Our People

Hannah joined Catalyst Connection in 2017. She has worked across many departments, including reporting, marketing, and team development.

Now, she serves as a Workforce Specialist. She runs student programs for middle and high schools. These projects link local youth with factory employers. They all fall under our Explore the New Manufacturing brand.

Hannah loves creative design. She makes engaging marketing materials for these school projects. She networks with local partners to help more students and teachers find great industrial paths each year.

She also consults for our eContent Design team. In this role, she builds interactive training tools for our corporate clients.

Hannah earned her business degree from Slippery Rock University. Her studies focused tightly on marketing and communications.

Jennifer joined Catalyst Connection in 2024. Before this, she served as the Director of Workforce Development for a global non-profit in Southwestern Pennsylvania. She has deep experience in grant writing, research, and planning. She has managed many government funds for housing and economic growth to help the local workforce.

Now, she works as a Workforce Specialist. Jennifer brings strong skills in team leadership, hiring, and compliance tracking. She uses this experience to manage and expand Catalyst’s state-registered apprenticeship programs. She works closely with local partners to find new growth paths.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management. She has a strong reputation for helping people reach their full potential and solving tough business issues. She loves finding the best workflows for team service and new tech setups.

Outside of work, Jen is always up for an adventure. She loves to travel and experience different cultures. She also enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs.

Nathaniel works as a Workforce Specialist. He connects local job seekers, community groups, and employers through the REAL Jobs program. This project builds new career paths to create a more diverse workforce.

Nathaniel has a strong history of community and workforce growth. He recently won Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Award for his impactful local work.

Before joining Catalyst, he worked as a business account manager for the Center for Employment Opportunities. In 2018, he helped 78 formerly incarcerated people find good jobs and reach their career goals.

Terri managed operations for a non-profit workforce development group before joining Catalyst Connection. She handled quality control, compliance, growth, and human resources. Under her leadership, the yearly budget grew by 90% to $22.6 million, and the staff expanded to 340 employees.

Terri has over 30 years of experience in career and workforce growth. She has built strong business and school partnerships across southwestern Pennsylvania and the southern Alleghenies. These programs introduce high school students to manufacturing careers. She also helps employers build industry groups to solve hiring and training issues. Additionally, she has provided job services to help individuals with disabilities reach their full employment potential.

Terri has led local and national workshops for teachers, parents, and employers. Her sessions cover career planning, workplace habits, and job market trends.

Terri serves on the Board of Directors for New Century Careers. She is also on the Executive Committee for Southwestern PA BotsIQ. Born in Johnstown, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and now lives in Saltsburg.

In’dea works as a Workforce Specialist. She builds new career paths for local job seekers. She also partners with community groups to create a stronger regional workforce.

Before joining Catalyst Connection, In’dea was the Workforce Development Officer for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA). In that role, she helped local residents access critical job resources and build new skills.

In’dea brings deep expertise in top workforce training methods. She has proven experience working alongside regional community teams to guide people toward career success.

Amber joined Catalyst in October 2018. She was a recent graduate from St. Vincent College. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and minored in Communication.

She has prior experience in market research and customer service. Currently, she works as the Data and Events Associate. In this role, she supports the entire Catalyst staff.

Timothy joined Catalyst Connection in 2004. He graduated from Robert Morris University with a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems.

Over the years, Timothy managed data reporting and CRM systems. Currently, he serves as the Manager of Information Systems. In this role, he runs all software applications used by Catalyst Connection.

Scott leads workforce programs at Catalyst Connection. He oversees the design and delivery of these initiatives. For 19 years, Scott has advised schools and factories on career paths across 12 local counties.

He manages grant funds for worker training, job seeker programs, and STEM projects. He speaks often at school events and conferences. Each year, Scott helps over 60 school districts, 100 manufacturing firms, and 1,500 local students.

Scott has worked in human resources and workforce education since 1999. He has deep experience in retail, finance, and consulting. He previously worked as a talent recruiter for Mellon Financial and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

In those roles, he hired managers and tech workers. He also built internship programs and ran youth outreach events. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Robert Morris University.

Bob has worked with local manufacturing and engineering firms for 20 years. He focuses closely on hiring technical talent and managing projects. Before joining Catalyst, he was the Director of Project Services for a major technical staffing firm.

He has managed massive hiring projects for clients. His experience ranges from contract labor programs to rapid, high-volume direct hires. He has placed over 1,000 workers into more than 100 industrial companies during his career.

Bob earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Stacey has worked with manufacturing and supply firms in southwestern Pennsylvania for over ten years. Before joining Catalyst, she managed a local startup in this sector. She then transitioned that mission to a regional manufacturing trade group.

Her main goal was to help industrial firms find local tools to boost profits and fix workflows. Stacey has led multiple industrial advisory groups. She also coordinated the Fluid Power Challenge. This hands-on STEM program shows middle school students the great careers available in manufacturing.

Her background includes marketing, sales, and event management. She also ran her own business after studying at Pennsylvania State University.

Nicole joined Catalyst Connection in April 2024. She spent ten years working in the auto industry. There, she split her time evenly between accounting roles and office management.

Nicole uses her past experience to handle financial tasks at Catalyst. Her main duties include:

• Handling daily company billing.
• Managing accounts payable and receivable.
• Tracking operational cash flow.
• Balancing monthly bank files.
• Assisting with partner grant tracking.

Kristen works as a consultant and training expert on our team. She helps manufacturers build worker-focused training plans. Her deep education background makes her a specialist in leading group workshops.

Her focus areas include:

• Frontline manager and executive leadership training.
• Specialized Women in Leadership courses.
• One-on-one worker coaching.
• Lesson planning and workforce curriculum design.

Kristen is a certified teacher in Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She is also certified in crisis intervention work. Before joining Catalyst, she taught at the Community College of Allegheny County and directed a corporate mentor program that partnered with over 150 firms.

Kate started at Catalyst Connection in March 2024. She previously spent ten years in the telecom field. Before that, she worked in banking after spending 12 years raising her family at home.

Kate works as our Administrative Assistant. She is a great multitasker who handles daily office tasks. She provides close support to our executive team and board directors.

Kate earned her business degree from Robert Morris University. Outside of work, Kate loves taking walks, reading, traveling, and volunteering. She also enjoys relaxing with her family and friends.

Matt is a business growth expert. He has over 20 years of experience serving tech and factory firms. He uses a creative approach to solve tough corporate problems.

Matt tracks tech and market trends to help clients beat competition. On our team, Matt supports manufacturing firms in Allegheny, Butler, and Lawrence counties. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

David has 17 years of experience as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He leads process improvement projects across many fields. These include steelmaking, glass production, rail systems, healthcare, and water treatment.

David also designs and leads hands-on workforce training programs. He teaches Yellow Belt, Green Belt, 5S, and Lean Leader courses. He loves sharing practical skills to build stronger shop teams.

David holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Florida State University. He also earned a master’s degree in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. He got his Black Belt training in 2011 and a Toyota True Lean certificate in 2022.

Outside of work, David lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with his family. He enjoys running, playing guitar, and tracking sports cars.

Whit is the Vice President of Administration and Consulting as well as the CFO of Catalyst Connection. He joined our leadership team in 2022. He runs our daily finance, IT, HR, and consulting departments.

Whit has deep experience in business strategy, corporate finance, and marketing. He has worked with many domestic and global tech firms to build sales and manage funding.

He recently served as CEO of Advantech U.S., Inc. This tech firm won a regional award for advanced manufacturing in 2016. Whit has also worked as a consultant, startup CFO, and executive coach. He teaches on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.

Anna joined Catalyst Connection in 2010 after graduating from Duquesne University. Her business degree focused tightly on Supply Chain Management. She started as a supply analyst, helping local shops check vendors and improve workflows.

Now, she works as a Business Growth Consultant. Anna manages a wide variety of regional programs. She also leads our digital marketing and web strategy consulting services. Additionally, she handles relationships with our third-party partners.

Certifications and Affiliations

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Member of the Project Management Institute
• Member of Women in Manufacturing (WiM)

Allison joined Catalyst Connection in 2000. She has over 15 years of accounting experience. Her background includes work for the Pittsburgh Technology Council across the medical, manufacturing, and tech fields.

Allison handles our daily accounting tasks. Her primary duties include:

• Managing corporate billing and payroll.
• Handling accounts payable and cash tracking.
• Managing employee benefits and 401K files.
• Balancing monthly bank accounts and loans.

She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a degree in Business and Accounting.

Matt is the Managing Director of Technical Services. He joined Catalyst in 2017. Matt helps manufacturers test, select, and set up advanced technology on their shop floors. He also manages key technology grant programs like AIM Higher and Digital Bridge.

Matt connects local clients with top national research groups, including the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute. He also teaches our blueprints, engineering drawings, and industrial math courses.

Before joining us, Matt spent 15 years in the manufacturing and mining sectors. He focused on product growth and customer service. Matt holds a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA from Virginia Tech. He is also fluent in Spanish.

Consulting Expertise

• Automation and Robotics
• Digital Technology Setup
• 3D Printing and Manufacturing
• Tech Tool Selection and Project Tracking
• Blueprint and Engineering Drawing Creation
• Lean Manufacturing Workflows
• Vendor and Distributor Management

Petra is the President and CEO of Catalyst Connection. This nonprofit group helps local manufacturers grow their businesses and create new jobs. The organization serves as a key regional hub for the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

Petra has worked in factory operations and business growth since 1988. Before joining Catalyst, she worked at GE Aircraft Engines, now known as GE Aviation. She holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Petra serves on several major manufacturing leadership boards:

• The Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute
• The Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (IRC) Network
• The American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC)

She previously served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Pittsburgh Branch). She is also the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia.

Allison joined the Catalyst Connection team in 2010. As our Marketing Manager, she guides our marketing plans and project tracking. Her leadership helps build strong brand awareness for Catalyst across the manufacturing industry.

Over the years, Allison has built creative, data-driven ad campaigns. She connects with diverse audiences through digital marketing, brand design, and public communication. Her work drives the overall growth of the organization.

Allison holds a business degree from Pennsylvania State University. She combines hands-on experience with a strong work ethic to deliver great results for our clients.

Lou serves as the Director of Growth Services for Catalyst Connection. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. Additionally, he founded Echo Strategies, a specialized innovation research firm.

Lou holds a background in chemistry and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. He is a serial entrepreneur and research planner. In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked with large organizations like NASA and General Tire Research.

He launched his first company in 1984 with Pittsburgh legend Don Jones. Since then, he has launched six other firms, and four remain active today. Lou also co-founded Brite Labs, an education tech company that helps college students succeed.

Areas of Focus

• Lean Product Growth
• Digital Shifts & Tech Workflows
• Artificial Intelligence
• Human-Centered Product Design
• Business Innovation Strategy
• Startup Risk Management

Personal Passions

Lou loves hanging out with his family, including his five daughters. He enjoys helping corporate builders learn new growth tracks. He also loves walking through major world cities and hiking in the woods.

Connie joined Catalyst Connection in 2005. She brings over 25 years of global sales and product growth experience to her role as Managing Director of Regional Initiatives. She leads a team that manages grant programs to support local factories. Connie also partners with schools and regional groups to build fresh manufacturing options.

Her background includes creating global sales strategies and launching tech products. She has led internal process improvements and built strong business partnerships. Before joining Catalyst, Connie worked for firms like Westinghouse and GE Reuter-Stokes. Her past roles include Director of Strategic Planning and VP of Sales.

Connie holds a chemistry degree from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. She became a certified New Product Development Professional in 2012.

Consulting Expertise

• 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing
• Boosting Sales Performance
• Product Design and Innovation
• Export Law Compliance
• Business Growth Roadmaps

Mara has worked with Catalyst since 2008. She has held roles in workforce development, operational tracking, and leadership training. Currently, she works as a Workforce Development Consultant.

Mara helps employers analyze skills gaps and build hiring plans. She creates strong programs to attract and retain young talent. She also manages our state-registered apprenticeship paths and leads our training design team.

Mara holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Liberty University. She also earned an MBA in Leadership Development from Waynesburg University. She is certified as a DDI Leadership Facilitator and an MSSC Production Technician (CPT+) instructor.

Frances works as a data and AI specialist at Catalyst Connection. She helps manufacturers use modern tech to boost shop efficiency and workforce safety. She began her career in Southeast Asia as a human resources strategy partner. There, she saw firsthand how worker choices directly impact factory performance.

Frances earned her STEM MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Her studies focused deeply on data analytics and automated systems. She uses predictive data models and clear dashboards to help small shops grow safely.

Frances easily translates complex numbers into simple, clear stories for teams and executive leaders. She loves using data insights to build resilient, sustainable companies.

Dave is the Managing Director of Organizational Development Consulting. He helps manufacturers find, train, and keep skilled workers. He has deep expertise in industrial psychology, manager training, and team engagement.

Dave joined Catalyst Connection in 2007. He creates practical solutions to boost shop productivity and teamwork across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Before this, he spent six years advising schools and corporations on job programs.

Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from Gannon University. He holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Baltimore. He is also a certified DDI leadership trainer.

Outside of work, Dave has served as an elected borough official for over ten years. He also coaches youth sports and loves building local community leaders.

Shaun is an experienced educator with 33 years of classroom work. He focuses heavily on hands-on learning. He spent 25 years teaching middle school science for the Burrell School District.

Shaun also spent a year teaching metal shop, where students learned hands-on design. For his last seven years at Burrell, he ran the school’s makerspace tech room. For 15 years, Shaun has led STEM student groups that partner with local factories. He also ran pre-apprenticeship classes focused on shop safety and maintenance.

Shaun is highly skilled at adapting tech lessons for all types of students. He uses a student-centered style to build practical problem-solving skills.

Tom manages communications and projects for several Catalyst Connection community programs. He promotes vital training tools to manufacturers in the energy and defense sectors. He also works with the WVMA Education Fund to market manufacturing careers. Tom has handled marketing, training, and contract tasks during his time here.

Before joining Catalyst, Tom spent 12 years in corporate buying and client relations. He worked for major firms like Westinghouse and Teletech.

Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Computer Sciences from West Liberty State University. He also earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Certifications and Affiliations

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)

Mark rejoined Catalyst Connection as a Senior Consultant in 2019. He has over 30 years of deep experience in manufacturing. He has worked as an industrial engineer, shop manager, and consultant. This includes five years as a lean advisor for Catalyst from 2003 to 2008.

Mark has served many sectors, including medical tools, electronics, and solar power. His core strengths include project management, quality control, and lean process building.

Mark holds an Industrial Engineering degree from Penn State. He also earned a master’s degree in Applied Statistics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mary Margaret directs all daily accounting and grant compliance tracking at Catalyst Connection. Before this, she spent eight years with Maillie LLP, a prominent public accounting firm near Philadelphia.

At Maillie, she ran audits and prepared tax returns for corporate and nonprofit groups. She focused closely on clients in the construction and manufacturing fields. She also managed government grant audits for school districts and cities.

Mary Margaret holds an accounting degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and belongs to both the state and national institutes of CPAs.