New hires and promotions

John “Rob” Butler has joined Keller Engineers Inc. as a construction inspector in transportation.

Butler has more than 18 years of experience working in the construction industry. Most recently, he performed inspection work for the Maryland Department of Transportation, providing client-focused civil and structural engineering and surveying services.

Marc Kifer has joined Keller Engineers Inc. as a field surveyor.

Kifer has more than 30 years of surveying experience and is skilled in calculating land boundaries, setting controls and monuments, utilizing fundamental surveying equipment and preparing plots, maps, grade sheets and reports. He holds an associate degree in land surveying from the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Caitlin Martinkus has been named as executive director of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO), central Pennsylvania’s premier all-professional chamber orchestra.

Martinkus brings a blend of artistic insight, academic rigor and visionary leadership to the role. A music theorist, educator, pianist and French hornist, she holds a Ph.D. in music theory from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in music theory pedagogy and a B.M. in performance from the Eastman School of Music. She currently serves as a music theory professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music and will relocate to State College this summer to join the music faculty at Penn State.

Awards and honors

George Radeschi of Bedford received a special award at the Somerset County Artist Association’s 35th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Laurel Arts Center for his one-of-a-kind bowl. “George demonstrated a remarkable ability to transform blocks of wood into refined masterpieces,” said juror Kristin Miller, education coordinator of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier. Made of walnut and white oak from Radeschi’s property, the bowl measures 12 inches by 4 inches.

Scott Elvey of Altoona was presented with the 2025 UniqueSource Achievement Award during a recent ceremony at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center.

He was honored for his outstanding work as a photo licensed technician at Blair/Clearfield Association for the Blind through a UniqueSource contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The UniqueSource Achievement Awards recognizes outstanding employees from UniqueSource’s network of employers who demonstrate exceptional character overcoming obstacles while working with a disability.

Lynne Tomkowski, of Johnstown, an employee of First Commonwealth Bank, was recently named by experience.com as a 2024 Top Performer, and one of 500 exceptional loan officers who are redefining excellence across the mortgage industry.

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, and information about the person’s accomplishment.