Episode Three: All Things Chamber Don’t Miss the Update The Mardi Gras Business Card Exchange has been postponed until Wednesday, February 21. The event is taking place at Urban Co-Works, and don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items to donate to United Neighborhood Centers Submit Your News to The Chamber! Every Thursday is a dedicated eBlast sharing upcoming events, news, and milestones from the Chamber membership. Be included in next Thursday’s eBlast. Send news to Editor@ScrantonChamber.com. New Location? Anniversary? or New Business? The Chamber and its team of Chamber Influencers will hold a ribbon cutting for your business. Contact Tina to get on the Chamber calendar for your ribbon cutting. Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE
2024 ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient Announced The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Deborah Kolsovsky, executive vice president and regional director for PNC Institutional Asset Management®, as the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient. The ATHENA Award, sponsored locally by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants, honors an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals, and leadership skills. Kolsovsky embodies these characteristics wholeheartedly. For 34 years, Kolsovsky has made significant strides as a leader, mentor, and strategic partner at PNC and in the greater Scranton community. As the Northeast regional director, Kolsovsky leads teams in Boston, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Pennsylvania; one-third of PNC’s Institutional business revenue is generated under her direction. She provided the solution to build out PNC’s Outsourced Chief Investment Officer. A champion for women in the workplace, she has hired and mentored several who now hold leadership positions throughout the financial institution. “I can think of no more deserving recipient of this prestigious award than Debbie Kolsovsky,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber. “Her accomplishments in the professional arena are only matched by her long and rich history of community service throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Congratulations Debbie!” In the community, Kolsovsky is the immediate past chair of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the executive and DEI committees. She is the senior vice chair of the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike Counites; a vice chair for The Wright Center for Community Health; a board member for Johnson College and Geisinger Northeast; and a Circle 200 member. Kolsovsky is active with the Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA, taking opportunities to turn girls into young women. The ATHENA Award will be presented to Kolsovsky at The Chamber’s International Women’s Day Breakfast on Friday, March 8. This event is sponsored by The Honesdale National Bank and will be in partnership with Dress for Success Lackawanna. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ScrantonChamber.com. The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan, and has grown to include presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities in the United States as well as in Canada, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture, symbolizing the strength, courage, and wisdom of the recipient. The ATHENA Award® Program is nationally underwritten by General Motors and National City Bank. PHOTO: Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Donna Barbetti; Deborah Kolsovsky, ATHENA Award recipient; Mari Potis, director of membership and events, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Kristine Augustine, Vice President of Membership and Marketing, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Episode Two: All Things Chamber Don’t Miss these Deadlines The Chamber 155th Annual Dinner is on Wednesday, March 27, at the Scranton Cultural Center. Hear a special message from keynote speaker Shawn Kanungo. Mardi Gras Business Card Exchange — Join The Chamber on “Fat Tuesday” and bring a non-perishable food item to donate to benefit the United Neighborhood Center. New Member Welcome Lunch — New Members are invited to attend a free luncheon at The Chamber. Register today! Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE
Byron Transitions to Executive Assistant Position The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Amanda Byron’s transition to Executive Assistant to the President. As the executive assistant, Byron will serve as a liaison to The Chamber and its various affiliate boards and committees. She will also be responsible for board management, communications, and reporting requirements. Byron originally joined The Chamber as the board and office administrator, where she acted as the point of contact between The Chamber and its affiliate organizations, Skills in Scranton and Leadership Lackawanna. Her transition to executive assistant will allow her to use her communicative skills to assist Durkin with the progression of The Chamber’s mission, goals, and strategic plan. “Amanda brings a unique perspective to this important position in Chamber operations. I am looking forward to the changes she will bring based on her background and experience,” says Durkin. Byron graduated from Lackawanna College where she received an associate degree in paralegal studies. She has worked as a customer care office manager, an insurance customer service representative, and as a paralegal for multiple law firms, including her most recent position as a litigation paralegal.
Episode One: All Things Chamber Don’t Miss these Deadlines EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience — Discounted Tickets end January 31. Get Yours Today! Mardi Gras Business Card Exchange — Join The Chamber on “Fat Tuesday” and bring a non-perishable food item to donate to benefit the United Neighborhood Center. New Member Welcome Lunch — New Members are invited to attend a free luncheon at The Chamber. Register today! Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE
Luyster Promoted to Vice President of Business and Workforce Development at The Chamber The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce leadership has announced the promotion of Amy S. Luyster to Vice President of Business and Workforce Development. With 25 years of service to The Chamber and its members, Luyster brings to the position a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the organization’s mission and goals. In her new role, Luyster will oversee the Business and Workforce Development affiliates: the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Business Company (SLIBCO), The Scranton Plan, the IGNITE program, Skills in Scranton, and Leadership Lackawanna. “Amy has played a crucial role in advancing the region’s business, economic, and workforce growth. This promotion reflects her exemplary contributions to The Chamber’s commitment to fostering a thriving business community,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Wilkes University, Luyster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational communications with a concentration in public relations and a minor in business marketing. In addition, she is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management at Villanova University; the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program at The Kania School of Management, The University of Scranton; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Business Leads Fellowship Program; and The Economic Development in Pennsylvania course, accredited by the International Economic Development Council. During her tenure at The Chamber, Luyster has directed economic and industrial development marketing under The Scranton Plan; workforce development through Skills in Scranton; Legislative affairs under the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee; and provided organizational and program direction as a member of the Chamber’s Executive Leadership Team. The key responsibilities of Luyster’s new role will be to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of Lackawanna County’s business, workforce, and leadership assets and liabilities. Using her experience, Luyster will leverage this knowledge to identify opportunities to address challenges in the local business landscape. Luyster will establish and implement business development strategies that align with the Chamber’s mission, goals, and objectives. This includes fostering collaborations with and among SLIBCO, The Scranton Plan, the IGNITE program, Skills in Scranton, and Leadership Lackawanna in concert with Chamber membership, communications, and lending operations to promote economic development and workforce growth in the greater Scranton region. “I am thankful and excited for this expanded role and eager to lead initiatives that drive business and workforce development in Lackawanna County, said Luyster. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to achieve continued success and make a lasting impact in our community.”
TechCelerator Participants Showcase Businesses at Closing Presentations After completing their ten-week cohort in the TechCelerator at Lackawanna County program, participants from seven technology start-ups recently shared valuable insights into their business plans. The pitches were presented to an audience of local funders, coordinators, dignitaries, and supporters at Penn State Scranton’s state-of-the-art Engineering Building on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. In recognition of their efforts, each participating business was awarded up to $10,000 from Lackawanna County to fuel their future business growth. The seven showcased start-ups: I Need A Speaker, The Brain Trust, Washboard, NEPA Lifestyle, RentChexx, STAIPUT, and KX Arms unveiled upcoming products and services spanning a speaker connection hub, local destination discovery platform, property management solutions, and on-demand laundry services. Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber, expressed his satisfaction, sharing, “Collaborating with other sponsors for the TechCelerator program has expanded our initiatives to support and nurture local entrepreneurs through our Ignite program, seamlessly transitioning these emerging firms into our robust business development incubator sites.” Ken Okrepkie, regional manager of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, added, “The Lackawanna County TechCelerator program, designed to assist early adapting entrepreneurs in shaping their ideas into viable businesses, has undeniably been a success.” The TechCelerator Program is a partnership between Lackawanna County, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, IGNITE, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and tecBRIDGE.
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Announces 155th Chamber Annual Dinner The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announces the 155th Chamber Annual Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, to be held on March 27, 2024, at the Scranton Cultural Center. This signature event is set to bring together the region’s business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members for an evening to celebrate the accomplishments of our members and programs from the past year. This year’s Annual Dinner features a distinguished keynote speaker, Shawn Kanungo. Renowned as a disruption strategist, bestselling author, and former innovation expert for Deloitte, Mr. Kanungo is set to captivate the audience with his profound insights into the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, business, and technology. As The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce continues its commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the greater Scranton region, Kanungo’s expertise will undoubtedly inspire and empower attendees to navigate the challenges and opportunities of today’s dynamic business environment surrounding Artificial Intelligence. “We always look for an Annual Dinner guest who reflects the compelling issues of the day, and this year looks is no exception. Shawn Kanungo brings a thought-provoking perspective to the rapidly emerging world of Artificial Intelligence – and will share how these dynamic changes will affect the business environments of our members,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. To purchase tickets for the 155th Annual Dinner, visit www.ScrantonChamber.com
Nominations for the 2024 ATHENA Award are Open! Nominations for the 2024 ATHENA Awards are now open at www.ScrantonChamber.com/athena-award. The ATHENA Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ATHENA Award is sponsored by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants and will be presented at the Chamber’s International Women’s Day breakfast, sponsored by The Honesdale National Bank. The event will be held at The Hilton Scranton and Conference Center on Friday, March 8, 2024. Nominations must be received by 4:00 pm on Friday, January 19. Apply online at www.ScrantonChamber.com/athena-award
Be a Speaker at EMPOWER Have you enjoyed Empower Women’s Leadership Conference? Ever want to be on the stage sharing your story, your expertise, motivating others? This is your year and your opportunity! EMPOWER Women’s Leadership Conference is now EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience! EMPOWER will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Kalahari Resorts, Mount Pocono. We are accepting submissions for “Breakout Room Speakers, Wellness Presenters & Instructors, Panelists and Panel Moderators” through January 12, 2024. The 2024 theme is “PURPOSE” (to be interpreted by Speakers/Presenters in their presentation).EMPOWER 2024 consists of four (4) Breakout Room tracks:1.) Professional Development2.) Personal Development3.) Leadership Development4.) Panel Discussions (final topics/titles tbd):***PANEL DISCUSSION TOPICS***a.) Non-Traditional Industry Leadersb.) Young Professionals: What To Do or Knowc.) Poise & Public Speakingd.) Career BuildingBreakout Room Speakers must prepare a 45 minute presentation inclusive of Q&A to typically includes a PowerPoint presentation.Panelists offer their expertise on specific topics managed by the Panel Moderator.Wellness Studio Presenters/Instructors. The Wellness Studio runs every 30 minutes. We are currently looking for Presenters/Instructors to offer 20 minute sessions covering “Mind, Body and Spirit”. This an be a fitness class, mindfulness, meditation, nutrition counseling, etc.If EMPOWER is for you and you’re ready to get on stage and share your expertise please complete this “Speaker Submission Form” by January 12, 2024 to be considered for EMPOWER. https://metroaction.wufoo.com/forms/2024-empower-speaker-submission-form/ (No calls or direct emails please.)We look forward to reviewing your submission and seeing you at EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience!
