Employers show gratitude for York College graduates during Employee Appreciation Day

Spartan nation is alive and well at the York Water Company, where more than a dozen staff members tout York College of Pennsylvania degrees. “If people attend York College and have a positive experience and stay in this community, those are the types of employees we’re looking for,” says President and CEO JT Hand ’19, who recently earned his MBA from York College. “It’s a great cultural fit.”

York College graduates at York Water Company include: Natalee Colón ’09/MBA ’14, Vice President of Human Resources, who has a Marketing degree and MBA from York College; Mark Hardman ’19, Vice President of Technology, who has a York College MBA; and Savannah Zittle ’18, Customer Service Manager, who has a Marketing degree.

“The caliber of the professional who comes out of York College has made all the difference here at York Water Company,” Hand says. “We value the partnership that we have with York College, and we know we can rely on them to prepare students to contribute to their community and their careers.”

‘Self-motivated, driven professionals’

Not only a physical neighbor to the College, WellSpan York Hospital has helped educate and hire many York College students over the years. The proximity to the York College campus makes it a place where students can gain real-world experience while also helping the hospital recruit prepared medical professionals who are ready to jump into the workforce.

“We have several team members who have either earned their undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both,” says Kim Brister, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion. “In many instances, these individuals are local. Therefore, they are invested in our communities and have a positive impact on our vision and commitment to providing exceptional care.”

York College graduates are also well versed in their areas of discipline, whether they are bringing their clinical expertise or joining the administrative side of the hospital. “They are self-motivated, driven professionals,” Brister adds.

WellSpan also finds value in partnering with students through the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program (YCCOSP), where students gain experience through mentorship, networking, and training with WellSpan employees. This creates a direct connection to help foster future leaders in the healthcare industry.

Keeping talent in York

From business development to ticket sales and even radio broadcasting, there are several York College graduates who have budding careers with the York Revolution, a professional baseball team that’s part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

“Our relationship with York College goes back to our founding and has continued through the numerous interns and alums who now provide valuable talent to the York Revolution,” says Eric Menzer, President of the team.

Employees are also active with the College, often doing guest lectures in classes or serving on advisory councils. While Sport Management students are a natural fit at the ballpark, the York Revolution also has pulled on the valuable resources of other York College students, including a class that recently conducted a fan survey related to COVID-19 safety.

“While our business is superficially a sports business, it’s like a lot of other businesses where we need people who are experts in accounting, sales, facilities, and human resources,” Menzer says. “York College focuses on preparing graduates who are ready to hit the ground running. There’s a practical mindset there where they are well prepared to start their careers.”

Just as important as the skills a graduate may have coming out of York College, Menzer says, is the mindset of those who join the team at the York Revolution. He recognizes that recent graduates will continue to learn a lot on the job, but he knows York College students come to him with a temperament that fits York Revolution well.

A more recent hire at the ballpark is Katie Mummert ’21. She started at the York Revolution as an intern during the 2019 season and was then hired on a part-time basis in 2020. She’ll be joining the team full- time as a Retail and Ticketing Assistant when she graduates this spring with her Sport Management degree.

“York College does a great job of attracting talented people to York and then helping to keep them in York,” Menzer says. “They become accomplished and valuable employees, and we’re grateful for that.”