Sherry Socie has been hired by the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission as its new Director of Business Development, effective May 4.

Socie brings more than 25 years of experience in business administration and financial management across the public education and municipal government sectors. She currently serves as a Strategic Planner for the Blair County Planning Commission, where she focuses on grant identification, funding opportunities, grant writing, and grant administration. In addition to her strategic planning expertise, Socie served as Chief Clerk/County Administrator for Blair County from September 2024 through January 2025.

As Socie assumes her new role, Zachary Lee, SAP&DC’s current Director of Business Development, will transition into the position of Community and Economic Development Program Manager.

Awards and honors

Amato

Terri Fubio-Shontz, vice president of Private Label Sales for DelGrosso Foods Inc., was recently honored by the Private Label Manufacturers Association at its annual leadership conference in Bentonville, Ark.

Fubio-Shontz, an industry veteran of 19 years, was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame after distinguishing herself as a leader in the promotion of private label brands across the grocery industry. She was one of 24 honorees, which included private label industry leaders from retailers like Walmart and Kroger, as well as numerous suppliers of consumer packaged goods across the country.

Calvin Amato, a funeral director at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home in New Orleans, La., was included in “The First Call,” a national campaign organized by Chptr that marked the first time funeral directors were featured in Times Square in this way.

The campaign recognized funeral professionals across the country whose work is most often carried out quietly, behind the scenes, in service to families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Amato is a graduate of Bellwood-Antis High School.

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.