February 2003
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BCTC ALUMNUS RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED AWARD

The Berks Career and Technology Center has honored Jeffrey C. Schatz, president, Schatz Electric, Inc., with its Lifelong Friend of Career and Technical Education Award. The award was presented at the February meeting of the Joint Operating Committee. Dr. Gerald R. Potts, chairman, Joint Operating Committee, and Dr. Robert A. Runkle, administrative director of the Berks Career and Technology Center, made the presentation.

Dr. Robert A. Runkle, Administrative Director presents Jeffrey C. Schatz, president, Schatz Electric, Inc. with the BCTC's Lifelong Friend of Career and Technical Education Award. Looking on from left, Albert Happel, Retired Electricity Instructor, Gerald Potts, Joint Operating Committee (JOC) Chairman/Governor Mifflin, Oscar Manbeck, JOC Vice-Chariman/Tulpehocken, and Barbara Cafurello, JOC Secretary/Wyomissing Area.

The award recognizes an individual who has generously donated his/her time to the advancement of the Berks Career and Technology Center and who has continuously been an advocate for and supporter of quality career and technical education for all youth. Past recipients have included Dr. K. Robert Hohl, retired BCIU executive director; Edwin Blatt, Alcon Manufacturing, Ltd.; Gary Ebeling, Grafika Commercial Printing; Gerry Troutman, Troutman Machine Works; Rolf Schmidt, former CEO, Sharpoint; Paul Roedel, Berks Business Education Coalition; and Dr. Roger Hertz, retired BCIU executive director.

Schatz is a 1973 graduate of Wilson High School and the Berks Vocational Technical School with a certificate in electricity. He earned an associate degree in electrical engineering technology from Pennsylvania State University in 1975. From 1976-1982, Schatz served on BCTC’s Occupational Advisory Committee for Electrical Occupations. He was also instrumental in establishing an apprenticeship program for open shop electrical contractors of Berks County, which he chaired from 1985-1991. Schatz served as president of the Electrical Association of Reading and Berks County from 1989-1991.

With one employee and a focus on residential electrical wiring, Schatz Electric was established in 1975. Today, Schatz Electric, located in Robesonia, employs 23 full- time employees, fifteen of whom are graduates of Berks Career and Technology Center. The company has expanded its service market to include industrial automation, industrial repair, new commercial buildings, fiber optic voice and data wiring, and high voltage work. The company is currently working on the York Business Center in York, Pennsylvania, which was the former Caterpillar Manufacturing Plant. It is the largest electrical renovation project in the commonwealth involving a former industrial site.