Internship Summit Featured Speakers & Panelists

Mike Fazio

Co-President | Workforce180, LLC. & Metrix Learning

Mike Fazio is the Co-President for Workforce180 and Metrix Learning. Both are well-known industry organizations specializing in assisting both job seekers and industry professionals through Training, Podcasting and Marketing. He and his team have assisted more than 700 different workforce, government and non-profit organizations, from all 50 states + DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Canada. Mike has enjoyed a 25+ year career focused on Sales, Management, Marketing and Recruiting and wakes up every day with a definitive belief that consistent, enthusiastic coaching and leadership, provides individuals and organizations the tools needed to reach their highest levels of performance. He has historically implemented successful strategic programs in both his corporate and government experiences and is driven by an uncanny, unreal, unparalleled, unbelievable and unending passion to help and teach others.  More at www.workforce180.com/mike and www.linkedin.com/in/workforcemike

Jessica Gardner

Human Resource Manager | General Carbide Corporation

Jessica Gardner is a passionate, results oriented Human Resources Manager for General Carbide Corporation. With over 17 years of HR experience Jessica provides a strong background in management, recruitment, and retention, change management, compensation, labor relations, policy creation and implementation, which has resulted in a strong relationship with those she works with. She is exceptionally strong in employee selection, talent management, organizational development, public speaking and training.  One of Jessica’s biggest passions is the workforce of the future and bridging the gap between education and workforce. At General Carbide she is working diligently with the HR team and managers to create avenues for students to experience and shadow a day in the life of manufacturing. She believes in meeting students where they are and showing them the success stories of manufacturing careers so they can have enough information as they make crucial decisions for their futures. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry from Geneva College and a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University. 

Matthew Fridg

Owner, Maker, Filmmaker | Headspace Media

Matthew is an Emmy® award-winning filmmaker and marketer. In 2019, he founded Headspace Media (www.headspace.media) with the goal of helping businesses grow through expert marketing and award-winning content. Since then, Headspace Media has become one of the top new businesses in Westmoreland County and has helped clients generate millions of dollars in new revenue. In addition to his work as a marketing expert, he has produced award-winning content for brands such as: Facebook, Discovery Channel, GNC, Velocity Network, Freethink Media, Martin Guitar, and more.

Dr. Krista Boyer

Licensed Psychologist & Owner | Authentic Perspectives

Dr. Krista Boyer infuses a mindfulness-based approach to her clinical work and is specifically skilled in identifying the strengths of her clientele, which largely includes executives, physicians, and other high performers. In addition to her doctoral degree, Dr. Boyer has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, a master’s degree in business administration, and is working towards a master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology. She teaches graduate and doctoral courses in group dynamics, organizational consultation, career counseling, positive psychology, mindfulness, and other clinical courses. She is the vice president of the Greater Pittsburgh Psychological Association, has presented nationally to professional audiences, and has published in the Pennsylvania Psychologist magazine and the National Psychologist newspaper. Dr. Boyer’s dynamic educational background and professional experiences provide the perspective to help organizations apply evidenced-based techniques to engage their employees and create a thriving culture.

Devan White

VP – Financial Advisor | Wealth Enhancement Group

Devan is a graduate of Uniontown Area High School and Gettysburg College. She began her career in financial services working with a small business lender before transitioning to wealth management. Devan is a Vice President/Financial Advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group. She holds her Certified Financial Planner© designation and is also a Five Star Wealth Manager (2023) award winner. She is very active in her community, serving as the Past President of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce who awarded her the Herman Buck Award in 2014. In 2018, she was given the Boy Scouts of America Salute to Women Young Professional Award. She also sits on the Board of Directors of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Greater Uniontown Imagination Library. Devan lives in Perryopolis with her husband Doug and sons Tripp and Lucas.

Noah Proctor

Junior Process Engineer | Powerex

Noah is currently a Junior Process Engineer at Powerex, following my internship over my senior year as an Electrical Engineering Technology major. This followed my summer BotsIQ internship at Metplas. My hobbies include studying, cooking, programming, and medieval fencing. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania for a majority of my life, but I’ve traveled and lived across the Eastern seaboard when I was younger. I focus on being optimistic and caring, as I think good begets good.

Jake Smithula

System Administrator | DMI Companies

Jacob Smithula is a recent graduate of Pennsylvania Western University, with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Jacob completed the Experience Works! PLUS internship program in 2020. Since the internship, Jacob has worked full time as a system administrator for DMI Companies.

Morgan Hunchuck

Finance Coordinator | Fayette Chamber of Commerce

A 2016 graduate of Uniontown Area High School, Morgan Hunchuck began working at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce in July of 2016 through the Experience Works program. Upon completion of the summer work program, in September of 2016, she was hired as a part time office assistant at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Continuing to work at Chamber while attending Laurel Business Institute. Morgan was promoted to a full-time position as Finance Coordinator upon her graduation in May of 2019 with an associate degree in Accounting and Business Administration.

Domenic Firestone

K2 Engineering

Domenic Firestone is a previous Experience Works! participant currently employed at K2 Engineering and attending Westmoreland County Community College. His participation within the Experience Works! program supported him in connecting with K2 Engineering as a high school senior in 2020. Following his participation, Domenic received an offer from the organization to remain a part of the team. 

Julian Naphier

Civic Center Director | Monessen Public Library

Julian is a previous Experience Works! participant who has worked with the Monessen Public Library, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Fayette County Courthouse, and Uniontown Public Library. From these experiences, Julian discovered that he had a passion for working with children and childcare. In 2018, he graduated from high school and pursued higher education at Pittsburgh Technical College where he graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. However, due to many workforce challenges and economic changes in 2020, finding the right career path was a challenge for Julian. He then decided to come back home to Monessen and apply for another work experience opportunity with the Monessen Public Library. Through this opportunity, Julian received the offered of becoming the library’s Civic Center Director and to work with the MPACT program through California University of Pennsylvania, Monessen School District, and Monessen Communities that Care. To this day, Julian is using all the skills that he has learned over the years to not only help himself in his current job but to also help others as a youth supervisor.

Dr. Shawna Little

Workforce Development Director | Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board

Dr. Shawna Little currently serves as the Workforce Development Director at the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board where she oversees the manufacturing and healthcare industry partnerships to expand collaborations with employers, school districts, local government officials, post-secondary institutions, and labor unions. In her prior position as Workforce Development Coordinator at the Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center, Little provided career guidance and job-seeking services to students with a focus on finding employment in their program of study. During a career that spans nearly two decades, Little has established her reputation for building relationships and communicating effectively. Little holds a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, a master’s degree from PennWest University-California, and a doctorate of education from Concordia-University Portland. Her dissertation entitled ”A Phenomenological Study: The Lived Experiences of Females in Nontraditional Programs in Career and Technical Education” was published in 2019. A life-long Fayette County resident, Little is actively involved in her local community as a member of the Rotary Club of Connellsville, the Connellsville Area High School Falcon Foundation, and a member of the Fayette County Drug & Alcohol Commission’s Board of Directors.