A Saint Francis alumnus and entrepreneur has returned to his hometown after a half century away from the region.
Christian Tiracave recently returned to Cresson after working for roughly 25 years in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
Tiracave earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Francis in 1992 and a master’s degree in Human Resources from the University two years later. He has also completed courses in SFU’s MBA Program.
After earning his second degree from SFU in 1994, Tiracave relocated to Charlotte and built a career in corporate human resources and commercial real estate development.
But he felt a pull to return to his roots in western Pennsylvania.
Tiracave said his decision to move back to this area was driven by family. After years of living many hours away, he wanted to be closer to relatives and reconnect with his hometown.
“We wanted to get closer to family,” Tiracave said. “Now we’re really close. We see everybody on the weekends.”
Since returning to Cambria County, Tiracave has launched several businesses in the Cresson area, including Cresson Equipment Rental and Cresson Laundry, which operates out of the former West End location on Second Street.
He plans to open a chemical and cleaning supply store that will serve as a Pennsylvania distributorship for Warsaw Chemical.
His laundromat features state-of-the-art machines, with larger load capacity than many other laundromats offer, as well as cashless payment options. Tiracave said his goal is to create something convenient for residents and students in the area.
He said that in addition to proximity to family, location played a major role in his decision to invest in Cresson. With two nearby colleges (SFU and Mount Aloysius), he saw a need for the services that his businesses provide.
“Our goal was to provide something so people don’t have to run over the mountain or go to Johnstown,” Tiracave said. “It’s about making services more accessible to the community.”
Tiracave is expanding his business footprint beyond Cresson. He will soon open another laundromat in Duncansville and expects to hold a grand opening at this facility near the end of May.
Tiracave’s return to the region has also allowed him to reconnect with his alma mater.
John Miko, Associate Dean of the Shields School of Business at SFU, first met Tiracave as an undergraduate peer.
“He was very eager to soak in business knowledge,” recalled Miko. “He’s open to feedback.”
Miko said Tiracave’s path reflects how SFU prepares students for real-world careers.
“Our programs are very practical,” Miko said. “You can learn something in class and immediately apply it to real-world business situations.”
Miko emphasized the importance of networking and mentorship within the Saint Francis community, something that Tiracave has prioritized throughout his career.
“We have a small but mighty community – I have never reached out to an alum for a connection for a current student and been told no,” Miko said.
“What you know is important, but who you know can take you even further.”
Miko said that for Tiracave and other SFU grads, mentorship has played a key role in their personal and professional growth.
“Everyone needs mentors,” he said. “You need people at different stages and with different perspectives to help guide you along the way.”
Tiracave’s journey highlights how alumni can take what they learned at Saint Francis and apply it in their careers, while also giving back to their communities.
The Saint Francis graduate wants to share his business knowledge with others. He recently appeared on “Studio 814” on WTAJ-TV in Altoona. The program highlights positive happenings around the region.
He will make another appearance on this program in May to discuss his new Duncansville location.
As Tiracave continues to grow his businesses, he said that staying connected to the community and his alma mater remains a priority.
“It feels good to be back home.”
