Christine Robbins

Christine Robbins is the Director of Training & Development and instructor for the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Operation Management from The Pennsylvania State University where she graduated first in the Management Science Department and with highest distinction. Her graduate studies focused on Urban Education and Diversity with a teaching certificate at Alvernia University, where she earned a Master’s degree in Education with a certification in elementary education.
Christine has a strong background in the manufacturing and business environment with over 28 years direct experience in such areas as purchasing, production planning, manufacturing, supervision, customer service, product development, costing, and finance. Her former positions varied from Management Trainee, Production Supervisor, Production Planner, to Purchasing Agent.
In the classroom, Christine focuses on group interaction and participation, creating connections between new material and how participants can apply the knowledge to their work environments, and active skill development. Some areas of focus include: team lead development, supervisory development, critical thinking, accountability, presenting yourself, leading teams, engagement, management development, critical conversations, business writing, human per-formance, train the trainer, influencing, customer service, purchasing, emotional intelligence, and managing difficult personalities.

Nate Andrews

Nate has been with the Northeast Manufacturers and Employers Association for nearly fifteen years as our on-staff Process Improvement and IT professional and instructor/consultant. Nate has a wealth of experience in the manufacturing environment, having held positions with Thomson Consumer Electronics (RCA), Lucent Technologies and Agility Communications. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Speech Communications and a Master of Business Administration degree, all from the Pennsylvania State University. He is also the sole proprietor of his own IT consulting company, PC Patch-Up, LLC.
Nate is available to assist your company by providing the following services:
• Conduct on-site, hands-on computer trainings for a variety of courses including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Provide information technology consulting with regard to hardware, software and programming needs.
• Perform manufacturing gap assessments within manufacturing systems and recommend implementation strategies.
• Conduct training and data gathering in regards to implementing Lean Manufacturing and specific methods as 5S/6S, Six Sigma ideas, SMED, cellular manufacturing, Kanban and Kaizen.
• Propose factory modeling and physical design layout to improve efficiencies.
• Execute improvement strategies and coordinate efforts of root cause analysis within manufacturing environments.
• Evaluate facilities and implement processes required to become ISO compliant.

Training programs include:
• Hands-on Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and Microsoft Project
• Executive Coaching and Executive Presentation Skills
• Effective Communications and Time Management Skills
• Internal Auditing
• Root Cause Analysis
• 5S/6S and Value Stream Mapping
• Vendor Qualifications

 

Steve Bair

Steve has more than 35 years of experience in occupational safety and health within general industry, the construction industry and the maritime industry. He served 20 years in the U.S. Navy working in the engineering department as a Maintenance Chief and the Safety Systems Officer. He was responsible for the implementation and training of fire prevention, fire fighting, aviation refueling, damage control, emergency response and evacuation methods and OSHA safety standards. His specialty is in providing occupational safety and health education at all levels. Additionally, he is experienced in the classification of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes associated with manufacturing and construction activities.

Highlights:

  • Holds the Authorized OSHA Trainer status for General Industry and the Construction Industry issued by the U.S. Department of Labor and the OSHA Training Institute.
  • Awarded an Associate of Science degree in Engineering from Excelsior College, Albany, NY.
  • 40 Hour HAZWOPER and HAZMAT technician qualified - Capable of delivering HAZWOPER and HAZMAT training.
  • Authorized by the state of Pennsylvania to implement “Certified Safety Committees” per state guidelines. Facilities that implement a Certified Safety Committee receive a 5% workers' compensation insurance premium discount each year.
  • Experienced in performing occupational health and safety assessments and audits to assist employers in identifying methods that will lower injury and illness in the workplace and remain compliant with all OSHA and Pennsylvania state standards.

Steve Vidal

MAEA is excited to introduce a new Safety Instructor and Consultant, Steve Vidal, PE. Steve has been an electrical instructor for the past 10 years. He has a BSEE degree with a minor in Physics from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA and an MBA degree from City University in Seattle, WA. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in addition to being an Adjunct Faculty member at Johnson College in Scranton, PA. He currently serves as Education Director for his local IAEI chapter (International Association of Electrical Inspectors). He was involved in a family electrical construction business from a very early age and served as President of Joseph J. Vidal 8c Sons, Inc. for 35 years. His background includes both hands on and classroom training experience. Steve will initially be focusing on our electrical safety programs, and we will be announcing new offerings as well. We are thrilled to introduce Steve to the membership.

David Martin

David Martin retired from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a 30 year career with the agency.  He served as a Compliance Assistance Specialist, and Assistant Area Director, OSHA inspector and an OSHA Training Specialist.  He has taught at businesses, schools and colleges and at construction sites and mines.

During his career with OSHA he investigated accidents and fatalities, and completed 1100 OSHA inspections at industrial facilities, construction sites, health care facilities, underground and surface mines, and nuclear power sites.  He has testified in legal proceedings before the OSHA Review Commission. He was also a Training Specialist for the Mine Safety and Health Administration for 8 years, and completed four safety assignments as an occupational safety and health technical expert in China and Indonesia for the International Labor Organization (ILO), where he helped establish and evaluate training institutes for workplace and mine inspectors.  He volunteered as an OSHA inspector at the World Trade Center disaster recovery.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has authorized him to provide training for Pennsylvania Certified Workplace Safety Committee members.

He is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Safety Association, and the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, and holds a Master of Education degree from the University of the Philippines, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College.

He has been a keynote and featured speaker at conferences, seminars and safety classes across the United States and in China and Indonesia.

Cathy Colangelo

Cathy Colangelo, PHR,SHRM-CP is a certified life and career coach and is an HR Instructor & Consultant for MAEA.

She has over 25 years of corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit experience.  Practicing human resources in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, has provided her the opportunity to work in many areas of Human Resources particularly recruiting, onboarding, training, employee relations, performance management, benefits, payroll and safety.   

Cathy holds a Professional in Human Resource (PHR) certification from the HR Certificate Institute and a SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) from the Society for Human Resource Management and has a Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA and Associate Degree in Business Administration from Penn State University. She received her coaching certification from the Life Purpose Institute in San Diego, California and started her own coaching and HR consulting business in 2009.

In addition to her work with the NEPA Manufacturers and Employers Association, Cathy also works with the Manufacturers and Employers Council and is the Executive Director of Greater Hazleton Partners in Education.

Deborah A. Twigg Bio
Deborah is the owner of SMART HR. Human Resource Professional since 1192. Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 1989; Masters of Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA in 1991. December 1997, achieved Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM) certification. January 2015, obtained SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SCP) certification.
Held various positions within Human Resources with progressively increasing responsibilities. These positions included Benefits Administrator, Human Resources Representative, Manager of Human Resources, Regional Human Resources Manager, Manager of Organizational Development, and Director of Human Resources. The scope of expertise includes privately held small and mid-sized companies as well as publically traded international organizations in a diverse field of industries, ranging from manufacturing and technical services to shipping and engineering.
In 2008, began consulting business SMART HR working with small to medium-sized organizations, providing HR services on an as needed basis. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to management training/coaching; leadership development; administration of various employee assessments; policy/procedure development; compensation design and structure; design and implementation of performance management programs; benefits program design and implementation; as well as consulting on general HR issues. Her emphasis is on alignment of the human resources function with the strategic goals of the organization.