Ingrid Tugwell has been President and CEO of PST since 1994. She has worked in the computer training business since 1989. Prior to working with several computer training companies, Ms. Tugwell worked in the Public Relations department of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Ms. Tugwell attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. She holds several Microsoft, CompTia, Certiport and Lotus certifications and is one of only fourteen Microsoft Master Instructors and IC3 Authorized Instructors in the state of South Carolina.Ms. Tugwell is a member of:
- Featured in 2011 Profiles in Business by the Charleston Regional Business Journal
- Named to Joint Base Charleston Advisory Council
- Nominated to Represent CAFB as Honorary Commander Participant in RODEO 2009
- Charleston Chamber of Commerce
- Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
- Past Board Member for the SC Workforce Investment Act
- Past Hurricane Board Member for First Baptist Church School
- National Association for the American Association of Training and Development
- Past Program Chair for Association of Information Technology Professionals
- Past Board President for Charles Towne Montessori School
- Honorary Commander for the 437th Communications Squadron at the Charleston Air Force Base 2008-2010
- Honorary Commanders Advisory Council at the Charleston Air Force Base
- Human Resource Management
- International Institute for Learning
- Professional Speakers Bureau
- Global Keynote Speakers Association
Ms. Tugwell received the 40-under-40 award from the Charleston Business Journal in 2000. In 2006 the National Republican Congressional Committee nominated Ingrid Tugwell as Honorary Chairman on the Business Advisory Council (BAC). Ms. Tugwell represents small businesses of South Carolina in Washington, D.C. Ms. Tugwell was nominated to represent the professional and business community of Charleston, South Carolina in the 2010 Honors Edition of Who’s Who among Executives and Professional Women.
Ms. Tugwell volunteer’s time coaching youth and adult teams for the City of Charleston Recreation Department, dating back to 1999. Ms. Tugwell donates time to local schools to assist students in acquiring skills required to be emotionally intelligent, so they have the opportunity to overcome daily challenges and be successful in and out of their classrooms. She also volunteers her time to work with parents and teachers to ensure they are aware of life’s challenges facing our students, so they may have the necessary knowledge and resources to assist them in being successful while engaging our youth.
PST received an Emerging 10 Nomination in 2002 by the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, recognized by Mayor Riley for Community Involvement in 2003, Outstanding Employer of the Year by the Trident One Stop in 2005, Small Business of the Month in 2006 by the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, AITP Chapter 184 Employer of the Year in 2007, Best of North Charleston Computer Training Companies in 2008 and 2009 by the US Local Business Association. PST has received numerous other awards and recognitions from the Mayor of Charleston, Charleston Regional Business Journal and the Charleston Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Tugwell has also been published locally and nationally…. How to get the most out of your computers and business software and Cookies—they’re not just in jars anymore. She’s also been featured in local papers and trade magazines.
Ms. Tugwell specializes in delivering professional development seminars, engaging corporations throughout the United States. She has worked extensively with various branches of the military to deliver training programs dating back to 1991. Ms. Tugwell developed a course addressing Marines working with Civilian Marines for the United States Marine Corps that was highlighted in The Boot October 2007 – the course is now delivered throughout various Marine Corps installations. (return to top)
Doug Dupler has years of classroom instructional experience as well as leadership experience. Doug’s primary focus is contacting and visiting military installations to seek opportunities for PST services.Doug received his Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Aviation Engineering and Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Technology from Ohio University on the Dean’s list. His biography includes several leadership positions in the auto and building industries in the civilian sector. He brings a wealth of experience to PST in management, counseling, sales, project management, and DoD knowledge.
Doug’s military background includes:
- U.S. Army – Communications Officer, Captain
- Ohio Army National Guard- First Lieutenant/Platoon Leader
- United States Army- Sergeant/Brigade Commander’s Assistant
- Awarded the Bronze Star during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006
- Awarded the Combat Action Badge during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006
- Top Secret security clearance
- Experience in leadership training and counseling military and civilian personnel
Brooke Fetty worked as an intern in the Treasury office for the County of Athens in Ohio right out of high school. She then moved on the cash management office for Wal-Mart until moving to South Carolina where she found PST. She oversees every aspect of the client experience and takes care of PST and its staff. She’s learned web design to maintain PST’s site and client sites, handles registration for over 300 companies, develops PST schedules and marketing materials and schedules all resources for PST (in and out of the state of SC). Brooke was honored as Ambassador of the Month for the Charleston Chamber of Commerce in February 2006. She has an associate’s degree in accounting from Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville, Ohio. She was on the Dean’s list during her years at HTC and graduated with Honors. She holds several CompTIA and Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. Brooke is a certified test administrator for Certiport, PAN, Prometric, Kryterion and VUE. (return to top)
Maurice Noisette spent years as a Chemist prior to entering the IT field. He’s worked as a network administrator, help-desk lead and programmer. He’s been in the training arena since 2001 and holds numerous CompTIA, Certiport and Microsoft certifications. He is an Authorized Master Instructor and is one of only fourteen Microsoft Master Instructors and IC3 Authorized Instructors in the state of South Carolina. Maurice is a subject matter expert in SharePoint and has spent the last several years testing, deploying, designing and rolling out SharePoint as well as instructing courses in SharePoint for nationwide clients. He has authored a custom course in pc and server virtualization that allows companies to save monies. Maurice serves on the Microsoft Research Panel. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics. (return to top)
Kim Murdaugh instructs Microsoft office courses as well as Adobe applications. Kim has over 22 years of computer software experience, as well as a background in graphic design and marketing. She started using Microsoft Office and Adobe products during the early days of desktop publishing, beginning with the first versions released. Kim has designed and produced award-winning marketing campaigns and websites, as well as published four-color magazines for special events. She holds several Adobe and Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. (return to top)
Lisa Abdon serves as the Customer Service Administrator at PST. Lisa has over 14 years experience in the customer service industry and always strives to provide the highest level of service to the customers and staff of PST. She earned an Associate in the Arts from Trident Technical College in the Spring of 1998 and later earned an Associates in Applied Science/Criminal Justice in 2010. (return to top)
Tonya Petrozzi joins the PST staff as the Business Development Specialist, as well as an instructor. Tonya has more than 15 years of experience in business development, fundraising and accounting and tax services. She also has vast experience working with businesses of all sizes to develop and administer training plans during her tenure administering the Incumbent Worker Training Program with the Trident Workforce Investment Board. Tonya holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from DeVry University. (return to top)
Meredith specializes in Microsoft Office applications, including Access and Excel. She has worked in both the financial and real estate industries training financial advisers, traders and real estate agents. Prior to her training career, she was an application developer for a software development company. Meredith holds a bachelors degree in Management Information Systems and has a minor in Finance. She holds several Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. (return to top)
Since joining PST seven years ago, Virginia has taught classes in Microsoft Office, graphics programs and Spanish. She also has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and has written more than a thousand articles for newspapers, magazines and corporate newsletters. Prior to joining PST, Virginia was a press secretary for a Texas state senator and managed communications operations, seminars and convention programs for the Society of Professional Journalists and for a division of the American Bar Association, both in Chicago. She also spent one year in Argentina teaching business writing, communications and culture classes and six years traveling throughout Latin America setting up and evaluating internships for American graduate students at Fortune 500 companies. Virginia has many years of experience working in domestic and international communications, business, and tourism.In addition to holding several Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, she is also certified by the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) in San Francisco, the nation’s leading tour director training center. When not teaching computer classes, Virginia leads tours in the U.S. and overseas. (return to top)
Joe Kerns is an Application Instructor and Consultant specializing in data driven products. His teaching includes PowerPoint, Access, Excel, Crystal Reports, MS Project. He has been teaching applications for 8 years and is certified in several products from Microsoft. Using skills learned and developed while teaching, consulting and working for a software development company, he can create MS Access databases as front-ends to MSSQL databases, create inter-departmental databases for high level reporting purposes, write Crystal Reports for management and executive review, add security to Access and use VBA automation to streamline office processes for maximum staff efficiency. (return to top)
Melba Miles has several years of experience as a small business owner. Previously, she spent several years in aviation management at a major airline. Melba serves on the State Bar of Georgia Arbitration board, where she arbitrates cases involving fee disputes. She is a National Evaluator for The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools, for which Melba performs site visits to review and ensure compliance with accreditation standards and requirements. She is an adjunct professor at several universities in the Atlanta area. As a professor she has taught numerous courses in business management, change management, marketing, international business, project management, etc. at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, an M.B.A. Degree from Golden Gate University and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management. She is also in the process of completing classes to earn a PhD in Business Administration with a Specialization in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She holds several Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. (return to top)
Mike Phillips is an applications and technology instructor at PST. Mike’s background spans a successful management and technical career in the United States Air Force as well as many years working in both public and private sector technology-related job positions. The broad experience he gained in management, staff, and analytical assignments has prepared him well for instructing classes in various Microsoft Office applications (Access, Excel, Project, etc.) as well as technology classes for CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. Mike also has a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, a Masters degree in Management, and a Masters degree in Computer Resources and Information Management. Mike holds the rank of Lt. Col. USAF – Retired. He holds several Microsoft, CompTIA and Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. (return to top)
Quincy Prioleau received an Associate’s Degree in Electronics/Computer Sciences. He has more than 12 years in the technical industry, with focus heavily on the art of PC Troubleshooting and maintenance. Quincy achieved a National Recognized Diploma from Professional Career Development Institute in PC Troubleshooting and enhanced career while working in New York as a Technical Consultant at Watchtower Headquarters. He has been a Public Speaker for more than 20 years while working with a wide range of audiences. Currently a Technical Consultant of self-owned business entitled IT Explorer. Quincy is a certified instructor for A+, Security+, Network+ and Microsoft Access. He also is Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) certified. (return to top)
Pat Stuckart is an Application Instructor and Consultant specializing in digital photography and presentations. His teaching includes Photoshop, Adobe, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Project and Word. He has been teaching applications for over 8 years and is certified in several products from Microsoft, as well as a Microsoft Master Instructor for MS Office 2003. Pat has years of experience as a human resource professional and corporate training and development manager. He is a photography enthusiast and belongs to a local photography group. He’s been featured at local art galleries and sells his art online. Pat enjoys teaching participants new things and has a passing for instruction. (return to top)
Molly Laychak Whalen is a training and development consultant with over 20 years of association experience, specializing in chapter and membership development, volunteer management, strategic planning, marketing, leadership training, and non-profit management. She has worked for a variety of scientific and medical associations and non-profit organizations; and has designed and presented hundreds of dynamic and interactive workshops and seminars. Molly has written three chapter resource handbooks for organizations and developed numerous interactive leadership and management programs. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and a member of the ASAE. An active volunteer, she has served as a volunteer and board member for several organizations; including the Make A Wish Foundation, the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau, Stop Child Abuse Now, Into Safe Arms of Northern Virginia, Bridges Public Charter School, Ivymount School PTA, and the Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity, where she served as Vice-Chair of their national Laurie Leadership Institute. She is currently serving as Chair of the State Advisory Panel for Special Education in the District of Columbia, which she was appointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty in 2007. (return to top)
Originally from the Detroit, MI area, Michael has been involved with the microcomputer industry from its inception. His experience has included computer sales & service, professional instruction, courseware development, technical writing, programming, network administration and custom database development. While working many years as an IT director for various companies, his real passion is custom software development. Michael’s ability to proficiently communicate and identify cost-effective solutions to real-world needs led him to start his own consulting business. Since then he has created 100+ turnkey solutions for various clients, ranging from small family-run businesses to large corporations and government departments. He develops these solutions using SQL, Access, Excel and various other software and hardware solutions. (return to top)
Dr. Omer began her professional career working for the Lexington Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council in Columbia, SC in 1984. There she was the Director of Out – Patient Services and the Employee Assistance Administrator for 21 contracted programs. In 1989 Dr. Omer went to work for Southern Bell Telecommunications as the Employee Assistance Program Coordinator where she stayed until 2007 when she retired. During her career with Southern Bell, it became BellSouth and then ATT, where she was responsible for mental health and substance abuse benefits for NC, SC, So. GA. and LA. When she left ATT, Dr. Omer went to work at Webster University where she is the Counseling Program Coordinator for a Master’s Degree in Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Counseling. She also teaches Foundations of Substance Abuse Counseling and Psychotraumatology as well as Practicum and Internship courses.Throughout her career Dr. Omer has done training in a variety of settings including Bellsouth, national and local professional conferences, committee meetings, private professional meetings and schools at all levels. Some of the topics trained include: Managing Change, Time Management, Stress Management, Violence in the Workplace, Domestic Violence, Risk Management, Balancing Work and Family, Generations at Work, Ethical Decision Making, Understanding ADA, Drug Free Workplace, Unmasking employee substance abuse, Child Care Options, In Search of Affordable Chemical Dependency Treatment, Human Resources and Technology, Eldercare Issues, Ethic’s and EAP’s and Downsizing.
Dr. Omer has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina and a PhD from Capella University. She holds licenses and certifications in a number of areas and is qualified by the Red Cross as a Disaster Mental Health Worker and the Department of Transportation as a Substance Abuse Professional. (return to top)
Lynda Padrta is a high-energy, skilled ETL (extract, transfer and load) professional with project-oriented experience in data warehousing, system integration and system conversion. She has an inherent understanding of client data, works well with partial or unclear requirements, handles data quality issues, and investigates and resolves problems. Her toolset includes IBM Infosphere (previously Ascential) DataStage, and SQL and Basic coding, among others, and her source/target environment experience includes SQL, Oracle, Access, Teradata, mainframe, AS400, SAP, sequential files and complex files. Lynda has worked on ETL and other projects in the following industries: global conglomerate, telecommunications, software, transportation, financial, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and federal and state government. Lynda holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting Information Systems. She has years of accounting and auditing experience, technical expertise, strong communication skills, dedication, and excellent client-facing skills. (return to top)
Albert Ritzhaupt is a highly-motivated and skilled computing and education professional. Albert holds a BS in Computer and Information Science, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology. Additionally, he holds the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) and Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) certifications. Albert has worked for several organizations as a software developer, instructional technologist, educational researcher, and instructor. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Albert specializes in software development, statistical analysis, research design, and educational computing; and has experience teaching computer programming (structured, object-oriented, web), database design, office applications, operating systems, and instructional technology. Albert has published in leading journals, including the Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, Journal of Information Systems Education, Journal of Educational Computing Research, Computers and Education, Journal of Computing in Higher Education, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, and Computers in Human Behavior. He also regularly presents at international and national conferences. (return to top)
Dan Furlong serves as the Project Management expert for PST. Dan has worked as an IT Project Manager for over 20 years, split almost evenly between private sector and public sector service.Dan earned his BS in Computer Science from the College of Charleston, his MBA from The Citadel. He is a Senior State Certified Project Manager (SSCPM) and has developed and taught project management courses within their certification program.
Dan has conducted a great deal of workshops and delivered numerous presentations on Project Management at national and international conferences. His recent engagements include the HIMSS International Conference, ASQ Charleston Summit, SCITDA Fall Conference, Atlanta PMI Professional Development Day, SC.GMIS Project Management Workshop, GMIS International Conference, SC Organization for Project Excellence (SCOPE), Charleston PMI, College of Charleston’s BS and MPA programs, Midlands PMI Annual Event keynote, SC CIO Forum and Executive Summit, and MUSC’s MHA program. Dan has also served as a keynote speaker at the International Program Office Summit where he spoke on Leadership and Project Management. Dan is a graduate of the PMI Leadership Institute Masters Class and he serves as Adjunct Faculty within the MUSC Masters in Health Administration program.
Dan serves on the boards of SC.GMIS (Government Management Information Sciences) and Charleston PMI, and was co-founder of SCOPE (SC Organization for Project Excellence), an organization that hosts free all-day Project Management workshops each year for government employees in SC. He has served as a member of the SC Division of the CIO’s Project Management Training & Certification Committee, the SC Division of the CIO’s Project Management Methodology Committee, The Citadel’s Masters in Project Management Advisory Committee, and the CIO Forum & Executive Summit’s Advisory Council.
Dan has helped hundreds of PMP candidates prepare for the PMP exam through teaching of a five day PMP Prep course as well as supporting and championing the credential across the state. He has received numerous awards for these efforts including PMI Charleston’s “2007 Person of the Year Award”, the GMIS International “2007 IT Professional of the Year Award, and was named in the top ten finalists for the “2008 Kerzner International Project Manager of the Year”. (return to top)