 50 largest nonprofit providers in the United States, and is accredited as a Network by CARF. After serving as senior vice president and chief operating officer for the network, overseeing its range of services and facilities, Winkler was elected president and CEO in March 1999.
Winkler also holds a bachelor of science in health planning and administration, and a bachelor of arts in general arts and sciences. He earned a master of public health degree in health administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He regularly teaches classes on long-term care at local universities, served as adjunct faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health where he taught a Healthcare Leadership course, and served as a coach with the national LeadingAge Leadership Academy. He has also presented at state and national conferences on a variety of topics, including Strategic Perspectives on Continuum of Care, Alzheimer's Disease Design and Programming, Culture Change/Person-Centered Services, Performance Improvement, Post-Acute Network Collaboration/Alternative Payment Models and Presbyterian SeniorCare Network's Continuing Care at Home program (Envisage).
In 2013, Winkler was named the recipient of the UPMC Senior Services Grand Champion award in recognition of his 32 years of service to seniors. Additionally, he served on “For the Future” Campaign Committee at Penn State DuBois and supports the campus as a donor.
“I’m overwhelmed and grateful. Grateful for what the campus and Penn State have done for me and for the opportunity to serve,” Winkler remarked. “I think DuBois campus, and probably all the Commonwealth Campuses, have a unique DNA that really contributes to making PSU the extraordinary organization that it is. There’s a synergy that happens. There’s something magical that happened for the three of us because we had that opportunity to be at the small campus with the big university resources. The campus has a history and culture to be very proud of. Certainly, I take pride in being part of its proud history.”
Winkler and his wife, Connie, reside in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. They have two adult children and two grandsons.
View the virtual ceremony recognizing these award winners here.
