NeighborWorks Honored with “Townie” Award NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) was recently recognized for the success of its Beautiful Blocks program with a 2022 “Townie” Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC). Presented in the category of “Physical Improvements & Design: Program-Wide Façade Rehabilitation,” the award honors the Beautiful Blocks program, which provides matching funding support to groups of residents in Scranton and Carbondale to assist in making exterior improvements to their homes. “Our team is most appreciative of the recognition by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center of our Beautiful Blocks program with a 2022 Townie Award,” Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO, said of the award. “To see the significant positive impact made in neighborhoods throughout Scranton and Carbondale by Beautiful Blocks recognized by our peers across the Commonwealth in this way is something we celebrate with all of the neighbors whose participation made this innovative program possible.” The Townie Award was presented during the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s 2022 Townie Awards Gala Dinner, held in late June in Harrisburg as part of the organization’s annual conference. Todd Pousley, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager, accepted the award on behalf of our organization. Joining Todd were staff members Gerard Hetman (Community Development Specialist) and Miranda Pace (West Scranton Neighborhood Coordinator). Also joining them was Wayne Evans, a NeighborWorks board member who originally developed the Beautiful Blocks program during his past service as Scranton Mayor. Since 2019, the Beautiful Blocks program has awarded more than $235,000 in funding to 37 groups of residents in Scranton and Carbondale. These funds have been matched with over $500,000 in matching funds from participating residents, resulting in the completion of more than 280 home improvement projects and a total investment of more than $750,000 into neighborhoods in both communities.
SACF President and CEO Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership On Wednesday, June 15, the Scranton Area Community Foundation Board of Governors recognized Laura Ducceschi for 10 years of service at the Foundation, serving in the executive leadership role as the Foundation’s President and CEO since 2012. Over the past 10 years, Ducceschi has led the Foundation, which works to create stronger, healthier communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania through organized philanthropy. “During the course of the past decade, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has seen tremendous growth under her leadership, nearly quadrupling the charitable assets under Foundation management,” stated Barbara O’Hara, Esq., Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Board Chair. “Laura has effectively and successfully led and grown the Foundation in terms of programs established, partnerships formed, charitable funds initiated, donors engaged, grants and scholarships awarded and so much more.” The Scranton Area Community Foundation has granted over $25 million in funding under Ducceschi’s leadership to support programs and projects that enhance the quality of life for people in the Lackawanna County region and beyond. In her role,Ducceschimanages over 270 charitable funds and two separate private foundations, which in total exceed nearly $95 million. Ducceschi also led the first-ever NEPA Gives, a collaborative effort with other regional foundations which in three years has raised nearly $3 million dollars for nonprofit organizations in only 72 hours. “Laura helps to guide the philanthropic initiatives of those in our community, helping them to make a real difference in the quality of life in Northeastern PA,” stated David Price, Scranton Area Community Board Treasurer. “Transparency, ethics, and innovation are central to Laura’s leadership style. During her tenure, the Foundation was twice reaccredited at the highest standards for excellence in Community Foundations from the Council on Foundations, which is a national organization.” “Laura has spearheaded many impactful regional initiatives aimed at catalyzing change. These include The Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, which has provided cutting-edge training and education opportunities to hundreds of nonprofit leaders and employees; Women in Philanthropy, which provides thousands of dollars in direct funding to help transform the lives of local women, girls, and their families; NEPA Moves; The NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative; the NEPA Health Care Foundation Scholars Program; and the Careers in Care Health Workforce Program, all to benefit surrounding communities,” O’Hara added. “In her 10 years of service, Laura has transformed the Scranton Area Community Foundation into a state of the art change agent for our community. Without a doubt, our area is a better place to live because of her vision and drive,” stated Dave Hawk, who chaired the Search Committee when Ducceschi was hired and was Chair of the Board the year Ducceschi began in her role in 2012. “Congratulations, Laura, on 10 years of work. I can only imagine the wonderful things that will happen over the next 10 years,” he added. “Under Laura’s leadership in 2020, the Scranton Area Community Foundation was one of the first foundations in the country to create a COVID-19 Response Fund, which raised and distributed more than $1.4 million through 183 grants to nonprofit organizations, many of which serve as the safety net in Northeastern Pennsylvania, providing food, shelter and resources to the most vulnerable members of our communities,” stated Maggie Martinelli, the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Vice President of Administration and Projects. Ducceschi has an MBA in Organizational Management from Drexel University’s Lebow College of Business; an MA in Communication from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; and a BA in Communication from the University of Scranton, where she graduated summa cum laude. She completed her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) certification from the American College of Financial Services and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Laura has a Certificate in Change Management from Cornell University, a Certificate in Design Thinking from Harvard University, a Certificate in Nonprofit Board Governance Consulting from BoardSource, and is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Ducceschi received the Oustanding Fundraising Professional Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals- NEPA Chapter in 2021; the Excellence in Diversity Award from Penn State University-Scranton in 2019; the Executive Mentorship Award from the Allan P Kirby Center at Wilkes University in 2018, and was recognized as a top 25 Women in Business from the NEPA Business Journal in 2015. She will be honored with the Founder’s Award at Meals on Wheels Mix and Mingle event in September, 2022. She serves as a member of the Geisinger Advisory Board, a Trustee of the Schwartz-Mack Foundation, a Trustee on the Scranton Life Board, and is on the NEPA Grantmakers Steering Committee. Ducceschi has also contributed to reports and publications aimed at understanding how equitable economic impact is best achieved in small to medium sized cities. “We are proud of all Laura has accomplished in the community as the President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation over the past ten years and look forward to continued growth, community impact, and stability under her leadership,” added O’Hara. The Scranton Area Community Foundation looks forward to beginning the process of moving into its permanent home at the Century Club of Scranton building located at 612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, later this year. The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been a trusted community partner since 1954, serving the people of the region by working in partnership with donors to transform lives. The Foundation offers a wide variety of charitable planning tools such as charitable gift annuities, scholarship funds, donor-advised funds, and charitable trusts to help donors maximize the impact of their charitable giving to causes and charities they care about. To learn more about the Scranton Area Community Foundation, visit safdn.org or contact Brittany Pagnotti, Communications Manager of the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.
The Settlers Inn Earns Wine Spectator Restaurant Award The Settlers Inn was honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrates the world’s best restaurants for wine. “I want to congratulate all 3,169 restaurants that earned one of Wine Spectator’s three awards for their devotion to all things wine,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service, but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars. We are thrilled to reveal our 2022 Dining Guide, which points to places where wine drinkers are warmly welcomed.” “It’s a privilege to earn this recognition from Wine Spectator as an acknowledgement of our commitment to providing superior wine service to guests of The Settlers Inn,” states CEO/Owner Justin Genzlinger. “To be distinguished as one of only two restaurants in Northeast PA to receive this prestigious award is an honor. We’re proud of our Sommelier, Claude Briere, and Director of Food and Beverage Steven Vennie, who have cultivated an award-winning wine experience for our guests.” Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,782; 1,290; and 97 winners this year in each respective category. The Settlers Inn won the Best of Award of Excellence. Recipients display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue becomes available to readers July 12. Follow the Restaurant Awards on Instagram (@wsrestaurantawards), with hashtag #WSRestaurantAward, and at Restaurants.WineSpectator.com, where all winners can be searched by location and sorted by attributes including name, proximity, award level, cuisine and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.
Citizens Savings Bank Announces Promotions Citizens Savings Bank in Clarks Summit has announced the promotions of Walter Belasky and Keleena McNichols. Mr. Belasky has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President/Collections Manager in the Collections Department at Citizens Savings Bank. Walter earned certifications in Security and Fraud Investigations and is a member of the PDCFlow organization. Looking back on his career with the bank, Walter started in January 2020 as a Full Time Collector and was then promoted in January 2021 to the role of Collections Manager. In this new position, Walter will continue to be responsible for the supervision, organizing, planning, and directing of the institution’s loan collection activities in accordance with the institution’s policies and participate in special assignments as directed by senior management or the Board of Directors. Mr. Belasky resides in Moscow. Ms. McNichols has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President/Loan Operations Manager of the Loan Operations Department at Citizens Savings Bank. Ms. McNichols earned her degree in English from Marywood University in 2008 and has held several roles at the bank throughout her career. Looking back on her 14 years with the bank, Keleena started her career as a Customer Service Representative/Teller in our South Scranton Branch. She was elevated to Customer Service Specialist in 2010 and then became a Collector in 2015. In 2019, Keleena took on the role of Assistant Loan Operations Manager and then was elevated to Loan Operations Manager in 2021. Keleena is also Co-Founder and Board Member for Fight 4 Vets and has been Treasurer of the Betty Welby Foundation for the previous 16 years. In this new position, Keleena will continue to be responsible for the supervision, organization, planning and directing the bank’s loan operations function and participate in special assignments as directed by senior management or the Board of Directors. Ms. McNichols resides in Scranton.
Discovery MI Preschool Expands and Rebrands Discovery Montessori will open a second campus in North Scranton this September and expand its educational programs to include grades 1-3. Discovery Montessori (Providence), located on N Main Ave Scranton, will initially host 30 students across preschool, kindergarten and first grade. Second and third grades will be added in the coming school years as students move up and the school’s capacity increases to 45 students. In keeping with Montessori philosophy and practice, students will be in multiage classrooms of 3-6 years old and 6-9 years old. To reflect the school’s commitment to Montessori methods and its expansion into early elementary, the school has rebranded to Discovery Montessori and unveiled its new logo. Marianne Davis, President of the Board of Discovery Montessori explained, “With the addition of the North Main Avenue location, we are excited to expand our services beyond preschool and kindergarten to students in the first three primary grades. Given this expansion, it was confusing to be called a preschool when we offer so much more. Our new name emphasizes our approach of using the Montessori educational platform for our students which has been our objective since we first launched the school.” “A core part of our mission since day 1 has been to ensure at least half of our students attend at no cost or reduced tuition and we are pleased to confirm this commitment across our whole student body.” The school was recently awarded a Community Needs Grant of $18,500 by The Scranton Area Community Foundation to help open Discovery Montessori (Providence). “This grant will be instrumental in helping us purchase the materials, furniture and supplies required to open the new center this September,” added Ms. Davis. The Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO, Laura Ducceschi explained the grant, “Our Foundation is proud to support organizations that provide improved educational opportunities for children and young adults in the area. Providing a strong educational base for youngsters reinforces the value of inquisitive learning and launches life-long learning.” Discovery Montessori is set to be accredited by the American Montessori Society in December 2022, following a five year accreditation process. “This is a major achievement that underscores our faithful adherence to Montessori philosophy and practice. As the only accredited Montessori school in Scranton, parents can be confident that we provide quality programs that meet strict standards and protocols,” said Ms. Davis. Discovery Montessori ensures that a minimum of half their students come from families with low to moderate incomes through a range of community partnerships and subsidies. Tuition free places are provided through Head Start and Pre K Counts. The school also accepts Child Care Works subsidy for tuition and participates in Scholarship programs through United Way. Through these partnerships and programs, currently 75% of their students receive free or reduced tuition. Discovery Montessori incorporates learning through play alongside structured learning to ensure the social, academic, physical, and emotional development of each child in the school. Their unique approach to education enriches the whole child, sparking a love of learning that sets students on the path to future success in school and beyond. Discovery Montessori was selected the Non-Profit Organization of the Year in the SAGE Awards presented by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Disaster Blaster Launches National Franchise System Local Scranton area business, Disaster Blaster, recently announced that franchise opportunities are now available! Presently offering Disaster Blaster franchises for sale in 31 states (and growing), Disaster Blaster and their management team are excited to welcome and support Disaster Blaster franchises as they open and grow in their local markets. As the premier mitigation and restoration firm in our area, Disaster Blaster brings a great deal of expertise to all of their franchises, providing them the support they need to grow their local Disaster Blaster businesses. A big step for a local business from our area, Disaster Blaster will be providing training and ongoing support to all franchises. The Disaster Blaster management team has over 25 years of experience in operating an indoor environmental, mitigation, and restoration company locally and offers a wide range of services including, but not limited to, water damage mitigation, mold remediation, radon mitigation, asbestos abatement, basement waterproofing, infectious disease disinfection, and hazardous drugs cleanup. With its full array of services, they offer a unique system that is virtually recession-proof and seasonally consistent. Disaster Blaster will continue to develop additional new services, as well as roll out new sales and marketing efforts and national programs as the franchise system grows. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has interest in owning their own business. Anyone interested in applying to purchase a new franchise should call either Matthew or Gary Lyons at (302) 242-1042.
Barry Isett & Associates Announces New Department Heads Barry Isett & Associates is proud to announce the promotion of two long-time associates to department head positions within the company.Adam Smith, PE, will now lead the Civil Land Development Department. An Isett company shareholder with more than a decade and a half of experience in Civil Engineering, Mr. Smith will oversee 18 associates and serve as a technical resource for projects as well as play a leading role in client management, staffing, department planning, and quality control and assurance. Mr. Smith holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Master of Business Administration from DeSales University. He is a contributor to the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Program committee, 401K committee and a past member of the company’s Board of Directors.Company shareholder Kathryn Forry, MCP, BCO, has been named Department Head of Isett’s Code Inspection & Plan Review team. Ms. Forry has been a vital contributor to the department’s growth since joining the firm in 2011 and will manage a team of more than 70 associates across eight offices as Department Head. Prior to her promotion, she held the role of Wyoming Valley Operations manager from 2018 to 2022 where she assisted with Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC) inspections and plan reviews for the boroughs of Dallas, Stroudsburg, and East Stroudsburg as well as New Milford and Penn Forest Townships. Ms. Forry is also responsible for property code inspection services for the City of Scranton’s OECD Homebuyer Program and Housing Rehabilitation Program. She holds a degree in Architectural Drafting from the Lincoln Technical Institute and is active in the Pennsylvania Association of Building Code Officials (PABCO), PA Building Officials Conference (PENNBOC), and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI). Now in its 45th year, Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., is a full-service engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Allentown, PA. Isett is an employee-owned company and has seven offices elsewhere in eastern and central Pennsylvania— Hazleton, Mechanicsburg, Phoenixville, Furlong, Stroudsburg, Wilkes-Barre, and Wyomissing.For more information on Barry Isett & Associates and a full overview of the engineering firm, its projects and its services, visit www.barryisett.com.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NEPA Hosts 2nd Annual Rhythm & Wine Festival Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Pennsylvania is excited to announce its 2nd Annual Rhythm & Wine Festival on Saturday, August 27 from 12-4pm. The event will be held again this year at the Moonlite Drive-In, 1190 Shoemaker Ave., West Wyoming. This year’s presenting sponsor is M&T Bank. Come join us for a fun-filled afternoon with your friends, family, or business partners to enjoy a variety of wineries, cideries, breweries, food vendors and live music. Back by popular demand is the contemporary rock band, “Down by Five.” Festival chair Dave Kuharchik says “We’re excited to have this fun event returning for 2022 after a successful first year. All proceeds benefit critical one on one mentoring relationships through Big Brothers Big Sisters of NEPA. Please consider supporting this great cause.” Our alcohol distributing vendors include Deep Roots Hard Cider, Staggering Unicorn, Stone Lake Winery, Lucchi Family Cellars, Susquehanna Brewing Company, Nomad Distilling Company, Case Quattro Winery, and Bartolai Winery. Food vendors include, Keystone Farms and Cheese, Fondippity, Sugar Plum Chocolates, Pittston Popcorn, Yogi’s Potato Pancakes, Marianacci’s Restaurant, and Fiamma Rosa. General Admission Price is $40 (includes drink samples, & tasting glass). Designated driver tickets are just $10. General parking is $10. VIP Parking is $20 (limited to 100 spots – includes a tailgate spot & closest spots to the music stage.) Tickets can be purchased online at: www.bbbsnepa.org. Tickets go on sale Monday, June 6th. If you are interested being a sponsor for Rhythm & Wine, please contact Camille Sicolo at csicolo@bbbsnepa.org or visit www.bbbsnepa.org. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s mission is to match children in need with an adult role model & mentor. Please call 570-824-8756 or visit www.bbbsnepa.org to learn more about our program or to become a mentor or refer a child.
Executive and Director Promotions at NDC Asset Management NDC Asset Management has been providing high quality real estate and property management services to a wide variety of clients for over 50 years and takes immense pride in its long-term business relationships. NDC Asset Management also takes extraordinary pride in the NDC team and strives to acknowledge staff commitment, by promoting within the company whenever possible. NDC believes that by enabling staff growth opportunities within the company, it further strengthens relationships inside and outside the company. NDC Asset Management is happy to announce the following promotions across our multi-state management portfolio, effective May 1, 2022. Amongst these changes, we would like to formally announce and congratulate Bill Cramer, Vice President, Northern Division on nearly 15 years of service with NDC Asset Management. However, it is not a farewell as Bill will continue his tenure with NDC Asset Management focusing on business development, operating efficiencies and continuing to play a key role as a Vice President supporting management operations in our northern portfolio. “These team members have been a key part of our successes, and we are happy to have them step into these well-deserved positions.” – Ronald J. Allen, CEO & Principal. Jason Bartz, Executive Vice President, has been named President. As President of NDC Asset Management, Jason brings over 17+ years of commercial real estate development, construction, brokerage, and management experience to the organization. Jason also serves as Vice President of Development for NDC Construction Company located in Bradenton, Florida. Jason earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Florida State University. Jason is a Florida licensed Real Estate Broker and a LEED Accredited Professional. As President, Jason will oversee the daily operations of NDC Asset Management with a staff of over 300 employees located in five states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. Jason previously oversaw the management of over 380,000 square feet of retail, professional and medical office space has also brokered over $30,000,000 in sales and leases in professional/medical office buildings and vacant property in the Florida Region. Rick Elwood, Vice President, Southern Division, has been named Senior Vice President of Operations. As Senior Vice President of Operations, Rick manages the day-to-day management operations of NDC Asset Management with a staff of over 300 employees located in five states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. Rick is a graduate of Florida State University and joined NDCAM in 2004 as a Regional Manager. Rick has over 30 years of property management experience. Rick has been providing direct operating oversight of the Southern Division since 2008, in addition to being responsible for the company’s growth throughout our Southern Division. During this time, NDC’s Southern Region has grown successfully from 11 properties in Florida to more than 60 properties across three states. The growth under Rick’s direction has included new construction, rehabs, and existing assets, with a vast assortment of programs that include LIHTC, Section 8, Rural Development, Public Housing, Blended Occupancy, Market Rate Housing, and RAD. James Allen, Regional Property Manager, has been named Vice President, Director of Operations, Florida. James is responsible for the management and oversight of our Florida Region, in addition to client relationships, and new business opportunities. Prior to his current role, James served as a Regional Property Manager for NDC Asset Management since 2019 overseeing a portfolio that included LIHTC, Section 8 and RAD/PBRA properties as well as 394,000+ square feet of commercial office, medical, and retail space in the Bradenton and Sarasota markets. James earned a B.S. in Finance from Marshall University in addition to being a licensed Real Estate agent in the state of Florida. Kris McDonough, Regional Property Manager, has been named Vice President, Director of Operations, Western Pennsylvania. Kris is responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of NDC Asset Management’s portfolio in Western Pennsylvania. Kris joined NDC Asset Management in July 2018 and serving as a Regional Property Manager. As Regional Property Manager, Kris oversaw a portfolio of LIHTC, Section 8 and Market Rate properties in Western Pennsylvania along with 120,000+ square feet of commercial retail and office space. A graduate of Ohio University, and prior to joining NDC, Kris worked in professional and collegiate sports for eight years, managing sales, business development, and marketing with WME/IMG out of Pittsburgh, Pa. In addition to his managed portfolio, Kris is responsible new business and partnerships, corporate quality and efficiencies, and national vendor relations. Kris currently serves as the Vice President and Executive Committee Board Member of AAMP (Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh). Allison Hendrick, Regional Property Manager, has been named Director of Operations, Eastern Pennsylvania. Allison is responsible for the oversight and management of the daily operations of NDC Asset Management’s Eastern Pennsylvania portfolio. Allison joined NDC in 2005, previously serving as a Regional Property Manager out of our State College office with a variety of Tax Credit and Conventional residential communities. Prior to joining NDC, Allison spent ten years in the banking industry working in collections and management. variety of Tax Credit and Conventional Residential Communities. Kay Jordan, Regional Property Manager, has been named Director of Operations, Louisiana/Mississippi. Kay is responsible for the oversight and regional management of NDC Asset Management’s portfolio in Louisiana and Mississippi. Kay began her career in property management in 2004 and joined the NDC team in 2012. During her tenure, she served as a Compliance Specialist and has extensive experience in new management acquisitions with blended occupancy lease-ups. Most recently, Kay served as a Regional Property Manager in Louisiana. Her diverse portfolio consisting of Conventional, Tax Credit, HOME, Permanent Supportive Housing, RAD-PBV, Public Housing and Project-Based Section 8.
