Central Pennsylvania recently recognized eight Clinton County employees as Workplace Heroes. The acknowledgement occurred during Clinton County's Fall Safety Day event in Lock Haven.
The men were part of a road crew on August 29, 2022, that helped save the life of an injured logger. As DE Tom Zurat noted, "These employees responded to a unique challenge with calm, resourcefulness, and focus. They showed the very best part of our work force, and we could not be prouder of their actions."
The work place heroes included flagger Matt Graw, foreman Jason McCauley, crew-member Rob Rockwell, crew-member Ryan Hollobaugh, crew-member John Lambert, crew-member John Green, crew-member John Packer, and crew- member Willie Nelen.
Upon hearing cries for help in a wooded section near Renovo, some of the crew conducted a coordinated search and rescue to eventually find and free an injured logger. The rest of the crew mobilized and relayed messages to County 911 for further aid, as well as provided traffic control.
Each crew member played a part in this successful operation. Without their quick action, the logger could have been trapped for hours without aid.
As a group, this team boasts more than 100 years of field experience. Ryan Hollobaugh was serving as a temporary Highway Maintenance Worker but has left the Department for a full time position elsewhere. Jason McCauley is currently a Highway Foreman 2. Jason was hired in fall of 2003 and primarily works out of the North Bend stockpile. Robert Rockwell, a current Transportation Equipment Operator B, has been with PennDOT since January 2011. He currently works out of the Mill Hall stockpile. Willie Nelen was hired in 2006 and is a current Transportation Equipment Operator B. He primarily works out of the North Bend stockpile. John Packer was hired in fall 2005 and is a current Transportation Equipment Operator B. He primarily works out of the North Bend stockpile. Matt Graw came on board in December 2004 and currently serves as a Transportation Equipment Operator B. He primarily works out of the North Bend stockpile. John Lambert currently serves as a Transportation Equipment Operator B and came on board on 2018. He currently works out of the Mill Hall stockpile. And John Green serves as a Transportation Equipment Operator B. He came on board in 2004 and primarily works out of the North Bend stockpile.
Left to right in the photo: Tom Zurat, District 2 Executive; Ryan Hollobaugh; Jason McCauley; Rob Rockwell; Willie Nelen; John Packer; Matt Graw; John Lambert; John Green; Damon Wagner, District 2 Assistant Executive for Maintenance.