Yvonne Administrative Assistant

Yvonne serves as Administrative Assistant for 5 co-located entities at Penn State Harrisburg, Eastgate Center, including Innovation Transfer Network; Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Central and Northern Pennsylvania; Venture Investment Forum; Ben Franklin Transformations; and Innovation Partnership.  Her responsibilities include accounts payable; database maintenance; event planning; ordering/inventorying of supplies; IT troubleshooting; and general secretarial duties.

Raised in Central Pennsylvania, Yvonne attended Carlisle High School in Carlisle, PA.  A 1983 graduate, she immediately entered the work force utilizing her numerous secretarial skills, including Gregg Shorthand, which even then was a rare skill.

A few years later, while working for the Department of the Army at Carlisle Barracks, Yvonne applied for a secretarial position with Liberty Productions, Inc., in Harrisburg.  Liberty at the time was a privately-owned auto and home show production firm.  Breezing through a surprise shorthand test at that job interview landed her the job.  Yvonne quickly learned that she loved the fast-paced excitement of show business.  Within a few years, she was promoted within this small company to office general manager.  Her duties required extensive travel in the winter months to show locations across the continental U.S.

The extensive travel influenced her decision to resign in 1996 to be a stay-at-home mom to raise son, Stephen, and daughter, Renee.  In some ways one of the most challenging jobs of her career, staying at home with her children proved enjoyable in a very different and rewarding way.   At the end of her youngest child’s Kindergarten year and with the support of her husband and children, Yvonne decided to reenter the workforce part-time.

Yvonne accepted a part-time position with Central Dauphin School District (CDSD) as a computer tech.  The perfect fit for her at the time, she learned both Macintosh and PC troubleshooting at this job and greatly enjoyed working in the elementary schools of CDSD.  When ready for full-time employment, Yvonne left the IT department for a secretarial opening at South Side Elementary School.

Realizing the lack of promotional growth within the school district, Yvonne decided to explore other options in December of 2008.  In January 2009, Yvonne began her employment as an administrative assistant with the Innovation Transfer Network, Penn State Harrisburg.  She enjoys the office camaraderie and challenges this position presents.   She particularly enjoys planning ITN events which draws upon her skills from her auto show production days.