cfsbank can bank on award winner
Sara Hough is more than the employee engagement and development manager of Charleroi-based cfsbank. She is a state champion.
Hough was recently selected a winner of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s 2025 Future Under 40 Awards. The awards, according to a news release submitted by cfsbank, “honor banking industry leaders, aged 40 years and younger, who have made a tremendous impact on their institution, the community and the industry.”
Hough has been credited with being “a driving force behind several transformative initiatives at cfsbank.” They include starting a year-long mentorship program linking experienced professionals with emerging talent.
That led to a community service project to build a garden, picnic area and Free Little Library near the Charleroi branch. All of it was funded entirely through participant-led fundraising.
She also designed and started a three-tiered leadership development program, cfs360 Leadership Academy, that strives to cultivate leaders at every level of the organization, and has participated in several other initiatives.
Hough will be formally recognized at the PA Banker’s Young Professionals Conference on Sept. 24 at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center.
2026 chamber leaders
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has announced the six members who will comprise its board of directors for 2026, as well as its six executive committee members for the upcoming year.
The board will be made up of Rodney Archibeque, Range Resources; David Bassi, Bassi, Vreeland, and Associates; Chris Blaine, Washington Wild Things; Scott Eckle, SingleSource; Dr. Michael Lucas, Trinity Area School District; and Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, Washington & Jefferson College.
The executive committee will consist of Jeffrey Walentosky, chairman; Anthony Mauro, vice chairman; Andrew Chumney, secretary; Jennifer Gerchow, treasurer; Steve McCarron, assistant secretary/treasurer; and Brook Ward, past chairman.
Coal awards
Southpointe-based Core Natural Resources was among companies across the state to be honored at the recent Pennsylvania Coal Alliance awards program.
The awards highlight success in reclamation of former mining sites and employment safety by coal companies and service providers.
Core, a merger of Consol and Arch Resources, won the safety award. The company is a leading producer and exporter of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coals. Core was formed in January 2025 by the merger of Consol Energy and Arch Resources.
Robindale Energy Services of Latrobe earned the Best Overall Reclamation award following its transformation of a 6.2-acre site in Derry Township, also in Westmoreland County.
Robindale, according to a news release, “removed three abandoned barren refuse piles and reclaimed the area utilizing nearby and on-site soil to blend in with the surrounding topography and establish positive drainage.”
The alliance’s Keystone Mine Safety Awards recognized companies in the region for their efforts toward employee safety at mine sites.
Moody & Associates Inc., which has an office in Washington, was honored in the Small Field Service Provider category, and JennChem in Large Field Service Provider.
Keystone Mine Safety Producer Safety Awards went to RES in the Small Surface Mine and Large Surface Mine categories, while Rosebud Mining Co. was acknowledged in the Small Continuous Mine and Large Continuous Mine.
Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company LLC’s Bailey MIne, which operates in Washington and Greene counties, was honored in the Longwall Mine category.
Spirits
Mingo Creek Craft Distillers, purveyors of Liberty Pole Spirits, has announced that it is collaborating with a distillery in the eastern part of the state to produce “a one of its kind blend of rye whiskey.”
Jim Hough, patriarch of the family-run distillery in North Strabane Township, said in a news release that his company is working with Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey, located in Bristol. Hough said the project “celebrates our shared passion for Pennsylvania’s iconic Monongahela Rye style.”
He added that “this distillery-only bottling brings together two carefully selected barrels representing the pinnacle of each house’s craftsmanship.”
Hough said a release date for the blend has not been established. When it is, the limited-release rye “will be offered exclusively at the two sites for $79.99.”