< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town Local scouts improve area trails STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY Residents of western Allegheny County are fortunate to have so many excellent area trails to utilize for biking and hiking. Many of these trails, however, are built, maintained and improved by volunteers. Recently, a number of area trails got some much-needed improvements from local Boy Scouts who were earning some of the highest honors awarded by the organization. Here’s a rundown on some of those projects and the scouts who undertook them: Ben Miller | Boy Scout Troop 301 Montour Woods signage project For many hikers and bikers, exploring the upper Montour Woods trail system that connects with the old Nike missile site in Moon Township used to be a challenge. The trails in that part of the Montour Woods are newer and converge at some particularly complicated intersections. Boy Scout Ben Miller and his troop members also found the area to be confusing. So, at the urging of his dad, who is an avid mountain biker, Ben decided to install some signage along the trails for his Eagle Scout project. “It’s something I wanted to develop a little better, to have people know where they’re going and have a good experience,” he says. “For my project, I put in six extra posts and a total of 36 signs in nine different intersections.” In particular, the signage helps hikers and bikers navigate the intersections of the Highland, Hemlocks and Fallen Oak trails. One such intersection consists of five connection points. Getting all of those materials back in the woods was no small feat, however. Miller says he received assistance from about a dozen or so other volunteers who helped haul all the concrete and lumber in by hand using wheel borrows. He says Lowes donated all of the materials and that some funds raised by troop families were either used to feed volunteers or donated back to HOLT. “While we were doing the project, everyone who came by was like, ‘Thank you so much. I’ve been walking these trails and getting lost,’” Ben says. “I’ve had to help countless people there.” Ben received his Eagle Scout award in March and graduated from Montour High School this past spring. He is currently attending school at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus and studying engineering. Frank Smigel | Boy Scout Troop 301 Raised walkway in Settler’s Cabin Park Frank Smigel got the idea for his Eagle Scout Project while hiking at Settler’s Cabin Park. A park ranger there suggested he consider building a raised walkway along the Red Trail in a spot where water was running over the trail and turning it into a mud pit. Frank says building the walkway was no problem. He constructed it out of three, four-foot sections at his house using two-by-fours over the course of a couple days. Getting it back in the woods, however, was no easy task. “That was probably the biggest struggle, were the logistics,” he says. “We had to drop it off site near where we were going to put the structure in. We hiked it in from a spot on the road.” Ben Miller stands next to one of several signs he installed along hiking trails in the Montour Woods Conservation Area. PHOTO SUBMITTED Frank Smigel constructed this footbridge for the Red Trail in Settler’s Cabin Park. PHOTO SUBMITTED Alex Omlor | Venturing Crew 1912 Kenmawr Conservation Area trail construction Alex Omlor of Venturing Crew 1912 is currently in the process of blazing new trails and reopening some old, overgrown trails in the Kenmawr Conservation Area in Kennedy Township. The conservation area is located alongside Coraopolis Road, not far from David E. Williams Middle School. Once completed, the trails will form a two- mile loop that will be marked by informational signage kiosks. The project will extend the conservation area’s original trail system, which was first opened by Boy Scout Mitch Bentley. Mitch worked on the trails as part of his own Eagle Scout project. Alex is working on this project as part of what’s known as his Summit project. He already earned his Eagle Scout rank as a member of Boy Scout Troop 905 after constructing two floating islands made out of non-biodegradable plastic in ponds at Moon Park. He says the islands are helping lower the water temperature of the ponds and have encouraged the growth of flora and fauna. Some new waterfowl have even showed up at the ponds since the islands were installed, he says. After completing that project, Alex says he wanted to pursue Venturing and a Summit ranking. For that, he approached scout leader Chris Rolinson, who then connected Alex with Sean Brady, director of HOLT. “I decided on this project because I love to go hiking and wanted to share that with other people,” he says. “I’m really, really excited to do this.” Alex, who has been scouting since first grade, is now a senior at Moon Area High School. He began collecting materials over the summer and is hoping to get the project underway this fall. Alex Omlor PHOTO SUBMITTED 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town Luckily for Frank, he says he had “tons of help” from his fellow troop members, friends and family. Frank says troop members also pitched in funds to help purchase the needed supplies, and he says he got way more than he expected. “It was terribly muddy there,” he says. “It’s right near a stream and a big hillside beside it so all the water runs off.” In addition to earning his Eagle Scout rank, Frank was also busy helping the varsity basketball team at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School earn a state championship earlier this year. Frank plays as a forward and center on the team. “It’s a lot of time management between school, sports and scouts,” he says. “A lot of stuff going on.” Chris Ireland Boy Scout Troop 301 Covered picnic table at Fifer’s Fields Hollow Oak Land Trust is currently in the process of developing a 35-acre plot of property in Franklin Park called Fifer’s Fields. To assist HOLT, Montour junior Chris Ireland cleared trails at the site and also built a covered picnic bench at a picturesque spot alongside a small pond on the property. The structure is perfect for hikers to stop and have a lunch or just take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Chris Ireland constructed this covered picnic bench at HOLT’s Fifer’s Fields conservation area. PHOTO SUBMITTED Alex Geisler | Boy Scout Troop 830 Renovating gazebo on Montour Trail Alex Geisler of Boy Scout Troop 830 is currently in the process of rehabilitating the gazebo along the Montour Trail at the corner of Park Manor Boulevard and Montour Run Road. Alex is making a number of updates to the structure, including replacing some fascia along the roof, painting the railing, sanding down the floor boards and replacing the steps. The West Allegheny senior says he got the idea for the project last year while visiting the trail during the lockdown prompted by COVID-19. He approached the Airport Friends of the Montour Trail with the idea and, with their blessing, began work. Alex says he was able to secure donations from Home Depot and Walmart, but says the bulk of the money for the project has come from a single charitable source. Rather than be distracted by fundraising, he’s thus been able to focus on the work and is hoping to have the project completed by October. Alex says he’s been scouting since fifth grade and hopes to study aerospace engineering in college. Alex Geisler is rehabilitating the iconic gazebo along the Montour Trail next to Montour Run Road. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 11CAround Your Town Around Your Town STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY Mike Roberts of North Fayette Township still remembers how he felt the day the realization hit him that he had turned 50. “I was walking up a hill to my car and thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’m 50.’ I was feeling down a little and thinking, I want to change this feeling,” he says. Not long afterward, a friend of Roberts’ tried to break him out of his funk by suggesting he run the Pittsburgh Marathon. Roberts had long been a casual runner and even coached cross-country teams at Archangel Gabriel Catholic School (formerly Holy Trinity) for almost two decades. He had never even considered running a marathon, however. In fact, he says the idea sounded crazy. “I could never fathom running 26 miles,” says Roberts. “But my buddy said he would run it with me. Even when I signed up for it, I said, ‘I can’t do this.’ But I did it anyways because it was sort of a peer pressure thing.” In the end, Roberts’ friend didn’t run with him, but Roberts went through with the race and finished. Since that race in 2016, he has completed four additional marathons and is currently preparing for his sixth. He’ll run that race, the Chicago Marathon, in October. It will be the second time he has taken on the race. Roberts, though, isn’t just looking to finish. He’s shooting to conquer the course in under three hours and 35 minutes. That time would qualify him to run in the Boston Marathon, which is a feat he has been chasing for years. It’s a goal that will require him to tick off mile splits at about eight minutes apiece. He says he came close to qualifying the first time he ran the marathon in 2019. After a great start, though, he says he made a mid-race miscalculation that cost him. Worried about his electrolyte levels, he says he started drinking more Gatorade than water, and that led to him developing a cramp that hampered him the rest of the race. “Normally when I run a marathon I hit every water stop, and every fourth you hit the Gatorade,” he says. “But I [drank] Gatorade too much, which leads to cramping and I got a major cramp at mile 15 and could never get that cadence back.” Such is the way that a minor decision can have huge consequences during a physical challenge like a marathon, which tests the body’s absolute limits. Before even stepping up to the starting line, Roberts will have also put in months of preparation. He says he’ll run 800 training miles and, all the while, follow a strict workout regimen. For the father of six grown children who also works full time as a postmaster, finding the time isn’t always easy. “If I know I can’t run after work I’ll squeeze the miles in before,” he says. “Normally I’m also training in the winter, so if it’s two degrees out and I had five miles on the calendar, I did it. If it’s on the calendar, I did it.” To prepare for his first marathon, Roberts joined a local running club in 2015. Matt Imhof, who headed up that group, says that what stuck out most to him about Roberts was his upbeat attitude. “He would show up and he was just one of the happiest people to be around,” says Imhof. “He always had a great disposition and was super humble.” Imhof says that even when Roberts experienced a setback, he’d still find a way to be positive and that he enjoyed being around him. He says Roberts has come far since those early days, when it was evident that he was a seasoned runner but only just beginning to train for marathons. Mike’s daughter, Catherine, has also witnessed her father’s progression. A runner as well, she used to train with her dad and says that, for a long time, it was her who was running ahead of him. Now that she’s in medical school and just runs for exercise, the tables have turned. In high school, Catherine ran cross country for West Allegheny and also wrote a Youth Corner column for this publication. “It was really great watching him find his passion in life,” she says. “For a long time he was focused on raising us because there are six of us. It was great to see him get into something like this.” Catherine says her father has also long enjoyed the social aspect of running and sharing life lessons with his runners. “I just think he really loves sharing his passion with other people,” she says. “You can tell he’s genuine about it because people gravitate to him.” Over the course of two decades, Mike also coached and mentored hundreds of young cross-country runners at Archangel Gabriel Catholic School. It’s a sport he never actually ran himself. Rather, Former Archangel Gabriel coach preparing for sixth marathon ABOVE: Mike Roberts shows off his medal after completing the Chicago Marathon in 2019. He’ll take on the race again in October with hopes of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. PHOTO SUBMITTED BELOW: Roberts is running to raise sponsorship dollars for Inheritance of Hope. Scan the QR code to learn more. 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town while at Montour High School, the 1983 graduate ran track. A conflict with his marching band schedule prevented him from participating in the sport. As the head coach of Archangel Gabriel’s cross-country program between from 2012 to 2019, Mike grew the program from a few dozen runners to around 70. For many of those young runners, he became a motivational force. “I think the one thing I can say about Mike is, he was a really motivating coach for all his athletes,” says Tara Richardson, who ran under Roberts from 2010 to 2012. Richardson set a course record at the school and later went on to run for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School and Robert Morris University. “He’s the kind of coach who you want to give it all for and leave it out there,” she says. “After the race, he’d be smiling no matter what just because you gave your best effort and that’s all that mattered to him.” Nicole Crofford, who took over the team from Mike after coaching alongside him as an assistant, echoes those sentiments. “He’s a hard act to follow for sure,” she says. “He is very passionate, highly motivational and enthusiastic about running. It’s not just the physical aspect of it but the mental one. He’s relatable with kids and has lots of anecdotes that I share with them still.” Crofford says that Mike shied away from calling cross-country a sport, but rather referred to it as a program that has elements of adventure, competition and fun. “Mike would always say the kids who run cross country are the toughest kids in the school,” she says. “After conditioning, running is 80% mental and that toughness helps them go anywhere they want. They’ll be the best students, because if they have that mental fortitude, they can accomplish anything academically, too.” For Mike, part of what’s helped keep him going these past few years is a nonprofit organization called Inheritance of Hope. Since 2018, he has raised funds for the organization as a sponsored runner. He says he first found it after trying to register late for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Mike says he missed the cutoff because he’d initially intended to run another marathon at Erie’s Presque Isle. That race, too, was a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon, but Mike ended up skipping it due to an injury to his IT band. While trying to register late for the Marine Corps Marathon - the last race of the year that could qualify him for Boston - he joined up with Inheritance of Hope. Through them, he was able to register as a sponsored runner. By the time race day came around, however, his IT band was still flaring. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to finish the race, but I figured if I could at least get to the blue mile I could tap out,” he says, referring to a mile-long section in the race lined with pictures of U.S. Marines who have died in combat. For runners, the wear blue Mile is deeply motivating and emotional part of the race - a reminder that if those Marines could give everything, runners can push themselves to cross the finish line. Just as the race was about to start, though, Roberts realized he was wrong about where exactly that part of the race was. “I thought the blue mile was at mile five, but while I was standing there I was talking to a guy who told me it was at mile 15,” says Roberts. Despite his nagging IT band, Roberts pushed himself and completed the course up through the wear blue Mile before stopping. He says that since that race, Inheritance of Hope has continued to be a motivational factor for him. He’s again running as a sponsored runner for the organization in this upcoming Chicago Marathon in October. According to its website, Inheritance of Hope provides families faced with the loss of a parent with an all-expense-paid retreat. Mike says he doesn’t see his accomplishments as all that special, pointing out that, “Anybody can do a marathon, as long as you have some kneecaps.” Rather, he’s hoping that his example will inspire others. “I‘m doing my passion. I’m doing something that’s important to me. But more importantly, I’m helping someone at the same time,” he says. Anyone who would like to donate by sponsoring Mike can do so by scanning the QR code at left with their smart phone. September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 13Resurfacing cabinets can update a kitchen and save thousands When it comes to updating a house, one of the best investments a homeowner can make is in their kitchen. Unfortunately, remodeling a kitchen is also one of the most expensive ventures a homeowner can tackle. Between the cost of purchasing new cabinetry, removing the old cabinets, paying a contractor to install the new cabinets, purchasing new counters, and any other problems that can arise during the process, homeowners can end up spending tens of thousands of dollars. That’s why, lately, homeowners are increasingly turning to cabinet resurfacing to give their kitchens a fresh look. Resurfacing kitchen cabinets involves painting and, in some cases, changing the texture of the forwarding-facing parts of the cabinets. The process is much less invasive than replacing the cabinets altogether and much less expensive. The results, however, are no less transformative, and resurfacing also gives homeowners much more latitude when choosing a color palette for their kitchen. “We started to fall in love with doing cabinet work because it’s so rewarding,” says Dave Sams, owner of the Coraopolis-based painting company Brush: A Professional Painting Company. While Dave and his crew are used to transforming exteriors and interiors with their professional painting service, cabinet resurfacing has taken things to a whole new level for the company. The service has grown so much in popularity over the past couple of years that Brush is now taking on kitchen resurfacing exclusively under a new offshoot of their business that they’re calling Door and Drawer: A Professional Cabinet Resurfacing Company. It’s a service that delivers impressive results and has even given Dave, who has been in the painting business his entire professional life, some new perspective. “I mean, wow, just painting the walls and resurfacing the cabinets can completely transform a kitchen,” he says. “It can go from completely outdated and dull to beautiful with just some work on the cabinets and walls.” To resurface cabinets, Dave and his team start by detaching the doors and drawers. They then take those parts to their heated and moisture-controlled workshop, where they give everything a light sanding before laying down a coat of primer. They then apply thin coats of a water-based, cabinet-grade urethane from Sherwin- Williams. “We use a HVLP gun to spray them,” he says. “It’s what they use to spray cars. You get the absolute best finish possible on those cabinets. It dries rock hard and you’ll never have a problem with anything coming off of those cabinets.” Brush can even fill the wood grains with Aquacoat to give the cabinets a clean, smooth, modern look. To resurface the fronts of the cabinets, Dave and his crew work right in the house. At no point are the cabinet frames ever removed. Instead, they utilize a Festool orbital sander with a special HEPA vacuum attachment. It’s a $1,200 piece of equipment that catches dust that would otherwise get thrown all over the house. Because the urethane Brush uses is water-soluble, it contains less volatile organic compounds than other types of urethane. The paint is also custom-mixed, which means homeowners can choose from hundreds of colors in the Sherwin-Williams portfolio while designing their kitchen. Brush can recommend colors or homeowners can utilize a free in-home consultation via video chat that Sherwin-Williams offers. Brush sets up the consultation and sends homeowners a link. Alternatively, Dave says Brush can recommend a number of studios and home designers who can help custom design a kitchen pallet. Pulls and hardware can also be replaced, and Brush can fill unsightly holes with Bondo wood filler. Dave estimates the service has saved his clients significant dollars, particularly considering that some custom paint colors would otherwise add considerable expense if ordered through a cabinet company. It’s no wonder demand for the service has grown so much in recent years and continues to keep him and his crew busy. Dave operates Brush as well as Door and Drawer with his wife, Jamie, superintendent of construction, Eddie, and a dedicated group of crew members. An Army veteran, Dave learned the painting business from his dad while working under him in high school. He then worked for a number of other area companies before striking out on his own. As the business has grown, so has Brush’s crew. “We’re very blessed and happy to start offering this service exclusively in our new company,” says Dave. “We’ve transformed so many homes over the years and this is just one more way that we’re assisting homeowners. Seeing the joy on peoples’ faces when they see their new kitchen is priceless. It’s great to share in that.” Door and Drawer, as well as Brush, can both be contacted at (412) 627-0884. Call them for a free estimate and consultation. STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED Rather than replace these cabinets, this homeowner opted to have Brush resurface them. The work gives the kitchen a fresh, updated look for thousands less than replacing the cabinets would have cost. % New in Town New in Town September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 15 Just like a lot of people, Rachel Thacker of Findlay Township found herself with a lot of extra free time on her hands last March. A physical therapist by trade, Rachel had just come off of maternity leave and only been back to work for three weeks when COVID-19 shut down the country. To consume some of her extra free time, Rachel threw herself into baking, which has always been a creative outlet for her. In between caring for her two young daughters, Lily and Kenzie, she experimented with making various breads, cookies and cakes. She started sharing these treats with neighbors and friends. Initially, she only asked for feedback in return. Rachel says she’s long had a knack for baking. She’s been doing it since her 20s and, for years, she’d even batted around the idea of opening up her own bakery. She’d put off the idea as the family moved from state to state to follow her husband’s work. Now that they were settled in Clinton and homebound due to the pandemic, she decided to pursue the project and formulate some new ideas. These included several different types of bundt cake recipes. Her first bundt was a rum cake and, after she got tired of cooking traditional banana bread loafs, she tried baking a banana bundt cake. Soon after, she came across a pan for making mini bundts. The niche idea opened up a whole new world of possibilities. “I started turning every cake, breakfast treat and dessert into mini-bundts,” she says, “and people loved them because they were an individual treat and great for sharing.” As Rachel’s mini-bundts grew in popularity, she and her husband decided that if she was going to scale her idea into a business they would need a commercial kitchen. With family time in mind, they converted part of their basement into a fully functioning commercial kitchen and received health department approval. That gave her the ability to bake in larger quantities and with no limitations. Thus, L&K Bundt Shop, which is named after her daughters, was born! Soon, Rachel was marketing her mini-bundt cakes on social media. People would buy a dozen and share them with friends and family. Then those contacts started reaching out to her with their own orders. She started taking most of her orders through Facebook Messenger and email. She’s continuing to take orders via those means, by phone and on her website, LKBundtshop. com. She’s hoping to open a brick and mortar in the future. Rachel has also been exploring shipping options. L&K Bundt Shop’s current rotation of flavors include red velvet, chocolate ganache, lemon, banana bread, apple, blueberry and cinnamon roll. In addition, she’s introduced a bundt of the month and so far her flavors have included pistachio and carrot cake. Next, Rachel is looking forward to marketing her bundts for events such as birthday parties, baby showers, office meetings and even weddings. “Everyone gets their own personal bundt cake and there’s no need to cut anything, plus it’s a change from traditional cupcakes,” she says. Rachel is working on partnerships with local small businesses to sell her mini-bundt cakes and looking to grow her business with local food trucks and farmers’ markets as well. To find out more and to order, visit LKBundtShop.com. Reach out to Rachel directly via email at lkbundtshop@outlook.com or on Facebook Messenger. Follow L&K Bundt Shop on Facebook to watch for their latest news, events and next flavor of the month. L&K Bundt Shop serves up sweet treats LEFT: Rachel Thacker, owner of L&K Bundt Shop, is pictured in her kitchen with a batch of her blueberry mini-bundts. RIGHT (from top): Rachel’s regular rotation of flavors include chocolate ganache, chocolate chip and red velvet cake. STORY SUBMITTED PHOTOS BY JAIME FAVRO PHOTOGRAPHY 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021 West Allegheny graduates JT Bayly and Josh Rosen learned quite a bit from their mutual experiences in the Army. Among other things, they learned about planning operations, resource management, being mission focused and adhering to their core values. It turns out those same lessons apply to running a business, as they’ve both found over this past 12 months. Last year, the pair took over a residential junk removal business called Toss that Junk. The business offers a service that entails clearing junk and debris from residential and commercial lots. That eventually led to them owning and renting out dumpsters and working with local contractors and other business owners. Then, earlier this year, a former Army general and college president of Rosen’s alma mater at Valley Forge Military College connected them to a fellow alumnus who was in the same business. Rosen and Bayly teamed up with him and have since become the local owners of a dumpster rental franchise called GIHAUL, which is entirely owned and operated by former and current military members. “One thing about GIHAUL is they don’t sell franchises to non- military members,” says Bayly. “A lot of other similar businesses that claim to be veteran-owned aren’t really.” Rosen and Bayly’s path to becoming business partners started at West Allegheny High School, where both were members of the JROTC. While Rosen went on to commission in the National Guard and study business at Valley Forge Military College, Bayly attended West Virginia University. He also enlisted in the National Guard and volunteered to serve with an artillery unit before serving time overseas. At the same time, Rosen went to work for a company in a veteran’s advocacy role that at times took him to Capitol Hill. When the pandemic hit, however, he was laid off. Right about that same time, Bayly was coming off his service and looking to make his next move. Rosen reached out, and the rest is history. Whereas most people might look at a dumpster and see a rusty metal container that belongs on a construction site, Rosen sees it a bit differently. “I think a lot of people don’t think of a dumpster this way, but it’s a solution to a problem, and ordering one is as easy as ordering a pizza,” he says. “It makes a project that seems daunting, like cleaning out a garage or remodeling a bathroom, feasible.” He says one of their more popular specials is a weekend deal where they drop the dumpster off on a Friday and pick it up that following Monday. “We call it ‘Conquering the Weekend,’” he says. GIHAUL Dumpster Rentals also offers seven-day rentals, along with delivery and pickup within a 30-mile radius. For those who don’t have the time or capability to clear a residential yard or structure of unwanted debris, the two are continuing to offer their junk removal service. The service is perfect for someone who is flipping a home, preparing an estate for sale or just wants to reclaim their yard from years of clutter. In just a day or so, the business can clear a lot of old appliances, scrap metal, car parts and even small structures. For more information, visit www.gihauldumpsters.com or call (833) 336-3867. After serving in the Army, these two WA alums are teaming up to run their own business STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTED West Allegheny High School alumni and Army veterans JT Bayly and Josh Rosen have teamed up to operate GIHAUL, a junk removal and dumpster rental business. GIHAUL is a national company that only allows former and current military members to operate its franchises. % New in Town New in Town September/October 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 17NOW HIRING! O ces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! A handshake, verbal agreement, signed contract and pinkie swear - promises are made in various life settings and for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: agreeing to commit to one’s commitment. In a business environment, specifically, it is vital that employers and employees, alike, follow through on their commitments. I have over eight years in customer service and I strive to be a person of my word. My integrity is important to me and I know that it makes a difference in my performance and customer feedback. When I tell a customer that I will research the issue/question and then follow up with them via their preferred contact method, I do. Some are surprised that they get a reply, but absolutely all of them are thankful. I accepted this new position with Express Employment Professionals Robinson Township on June 30 and agreed to begin July 15. The day before I was to head into work for the first time, I was in a car accident. Thankfully, I walked away from the damage with only a burned and swollen forearm but no need for a hospital visit. Nonetheless, I pulled into the parking lot the next morning for my 8:30 a.m. start time and spent the day with my new coworkers. My promise was made and kept. People appreciate the follow-through that comes with excellent service and commitment. It is a reminder that the person offering to help you sees you, understands the situation, and is committed to finding a solution. As I am joining and integrating into the Express PittWest team, my objective is to continue demonstrating my dedication to my assignments, goals and team members. I will also strive to encourage onboarding associates to show commitment to their new jobs. I will encourage them to abide by declared rules, honor safety regulations, demonstrate above-average attendance, and follow their assigned duties. I want them to see their opportunities as more than just a job. I want them to see it as a reflection of their character and who they are and can be. I desire to see our associates succeed in their follow-through, because, after all, actions speak louder than words. The Robinson and Monaca teams are here to keep their commitments to you. Reach out to us as you navigate your job search or search for a new team member. Commitment to one’s commitments BY VICTORIA SHEPHERD, EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS Victoria Shepherd is the sourcing manager for Express Pittsburgh West office of the global staffing franchise Express Employment Professionals. Express Pittsburgh West has offices in Robinson Township and Monaca. The office has put 6,800+ job seekers to work in a variety of fields, including administrative, professional, engineering, skilled trades, and skilled labor. In addition to providing recruitment service and workforce solutions for job seekers and businesses throughout the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor and Beaver County, Express also provides the ExpressJobs app and online tools and resources such as JobGenius, ExpressLearn, eskills, and America Employed. To learn more, visit expresspros. com/wpittsburghpa/ or call (412) 494-2000. 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2021Next >