In honor of Women's History Month, the Department of Corrections will highlight some of the exceptional women who work for the DOC and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. We are grateful for the wonderful women who work in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system.
Patricia Lightner
Erie District Director
Patricia Lightner was appointed district director of the Erie District Office in 1999, making her the most senior district director in the agency. Prior to that she served as program director at Gateway Rehabilitation in Erie and probation supervisor at Erie County Adult Probation. In all, she has dedicated more than 35 years of her life to public service.
In addition to her work as district director, Patricia is currently a professor at Mercyhurst University in the Criminal Justice Department.
Patricia is also currently a certified trainer in Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) and has been instrumental in training PBPP agents throughout the state. She is also a certified trainer in Trauma Informed Care. She serves on several various criminal justice committees throughout the Erie community.
Patricia is scheduled for a well-deserved retirement in the spring of 2019.
Cathy Shoemaker
Clerk 3
Erie District Office
Cathy Shoemaker is a clerk 3 and has been with the Parole Board for over 20 years, all in the Erie District Office.
Erie District Director Patricia Lightner says, "Our office could not function without Cathy. She performs all of the typical clerical functions in the district office but also handles all of the ordering, monitoring building maintenance issues and is the go to person with computer application based questions."
Cathy is described as having a very positive attitude and always tries to help anybody that asks her. She quickly grasps any changes or new computer processes very quickly.
The office is currently well below its clerical complement, and because of Cathy's ability to quickly process routine clerical tasks while still keeping up with her clerk 3 responsibilities, the office has managed to stay current on its work.
Tawnya Peek
Parole Agent
East Allegheny Supervision Unit
Parole Agent Tawnya Peek graduated from Penn State University in 1992. She initially was employed as a foster care worker with Alternative Program Associates and was hired by the PBPP as an agent in 1995. She was assigned to the East Allegheny Supervision Unit where she has remained for the last 24 years.
Tawnya has been a dedicated, loyal agent for the PBPP throughout her career showing an uncommon degree of caring and concern for the reentrants under her supervision. Her work ethic and professionalism is above reproach and has been obvious to her supervisors, co-workers and PBPP administration.
Her friendly, easy-going demeanor and cooperative approach to the workplace has made her a pleasure to supervise and a true asset to the agency. She has adapted to the change in supervision practices over the years with remarkable resiliency and adaptability.
Tawnya is currently the senior agent in the East Allegheny Supervision Unit (EASU) with the combined experience of the other six agents in the unit not even equaling half of her time with the PBPP.
Tawnya is a United States Navy veteran who joined the reserves in 1989 and retired in 2016. During that time she was deployed to active duty four times.
She currently lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, EJ. Her son and her daughter are both students at Penn State University. Setting aside all of the other accolades, Tawnya is an excellent example of a role model for younger agents, both men and women, who would like to pursue a long career as an agent with the PBPP.
Tracie Vadas
Secretarial Supervisor
Pittsburgh District Office
Secretarial Supervisor Tracie Vadas is described by her coworkers as "the backbone of the Pittsburgh District Clerical staff."
She created a clerical manual and has shared it with the Pittsburgh District clerical staff, which allows them to be a unified district. She painstakingly updates this manual with each new or updated policy/procedure or computer application.
Tracie leads by example and shares her wealth of knowledge with
everyone in the Pittsburgh District.