THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701210421
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
LENGTH: 62 lines
Penny Pagona's job description is a mouthful.
She's director of the Alliance Center for Workforce Excellence at the Virginia Beach Campus of Tidewater Community College. It means she's responsible for linking local businesses and industries that need specific training for current employees with others who have similar needs.
It all adds up to better training for less money while giving people in the same line of work a chance to get to know each other.
For more information on the alliance, contact Pagona online: pagop(AT)infi.net.
To catch her in her off hours, check your neighborhood softball field. She plays, coaches, watches, lives and breathes the sport.
Full name: Penny Jo Pagona.
Hometown: Manassas.
What brought you to the Beach? Initially, my marriage to a member of the Navy Seals, but now I absolutely love the area.
Birthdate: Dec. 17, 1961.
Nickname: Penny Jo.
Marital status: Married 11 years to a wonderful man - John ``Billy'' Kokkinos.
Children: Alexis Ann Kokkinos, 9; Niko Vasilis Kokkinos, 6.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? A full day of activities with my husband and children . . . throwing balls, biking, skiing, swimming but definitely not sitting around.
Last smart thing you did: Start back to school to complete my doctorate.
Last dumb thing you did: Left on a business trip without my credit cards.
Favorite meal: Prime rib, baked potato and asparagus.
Favorite movies: ``Scent of a Woman,'' ``Color Purple,'' ``First Blood,'' ``Die Hard'' and ``Fried Green Tomatoes.''
Favorite song: ``Johnnie Be Good.''
Last book read: ``Seven Habits of Highly Successful People'' by Stephen Covey.
Hobbies: Playing softball, coaching fast-pitch softball
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Learn to slow down and relax without feeling like I'm wasting precious time.
If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? I wouldn't change him; he's everything I ever wanted (plus some).
Secret vice: If I told you it wouldn't be a secret anymore.
Favorite restaurant: Taco Bell.
Your favorite night on the town: Dancing, laughing and drinking champagne with friends.
Favorite TV shows: ``Murphy Brown,'' ``Cybill'' and ``Friends.''
Favorite sport: SOFTBALL
Last vacation: Skiing over Christmas vacation
Pets: Black Lab, cocker spaniel, sheltie, Yorkie, Siamese cat, four guinea pigs.
Worst job: I was a project engineer with an engineering firm; the work was good but one of the people to whom I reported was very difficult to work for.
Of what achievements are you most proud? My engineering degree; founding the Workforce Excellence Center at TCC; my 4.0 GPA in graduate school; being a member of a state championship softball team; coaching my daughter's softball team to the city championship; raising good, kind, caring children. ILLUSTRATION: Photo