Aurora Innovation Inc. announced a long-term strategic partnership with manufacturer Continental and chipmaker Nvidia to build self-driving systems for trucks at scale.
Continental will manufacture Aurora’s hardware suite, computationally powered by a Nvidia chip built on the Blackwell architecture. The units will then be shipped to manufacturers like Paccar or Volvo to be integrated into trucks – a partnership that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently said at a tradeshow he predicted would lead to the “first multi-trillion-dollar robotics industry.”
Aurora CEO and co-founder Chris Urmson called Nvidia “the market leader in accelerated computing.” This partnership comes after Nvidia announced that it would prioritize efforts in the Pittsburgh area, dubbing the city its first “AI Tech Community.”
Aurora first partnered with Continental as an exclusive partner in April 2023. In January 2024, they announced plans for thousands of units by 2027. Continental has invested $300 million into manufacturing efforts to build these units. The first production samples of Nvidia’s DRIVE Thor chip are expected this year, and Continental will then begin preparing to manufacture the tech for 2027.
“Developing, industrializing and manufacturing powerful self-driving hardware at commercial scale requires unique and unparalleled expertise,” president and CEO of Automotive for Continental North America Aruna Anand said in a prepared statement. “Our industry-first collaboration with Aurora and Nvidia to deliver driverless trucks positions Continental at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology and will drive value to our business.”
The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) announced the election of Joseph Orr, III, as its president. Orr, who becomes the 44th President of the KCA, is President of J.C. Orr & Son, Inc., a commercial construction general contractor based in Altoona, PA.
The complete slate of officers on the KCA Board of Directors include:
- President: Joseph Orr, III, J.C. Orr & Son Inc., Altoona, PA
- Vice President: David Miorelli, Joseph Miorelli, Hazelton, PA
- Secretary: David Jones, Cresswell Brothers, Pottsville, PA
- Treasurer: Gregory Quandel, Quandel Construction Group, Harrisburg, PA
“The KCA is fortunate to have dedicated and visionary construction executives steering the Association towards improving the construction industry,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director for the KCA.
Joining the KCA Officers on the KCA Board are the following at-large Board of Directors: Mark Anskis, Bill Anskis Inc., Elysburg, PA; William Brightbill, Modernfold of Central PA, Dillsburg, PA; James Darr, Darr Construction, Somerset, PA; Tad Hoffmaster, EnerFab, Hummelstown, PA; Robert Leahey, GM McCrossin, Bellefonte, PA; James Novinger, Novinger’s Inc., Harrisburg, PA; John Panzitta, Panzitta Enterprises, Wilkes Barre, PA; Noble ‘Bud’ Quandel, Quandel Construction Group, Harrisburg, PA; Mike Pasquerilla, Ridgetop Interiors, Johnstown, PA; and, Jeffrey Smith, Alexander Building Construction Company, Harrisburg, PA.
Barley Snyder is pleased to welcome Robin L. Felty to the firm as Chief Operating Officer. Felty brings more than 15 years of experience in operations leadership and strategic planning to Barley Snyder. Her role became effective
December 16, 2024.
As COO, Felty leads administrative and financial functions within the firm, executing initiatives to shape overall operations. She also collaborates with the firm’s leadership team to further enhance Barley Snyder’s culture of excellence, innovation and client service.
Felty joins Barley Snyder after serving as Superintendent at Manheim Township School District for eight years. Prior to that, she served in several other roles within the education sector. Felty earned her Doctor of Education from Immaculata University, her Master of Business Administration from Lebanon Valley College, her Master of Education from Millersville University, and her Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Mennonite University. Active in her community, she currently serves on the board of directors of Leadership Lancaster and the Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club, in addition to being a member of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance Advisory Board and the President’s Advisory Council for Thaddeus Stevens College.
“I am excited to join such a respected law firm, and I look forward to working with the talented professionals at Barley Snyder to continue driving success and growth,” said Felty. “I believe in the power of collaboration and innovation, and I am committed to ensuring the firm’s operational foundation supports its commitment to delivering outstanding legal services to its clients.”
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) and its technology transition affiliate, Enterprise Ventures Corporation (EVC), both ranked high in the latest “Best Places to Work in PA” awards.
– CTC ranked 10th among 37 large companies on the list, while EVC secured 24th among the 60 small companies included.
– This recognition reflects the companies’ strong commitment to employee satisfaction and workplace culture.
– CTC has made this list 16 times, and EVC has been included three times.
CTC President and CEO Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., expressed great satisfaction that both CTC and EVC were represented so well on this prestigious list., offering his gratitude for the caliber of their employees and their contributions to making both organizations great places to work.
The rankings were revealed at an awards ceremony in Lancaster on December 12, with anonymous employee feedback accounting for 75 percent of the scoring.