The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education recently welcomed four new community members with diverse backgrounds in education, public service and business to its Board of Directors. 

As the largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Consortium in the country, The Wright Center offers comprehensive, community-focused residency programs in Northeast Pennsylvania and across the United States. In NEPA alone, close to 250 physician learners gain hands-on experience serving a diverse population in physician-lead, fully accredited Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Psychiatry residencies, as well as Cardiovascular Disease, Gastroenterology and Geriatrics fellowships.

Board members provide oversight of academic excellence and programming efforts to support The Wright Center’s mission of training caring primary care physicians who connect with and plant roots in the communities they serve.

Teri Ooms is the Executive Director of The Institute, an applied social science research and economic  consulting organizations formed through a collaborative of higher education and business. Based in NEPA, The Institute produces community-based research and client solutions that provide strategies for growing organizational impact and sustainability. Ooms earned her master’s degree in finance and her bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Scranton.

Attorney Gertrude C. McGowan is the Chief Executive Officer of Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a nonprofit agency that provides professional counseling, guardianship and operational services and programs to vulnerable populations in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe and Wyoming counties. McGowan is a graduate of Villanova University School of Law and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and English from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre.

Debra Youngfelt is the Executive Director of the East Central and Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Centers, a nonprofit agency that aims to enhance access to healthcare and improve the distribution of healthcare professionals through academic and community partnerships, and offering programs that are designed to recruit, train and retain a diverse healthcare workforce. Youngfelt earned her bachelor’s degree in health and safety education from Indiana University School of Health, Bloomington, Indiana.

Ronald Bukowski is a retired math and engineering educator, having taught high school and college for 40 years. He currently serves on the school boards for Mid Valley School District and Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County. Bukowski earned bachelor’s degrees in engineering/physics from The Pennsylvania State University and education/mathematics and psychology from the College of William and Mary, and Old Dominion University. 

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College, congratulated students from The Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County for receiving certification for completing Johnson College Continuing Education’s Forklift Operator Training Course. 

The forklift operator training is designed to familiarize students with OSHA Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Requirements (29CFR Standard 1910.178 and ASME B56.1), provide current training requirements under the newly adopted standards, and assist participants in becoming an authorized operator of forklifts through theory and tactile testing. Instructional topic include pre-operational inspection, picking up, traveling, and placing loads, parking procedures, refueling, and practical operation.

For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

Michael Karcutskie was recently named president of Quandel Construction Group Inc., a Quandel Enterprises Company, a Central Pennsylvania construction management and general contracting firm.

Based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Karcutskie is responsible for overseeing the firm’s operations and developing its corporate strategy. Previously, he served as vice president of pre‐construction and estimating.

Michael began his career with Quandel Construction Group in 1999 and over the past 22 years has
demonstrated a deep understanding of the construction industry, starting out in the field, working on the operations side as a project manager, and contributing to the business development and estimating side of the business.

“In his years with our firm, Michael continues to provide invaluable technical knowledge in construction, estimating, and scheduling; exhibit clear and effective communication, and demonstrate outstanding leadership,” said Gregory Quandel, president and chief executive officer of Quandel Enterprises, Inc. “As president of Quandel Construction Group, Michael will bring this same dedication and drive to our entire firm’s operations, ensuring that we continue to be attentive and responsive to our clients while reinforcing Quandel’s position as a leader in construction innovative solutions.”

Michael is a graduate of Temple University, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil/Construction Engineering Technology. He has been involved in multiple affiliations including the Construction Association of America, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and Leadership Lackawanna Board of Directors. He was a recipient of The Times Leader “Forty Under Forty” and is an alumni of Leadership Lackawanna. Michael resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Andrea, and their two daughters, Annie and Carmella.

At Quandel, our strength is our people and their unique abilities to care for clients, while taking ownership of projects. They work smart, honor commitment, and do the right thing. With expertise in civic/government, commercial/corporate, healthcare, higher education, industrial/manufacturing, K‐12, retail, and senior living, our clients experience the quality driven approach of our employees on each project. Since its founding in 1882, Quandel has maintained the same sense of integrity, honesty, respect, and strong work ethic.

Johnson College will hold an in-person Open House on its campus in Scranton on Saturday, March 27, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register for the Open House visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

During the in-person Open House, same-day acceptance will be available, if students bring their high school or college transcripts. The event will include discussions about the admissions process, financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and department chairs will be available to review the specifics of their programs. Social distancing and sanitization guidelines will be followed and face coverings must be worn at all times while on campus.

FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, is pleased to announce our support of the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania with a $1,000 donation to help them meet the needs of our local community.

United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of the largest, and longest operating, nonprofit organizations in the region.  The agency’s purpose is to meet the needs of local low-income families, seniors, youth, and new immigrants while also empowering them to attain self-sufficiency.

The donation represents part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. Through outreach programs, donations and an employee volunteer network, FNCB is committed to helping the communities they serve.

In remembrance of Glynn Lunney, WVIA will air a special rebroadcast of the State of Pennsylvania – Glynn Lunney: From Northeastern PA to the Moon on Friday, March 26^th at 7pm on WVIA TV.

Lunney, who was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, was a former NASA Flight Director and Administrator, who played a key role during some of NASA’s most historic events, including the Apollo 11 moon landing, and was also credited for his quick decision-making during the Apollo 13 mission, which helped save the lives of the three astronauts aboard the disabled spacecraft. 

In 2019, Glynn Lunney was the focus of VIA Short Takes: A View from Apollo 11 Mission Control. In the video Glynn shares his experiences working the Apollo missions, the principles he was raised on, and his core values that guided him through the space race and beyond. Watch on-demand at https://on-demand.wvia.org/video/a-view-from-apollo-11-mission-control-wq81td/

To watch State of Pennsylvania – Glynn Lunney: From Northeastern PA to the Moon on-demand please visit https://on-demand.wvia.org/video/glenn-lunney-preview-zcqnkj/

David Raven, President and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, announced Scott P. Prebich has joined HNB as VP, Commercial Loan Officer.

In making the announcement, Raven stated, “We are extremely pleased to add Scott as an essential part of our HNB family. Along with his Commercial Lending experience, I am certain he will provide the personal devotion and professional service our bank is recognized for. He understands the important role our bank plays in the communities we serve and is committed to building and supporting those relationships.”

As VP, Commercial Loan Officer, Prebich will be in charge of lending operations while working closely with the customers of our bank. In addition to offering a variety of lending services he is charged with not only promoting the growing presence of the bank in Lackawanna County, but the evolution of the company entirely.

Scott began his career in banking as a Commercial Lender with NBT Bank from 1999-2008. He then went on to continue his career as a Commercial Lender with First National Bank from 2009-2021.

In commenting on his new position at HNB, Prebich noted, “I am looking forward to this new challenge and I am very excited about joining the team.”

Prebich is a graduate of Lakeland High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Scranton.

Outside of the bank, Scott is the Vice President and on the Board of Directors for a local not-for-profit called Marley’s Mission.

The Honesdale National Bank, established in 1836, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest independent community bank headquartered in Northeastern PA, with offices in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.  The Honesdale National Bank offers personal banking, business banking and wealth solutions.  For more information on HNB’s products and services, visit www.hnbbank.bank.

Kayla Guilford, Associate Director of Institutional Research at Lackawanna College, has been named the director of the new satellite center located in Tunkhannock, Pa. The Tunkhannock Center is slated to open in Fall 2021 and will offer traditional bachelor’s and associate degrees and certificate programs and will be the future home of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

“Kayla will bring with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise in institutional research that I believe will greatly benefit the growth of our new Tunkhannock Center,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “I’m excited to see her in this role and look forward to her continuing the mission and vision of Lackawanna College in the Endless Mountains region.”

Guilford has over a decade of experience in institutional research, compliance, and accounting. Specifically, most of her professional experience has been in institutions of higher education. She began her career at Lackawanna College in compliance and has most recently served in an institutional research capacity.

Guilford was a 2018 Leadership Lackawanna Core Program graduate and currently serves on the Board of Directors as secretary. She also serves as a committee member of the Research, Assessment, and Accountability Committee at The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) and has recently been selected as a peer evaluator at Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

To learn more about the Lackawanna College Tunkhannock Center, visit Lackawanna.edu.

As of April 1, 2021, six pediatric providers from the Commonwealth Health Physician Network will join the Geisinger family. The practice is changing its name to Geisinger Pediatrics Scranton and moving to a new location at 5 Morgan Highway, Suite 8.

The providers joining Geisinger following this change will include Kathleen Walsh, MD, Martha Sauter, MD, Jill McCoy, MD, Sarah Sitoski, DO, Rachel Giannotti, MD, and Linda Sacco, CRNP.

“We are happy to welcome these outstanding providers into Geisinger’s Department of Pediatrics. These providers, with 100 combined years of experience, and their staff have long been an invaluable resource to the community, and it would have been a great loss to see them move away from serving pediatric patients in Scranton. We are happy to step in and help to ensure these children – and the community at large – receive high-quality, family-friendly pediatric care in their neighborhood. We’re always aiming to keep world-class care close to home for our neighbors, patients and members in Scranton,” said Frank Maffei, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Geisinger.

To transfer medical records to Geisinger, patients can call 570-207-4360 or fax 570-383-1940. Geisinger Pediatrics Scranton accepts most major insurance plans.

For more information, please visit www.geisinger.org/pediatrics