The Small Business Administration’s Pittsburgh office has tapped a member of the private sector with hands-on business experience and a government background as its district director.
Carl Knoblock has taken the reins of the Pittsburgh office, succeeding Al Jones, who retired in July.
Knoblock has been employed by Sylvin Technologies in Denver, Pa., for the past 10 years. His most recent position was as general manager/regulatory affairs manager. In addition, he previously ran his own business, Knoblock Environmental, and held positions within the Veterans Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“It is this unique mix of private and public experience that attracted us to Carl and convinces us that he has what it takes to lead our Pittsburgh office in the new SBA,” said Stephanie Watkins, SBA regional administrator.
Knoblock oversees one of the SBA’s most active districts. The Pittsburgh District Office services a 27-county area, which contains approximately 250,000 small business owners. During fiscal year 2004, the office guaranteed more than $179 million in loans.
UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL
Union Switch & Signal appointed John P. Donlon vice president, sales and marketing. Donlon is responsible for implementing strategic initiatives aimed at increasing sales and expanding market opportunities.
Previously, Donlon was CEO of Image Guide,Inc., a GE Medical Systems-funded start-up company in the process of commercializing image-guided robotic surgery systems.
TUCKER ARENSBERG
Nine lawyers from Tucker Arensberg were selected by their peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006.” They are Donald P. Eriksen, a shareholder in the Business and Finance Department; Gary P. Hunt, managing shareholder; Kenneth W. Lee, shareholder in the Harrisburg office and co-chair of the Construction and Real Estate Practice Group; Ralph F. Manning, shareholder and co-chair of the Intellectual Property/Technology Practice Group; Daniel J. Perry, shareholder and co-chair of the Business and Finance Department; William H. Powderly III, shareholder in the Employee Benefits Law Practice Group; Steven B. Silverman, shareholder and co-chair of the Intellectual Property/Technology Practice Group; William J. Staley, special counsel; and Lee C. Swartz, shareholder in the Harrisburg office.
FOX ROTHSCHILD
Seven attorneys from the Pittsburgh office of Fox Rothschild have been chosen as the best in the nation by fellow attorneys for publication in the upcoming edition of the book, “The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006.” They are Robert G. Geeseman, health care; Susan Foreman Jordan, employee benefits, tax, trusts and estates; Edward J. Kabala, health care; Kenneth E. Lewis, trust and estates; William H. Maruca, health care; John F. Meck, trusts and estates; and Robert S. Whitehill, immigration.
JAMPOLE COMMUNICATIONS
Downtown public relations and marketing communications agency Jampole Communications Inc. promoted Kathy Stackhouse to senior vice president.
Stackhouse, who joined Jampole Communications in 1999, is director of the public relations department at the agency. She manages the accounts of professional service firms, software companies and energy companies.
THORP REED & ARMSTRONG
Paula A. Schmeck, a partner in the Pittsburgh office of Thorp Reed & Armstrong and a member of the firm’s Bankruptcy Practice Group, was inducted into the Allegheny County Bar Foundation’s Fellows Program. Schmeck focuses her legal practice in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, out-of-court workouts and bankruptcy litigation.
The Allegheny County Bar Foundation established the Fellows Program as a formal means to recognize and honor attorneys who have shown a commitment to excellence in charitable, community, professional and/or public service activities; recognize a level of professional distinction in the legal community based on significant contributions; create an endowment for Bar Foundation programs and foster new and innovative programs; create an organization of members who recognize and accept the bar’s ongoing challenge to fund public service activities.
McCRORY & McDOWELL
Joanna L Nicholson joined McCrory & McDowell as a supervisor. She will serve audit and tax clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing and retailing companies, labor unions and benefit plans. Nicholson previously worked as an accountant at C.J. Panagulias & Co.
FRICK ARTS & HISTORICAL CENTER
William M. Swartz was elected to serve as a term trustee with the Frick Arts & Historical Center. A physician with specialties in plastic, hand and microsurgery, Watkins is attending plastic surgeon and vice chair of surgery at UPMC Shadyside Hospital.
