New hires and promotions

Robert J. Sekerak Jr., who has been a member of the team on a limited basis since 2010, is now stepping into a full-time role as financial services associate at Carpenter Financial Services, Johnstown.

Sekerak brings a wealth of experience in finance, leadership and education to his expanded position, where his commitment and expertise will further enhance the firm’s ability to serve its clients.

He previously held a successful 18-year career at Penn Highlands Community College, where he advanced through various leadership roles to ultimately serve as the regional site director for Ebensburg and Somerset County.

Alexandra Garver and Skylah Cunningham have joined Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak, an elder law firm with seven locations across northeastern and central Pennsylvania, as associate attorneys.

Garver, a native of Martinsburg and a graduate of Central High School, will be working out of the Altoona and State College offices, and Cunningham will be working out of the Williamsport office. She attended both undergrad and law school at Penn State and received a bachelors in telecommunications in 2021.

Cunningham is a native of North Andover, Mass., and attended the University of Tampa, graduating in 2020 with a bachelor’s in political science and minors in law, justice & advocacy and criminology. She also attended law school at Penn State and has worked for multiple law firms as both an undergrad and during law school, serving as a legal assistant and summer associate.

Meghan M. Freidhof has been named as a shareholder in Wessel & Company, a regional certified public accounting and business consulting firm in Johnstown.

Freidhof, a resident of Cambria County, has been with the firm since 2007. Prior to joining Wessel & Company, she gained considerable experience working for a regional accounting firm in Washington, D.C. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Saint Francis University.

She is instrumental in Wessel’s audit services, working across various sectors, including nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, single audit compliance, and PA election and lobbying laws.

Awards and honors

Linda J. Fischer, development assistant for Penn State Altoona for donor and alumni events, has been named to the board of directors of WISE Women of Blair County.

She has been with Penn State since October 2018 in various capacities and has strong organizational skills as well as past event planning. She will serve on the Tribute committee and Scholarship committee.

Briana Shriver has been named as tribute coordinator/

administrative assistant to board members of WISE Women of Blair County.

Shriver has a strong background in event planning and marketing and is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Submissions for Workplace can be sent to Walt Frank at wfrank@altoonamirror.com. Please include the name of the individual, his/her present address, original hometown and high school and college from where he/she graduated.