Staff Bios
Rob Swales
Rob Swales is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Clearly Ahead Development, focusing on the organizations goal to promote and assist business in their effort to locate, expand, or maintain operations, while preserving or creating jobs in Clearfield County.
As the CEO, Rob provides and manages a professional and efficient organization that responds to the County’s economic development, community development, and redevelopment goals. Rob formulates, recommend, and implements policies set forth by the Clearly Ahead Board of Directors regarding economic development policies, programs, budgets, goals, objectives, and acts as a liaison between multiple public and private sectors. The primary goal of this position is to assist business in their effort to locate, expand, or maintain operations in Clearfield County, redevelop and repurpose sites perceived to have environmental impacts, and to provide attractive sites and facilities for industrial growth opportunities.
Rob is a 1999 Graduate from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB). At UPB, Rob obtained a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Minor in Business Management. Rob has been with Clearly Ahead development since 2000.
Skills: Public Speaking, Economic Development, Non-Profits, Marketing, Sales, Public Relations, Budgets, Leadership, Community Development, Management, New Business Development.
Contact Information:
rswales@clearlyahead.com
Phone: 814-768-7838 ext. 204
Fax: 814-768-7338
Paul McCloskey
Paul McCloskey is the Vice President of Energy & Business Development of Clearly Ahead Development, focusing on the organizations goal to promote and assist business in their effort to locate, expand, or maintain operations, while preserving or creating jobs in Clearfield County. Paul is the liaison between Clearly Ahead Development and companies primarily engaged in the energy industry as well as other developed business and industry subsets in Clearfield County. The VP of Energy & Business Development helps assist companies with oil and gas operations in the Marcellus Shale play. This includes land and building identification, workforce development, local permitting and government communication, public education and awareness, as well as educating incumbent businesses about the Marcellus Shale supply chain and how to become involved.
Paul is a 2005 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University-DuBois Campus with an Associates of Science in Business Administration. Previously Paul worked for the Penn Traffic Company for 10 years. Paul has been with Clearly Ahead Since 2011.
Skills: Loan Preparation, Energy, Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, & Publisher, Finance, Strategic Planning, Procurement, Supply Chain.
Hobbies: Archery, Guitar, Tennis, Outdoors.
Contact Information:
pmccloskey@clearlyahead.com
Phone: 814-768-7838 ext. 205
Fax: 814-768-7338
Cathie Ensminger 
Cathie Ensminger is the Development Assistant at Clearly Ahead Development, where she supports the organization’s mission to promote and assist businesses in their efforts to locate, expand, and maintain operations—ultimately preserving and creating jobs in Clearfield County.
In her role, Cathie manages reservations and gathers information for rentals at the River's Landing Event Center. She also oversees Clearly Ahead Development’s memberships and coordinates the organization’s annual mass mailings. Cathie plays a key role in board administration, participating in monthly board meetings, taking minutes, and ensuring timely transcription and distribution to the Board of Directors. Additionally, she assists staff with daily administrative duties and helps plan and organize the Clearly Ahead Development Membership Mixers.
Cathie’s expertise extends to financial management as well. She works in QuickBooks to prepare accounts receivable for Clearly Ahead Development, balances accounts for the Clearfield County Industrial Development Authority’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program, and manages RLF accounts using GMS Software.
Since 1995, Cathie has been a public notary through the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, bringing decades of trusted service to her community.
Cathie is a 1977 graduate of Bald Eagle Area High School and a 1994 graduate of DuBois Business College. Her prior work experience includes roles with Clearfield County (10 years), Moshannon Valley High School (2 years), and Hydrospray Wash Systems (1 year). She has been a valued part of the Clearly Ahead Development team since 2008.
Skills: Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Publisher, and Word; QuickBooks; Customer Service; Database Management; GMS Software; Program Management; Project Planning; and Notarizing.
Hobbies: In her free time, Cathie enjoys photography, hiking, geocaching, crocheting, and kayaking.
Contact Information:
censminger@clearlyahead.com
Phone: 814-768-7838 ext. 201
Fax: 814-768-7338