Kathy Yaworski with the Johnstown, PA Office

How long have you been with American Mining? It will be 14 years in May.

What did you do before working here? I worked for Dale Thompson at Gay & Taylor Insurance Adjusters doing American Mining's Workers Comp claims. Before that I was a bartender for 10 years.

How have things changed since you started working at AMIC? When I first started in May 1992, Dale and Judy had established the AMIC office in Johnstown the year before. We didn't have computers. We did everything by correspondence and mail. I did my draft requests on a form, writing out all required information and sending it to Home Office. Home Office would then print up the drafts and return them back to us for mailing.

What's your average day (or week) like? I assist Dale and Mike with the workers comp lost time claims. Every day I get the mail from Dale and Mike. I code the medical bills and make sure they pertain to the correct files for the claimants. Then, once a week I send the bills to MBA to be processed for payment per the workers comp Act 44 guideline. The following week they're returned and listed by our download. I verify that all the information is correct to request the drafts so the bills can be processed for payment. I also pay all bills for attorney fees, IME's, surveillance and other miscellaneous drafts. I do what ever else that's needed and try to stay out of trouble.

What do you like most about your job? That it is a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone knows you are responsible, you can do your job efficiently and not have someone breathing down your neck. Everyone gets along great and cares about each other. There's a true respect for family, if someone's having a crisis at home, everyone helps out at work and also tries to lighten your heart in many ways.

The view from the top of Johnstown's Inclined Plane.

What do you like to do in your off-time? Take care of my family and make sure everything's ok for them. I have the BEST, most wonderful husband, Rick, and a BEAUTIFUL daughter Amanda who will be 15 in May who is involved and interested in basketball. My Mom passed away in August so we spend time with and help my Dad and my Mom's sister Helen who is 93 years old. We purchased a new house in July of 2005. We have built a 2nd bathroom in the basement and are in the process of making a family room there also for everyone to hang out in. As soon as the weather breaks we will start building a 3 car garage in our back yard for my Dad's antique cars. We just finished getting my Dad's 1930 Model A's engine rebuilt and in the summer Rick and his friend Jim will give it a new paint job so it will be completely restored.

Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do when you leave the office?
Taking care of my family and working on getting the house finished doesn't leave me much time for hobbies right now. I enjoyed doing art and needlework. Right now for fun time I like to get involved in a TV series to look forward to from week to week, right now it's American Idol. Also I like to spend time with my best friend Joni when we can work it out and play with her 7 dogs, 4 are different breeds of mini dauchands that are fun to cuddle and let climb all over ya. I like to watch movies and attend the seasonal events Johnstown offers.

If people come to visit Johnstown for the first time, what would you suggest they do before they leave? Where is your favorite place to eat in Johnstown (can be a nice place or a dive!) and what do you like to order? Johnstown does have some interesting places to see. There's the Inclined Plane which is the longest & steepest vehicular inclined place in the world. They also have a nice new restaurant at the top of the Incline with a beautiful view overlooking the city. You can go to the 2 Johnstown Flood Museums to learn about the 3 Johnstown Floods of 1889, 1936 & 1977. There's the Johstown Heritage Center with videos that reflect thru the eyes of different characters what it was like for people to come from Europe and start new lives in America and how they helped build the city and area of Johnstown. Johnstown also has many interesting, beautiful, neighboring cities and sites. Beautiful Ligonier with shops, antiques and historical sites, and home of golfer Arnold Palmer. Somerset has Falling Water, the home with a waterfall running thru it designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. And Shanksville, where the Memorial of Flight 93 of 911 is located. If you can plan a visit in June Johnstown hosts the Johnstown Thunder in the Valley, a 4 day motorcycle event drawing over 50,000 bikers, with a great parade, all day outdoor musical concerts and food vendors. Labor Day Weekend hosts FolkFest, draws 100,000+ for a weekend of outdoor music and wide variety of ethnic foods. Johnstown is also known for Coney Island Hotdogs, Murphy Wings, Subs (submarine sandwiches) and GOBS!