Rob Biertempfel

Internal Communications Project Manager

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Hired in March 2025, Rob is an internal communications project manager for the Office of Human Resources and University Communications and Marketing. Rob produces feature stories for The Piper and the HR News, website content and other forms of in-house messaging.

Rob was an award-winning journalist with print and digital media outlets for 35 years, including stints with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and The Athletic as a beat writer covering Major League Baseball. Before joining CMU, Rob was the constituent marketing manager at Saint Vincent College. A Pittsburgh native, Rob earned a journalism degree from Penn State.

Yes, Biertempfel is very much a German surname. No, it does not translate as "temple of beer" in English. (Relatives in the Old Country tell Rob they have no clue about its derivation.) And, yes, Rob does enjoy a cold beverage on the weekend — kölsch or pilsner, if you please, never an IPA.

Wendy Brenneman

Staff Development Specialist

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Wendy Brenneman is a staff development specialist with nearly five years of experience designing and facilitating professional learning experiences that support staff and faculty in navigating a dynamic and evolving workplace. She is a graduate of CMULead and the Design Fusion Certificate Program.

Wendy's career spans roles as a professional learning consultant and over 15 years in the museum sector, where she led training initiatives and cultivated community partnerships. She holds dual BAs in English and environmental studies from the University of Pittsburgh and is certified in human-centered design (LUMA Institute), Everything DiSC, Civil Treatment Workplace, and as a DDI facilitator.

Outside of work, Wendy enjoys reading, playing indie and retro Nintendo games, and exploring museums — she's visited more than 65 worldwide. She and her daughter have also designed and sewn over 50 custom Barbie outfits.

Jason Dohoda

Training Coordinator

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Jason serves as the training coordinator where he plays a vital role in managing the logistics of training program scheduling, registration, facilitation and evaluation. With a strong commitment to enhancing the employee experience, Jason has been instrumental in several key initiatives during his time at CMU.

Among his notable accomplishments, Jason leads the monthly New Hire Orientation, ensuring a welcoming and informative introduction for newly hired staff. He also played a central role in the successful launch of the FocusU platform, Percipio, in August 2023, expanding access to professional development resources across the university. In recognition of his dedication and collaborative spirit, Jason was honored with the "Friend of Staff Council" Award in 2025 for his outstanding coordination of the annual CMU Community Picnic.

Before joining CMU, Jason spent six years at the Carnegie Science Center, where he served as the early childhood education coordinator and a Science on the Road presenter, bringing engaging STEM experiences to young learners across the region.

Jason holds a bachelor of science in meteorology from California University of Pennsylvania (2015) and is a certified facilitator of the DiSC personality assessment, ELI Civil Treatment and True Colors programs.

Outside of work, Jason is an avid traveler who has explored 39 U.S. states — and counting!

Adam Marks

Training Manager

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Adam Marks has been a dedicated member of the Carnegie Mellon University community for nearly 11 years, currently serving as the training manager within the Office of Human Resources. In this role, Adam leads the university's efforts to provide high-quality professional development opportunities for staff, designing and delivering impactful training programs that support growth and engagement across campus.

With over two decades of experience in training and development, Adam brings deep expertise in instructional design, facilitation and program management. Prior to joining CMU, he spent 13 years at UPMC in roles ranging from training specialist to project manager. At CMU, he previously served as a senior instructional technology specialist, further enriching his understanding of learning technologies and adult education.

Adam has played a key role in the development and success of signature programs such as the Staff Supervisory Awareness Program and CMULead, which have become cornerstones of staff development at the university.

He holds a B.A. in English from Westminster College and an M.A. in library and information sciences from the University of Pittsburgh. Adam is a certified trainer in DiSC, True Colors, DDI and ELI Civil Treatment. He is also a past president of Western PA CUPA-HR and a pending board member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association (PHRA).

Outside of work, Adam enjoys playing guitar, cooking and cheering on his favorite soccer teams.

Matt Mroz

Technical Writer and Content Strategist

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Since 2022, Matt has led user-focused communications and instructional content in CMU's Office of Human Resources, supporting university-wide HR systems and services. His work emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and user experience — most notably through the creation of a comprehensive HR knowledge base, Workday documentation and content strategy for initiatives like CMU=You.

He currently serves on Staff Council, co-leading communications and producing The Staff Voice newsletter.

Before joining CMU, Matt spent five years at Change Healthcare as an operations training coordinator and quality assurance analyst. Matt led the development of a centralized SharePoint knowledge hub and partnered with subject matter experts to create multi-format training materials for global teams.

Matt held roles in healthcare support and compliance at Tobii Dynavox and the Lash Group, guiding clinicians and patients through insurance processes and contributing to workflow optimization and documentation standards. These experiences sharpened his ability to translate complex systems into clear, actionable content for diverse audiences.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys hiking around the tri-state area and spending time with his two cats, Honey and Milo. Fun fact: he's passionate about auto detailing — there's just something about the shine.

Jennifer Pablonis

Staff Ombudsperson

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Jennifer Pablonis is the staff ombudsperson at Carnegie Mellon University, where she has served for four years. In this role, she acts as a confidential and impartial resource for staff, providing support in navigating workplace challenges, informal conflict resolution and connecting individuals to helpful resources.

In addition to her primary role, Jen serves as the employee resource group advisor for CMU's six ERGs, offering strategic guidance and support to help establish structure and ensure long-term sustainability. She also manages the Staff Mentorship Program, overseeing the design, implementation and ongoing evaluation of mentorship initiatives, including mentor-mentee matching and resource development to promote meaningful growth and development for all participants.

Prior to joining CMU, Jen spent over 22 years in the corporate sector, concluding her career in the Ethics Office. She is a proud Penn State alum.

Outside of work, she has had her fair share of unusual mishaps including being bitten by a poisonous brown recluse spider, stung by a man-o-war, rammed into a fence by a horse, and even fallen off a ski lift.

Todd Rosignoli

Assistant Vice President of Learning and Development

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In Todd's role, he leads a team responsible for learning, development, change management, ombuds, events and communications, including the HR website.

During his six years at CMU, Todd successfully led meaningful and measurable accomplishments including an over four-fold increase in instructor-led training sessions and the ongoing delivery of six professional development programs. He also manages all HR-related communications including the annual Open Enrollment campaign and change management activities for HR and campus projects. He is also proud to have served as the United Way committee chairman since 2020 raising nearly $800,000.

Prior to joining CMU, Todd accumulated over 20 years of progressive experience in learning, development, change management and communications. His efforts included managing change efforts for the global PeopleSoft upgrade impacting over 25,000 employees. He also created and managed the Finance Leadership Development Program, maintaining an 83% retention rate with ~67% of graduates achieving one promotion and ~50% two or more.

Todd holds a master of education and bachelor of arts in the humanities from the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds EQi 2.0/EQ 360 Emotional Intelligence, Prosci Change Management, DiSC, True Colors, ELI Civil Treatment, and DDI certifications and is a Myers-Briggs Master Practitioner.

In addition to boring his team with scary stories from his colorful career, Todd has worked in two industries that no longer exist. He worked for National Record Mart before the days of digital music and Blockbuster Video before the rise of Netflix. He still longs for the days of buying 45s and reading VHS boxes to find a hidden gem to rent.

Lara Sullivan

Organizational Change and Communications Manager

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Lara Sullivan has been the organizational change and communications manager within the Office of Human Resources for over five years. In this role, she leads the change management and communications strategy for various projects within the office.

Lara has successfully spearheaded several significant change management initiatives, including a multi-year rollout of a standardized performance management process and the launch of a total rewards tool which highlights employees' cash compensation, CMU's benefits contributions, non-cash compensation and additional perks. She also serves as project manager for the HR quarterly newsletter.

With extensive experience in the public sector in Pittsburgh, Lara has held various roles in city government and workforce development. Her tenure includes serving as a legislative assistant in City Council, working directly for the mayor as his executive assistant and policy analyst, and working at a local nonprofit managing workforce development programs for Allegheny County. This background provides her with a unique perspective on the people-side of change, particularly in projects that directly impact the lives of Pittsburgh residents.

Lara holds a master of public management from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College and a bachelor of arts in political science and English literature from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and she serves as a facilitator for the Change Management Center of Excellence. She is a 2022 graduate of the Staff Executive Leadership program, and is the 2025 OHR Spirit winner.

Lara lives in Squirrel Hill with her husband, daughter and cat. She enjoys running (completing the Philadelphia Marathon in 2022 is her biggest accomplishment), hiking in Frick Park and spending time with her family outdoors.

Heather Wainer

Senior Communications Project Manager

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As senior communications project manager, Heather partners with subject matter experts from across HR to translate complex information into clear, practical guidance. She oversees the development and maintenance of HR's web presence, develops communications for key projects including the annual Open Enrollment and United Way campaigns, and serves as editor of the quarterly HR Update newsletter.

Heather has been with the Office of Human Resources for 17 years, serving in various roles within the Learning and Development team. She holds a master of public management from CMU's Heinz College and a bachelor of arts in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh. Committed to digital inclusivity, Heather has earned a UX certificate in interaction design from Nielsen Norman Group, a CPACC certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and is a CMU Digital Accessibility Ally.

An avid pollinator gardener, Heather has turned her suburban backyard into a certified monarch waystation, where she and her family have had the joy of witnessing the life cycle of several monarch butterflies. Beyond her home garden, Heather has the privilege of co-leading her child's school gardening club, where she enthusiastically cultivates the next generation of green thumbs.