PBL Names Businessperson of the Year

Donna Greenwood Gilsdorf, owner of Diversified Lending Services, L.L.C. has been named the 2003 PBL Businessperson of the Year.

Donna Greenwood Gilsdorf was one of three people selected to receive the North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) Businessperson of the Year recognition at the North Carolina Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference. She was nominated by the A-B Tech PBL chapter for her work and support of students. Gilsdorf also received recognition at the PBL National Leadership Conference this summer. Phi Beta Lambda is a national leadership association for college students working to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.

Gilsdorf is owner of Diversified Lending Services, L.L.C. in Hendersonville. As a member of the PBL Professional Division, she has conducted training sessions and been a guest speaker for the A-B Tech chapter for the past four years on topics such as money management, entrepreneurship, dress for success, and how to finance a home. Gilsdorf has helped the chapter on numerous fund-raising activities. She has volunteered her time to help the chapter operate a concession stand at Lowe's Motor Speedway three weekends a year for the past four years teaching students inventory control, work flow, and customer service techniques.

The best example of Gilsdorf's support for PBL is through her employment practices. She has hired two former PBL members. "I know the leadership and life training PBL students receive by working with them on projects and attending their conferences, helping with the competitive event programs. They are dedicated and diligent students learning the value of hard work, customer service, and community involvement in a spirit of camaraderie."

Gilsdorf has attended two State Leadership Conferences and one National Leadership Conference. She has helped prepare students for their competitive events, conducting mock interviews and critiquing oral performances. Gilsdorf also provides guidance to the chapter by serving on the A-B Tech PBL Advisory Board.

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A-B Tech Instructor Attends Bio-link Workshop

Dr. Toby Mapes, a biology instructor at A-B Tech, prepares to test a membrane filter to determine if it's working properly during the fourth annual Bio-Link Workshop at the New Hampshire Biotechnology Education and Training Center at New Hampshire Community Technical College in Portsmouth. Mapes was one of 15 faculty members from 10 states who attended the August workshop to learn from the college's faculty and industry experts how to manufacture a biopharmaceutical. Workshop participants studied current good manufacturing practices (the regulatory structure for making a protein that will be injected into the human body), the manufacture of proteins using cells that produce the biopharmaceutical protein, the purification of these proteins using filtration and chromatography, and monitoring the quality of the process by testing samples during the biomanufacturing of the protein.

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PEO Awards Scholarship

Catherine Vaughn, president of Chapter M of PEO, (left) and Jo Anne Keener, chair of the Program for Continuing Education (PCE) Committee, present a $700 PCE scholarship to Alice Patrick, (center) a nursing assistant and second-year associate in arts student at A-B Tech. PEO, a national philanthropic, educational organization, awards PCE scholarships on the basis of students' abilities, need, commitment to their studies, and goals. Recipients often are women who have been in the workforce a while and decided to continue their education, according to Vaughn.

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Eight New Employees Join A-B Tech

Ken Czarnomski is the department chairman for the new program Construction Management Technology. He has a B.S. and a B.A. from Lawrence Technical University in Southfield, MI., and is a licensed architect in North Carolina and Michigan. He was the Vice President of Operations for Allen and Associates, Inc.

Michael K. Fletcher is now a full-time instructor for Automotive and Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology (HEATT). He was an adjunct in the same department. He received an A.A.S. from A-B Tech.

Barbara Harrison is an instructor of Medical Laboratory Technology. She received a B.S. from Aurora University in Aurora, IL, and a M.S. from the University of South Carolina. She was the Education Coordinator for Midlands Technical College in South Carolina.

Cindy Benton is an instructor of Nursing. She received a B.S.N. from Western Carolina University and an M.S.N. from the Medical University of South Carolina. She was a nurse practitioner for Coastal Neurology in Beaufort, SC.

Donna Helen Crisp is now a full-time instructor of Nursing. She received her Juris Doctor (Law) from North Carolina Central University, a B.A. from North Carolina State University, and a B.S.N and M.S.N from University of North Carolina She has been an A-B Tech adjunct nursing instructor since 1999.

Shelley Yarbrough is the Coordinator of the Human Resources Development (HRD) program. She received an A.S. from Isothermal Community College, B.S. from Appalachian State University, and M.S. from Western Carolina University. She was previously an A-B Tech HRD instructor.

Debbie Henderson is a cashier/registration clerk for Continuing Education. She received a B.A. from Salem College. She was previously an accounting technician/purchasing agent at Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Mira Romashchuk has joined Plant Operations as a custodian. She has a nursing certificate and was an office assistant in Seattle, WA.

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