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On the silver screen, John's first motion picture role was in the Golden Globe-nominated film The Ritz (1976), directed by Richard Lester and starring Rita Moreno and Jack Weston.  He went on to appear in over 22 major motion pictures over the next few years, including Gandhi (1982) and Star Wars’ Empire Strikes Back (1980).  He also starred in the Granada TV series, Small World.

In all, John has acted in 38 major motion pictures, including Determination of Death (2001), Superman 1 (1978) and 2 (1980), One Night Stand (1997), Tick Tock (1999), That Darn Cat (1997), She’s Having a Baby (1988), Protocol (1984), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Ragtime (1981), Reds (1981), Outland (1981), Yanks (1979), and A Bridge Too Far (1977).

In 1982 John accepted a writing assignment for CBS in Los Angeles.  On the day he was scheduled to return to London, he auditioned for a role on the upcoming Cheers.  At the time of his audition, the character of the postman did not exist.  “Do you have a bar know-it-all?” he asked the creators.  They didn’t know what that meant, so John gave them five hilarious minutes of improv, demonstrating exactly what it meant.  They loved what they saw.  Thus was born the lovable postman and trivia king, Cliff Clavin—American icon.

In the history of television, only a handful of series have achieved the worldwide success of Cheers, on which John portrayed Cliff for the show’s entire 11-year run.  To this day, thanks to daily syndication, Cliff continues as one of America’s most loved characters.

As Hollywood’s most versatile vocal talent, John is the only actor to voice a role in all of the Pixar films: the charming and witty Hamm the piggy bank in Toy Story 1 (1995) and 2 (1999); P.T. Flea, the excitable circus ringmaster in Bug's Life (1998); the lovable snow monster Yeti in Monsters, Inc.(2002); the ever-changing school of Moonfish in Finding Nemo (2003); the philosophical character Underminer in Pixar’s Incredibles (2004); as a Mac-truck in Cars (2006) and as Mustafa, the head waiter in Ratatouille (2007) and the upcoming Toy Story 3 and WALL-E (both in production). Pixar artists always find a way to include John's recognizable eyebrows and mustache.  As Pixar’s creative head, John Lasseter, once said, "John is our good luck charm."

John has acted in many TV movies, including a starring role as miner Tom Foy in ABC's The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (2002; A Fare to Remember (1999), AMC’s award-winning Remember Wenn (1998), NBC's How I Spent My Summer (1990), Going to the Chapel (1988) and Combat Academy (1986), Largo Entertainment’s Under Pressure (1997) with Charlie Sheen, CBS’ Timestalkers (1987), PBS Masterpiece Theatre’s The Good Soldier (1997) and BBC’s Song of a Sourdough (1997) and The Detectives (1997).

As a much-loved American icon, John has appeared as himself on live episodes of Fox’s Best Damn Sports Show (2004), TV Tales (2002), The Drew Carey Show (2001), E! True Hollywood Story (2000), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1993), and Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (1998), as well as endless TV interviews.

John has guest-starred in a variety of TV shows including: 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (2003), That 70’s Show (2001), Touched By An Angel (2000), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1997), Caroline in the City (1996), Sister, Sister (1995), Murphy Brown (1994), The Love Boat (1985), Magnum P.I. (1984), and Hill Street Blues (1982), among others.

John portrayed his character “Cliff” in Fraiser (2002), eight NBC TV specials (1986-2002), The Simpson’s (1994), Blossom (1993), Wings (1990), The Tortellis (1987), and St. Elsewhere (1985).

John executive produced and created Fox’s The World’s Most Incredible Animal Rescues (1997-1999).  As host, creator and executive producer, John integrated life and art in Home and Garden TV series American Hobbies and Pastimes with John Ratzenberger (1994). One of the first reality shows, it gave an adventurous look at unusual hobbies, visiting with “regular” Americans in their homes.  He created, executive produced, and starred in Fox’s situation comedy pilot Locals (1994).  He executive produced NBC’s And Now You Know (1995), in which he focuses his camera on “people who know how to fix things.”

John enjoyed a great run with ABC’s Dancing with the Stars during the spring of 2007.  He continues to dance when he can – but has given up his dreams of becoming a professional ballroom competitor! 

In 2004 John began starring in John Ratzenberger's Made in America, which was an immediate hit.  It’s reached a milestone in television with the launch of Season 5.  These new episodes will air with back-to-back episodes Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 and 9:30PM EST/PST on the Travel Channel.  John created the show in order to bring viewers the stories of the best products made in the U.S.  It honors American men and women who invent and build the goods that are the backbone of our economy.

He is currently promoting his new film Village Barbershop that is making the festival circuit rounds to great reviews.  It recently won Audience Choice Award at Cinequest Festival in San Jose, CA.  The film was written and directed by Chris Ford and stars John as a barber who has given up on life a long time ago…until he meets a young, cocktail waitress who is the answer to his prayers. 

He has recently started Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org.  John has committed his resources to inspiring the next generation to the pleasures of ‘tinkering’ – getting away from their video games and TV sets and into the backyard building things.  In that way, we will create the next generation of artisans, inventors, engineers, repairmen and skilled workers - in short, a self-sufficient, self-sustaining society.  John’s tag line has become “Little hands build big dreams. Give children tools and watch them build America.” 

In conjunction with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association of America, John just awarded 19 grants in March 2008 to nonprofits that provide day or overnight camps to children who want to learn the manual arts.  He is planning the first Discovery and Invention event in Santa Paula, California this November 2008 where builders, students, teachers and manufacturers will come together for a Celebrity Bocce Tournament, Dinner Gala, Auction and Tinkering Day - a day of innovation for the entire family.

John is an outspoken advocate for American-made products and the companies that keep Americans working.  In the fall of 2007, John embarked on a yearlong commitment with the Association for American Manufacturing and US Steelworkers to create a Presidential Town Hall Tour.  The Town Hall series brings attention to issues that American voters are demanding to hear about - a real commitment from presidential candidates to ensure a strong manufacturing industry.  During the town hall events, John encourages voters to ask the presidential candidates three key questions to determine their commitment to keeping manufacturing jobs in the country:

• How will you save American manufacturing jobs?
• What specific policies will you enact to strengthen the American manufacturing base, which is vital to our economic and national security?
• What steps will you take to enforce our trade laws and hold cheating countries like China accountable?

For more on the Alliance for American Manufacturing please visit www.americanmanufacturing.org

During his free time, John is an avid sailor, fisherman, and billiard player.  He enjoys international travel, fencing and collecting antiques.  He plays the drums and belongs to a bagpipe band, as part of the Emerald Society.  Sports such as karate, yoga and skeet shooting keep him active.  He has one son and one daughter.  Please visit www.ratzenberger.com for more.

Bob was the CEO of Broadband Networks, Inc. (BNI) for 10 years and has more than 25 years of experience working for market share leading companies in the electronics, semi-conductor and networking industries. In 2002, Bob and Jason Oakman started Xsalta, a business development company that specializes in helping companies solve marketing and product development problems. Xsalta has worked with many companies and non-profit organizations over the past 6 years developing comprehensive MARCOMM solutions including the building of websites.

In addition to his work with Xsalta, Bob is currently an instructor of Entrepeneuring and Leadership at Penn State University’s College of Engineering and is a consultant to a number of technology-based companies. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for several other companies, including Restek Corporation, which was recently selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top fifteen “Small Workplaces” in America and DiamondBack Automotive, a company Bob helped start with former Penn State students.

George Borowsky is president and founder of InSight3, a firm dedicated to assisting leaders to make their organizations more effective.  In his role as a leadership coach, Mr. Borowsky helps managers understand people better, foster more robust organizational cultures, and develop more competitive business strategies.  Utilizing unique skills-based methodologies for personality mapping and team thinking he is able to serve as a catalyst for taking organizations to the next level.

Mr. Borowsky was awarded his bachelor or arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his masters degree from the City University of New York.  He has been instrumental in developing provocative assessment tools that have been published on the web sites of Information Week, Optimize and Fast Company magazines.  Mr. Borowsky is the co-inventor of OrgSCAN™, a cultural assessment tool designed to facilitate positive organizational change.

Ms. Bowen is charged with bringing together specific industry sectors to support the development, growth and sustainability of effective and productive regional industry partnerships and incumbent worker training projects for the PA WIB.  She is the staff representative responsible for organizing PA’s Industry Partnership Academy as a means of improving economic opportunities for workers and communities and economic competitiveness for employers and industries.

Prior to joining the Commonwealth and the PA WIB, Patty was employed for 15 years in the private sector, with UPS.  Her last assignment was as a sales trainer and human resource representative in Greenville, South Carolina.  She previously held the position of account manager, working with many diverse businesses and industries.

Patty is a product of our State’s educational system and firmly believes that individuals, through their own initiative and employer support, can advance up the career ladder. She received her A.A. in Business Studies from Harrisburg Area Community College, her B.S. in Applied Behavioral Science and her M.Ed. in Training and Development from Penn State – Harrisburg. In addition, she earned a certificate in Human Resources Management from the school of continuing education at Penn State.

Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative (WSI) and Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) awarded Patty the distinction of Marano fellow for her participation in the 2007/2008 Sector Skills Academy, which trains leaders in workforce development.  She has been involved in coordinating activities for various charitable organizations including the Make a Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society and the Cancer Recovery Foundation.

With over 35 years experience in Executive Management, Industrial Marketing, Sales Management and Training, after graduating Case Western Reserve in 1969 with a BSEE Mr. Caruso’s career began as a Management Trainee for General Tire and Rubber Co. Gravitating to front office responsibilities his first permanent GT&R position was as Fleet Division Marketing Analyst. In 1972 GT&R gave Mr. Caruso his first field sales assignment that lasted until Motivational Techniques Inc., a Chicago-based sales consulting and training firm, recruited him away in 1974. Starting as a territorial sales representative he became the youngest regional sales manager in the company's 26-year history. His achievements ultimately earned him the senior position of Training Director responsible for training, coaching, and mentoring the company's team of sales professionals.

In 1991 Mr. Caruso joined as Director of Target Marketing, Automation News Network, a start-up Industrial Marketing Company servicing the plant and factory automation industry. In 1994 ANN changed its business model and become Industry.net, the first Internet Portal for Industrial Automation Equipment and Services. In the following 3 years Mr. Caruso built the Target Marketing Services Group from a three person staff to Division Level status employing 52 people generating over $6mm in annual revenue. Since fall of 1997, in conjunction with his training and consulting practice, Mr. Caruso has been the driving force behind two sales and marketing service companies, Smart Systems Technology Inc. and Industrial Research Services. Both companies specialize in helping industry sellers maximize marketing and sales investments and count among their customer’s well-known industry names such as Cutler-Hammer, Honeywell, Siemens, Parker Hannifin and GE. During the past five years, Mr. Caruso has been actively engaged with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of more than 400 manufacturing extension centers and field offices established within the U.S. Department of Commerce. MEP centers offer technical assistance and training on the latest business best practices to help the nation's smaller manufacturers improve their competitiveness. His association with centers in 11 states including Michigan, NY, Pennsylvania, and California is helping them provide best practice business growth and customer retention programs for their manufacturer clients.

Mr. Caruso's successful market driven philosophy, style, and techniques have helped create numerous wins for client operations and have been the focus of various trade publication articles and books including Metalworking Distributor, Industrial Distribution, and The Green Banana Papers: Marketing Secrets for Technology Entrepreneurs.

Senator Casey Jr.’s father created the IRCs in 1988 and is a strong supporter of the IRC program.  Senator Casey has been invited to speak at our Tuesday 20th Anniversary dinner in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the IRC program.  As a new U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, Bob Casey is focused on changing the direction in Washington and on Pennsylvania priorities. He is also committed to moving past the partisan bickering in Washington to find common ground and solutions to problems that face the nation and the Commonwealth.

Along with his partners Dennis Caruso and Scott Peterson, Rick DeMoss is one of the founders and owners of Smart Systems Technology, Inc. and their division, Industrial Research Services. Rick first became associated with his partners in 1995 when he joined Industry.Net, where Rick was a manager in the Target Marketing Services Group of Industry.Net until the company was sold in 1997. The programs offered by Industrial Research Services, or IRS as it is more commonly known, began in the Target Marketing Services group of Industry.Net. At that time, Dennis Caruso was the Director of that group, Rick was a manager for Dennis, and Scott was a Programming Manager in the Program Development and Information Technology department of that company. As that door closed with the sale of Industry.Net, another opened and Smart Systems Technology, the parent company of IRS, was born. IRS' mission has always been to bring buyers and sellers of industrial products and services together. Focused outbound phone activity combined with targeted email and fax messaging to drive individuals to more detailed information on the web has proven extremely effective in allowing IRS to accomplish the goals of their client companies and organizations. The Smart System, a web-based engine that drives IRS, was conceived by Dennis Caruso. Scott Peterson has directed the development of the proprietary computer coding and software that is the essence of the system, and personally wrote much of the code. Acting as an Application Service Provider, Smart Systems Technology began offering this system commercially on a limited basis in 2003 to smaller companies, primarily manufacturers. Currently there are more than 60 companies utilizing their own custom version of the system. Many of these companies are manufacturing clients of Catalyst Connection. Catalyst Connection and MANTEC also employ their own version of the system. As Vice President of Smart Systems Technology, Rick has directed the operations of Industrial Research Services for the past several years. Rick has been responsible for the enhancement and development of the programs offered by IRS. He spends a great deal of time working directly with clients and the IRS staff to ensure that everything possible is done to guarantee the maximum return on their clients' investment.

Frank is Director of the RFID Center of Excellence, located at Penn State Behrend. Prior to joining Penn State Behrend, he held numerous management positions at GE Transportation Systems including Supply Chain e-Business Leader, Inventory Control Manager, Manager of Flow Manufacturing, Six Sigma Transaction Quality Leader, Manager of Manufacturing and Sourcing Systems, and ERP Implementation Program Manager. DeWolf is also a faculty member in the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend, where he teaches Supply Chain Management courses, and manages the SAP ERP program.

Tom Meshanko has been with Catalyst Connection for more than ten years. In his current role as Senior Market Development Catalyst, he helps clients to increase business to domestic and international customer markets through a variety of services including market research, targeted lead generation and qualification, marketing campaign development/execution and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) enhancement and implementation. Over the past decade, Mr. Meshanko has worked with more than 80 regional manufacturing clients to grow sales to a wide range of customer markets including plastics, chemicals, construction, steel, paper, OEM, electrical equipment, retail and more. Prior to his employment at Catalyst Connection, Mr. Meshanko worked on several National Institute of Health (NIH) funded research studies at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health where he honed his data management and statistical skills. He holds a BS in statistics from the University of Pittsburgh and has also completed graduate coursework in applied statistics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Moore graduated from Edinboro University with a degree in Economics and Accounting. After graduation, Don spent 13 years working in management positions in the manufacturing sector, including international assignments.

In 1984 he founded Decision Associates, a management consulting firm in Erie, Pennsylvania that focuses on Strategic Planning, Marketing, Succession Planning, and Organizational Development. Decision Associates’ primary business sectors are manufacturing, public corporations, construction, professional and not-for-profit organizations.

Decision Associates develops proprietary methodologies for each of its practices. Their Succession Planning for Entrepreneurially Owned Businesses is considered a "Best Practice" and has been licensed to Industrial Resource Centers throughout Pennsylvania.

Don’s personal practice focuses on Strategic Planning and Succession Planning and he writes and lectures on these topics. He has also worked with regional economic development agencies to create entrepreneurial development programs. In addition to Don, Decision Associates is represented by a staff of 8 consulting professionals. More growth is expected in coming years.

Don lives in North East, Pennsylvania with his wife Susan. They raised three boys who now live and work outside Erie, but Don and Sue are working to attract them back. Don is active in a number of Erie and North East volunteer organizations and is an ordained Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of North East. He frequently provides strategy and development services at no charge for local not-for-profit agencies and foundations as a way of “giving back” to the community.

Maureen Mulcahy began her Lean journey in April 2005 while she was an Executive Administrative Project Manager at Benco Dental Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In this position, Maureen played a key role in successfully developing and deploying Benco’s Lean program. In April, 2006, Maureen left Benco to join NEPIRC as a Project Manager for Lean Enterprise. Maureen’s lean experience includes facilitating Value Stream Mapping events for distributors, logistic companies, and service companies for such processes as truck repair; accounting cycle close; merchandise returns; order fulfillment, hiring, and contracting. In addition, she is experienced in facilitating Kaizen, 6S, and Work Standards events. Maureen’s Lean education includes successful completion of a six week long Kaizen facilitator training course. In additions, she completed Value Stream Mapping and Business Process Value Stream Mapping training at the Lean Enterprise Institute in March 2005 and participated in a Danaher Business System Transactional Process Improvement Kaizen training event in May, 2005. Maureen also completed Lean Office and Lean Product Development Value Stream Mapping training provided by Drew Locher, Change Management Associates. She holds a bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Echo Strategies is a Professional Services firm specializing in helping its client listen to their key stakeholders using novel but simple methods. The firm has a strong regional and national client base including organizations such as Bayer Corporation, Respironics, Medrad, Carnegie Science Center, Catalyst Connection, U.S. Pipe, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Culture Montreal, Home Depot Hughes Supply and Carnegie Mellon University.

Catalytix is a sister company of Echo and a spin-off from the Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. The firm specializes in regional economic development and workforce issues management.

Lou Musante has over 25 years experience in the marketing research business and economic development. His educational background is in chemistry and information science.

Professionally he worked for the General Tire and Rubber Company, Arthur D. Little Inc. in Cambridge, MA, Manager Technical Analysis NASA Technology Transfer Center, University of Pittsburgh and he was Vice President of A.C. Nielsen’s Tec-Data Business Unit.

Lou considers himself a business "Infopreneur" who likes to have fun and make money.

Charlie has been with New Pig for 18 years. Along with his current position, Charlie has held the positions of Master Scheduler and Materials Manager for New Pig. He and New Pig have been on their Lean Journey since summer of 2005. Charlie holds a B.A. degree in Business & Managerial Economics from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Along with holding his CPIM from APICS, he is a certified trainer for his local APICS chapter, Mid-State.

Joe has been with Weiler Corporation for over ten years. In addition to his production responsibilities, he is the Gain Sharing Process Improvement (GPI) Champion. He has promoted the training and use of TWI Job Methods Improvement as the vehicle to improve the co-workers ability to identify and communicate improvement ideas. Joe also chairs the GPI committee which sees that the ideas are evaluated and implemented. Joe holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Data Processing from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania’s 45th Governor has been an continuous to be a strong supporter of the IRC program.  Under Governor Rendell’s leadership, Pennsylvania’s economy has rebounded sharply and continues to expand. Governor Rendell’s economic stimulus plan is investing more than $2.8 billion to create new jobs and revitalize communities. Today, there are more jobs in Pennsylvania than ever before, with a net gain of more than 168,000 jobs since 2003. Pennsylvania now ranks 15th in the nation for job growth, up from 41st at the beginning of Governor Rendell’s first term. And, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has fallen over a full point and continues to be better than, or on par with, the national average. To ensure that all Pennsylvanians share in the benefits of our growing economy, the Governor successfully championed the first minimum wage increase in nearly a decade.

Mr. Jim Shillenn, Executive Director/CEO for IMC, Inc.  Jim is the IRC Network Energy Project Leader and is providing energy and energy policy information to IRC leadership and staff.  Jim spent over 12 years with the College of Engineering at Penn State as an energy specialist and educator. He was co-founder and former Chair of Keystone Energy Education Network, which developed the Governor’s Energy Award that achieved National recognition as the recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Award.  Jim is the editor of the IRC Energy Insider

Kenny is a part-time Technical Specialist at IMC and a full-time student at Penn-College in the Network Administration major, will be a presenter during the August IRC confrence in 2008. Technology has always been a major part of Kenny’s life, whether it is for fun, for work, or for school. Technology advancements happen very quickly and he always does his best to keep up with these changes. For some individuals this can be a difficult task. So to help facilitate the process, Kenny will spend some time talking about some techy tips and tricks that can help maximize your productivity by minimizing your effort. The tips are not just theory, Kenny uses many of these tips and tricks on a daily basis and hopes to see more people do the same.

Chris is the RFID Program Manager at the Penn State Behrend RFID Center of Excellence. Wassel's responsibilities include overseeing the Center's corporate membership and RFID training program. His team has assisted over 20 companies with RFID projects and has trained over 1,200 industry professionals and students in RFID technology. Wassel also manages the Center's state-of-the-market RFID Lab. Wassel holds a master's degree in Business Administration from Penn State Behrend and is an RFID+ Certified Professional.

Todd Wyman was appointed to his current position, Vice President, Global Supply Chain in July of 2007. Prior to that, he spent the last four years in Transportation as the General Manager, Global Supply Chain.

In 1989, Todd joined General Electric’s MMP and had assignments in Louisville, Kentucky and Wilmington, North Carolina.  He worked for Power System’s Sourcing organization in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1991 to 1993.  From there, Todd joined ED&C and held various operation assignments in Sommersworth, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Dothan, Alabama, and finally in Monterrey, Mexico as the General Manager – Mexico Operations GE Industrial Systems.

Todd was born on April 27, 1967, in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a B.S. degree in Management Engineering in 1989.

GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), delivers technology solutions for the, rail, marine and mining industries. Products and services include freight and passenger locomotives, diesel engines and gas turbines for marine and industrial applications, motorized systems for mining trucks and drills and gearbox assemblies for wind turbines. With sales in excess of $3 billion, GE Transportation employs approximately 8,000 people worldwide.

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.