The Chamber Hosts Summer Business Card Exchange

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, the region’s premier business organization, hosted its Summer Business Card Exchange on Wednesday, June 28, at High Tines Archery & Outdoors in Dunmore.

The 66 attendees enjoyed a unique opportunity to network with Chamber members, a chance to win door prizes, and experience the event business host, High Tines, indoor archery range.

High Tines Archery & Outdoors owner Greg Gondella Jr. shared, “Networking is the name of the game for me… I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for the connections I made through the years”.

Business card exchanges allow Chamber members and partners to network, meet new faces, and expand their professional and personal networks. If you want to join The Chamber’s strong community of leaders, please visit www.scrantonchamber.com or call (570) 342–7711 for more information. 

Attached photo (from left to right): Kristine Augustine, vice president, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Buchanan, director of marketing and communications, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Greg Gondella Jr., owner, High Tines Archery & Outdoors; Maria Gondella, owner, High Tines Archery & Outdoors; Molly Morgan, communication intern, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Noah Leety, communication intern, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about The Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Raises Money for Students

Braving the weather for a good cause,golfers enjoyed camaraderie and a round at one of northeastern Pennsylvania’s most scenic courses on June 12 while donating to bolster the future of health care in the region.

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Golf Classic, sponsored by PNC Bank, was held at Glenmaura National Golf Club and raised money to support medical student scholarships.

“We’re grateful to everyone who participated in the Golf Classic or donated to the Student Scholarship Fund, and to PNC Bank, whose sponsorship helped make this event possible,” said Julie Byerley, M.D., M.P.H, president of Geisinger College of Health Sciences, dean of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and executive vice president and chief academic officer of Geisinger. “Their generosity lays a foundation for our future medical students, physicians and the continued care of the communities we serve.”

With an aging population in the region and a national physician shortage, recruitment and retention of students from diverse backgrounds and financial means is critical to providing care locally and nationally. Geisinger’s Student Scholarship Fund helps educate and train doctors who can help close the physician gap, some of whom will serve northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Marion Munley Speaks on Women in Leadership

Munley Law is pleased to announce that Marion Munley recently spoke to the Connecticut Women Trial Lawyers Association on Women in Leadership: Empowering One Another. Marion spoke on “Authentic Leadership: Telling Your Story”.

A champion of victims’ rights and the civil justice system for over 25 years, Marion Munley is known for her compassionate approach to representing the catastrophically injured and her tireless devotion to her clients and their families. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial, Civil Practice, and Truck Law, Marion has earned an AV-Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell, the industry’s highest ethical and client satisfaction rating.

A leader in the legal community, Marion is an active member of the American Association for Justince (AAJ) and currently serves on the AAJ Board of Governors and on its Executive Committee. She was the first woman to become Chair of the AAJ Trucking Litigation Group in 2018 and is a past chair of the AAJ’s Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. Marion is the second woman in Pennsylvania to become Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Among her other professional affiliations are the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Society of Barristers, and the Summit Council, an exclusive group of todays top civil justice attorneys committed to the highest levels of trial advocacy, to obtaining justice for individuals and families who have been hurt by corporate wrongdoing, and to the protection of the civil justice system.

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012, Marion has been named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Marion has also been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for the last 18 years and was recently named to the 2023 Top 10 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. She has been consistently recognized as one of the “top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania” in Super Lawyers Magazine. A graduate of Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1986), Marion received her undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton in 1983.

Kalahari to Host Wedding Expo

Calling all brides-to-be! Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 20, 2023 and join Kalahari Resorts for The Kalahari Wedding Expo.

Are you ready to plan the wedding of your dreams? Join Kalahari for the ultimate wedding planning experience at the Wedding Expo at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Pocono Mountains. This event is FREE for attendees.

From expert event planning and stunning décor to glamorous hair & makeup and rocking DJ & lighting, get ready to mingle with the areas top local wedding vendors.

Plus, you’ll also have the chance to win amazing prizes and giveaways to help make your wedding day even more special!

So gather your bridal party, grab your wedding planner, and get ready for an unforgettable day of wedding planning.

Register by visiting https://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/.

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Holds SafetyWorks Week for Seniors

NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NWNEPA) will serve 30 older adult homeowners in West Scranton with much needed interior and exterior painting and small repairs throughout Lackawanna County as part of SafetyWorks Week for Seniors, July 3th – 7th, 2023.

More than 200 volunteers will be coming from all over the northern portion of the United States through a partnership between NeighborWorks and Group Mission Trips, Inc. to make the weeklong event possible. As NeighborWorks has recently kicked off West Side Scranton’s ten-year plan to increase livability in the area, the focus of the volunteer work for the week will be the West Scranton community.

Throughout the week volunteers will provide exterior painting to whole homes, window frames and porches and steps. Interior painting of kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms will spruce up older homes adding value and increasing the quality of life for older adults who can no longer tend to their homes safely.

NeighborWorks has hosted Group Mission Trips, Inc. volunteers for seven previous workcamps, mobilizing 2,158 volunteers, equating to approximately 50,000 hours of volunteer labor (worth over $1.4 million) to make needed repairs to over 320 separate properties in Lackawanna County. This year Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, along with Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, donated funds to provide the materials for the volunteers to use while serving the older adults in Scranton.

Providence Promotes Staff Member to Vice President

Providence Engineering is pleased to announce Dr. Jonathan U. Dougherty has been promoted to Vice President, Strategic Initiatives. Dr. J., as he is known around the firm, will be responsible for setting the direction and executing strategic initiatives including recruiting, professional development, and our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), among others.

“With Dr. J.’s extensive experience in many aspects of the AEC industry, he hit the ground running as soon as he started with Providence. Our mission has always been to be the Engineer of Choice, and with Jonathan’s knowledge and initiative, Providence Engineering is also an Employer of Choice. We are excited for the future and Dr. J.’s collaborative leadership, as we continue to make Providence a successful firm and a great place to work,” said David Bernhardt, President and CEO of Providence Engineering.

Dr. J. joined Providence Engineering in 2022 after a seventeen-year career with a large regional building contractor. Additionally, Dougherty is a former adjunct professor at Virginia Tech and taught for several years in the department of architectural engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

Dr. J. brings nearly 25 years of academic and industry experience to his role. He earned his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and continued his academic career at Penn State, earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Architectural Engineering. He is a champion of students and lifelong learning, as evidenced by his service to various universities and the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. As an alumni leader, Dougherty is an emeritus member of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus Advisory Board, current President for the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) and founding Board Member and former President of the Penn State Alumni Society of Architectural Engineers (ASAE). His industry service includes being a former Trustee for the Baltimore-Washington Laborer’s Joint Training Fund, serving on the Montgomery College (MD) Construction Industry Advisory Committee, and serving as former Chairperson of the Architectural Engineering Institute’s International Student Design Competition.

Established in 1992, Providence Engineering provides structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design and analysis services to the building industry. Providence creates dependable, innovative solutions that have earned the trust of architects, owners, contractors and those they are privileged to call clients.

United Way Announces Scholarship Recipient

The United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike awarded the Mike Munchak Community Service Scholarship to Vanessa Hodges, a 2023 graduate of Forest City Regional High School. The scholarship award was officially presented as part of the 27th Annual Mike Munchak Charity Golf Classic to benefit the United Way held at the Country Club of Scranton.  The sold-out golf tournament raised over $100,000 for United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike.  Over $1,500,000 have been raised during the 27 years of this golf outing.

“For the past 27 years it has been our honor to welcome Mike back home to Scranton, and we remain grateful to him for his unwavering commitment to the people of our community,” said Gary Drapek, President and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike.

The United Way established the Mike Munchak Community Service Scholarship to assist high school students from Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike Counties, who plan to continue their education in an accredited university, college, or trade school in a two or

four-year degree program. The amount of the one-time scholarship is $6,300 in honor of Mike’s #63, retired by the Houston Oilers in 1994.  Completing the scholarships 12th year of existence, a total amount of $75,600 in scholarship funds have been distributed to local graduates.

To be eligible, candidates must be volunteers in programs funded by the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike, have a demonstrated commitment through community service activities and be full-time residents and/or students of a school district within Lackawanna, Wayne or Pike Counties. Additional requirements include a demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, agency recommendation and a track record of community service.

“Education is one of our pillars here at the United Way.  This scholarship is a prime example of how important a good education along with strong community involvement is in helping ensure Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike Counties continue to Live United.  Every year we are amazed at the amount of Hall-of-Fame caliber seniors who apply for this scholarship.  The future certainly remains bright here in NEPA,” added Drapek.

The 2023 scholarship recipient is Vanessa Hodges, a Forest City Regional High School graduate who will be attending Penn State Scranton to pursue a degree in Business.

Vanessa’s community service accomplishments include the American Red Cross Blood Drive, Feed a Friend Program, Toys for Tots, Steamtown Marathon, Teresa’s Angels and her senior project supporting the Annual Forest City Softball Parents Club. Additionally, Vanessa is a member of the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council, the Yearbook Committee as well as an array of clubs and activities in which she is engaged. The Scholarship Committee noted Vanessa’s superior GPA as well as the leadership qualities she exhibited throughout her time at Forest City Regional.

“Funding essential programs throughout Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike Counties as well as running our own community outreach programs has led us into our 2nd Century of Service in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Continuously evolving each and every year has been the key to our success.  Like the mindset of a Hall-of-Fame Athlete, we set a goal every year and do everything in our power to achieve that goal, just like our homegrown football legend himself, Mike Munchak,” Drapek concluded.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Welcomes New Leadership

Tobyhanna Army Depot welcomed new leadership recently. See photos below for details.

James L. Crocker (left) receives the Tobyhanna Army Depot flag from Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II (right), signifying his assumption of command of Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Riggs (left) receives the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) flag from Col. James L. Crocker (right), signifying his assumption of responsibility as Tobyhanna Army Depot Sgt. Maj. In the background, outgoing Depot Commander Col. Daniel L. Horn observes the military ceremony.

A Civilian Honor Guard, Color Guard, Troop Formation, invited guests and the depot workforce look on during the Change of Command ceremony

Commonwealth of PA Holds Community Meeting to Discuss the Region’s Access to the Internet

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s government affairs and advocacy committee is committed to representing and being a voice for the business community to the local, state, and federal legislators. A priority for The Chamber’s government committee is access to broadband internet across the Wyoming Valley for its residents and businesses.

On Tuesday, July 11, at 11 a.m., The PA Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) is holding a community meeting to hear from the general public’s experience with internet access. The community meeting will be at the Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety in Jessup, PA.

Sign-up!