Craig Garaas-Johnson, CLN ’20, is a versatile professional with a professional career spanning nearly 20 years. He holds an MFA in poetry and pursued doctoral work in educational research focused on advanced statistical analysis of at-risk student populations. His love of language and analysis has led him to wear many hats including as an English professor, biofuels journalist, a business development professional for a utility, and a marketer and communicator at both the University of North Dakota and University at Buffalo. Throughout his career, he has always sought new opportunities to collaborate within and outside his field. Success is defined as getting resources to the people around him who will make a positive impact on the world. Craig earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and a BA in Composition from SUNY Potsdam.

Class of 2003,
Timothy W. Piazza Ph.D. is the Talent Pipeline Manager and Apprenticeship Program Coordinator. Previously Tim was the Manager of Product Development for SKF Aeroengine North America.  He has spent all his professional career in research and development, post-secondary education and manufacturing.

Timothy, a lifelong resident of Jamestown, is married to an incredibly beautiful and talented wife who is a pre-K teacher at SWCS.  He has a ten-year-old son who luckily takes after his mother.

Class of 2015,
Trenton is an Accredited Payables Specialist working for the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.  He is also the BPU Health & Wellness Team Leader and the founder/director of Work Well Chautauqua (WWCHQ), a network of employers working together to improve their employees’ overall health.

Trenton’s art studio, Toasted Waffle Studios, allows him to express himself creatively through photography, abstract painting and the art of bonsai.  His work has been on display around Chautauqua and Erie counties as well as into Pennsylvania and Ohio.  He has also been known to offer the occasional Beginners Bonsai class to help support his bonsai addiction.

Trenton was born in Westfield, spent some time residing in a lot of different places, and then returned to his hometown where he lives with his wife, Fergie, their two dogs and cat.  They spend their spare time gardening and canning, among other things.  In the summer you will likely find them at the Westfield Farmer’s Market or Timmerman’s Farm Stand supporting local farmers and artisans.

Class of 2024 best class ever,
Valerie is the Marketing Manager at Monofrax LLC, where she has worked for over 30 years. A lifelong resident of Jamestown, Valerie is a proud graduate of JCC and SUNY Fredonia. Valerie loves her gardens, cats, and sourdough starter. She is privileged to be a volunteer dog walker at the Chautauqua County Human Society.

Class of 2019,
Christopher C. Taverna is an Information Technology and Talent Development professional who helps people build skills for navigating the 21st century workplace. With over 25 years industry experience, Chris knows that each person uses technology in their own way on their path to success. It’s not about doing things the “right way” but rather doing things the “right way for you.”

Chris currently works in the Academic and Collaborative Technology department of The State University of New York at Fredonia as a Training and Knowledge Management Specialist. In addition to numerous technical certifications, Chris is a Certified Faculty Developer and a Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Practitioner. Chris holds a B.S. in Mathematics from The State University of New York at Fredonia.

Chris lives in Fredonia with his wife Karen, three children, three cats, and one dog.

Class of 2022
Victoria Eckert, LMSW (she/her) is the Associate Director for Youth MOVE National, the Mental Health Training Consultant for the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, an Adjunct Professor at Fredonia, and a Licensed Social Worker in New York State. Victoria has 13 years of combined experience in System of Care implementation, including youth engagement work, suicide prevention, mental health training and consulting, serving as a national technical assistance specialist/subject matter expert, and volunteering in Chautauqua County in various capacities. Victoria is passionate about mental health systems change efforts and macro social work practice.

Victoria lives in Frewsburg with her husband, four stepchildren, chameleon, and 150+ houseplants

Katie is a speaker, strategist, and social entrepreneur who is committed to the catalyzation of movements through innovation, collaboration, and social impact. 

For 14+ years she has driven change in-the-trenches. Those trenches have varied in context: from community development + poverty alleviation, to maternal-infant healthcare + political lobbying, church missional strategy, and NGO incubation… the cord that binds them all together is Katie’s willingness to get into the gritty work of change through open communication, stakeholder buy-in, and risk-tolerance. 

After living and working internationally for the last decade, Katie is now planting roots in her hometown of Jamestown, NY with her husband and 3 children, and leading the charge at Ally Co, a first-of-its-kind venture studio in Western New York.

For more information on Katie, visit www.katiecastro.org

Mindie McCarthy, Human Resource Manager at Rand Precision Machining, LLC. I also oversee the Human Resource department at our sister company JBK Manufacturing in Dayton, OH. Prior to Rand Machine, I was a Branch Manager at Career Concepts Staffing Service.

In 2021, Rand formed a Community Foundation that raises funds and donates to our local law enforcement, local Fire Departments and Veterans associations. I joined the foundation day 1 as the Vice President of our Steering Committee. We have raised over $40, 000 in our 1st year and we were able to help some great organizations.

A lifelong Chautauqua County resident, I am married and have 4 wonderful children, who I love spending time with.