BAKER LUNCHEON

Norman Ed attended Westmont Hilltop High School, graduating in 1977. In high school, he studied art with the local master educator and artist Mr. Glenn Brougher. He went on to attend Tyler School of Art, Temple University, graduating in 1981 with a B.F.A. in Interdepartmental Studies with a concentration in glass under the direction of Jon Clark, and also earned a PA teaching certification. After graduating from Tyler, he remained in Philadelphia gaining varied work experience in carpentry, art restoration and in the music industry in management. 

Eventually he returned to the Johnstown area and continued working in construction and music management.  Within the year he was hired in a startup consulting engineering firm under the leadership of Warren L. Custer. After four years he returned to music management and construction. During this time, he started teaching regularly at local arts organizations. In 1988 he was hired by the Westmont Hilltop School District as an art instructor, which remained his profession for 30 years. In September of 1991 he and his wife at that time opened “out of his mind” Dance.  The dance studio that they built also provided room for his first dedicated art studio.  In his seventh year of teaching Norman took a one-year break to participate in the graduate sculpture program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. James Nestor.  Around that time, he started teaching each summer at a craft program in Massachusetts. All of those experiences expanded his teaching and exhibition opportunities.  He retired from public school teaching in 2020. He continues to teach at local arts organizations and as an adjunct ceramics’ instructor at Mt. Aloysius University in Cresson. Throughout his journey, he has continued to practice in art which is focused mainly on mixed media sculpture. He exhibits work on a regular basis regionally, and on occasion a little beyond the region. Norman and Mary have recently relocated their home and studio and garden to 625 Horner St. in Johnstown.

Sharon is a lifelong resident of Johnstown, having grown up in Cambria City. She is a graduate of Bishop McCort High School and Mount Aloyisus College. For 33 years Sharon was employed as a cardiovascular technician at Lee and Conemaugh Hospitals, where she enjoyed working with the doctors, staff and patients. Prior to working at the hospitals, Sharon was employed as a dental assistant/office manager for two local dentists. 

Sharon has been married to Walt Wojnaroski for 37 years. They have one son, Stephen, who is married to Lindsay. On February 23, 2022, Sharon became a grandmother to Cora Sophia Wojnaroski, who brings her so much joy. 

Upon retiring in 2018, Sharon has appreciated having more time to travel and socialize with family and friends. With more free time, she decided to volunteer and at the suggestion of a friend she applied at the CAC. Fortunately, there was an opening and Sharon has now been volunteering here for two years. She looks forward to her volunteer hours at the CAC including helping at the Holly Bazaar. She enjoys working with the staff who are like family to her now. She also cherishes the new friends she has made. In her own words, Sharon claims “It’s more fun than work.” 

In her spare time, Sharon likes to crochet, read, listen to music, do jigsaw puzzles, attend theater productions and travel. She is a member of Resurrection Parish and is involved in the Ladies Guild and is also active in the Women’s Book Club.

Michael Hruska is a technologist and design thinking (DT) practitioner with

experiences spanning   across standards, emerging technologies, learning, and science. He is a   former researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology   (NIST). Mike provides technology, business model and innovation solutions to Fortune 500, government and startups. He researches, strategizes, designs, and makes advanced technology solutions and products. His team has built award winning products and   delivered solutions that support millions of users and billions of hits of   daily web traffic. Michael’s   experience spans the continuum between advanced research on adaptive learning ecosystems and emerging technology solution/product design in a variety of  industries.

Michael is an advisor/mentor to ed tech startups for GSV Capital. Michael hosts a monthly entrepreneur meetup and other events to support local and regional entrepreneurship. He serves as a mentor and guide for a number of startups. He also serves as an advisor the Robert Waters Trust Fund at the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies to support entrepreneurship and early stage companies.

Michael is a member of the e-Learning Guild, the Association for Training and Development (ATD), the Society for Applied Learning Technologies (SALT), and the National Defense and Industrial Association (NDIA) and regularly presents at industry events internationally.

Michael currently serves as Chair of the Goodwill Industries of Conemaugh Valley. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Pittsburgh (Johnstown). He has previously held board positions at the Young Professionals of the Alleghenies , Cambria County Chamber of Commerce, the Somerset County Economic Development Council, Venue of Merging Arts (VOMA), United Way of the Laurel Highlands, and the Johnstown Business District Development Corporation (JBDDC).