Join Downtown Business in Support of Ukraine Calling Scranton businesses to help us decorate the downtown in yellow and blue showing support for the people of the Ukraine. Utilizing flags, lighting, window painting, posters, and merchandise are a few ways to showcase your support. Please contact Liz Baldi at lizbaldi@scrantontomorrow.org if you are interested in participating. Scranton Tomorrow will be putting together a press release and would love to include the location and a photo of your display. If you are a Scranton business, but not located in the downtown, and are interested in participating, please let us know, all are welcome! Check out how Ufberg & Associates and Nada & Co are showing their support and get inspired!
Helen Lavelle, Top 25 Women in Business Did you catch the March Edition of the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal this week? Lavelle Strategy Group CEO and Chief Creative Strategist, Helen Lavelle, was named one of the Top 25 Women in Business in 2022! She is a trailblazer, an advocate, an innovator, a communicator and a collaborator. We are honored to work alongside her every day. Congratulations Helen on this amazing honor! The Business Journal honors 25 Women in Business in our region every March. These professionals are a diverse cross-section of innovative leaders, high-profile decision makers and company executives. They are improving their community, mentoring future business leaders, raising families and encouraging other women to take the lead.
DMVA to Host Virtual Veteran Town Hall The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) will host the first in a five-part series of virtual Veteran Town Halls on Wednesday, March 16, from 5-6:30 p.m., according to Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming). The topic will be veteran suicide prevention, with a focus on the support and resources available to veterans throughout the Commonwealth. “As majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, I am pleased the DMVA has made suicide prevention the topic of its first virtual town hall of the year,” said Boback. “It is critical that Pennsylvania veterans know what resources are available to them when they need someone to talk with about their emotional issues.” Attendees can participate by using a WebEx link. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters live through the chat feature. They should visit DMVA’s website at www.dmva.pa.gov, Twitter of Facebook pages for the WebEx link. The series of virtual town halls will provide the Commonwealth’s nearly 800,000 veterans with a convenient platform to learn and ask questions about programs and services earned through their military service. The following are the dates, times and topics for the four remaining 2022 Virtual Veteran Town Hall events: May 18, 5-6:30 p.m. – Serving Older Veterans.July 13, 5-6:30 p.m. – Resources for Homeless Veterans.Sept. 14, 5-6:30 p.m. – Transportation Issues Facing Veterans.Nov. 2, 5-6:30 p.m. – Honoring Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice.
Noteology ‘Peace for Ukraine’ Candle Noteology stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian civilians and refugees and pray for peace during this turbulent time. To show our support, we developed our ‘Peace for Ukraine’ Sunflower candle and will be donating $8 per candle to the International Rescue Committee, an organization providing life saving support to people forced to flee their homes in Ukraine. The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and has become a global symbol of solidarity for Ukraine. Our sunflower candle is filled with love and peace, with notes of sunflowers in bloom, lemon peel, lemon verbena, and a touch of honey.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Scranton Cultural Center Way The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is once again the place to celebrate this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade! The Center’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade Day Party will begin at 11:00 AM on March 12 and will continue until 4:00 PM. Admission is free and live entertainment will be provided by Kilrush. In addition, several parade performers will continue their acts at the SCC for all party-goers to enjoy, from bagpipers to step dancers and more! Admission is FREE to the public as the Scranton Cultural Center’s gift to the community. A cash bar and light fare will be available for purchase. Please note that the Scranton Cultural Center requires masks for all patrons unless actively eating or drinking. Full venue policies can be found at SCCMT.org/covid. The 2022 St. Patrick’s Parade Day Party is sponsored by The Society of Irish Women, the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center and LT Verrastro.
Electric City Axe Throwing Now Open Thursdays As of March 10th, Electric City Axe Throwing will be open every Thursday from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. To get things started, they are offering 50% axe throwing on March 10th to all students.
Highland Associates Paul Duffy Passes Architect Registration Examinations Highland Associates is pleased to announce that our employee, Paul Duffy, successfully passed his Architect Registration Examinations and is now a licensed Registered Architect. A graduate of Marywood University’s School of Architecture, Paul earned a Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 2015. Since joining Highland Associates in 2016, Paul has been actively engaged in the data center, corporate and retail market sectors, serving as an integral part of the design team. To become licensed, one must receive a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), gain experience under a practicing architect with 3,740 total hours across six categories and pass six sections of exams. About Highland Associates: Celebrating our 34th year in business, Highland Associates is a multi-disciplined firm specializing in Architecture, Engineering and Interior Design with offices located in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, New York, New York and Miami, Florida. Highland Associates offers a comprehensive list of services to satisfy the most difficult projects. Each day, our 150+ design professionals and support staff work as a team to analyze client needs and create practical solutions to meet the functional, aesthetic and financial objective of any project. Concept-driven and problem solving, Highland Associates is an award-winning design firm, guided by a design process and team approach.
Elan Gardens Receives $3,000 from Scranton Area Community Foundation for PPE Bobbie O’Donnell is pictured above at Nay Aug Park, receiving a check for $3,000 from the Scranton Area Community Foundation. In photo (left to right:) Jerome Musheno, R.Ph, Esq., Board Memer, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors; David Price, Secretary, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors; Kenneth Okrepkie, Chair, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors; Laura Ducceschi, President/CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation The Scranton Area Community Foundation has awarded $3000 to Elan Gardens, a non-profit senior living organization located in Clarks Summit. The 2021 Critical Needs Emergency Grant funds were used to purchase the necessary personal protective equipment for staff to combat COVID-19. The mission of Elan Gardens is to offer a supportive residential environment dedicated to maintaining each individual’s strengths, abilities, and autonomy while providing the resources to further enhance the quality of their lives. The well-being of residents is a top priority. Staff has worked tirelessly to protect residents from the virus, which can develop into severe illness in elderly individuals. Thankfully, Elan has remained successful in their efforts. To date, all residents remain untouched by COVID-19.
FNCB Bank Announces Expansion Into Equipment Financing Executive Vice President, Equipment Sales Officer Gary P. Cook FNCB Bank announced it’s recently-launched 1st Equipment Finance, a new equipment financing solution offered by the Bank, which is based in its Exeter, PA location. 1st Equipment Finance provides equipment financing solutions, including leasing alternatives, for business customers, vendors, manufacturers and municipalities and is led by Executive Vice President, Equipment Sales Officer, Gary P. Cook, a four-decade industry veteran. “Our seasoned sales and management team has over 150 years combined experience in equipment financing with vendors, commercial customers and municipalities across the United States,” said Cook. “We look forward to leveraging this experience to expand the Bank’s portfolio locally and across the country.” Today’s announcement builds on FNCB’s long-history of strategic initiatives to serve the needs of the business community and grow market share. “Our strong commercial banking legacy uniquely positions FNCB Bank to not only compete, but thrive in the equipment financing sector,” said Gerard Champi, FNCB Bank President and CEO. “This will not only allow the Bank to grow but will also provide our commercial clients expanded options they need to grow in a competitive business environment.” To learn more about 1st Equipment Finance, visit www.fncb.com/equipment
Coal Creative Names First Chief Creative Officer Samuel O’Connell will serve as Coal Creative’s first chief creative officer, the agency announced today. The veteran storyteller, one of the full-service marketing agency’s first employees, will now set and advance the company’s creative agenda. That means he ensures every project meets an exceptional standard of excellence, and that the team continues to push the limits of creative innovation. “As a creative agency, we needed someone in this role to bring together all of our departments under one cohesive creative vision,” Coal Creative Chief Executive Officer Holly K. Pilcavage said. “Sam understands where the industry is headed and knows how to turn brilliant concepts into campaigns that work.” O’Connell, 30, whose most recent title was creative director, worked to build out Coal Creative’s award-winning video production team. His promotion comes amid stunning grow that the agency. With 13 full-time employees, expanding operations and more complex assignments, O’Connell will synchronize teams behind video, design and web projects to ensure continuity and effectiveness. He started his career at age 15 designing ads for a local magazine and has produced several short and feature-length films, including the award-winning “blackhole.”
