Nicholas Trombetta

From his Beaver County headquarters in Midland, Mr. Trombetta painstakingly built an elaborate money-making machine called Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Fueled by taxpayers, the school became wildly successful over the years -- more than 10,000 students and $100 million in revenue in 2012 -- and a savior for depressed Midland. Pennsylvania. A native of Aliquippa, Pa., and son of Italian immigrants, Nick Trombetta was graduated from Quigley Catholic High School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Slippery Rock State University and his Master’s Degree from the University of Dayton. He began his career first as a coach and teacher at Quigley, then at East Liverpool High School in Ohio.