Officers
John Wozniak ‘78
Co-President
John N. Wozniak was born in 1956, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, son of the late John and Ann Wozniak. He is a graduate of Johnstown High School in 1974, and the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1978.
Sen. Wozniak was a member of, or involved with, the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 354; Johnstown Area Regional Industries; Greater Johnstown/Clearfield County Chamber of Commerce; Cambria County Community Action Council; University of Pittsburgh -Johnstown Advisory Board and Christ the Saviour Cathedral. He was also a board member of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1980-96. Sen. Wozniak was elected to Pennsylvania Senate 1996 and served until 2016. He and his wife Vanessa have two children.
During his tenure in the General Assembly, Sen. Wozniak was instrumental in securing funding to study changes to the Peggy Westover Curve, fought for rehabilitation funds for the train station in Johnstown and successfully leveraged millions for various transportation projects in Cambria, Somerset and Clearfield counties.
Beyond his interest in transportation, he was active in the effort to address issues in education. His work ranges from helping local school districts receive millions in additional state subsidies to funding capital projects at UPJ, Saint Francis University, Mt. Aloysius and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
In addition, Sen. Wozniak was leading advocate of school financial reforms, including seeking responsible school consolidations, merging of administrative functions and streamlining the non-preferred appropriations process.
Legislatively, he was one of the strongest advocates for Act 89 – a law that ensures significant transportation funding, was prime sponsor of manufacturing tax credits and authored a multi-dimensional crime package to address the opioid crisis.
Sen. Wozniak’s approach was bipartisan. He worked across the aisle with Sen. Gene Yaw to search for solutions for issues impacting rural Pennsylvania through his appointment as a board member to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
Sen. Wozniak served as the Democratic chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and was a member of the state Transportation Commission.
J. Matthew Sernell ‘06
Co-President
Matt Sernell is the President of Eagles Ridge Industries, a Johnstown Pa based business providing technology and telecommunication support throughout the region, and is an Adjunct Faculty member at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. He holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a Masters of Business Administration from North Central University.
In the Spring of 2018, Mr. Sernell was awarded the Young Alumni Award recognizing exemplary accomplishments of a young Pitt-Johnstown Alumni for individual achievements, leadership in their professions, service to their community, and loyalty to their alma mater.
Mr. Sernell has served on the Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Board of Directors for several years. Most recently, his efforts have been directed to the 3rd annual Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Golf Tournament which will be held on August 12.
Douglas Ledney
Treasurer
Douglas Ledney is an Assistant Professor/University Supervisor in the Pitt-Johnstown Education Division and administrative consultant for the Windber Area School District. He earned his BS in elementary education from Pitt-Johnstown in 1987. He then furthered his education earning a Master of Education and Principal certification from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Capella University. Doug has been involved with the Alumni Association and feels that he can best serve the Pitt-Johnstown alumni and the Alumni Association with his continued involvement with the Education Division Alumni Group. By assisting the Alumni Association in any way that he can to further benefit the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and the students. His favorite events that the Alumni Association holds are the Mountain Cat Tournament and homecoming events. In his spare time, Doug is a Pittsburgh Panthers, Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fan. He is a classic car enthusiast too.
Board Members
Kevin Evans ‘78
Kevin currently works as Senior Project Manager at Stiffler McGraw and Associates in Hollidaysburg, PA and Indiana, PA. His education includes earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering Technology from University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 1978. He also has earned his Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002. His hobbies are traveling, gardening, rooting for Pitt-Johnstown, Pitt, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Pens. He is married to Vivian (1994 UPJ graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing) and has two sons – Sean, 32 and Zach, 29. He is serving on the alumni board to help improve membership activities and increase participation by alumni, and also to improve student life for those currently on campus.
Dan Gotwald '80
Dan Gotwald began working at UPJ in April ’74, while working full time in the print shop, took most of my classes as a part time evening student. He is currently Pitt-Johnstown's print shop manager. Dan has served on the Mt Cat tournament since 1984, the first year the Alumni were granted oversight.
Currently, he's an elected member and also have served as class representative and at large appointment, held various committee chair positions and was a charter member, 2004, of UPJ PROUD, now the Gala.
Dan received the 2007 UPJ President’s Star Award for service, for 30+ years of service to the Mt Cat tournament. He received the Alumni Council President’s award in 1992 and 2007 and is the first two-time recipient.
Jeff Kubay '92
Paul Leonard '77
Ernest Mantini '79
For the past 35 years, Dr. Mantini’s hard work and commitment to Pitt-Johnstown and the Alumni Association has netted thousands of dollars for student scholarships. Since assuming leadership of the Mountain Cat tournament in 1985, one of the region’s premier basketball tournaments, he has raised over $150,000 for the Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Association and their scholarship programs. In recognition of his outstanding service to Pitt-Johnstown, Dr. Mantini received the Pitt-Johnstown Alumni President’s Award and the 2007 Volunteer Excellence Award from Pitt-Oakland. He is an avid Pitt sports fan and member of the Panther Club. Dr. Mantini owns a successful dentistry business in the Johnstown area and resides in Richland Township with his wife, Linda ‘88.
Edward Sheets '17
Edward Sheets an Income Maintenance Caseworker for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, earned his BA in communication from Pitt-Johnstown in 2012. Ed has been involved with the Alumni Association since July 2017. He would like to help further promote events and activities to fellow alumni. His favorite events the Alumni Association holds are the Mountain Cat Tournament and Homecoming. In his spare time, Ed enjoys attending sporting events (especially Pitt Football games) and traveling. He also serves as a member of the game night staff for the Johnstown Tomahawks and is the secretary/webmaster of Alma Lodge #523, I.O.O.F. and Bethany Presbyterian Church.
Mike Suman '94
Mike Suman is the Chief Operating Officer at Applied Training Solutions, an industry leader in modeling and simulation technologies. He creates innovative ways to deliver simulation technology to government and commercial customers. He earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science from UPJ in 1994. Suman continued his education earning a Master of Science in Information Systems from the Whiting School of Engineering at John’s Hopkins University in 2000.
Mike is very proud to serve on the Board of Directors and is always willing to roll up his sleeves to help promote UPJ and act as an ambassador to the university that had such a tremendous impact of his personal and professional career. He enjoys grilling, volunteering, skiing and playing golf. In 2018, Suman was named the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Organizing Committee Volunteer of the Year awardee for his 25+ years of volunteer service to the organization.
Gladys K. Go '92
Past President
Gladys K. Go, a Human Resource and Compliance Director and Senior Tax Advisor, earned her BA in business with concentration in accounting and a minor in computer science from Pitt-Johnstown in 1992. Gladys has been involved with the Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Association for 16 years. She would like to best serve Pitt-Johnstown alumni and the Alumni Association by networking with students and fellow alums, as well as attending events. Her favorite events that the Alumni Association holds are networking events. In her spare time, she loves to travel.