Scranton Bank Orders Lunch for Geisinger Frontline Workers Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. of Scranton ordered lunch from DaVinci Pizza for 125 employees at Geisinger Community Medical Center last week to honor frontline workers. Throughout the month of March, Peoples Security Bank donated more than 1,600 meals from area restaurants to 13 hospitals across the state and in New York. Up to 125 frontline providers from each hospital received a lunch or dinner, along with a special message of encouragement and appreciation for their selflessness and commitment to their patients. “Over the past year, most of us have spent all of our waking hours thinking about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and what it means for us and our families,” said Alicen Backus, marketing representative for Peoples Security Bank. “People who live in our communities have all faced hardships in one way or another, and no one has experienced the impact more than our health care workers, who have been working on the frontline, day in and day out, through it all.“ To honor their continued service and sacrifices, Peoples Security Bank pledged more than $80,000 in the past year to support health care workers and regional food banks within the bank’s Pennsylvania-based footprint grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “On behalf of everyone at Peoples Security Bank & Trust, thank you to everyone at Geisinger for all that you do for our community,” Backus said.
The University of Scranton Awarded $1.5 Million PA RACP Grant The University of Scranton was awarded a $1.5 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant to support renovations of Hyland Hall to create new laboratory and classroom space for the new mechanical engineering program. The facility renovations are necessary to support the multidisciplinary, high-impact learning design of the undergraduate engineering program that will prepare students to meet the modern-day workforce needs of the field. The renovated space in Hyland Hall will include four engineering laboratories; a student classroom; a garage; staff offices and equipment to allow students to learn using the latest simulation and modeling techniques. Students graduating in mechanical engineering will have the ability to use the techniques and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; design a system or process within budgetary, environmental, safety and other constraints; and understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context. Scranton graduates will be able to communicate effectively, function on multidisciplinary teams and understand the professional and ethical responsibility inherent in the field. They will be well prepared to enter the workforce in such industries as automotive, HVAC, aerospace, biotechnology, computers/ electronics, and manufacturing. The University will use the RACP grant to fund a portion of the costs associated with the Hyland Hall renovation project, which will be undertaken in two phases. The first phase will be completed by the start of the 2021-2022 academic year to allow students to begin to use the space in the fall semester. The full project will be completed in the spring of 2022. The University’s Mechanical Engineering program addresses a local need for a much-in-demand field. Few mechanical engineering programs exist in the northeast states, and only seven Jesuit universities in the nation offer this major. Scranton’s 131-credit program will draw students to Northeastern Pennsylvania and also help retain those students who might otherwise leave to study elsewhere. The program will also improve regional workforce development by being responsive to industry needs through the program’s Industrial Advisory Board. “Our mechanical engineering program was conceived and became a reality due to advice and help of our Industrial Advisory Board,” said W. Andrew Berger, Ph.D., professor and chair of the University’s Physics and Engineering Department. The University of Scranton, and the physics and electrical engineering programs in particular, have a long and successful record of placing its students in many science and engineering related careers. “The University of Scranton is one of the finest institutions of higher learning in the country and this grant will allow the University to expand its course offerings and add a cutting edge mechanical engineering program,” said then Pennsylvania Senator John Blake in a press release in January 2021. In addition to mechanical engineering, other majors offered at Scranton offered by the University’s Physics and Engineering Department include computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, biophysics and physics. For additional information, contact the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 888-727-2686 or email admissions@scranton.edu.
Swift Kennedy Volunteers Help Distribute Food Employees of Swift Kennedy’s Scranton branch volunteered to assist with a food distribution program sponsored by the Scranton-based Keystone Mission at its Wilkes-Barre office on January 28. Over 250 people received bags of food and clothing at this event. The Swift Kennedy volunteers included William Fleming, Sr., Camille Holmes, and Jessica Smitchel.
Cooper’s Seafood House Raises Funds for Women’s Resource Center Cooper’s Seafood House presented a check for $7,645 to the Women’s Resource Center. The monies were raised from a lobster bisque soup sale held by Cooper’s in memory of Jeanne Marie McGowan. Jeanne was a Scranton native with a tremendous amount of empathy for those in need, working as an advocate to give them a voice. All the proceeds will go towards supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence in our community.
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week – Preparing tomorrow’s workforce! For years we’ve supported a program that arms high school students with the tools to be our next great employees – Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW). PFEW brings together students and businesspeople for a powerful hands-on learning experience where students are immersed in the exciting world of modern business and free enterprise. The goal is to properly prepare our young people for the demands of the 21st century workforce. At PFEW, students make the same decisions real executives make as they run a simulated manufacturing company. Each team is paired with a volunteer business mentor who imparts invaluable real-world perspective as they explore all facets of business operations and develop the skills that today’s employers seek. Teams are responsible for two judged presentations where they must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of all facets of business operations. The week is highlighted by Speakers delivering inspiring messages directed at the students’ personal and professional development. An ethics case study, other business-related activities and the college experience round out this exciting week. Since 1979, more than 46,000 young Pennsylvanians and countless PA companies have benefitted from this unique program. There’s no more urgent work than preparing our young people for careers in our community, but why PFEW? In the words of 2019 PFEW graduate Brina Cartagenova: “This week at PFEW will resonate with me for years to come, for it is an eye-opening experience for Pennsylvania youth. Arriving as wide-eyed, eager children and leaving as empowered, confident leaders, PFEW students go through an academic cultivation like no other.” Brina describes PFEW perfectly – cultivating our next great generation of empowered, confident leaders. No other model educates students like PFEW, and that’s why we proudly support it. Every student attends PFEW on a fully tax-deductible $625 sponsorship donated by a business, foundation, organization or individual, but real value of PFEW is immeasurable. I encourage you to provide these vital sponsorships for our local students and, if possible, volunteers for the sessions. FFEE is an approved Educational Improvement Organization through the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, and all programs are eligible to receive EITC funding. FFEE offers two additional programs that prepare students for success and provide incredible value to our young people and our business community. The Stock Market GameTM (SMG) teaches students in grades 4-12 about investing and financial literacy, and the Speaker Series helps students explore careers and fulfill state mandated Career, Education and Work (CEW) standards. All Foundation programs have one goal in mind – preparing our young people for successful careers in Pennsylvania. If you would like to learn more about PFEW or their other educational offerings, please visit the Foundation’s website, www.pfew.org, or contact Scott Lee, vice president of marketing & development for the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education at (814) 833-9576 ext. 8, or scott@pfew.org.
Lackawanna College Awarded $300K Grant to Expand NEPA Healthcare Workforce Lackawanna College has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the NEPA Healthcare Foundation to help grow and retain northeastern Pennsylvania’s healthcare workforce through new and existing health sciences programs. “This regional initiative deepens our relationships with NEPA health facilities, with a focus on providing an awareness of healthcare career opportunities and ensuring that Lackawanna College Health Sciences students continue to receive the high-quality education and licensure required to enter the field,” said Kelly Musti, Lackawanna College Dean of Health Sciences. “This grant will enable us to reach students at the beginning of their higher education journey, enhance our existing programs and establish additional programs in the areas that we serve.” Lackawanna College will use the funding to launch the Healthcare Career Exploration Partnership in collaboration with local school districts, which will introduce students at the middle and high school levels to career opportunities in multiple healthcare disciplines. The main goal of this program will be to encourage qualified students to enroll into health sciences programs immediately after high school, ultimately increasing and diversifying the number of healthcare professionals trained and retained in NEPA. Funds will also be used to support Lackawanna College’s existing health sciences programs and help establish Certified Clinical Medical Assistant programs at two of its locations. “Through the Careers in Care initiative, the NEPA Health Care Foundation strives to make an impact to address the strains that the regional healthcare workforce is facing,” said James Clemente, NEPA Health Care Foundation Board Chair. “Introducing various healthcare fields to students at a younger age will ultimately help to increase the number of trained healthcare professionals in NEPA.”
TOPP Business Solutions Acquires Technic IT Group TOPP Business Solutions (TBS), one of the region’s largest family-owned office automation dealers, is expanding with the acquisition of Dunmore, PA-based Technic IT Group, LLC. “This is truly a win-win for all involved,” said Brad Lehman, TOPP Business Solutions COO. “Our goal is to expand our focus and bring our excellent products and services to all current and potential customers within the Managed IT Services regional marketplace.” Technic owner John Martines said, “When two of the best providers in the office solutions space join forces, it creates positive results for both the customers of TOPP and Technic going forward.” TBS, now in its third generation of family leadership, employs approximately 100 people who operate from its four locations in Scranton, Allentown, Montoursville and Altoona. In 2019, TBS generated over $20 million in revenue and has been providing business and office technology services to the Northeast, Central and Leigh Valley of Pennsylvania’s local industries for over 60 years. “We needed to further position ourselves as a leading force in the industry within our PA marketplace. With the addition of Technic, TBS will further solidify its position as the most advanced technology service provider available,” Chris Falzett, VP of Sales for TBS said. “It is clear our customers are changing and expect more from their vendors,” Paul Falzett, Topp Business Solutions CEO said. “Many of our current copier customers have expressed interest in having one provider to handle both their print and IT Services needs and having the Technic team join us will certainly help us deliver on those customer expectations.” TBS President Bill Truchan, an expert in the field of mergers and acquisitions, seeks to create further expansion for the company in the near future. TBS looks forward to the new relationship with Technic customers and anticipates continued growth that fulfills the TBS mission created by Angelo Falzett in 1957: Give people quality products at a fair price, provide prompt, courteous service, and develop long-term relationships with your customers.
