CHERYL A. NEWTON
CLASS OF 1970
Cheryl enjoyed her years at RAUHS, graduating 4th in her class (1970). Her favorite classes were in mathematics and the sciences. Some activities in which she participated were twirling, school plays, talent shows, and chorus. Cheryl was a member of Student Council, UGA, National Honor Society and Future Teachers of America, elected as treasurer of the latter two clubs in her senior year. Cheryl recognizes that although Girard is a small school, the teachers at RAUHS were excellent and provided her with the education and skills she needed to be successful in college and beyond.
Cheryl graduated from IUP with a BS in Mathematics and Education. Cheryl began her career at Louis Marx and Company in Girard in Cost Accounting. While there, Cheryl worked full time and attended classes at night and studied on weekends to earn a Masters in Business Administration from Gannon University.
Cheryl worked her way up to the position of CFO at Webb Manufacturing Inc., a window manufacturer. Due to the loss of its largest customer, Cheryl led the company through bank receivership while successfully negotiating the sale of the company. Cheryl moved on to the YMCA of Greater Erie, a non-profit company, as their CFO, selecting and installing their first computer system. Then as the Vice-President of Finance and Administration for a NYSE publicly traded packaging and distribution company, Megacards, Cheryl restored their financial statements and realigned their costs.   Â
Associated Spring Corry, a manufacturing division of Barnes Group Inc., a NYSE publicly traded company, hired Cheryl to head the Finance Department. During her tenure, Cheryl drove increased profitability, led the installation of a new ERP computer system, and maintained financial integrity.  Cheryl was selected for the Barnes Leadership Program and completed the Executive Education Program at Columbia University.  Assigned to the BGI internal audit team, Cheryl completed many audits nationally and internationally. Out of several hundred worldwide financial employees, Cheryl was honored with the Barnes Group Inc. Financial Employee of the Year Award in 2005.
Believing in giving back to the community, Cheryl has volunteered for many organizations. As a member of the Girard School Board, she served as President for six years and was a founding member of the Girard School District Foundation, also serving as President for six years. Cheryl chaired the audit committee for the Lake Erie Community Credit Union for many years. She was a member of Brown Memorial Hospital Finance Committee, Corry Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Women's Roundtable, GUM Daycare Board of Directors, Erie County Election Judicial Board of Review, and Community Liaison Committee for the State Correctional Institution at Albion. Cheryl was a facilitator for a Hamot Hospital program for women struggling with separation or divorce, speaking on financial planning and assertiveness. Cheryl is a lifelong member of the Girard United Methodist Church, currently serving on its Administrative Council and has been its longtime Finance Chair.Â
Cheryl enjoys The Erie Playhouse, Erie Philharmonic, reading, summers at Edinboro Lake, boating, and family and friend get-togethers. Cheryl was married to Duane "Butch" Kemling for 21 years before his passing, and enjoys her family of three step-children and spouses, four grandchildren, one great grandson, a brother and two nephews. She is thankful for God's gifts and blessings.
