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.”
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week: Creating our next great workforce! As your partner in supporting local business, we know how difficult it is to find and keep great employees. Many of our young people lack the knowledge and skills you need, or they leave to pursue opportunities because they simply don’t know about the great local jobs available right here, right now. That’s why we support Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW). PFEW is a youth development program like no other. It teaches high school students about business and our American free enterprise system and helps them develop job ready skills like leadership, communication, work ethic, finance, marketing and more that prepare them for great careers right here at home. Offered by the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education (FFEE), PFEW holds multiple week-long summer sessions for rising high school juniors and seniors on the campuses of Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. PFEW made a triumphant return to in-person learning in 2021, educating 1,139 students statewide. This summer, they plan to welcome 1,600 eager students to Williamsport for the 43rd year of this award-winning program. Students attend on a fully tax-deductible $625 sponsorship donated by a business, foundation, organization or individual. FFEE is an approved Educational Improvement Organization through the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. I encourage you to provide PFEW sponsorships for our local students and, if possible, volunteers for the sessions. FFEE offers two other impactful programs that prepare students for the 21st century workforce. 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 develop the knowledge and skills needed to become great employees. All Foundation programs are singularly focused on promoting the ideals of business and the American free enterprise system and preparing our young people to become great business and community leaders. To learn more about PFEW or their other educational programs, 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.
WVIA Announces New Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel WVIA Announces Kristen Mackrell Clark as New Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate for northeastern and central Pennsylvania, has announced Kristen Mackrell Clark Esq. as the organization’s new Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. Kristen comes to WVIA from Myers, Brier, & Kelly, LLP where she served as an attorney representing educational institutions and non-profit organizations. While there she focused on helping clients with corporate governance, business planning, tax planning, and individual and corporate tax audits. Prior to working for Myers, Brier, & Kelly, LLP, Clark worked as a Certified Public Accountant specializing in individual and corporate taxation. Kristen has been honored by her peers every year since 2018 as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star and in 2015, she was recognized as a Top 20 Under 40 Business Professional by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal. She attained her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law, Master of Accountancy from the George Washington University, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. “We are extremely fortunate to have a team member with such a unique combination of skills,” said Carla McCabe, WVIA President, and CEO, “Hiring Kristen in this critical leadership role demonstrates our ability to once again attract top talent at WVIA who want to be a part of our exciting future.” “I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic leadership team at WVIA,” Clark said. “I look forward to using my legal and accounting experience to serve in the dual role of Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. Carla and her team are building something exciting at WVIA, and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of strengthening this community treasure for our region.”
Keystone College Names Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Keystone College has named Andra Basu, Ph.D. as its new provost/vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Basu has had an accomplished career as an administrator at several colleges and universities. Prior to coming to Keystone, she served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at East Stroudsburg University. She was also dean of Adult and Professional Studies at Albright College and associate academic dean, interim dean of academic services, and dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She has served as a faculty member, instructor, or lecturer at East Stroudsburg University, Albright College, Moravian College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh University, Kutztown University, Muhlenberg College, Bates College, Hunter College, Queens College, and the University of Minnesota. Her writing has been published in numerous academic and professional journals and she has received a wide variety of awards and grants. Dr. Basu received a bachelor of arts degree from Tufts University, a master of arts degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in social personality psychology from the City University of New York Graduate School and University Center.
Outreach Center for Community Resources Welcomes New Executive Director A new year marks a new chapter in the history of Outreach Center for Community Resources in Scranton as members of the Board of Directors announce Lori Chaffers has been named Executive Director. Outreach is a non-profit organization serving thousands of people of all ages in northeastern Pennsylvania through a variety of programs supporting family stability and economic self-sufficiency. Chaffers brings a wealth of experience in social services and advocacy to her new position, including a decade of service with Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services, where she fulfilled various roles. Most recently, she was the agency’s program director in the Office of Social Service Research and Development. Prior to that, she was a supervisor for its Independent Living Unit, an independent living coordinator, and a caseworker. Her career encompasses human services, strategic planning and education at social service agencies, religious organizations and educational institutions in Scranton, Philadelphia and surrounding communities, and New Jersey. A stalwart advocate for social justice, her experience will enhance efforts to fulfill the mission of Outreach, and meet the growing needs of the populations it serves. Chaffers is affiliated with a number of professional and community organizations. Highlights of her community involvement include serving as board secretary of the Center for Health & Human Services Research & Action, and as executive committee member of Transforming Children’s Future. Past service includes volunteering as chairperson for the Youth & Education Sub-Committee of Lackawanna County Housing Continuum, and as a member of the Lackawanna Recovery Coalition. She also served as an adjunct instructor and field instructor for the Master of Social Work program at Marywood University in Scranton. In 2017, Chaffers was honored with the Murray Fox Practicum Educators Award presented by Marywood University’s Field Education Department. Chaffers has participated in numerous professional and educational conferences as a guest lecturer at Temple University, Marywood University, The University of Scranton, SWAN statewide conference, and TCOM/CANS conference, and CWRC: Older Youth Webinar Series Collaboration for Transition Planning. She holds a bachelor of social work degree from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, and a master of social work degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. Chaffers resides in Dickson City with her husband, Alexander (A.J.), and her two children, Angela, age 9, and Joseph, age 6. Chaffers begins her service on January 10, following the retirement of Executive Director Linda Ciampi, who joined the Outreach staff in 2014 as operations director. She was named executive director in 2015 and appointed in 2016, marking a period of growth for the organization. Under her direction, the center underwent a name change and rebranding from Employment Opportunity and Training Center (EOTC) to Outreach Center for Community Resources to better reflect the variety of services and programs the center offers. In addition, the organization was recognized by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce as the SAGE Award Non-Profit of the Year in 2018, and designated a Blue-Ribbon Parents as Teacher® National Affiliate in 2021. An active member of the community, Ciampi served on multiple non-profit boards during her tenure, including: leadership roles on the Lackawanna County Criminal Justice Advisory Board; the Lackawanna County Opioid Reduction Coalition, as a member of the Leadership Committee and co-chairperson of the Professional Education Committee; member of Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy initiative; coach for The University of Scranton’s Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program; and chairperson of the Pardon Project of Lackawanna County.
Johnson College Receives $25,000 from Kenworth of Pennsylvania Recently, Johnson College received a $25,000 contribution from Kenworth of Pennsylvania to support its Diesel Truck Technology program and students. Kenworth of Pennsylvania has been a strong industry partner with Johnson College for fifteen years. They consistently support the College and its students by making cash and in-kind contributions, participating in the Diesel Truck Technology program advisory committee, hosting student interns, and inviting students to take part in their live program labs inside their facility in Dunmore, PA. This year’s contribution will help maintain the quality of the hands-on education Kenworth values to prepare students to enter their industry’s workforce as well qualified and trained technicians. Motor Truck Equipment Company was founded in 1933 and is the parent company of Kenworth of Pennsylvania, Motor Truck PacLease, Motor Truck Thermo King, and TRP of Allentown. Motor Truck spans three generations of leadership from the Mitchell family. They offer the sale of new, medium and heavy-duty Kenworth trucks, as well as a selection of used models. Kenworth of PA has 10 parts and service locations across the state of Pennsylvania to serve all their customers’ transportation needs. To learn more about Kenworth of Pennsylvania, visit kwofpa.com. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.
Geisinger Honors 195 Providers for High Patient Satisfaction Ratings Geisinger recently honored 195 caregivers for being named among the best in the country by their patients, according to national surveys. Geisinger providers — including physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners — were recognized for ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience at the health system’s annual Top Patient Experience Clinicians Awards, which were held virtually this year. Scores were based on Press Ganey survey results, which gives patients an opportunity to grade the service and care they received from a provider. “There’s no better indicator of being a truly exceptional provider than to hear it from your patients,” said J. Edward Hartle, M.D., Geisinger’s executive vice president and chief medical officer. “Each year we have more Geisinger providers ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience, all while the standards keep getting tougher. The bar keeps getting higher, and our care providers continue to excel in making better health easier for our patients.” Among the 195 clinicians honored, three were spotlighted for exemplary work, receiving Geisinger awards for going above and beyond when it comes to compassionate patient care. Shane Daniel Newhouser, DOAkiko Kawamura, MDDebra Kaleta, PA-C Shane Daniel Newhouser, DO, family medicine physician at Geisinger State College, and Akiko Kawamura, MD, pediatrician at Geisinger Mount Pocono, received the Victor J. Marks Award for best Primary Care Physician and Outpatient Specialty Physician, respectively. The award was established in 2002 to honor Dr. Victor Marks, who served as Geisinger’s interim CEO from 2000 to 2001, and his commitment to making patients the primary focus of the health system. It is given to the primary care physician and the outpatient specialty physician at Geisinger who have the highest overall scores on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey. Debra Kaleta, PA-C, in family medicine at Geisinger Mount Carmel, received the Christina Appleman Award. The award is named in honor of Christina Appleman, certified registered nurse practitioner, and is given to the advanced practitioner at Geisinger with the highest overall score on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey. The 90th percentile Geisinger winners are: Central region:Robin L. Adams, CRNP, Obstetrics/GynecologyKenneth Wayne Altman, MD, OtolaryngologyMadiha Mubarik Alvi, MD, EndocrinologyChristina Jo Appleman, CRNP, Obstetrics/GynecologyAmy Gregory Barrett, PA-C, PediatricsMaria C. Bermudez, MD, NephrologyJudith Bianchi Bowser, OD, OphthalmologyThomas J. Bules, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseGreg F. Burke, MD, Internal MedicineJoyce A. Burnside, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseRonald Byerly, PA-C, Internal MedicineJames Tran Connolly, PA-C, Orthopaedic SurgeryMichelle Annabella Cornacchia, MD, Internal MedicineNicole Deckard, LGC, GeneticsDevin M. Conrad, PA-C, ConvenientCareKendall Dobbins, MD, OphthalmologyDan Lawrence Dometita, DO, Internal MedicineCassondra A. Ellison, MD, DermatologyJames R. Elmore, MD, Vascular SurgeryMatthew A. Facktor, MD, Thoracic SurgeryTammie Christine Ferringer, MD, DermatologyHenry F. Fesniak, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseBrant R. Fulmer, MD, UrologyChristine Anne Gallagher, OD, OphthalmologyTullika Garg, MD, UrologyKeith Gibson, MD, Family MedicineNathalie M. Guibord, MD, OphthalmologyMichael John Halupa, Dental SurgeryCharles Eugene Heid, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseEric John Hodgson, MD, Maternal & Fetal MedicineNeil Robert Holland, MD, NeurologyDawn R. Hornberger, CRNP, EndocrinologyElyssa M. Johnson, PA-C, Family MedicineDebra M. Kaleta, PA-C, Family MedicineRosalind L. Kellum, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseJoel C. Klena, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryErin Elisabeth Kohrherr, PA-C, Reproductive Endo/InfertilityBenjamin Robert Kuhn, DO, Pediatric GastroenterologyLauren Elizabeth Samuels, PA-C, Convenient CareMark R. Lentz, MD, Internal MedicineJenna Marie Lindenmuth, PA-C, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports MedicineLindsay Anne Hauser, CRNP, ConvenientCareKevin Carl Long, MD, Colon & Rectal SurgeryRobert Blake Lowe, DO, Family MedicineMichele S. Maroon, MD, DermatologyShannon M. McShea-Johansson, PA-C, GastroenterologyRobert Alain Meloy, MD, Internal MedicineBrittany Eve Meyer, PA-C, Obstetrics/GynecologyO. Fred Miller III, MD, DermatologyBrian Richard Monroe, MD, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementMegan Marie Moran, DO, PediatricsDonald C. Moyer, DO, PediatricsMisha Matongo Mutizwa, MD, DermatologyEric D. Newman, MD, RheumatologyJess W. Oren IV, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMatthew Lee Palmer, MD, DermatologyRajiv P. Panikkar, MD, Medical OncologyLori A. Parke, CRNP, General SurgeryMayur A. Patel, MD, Medical OncologyPriyanka Pathak, MD, HematologyHoward B. Pride, MD, DermatologyJohn Stephen Quick, MD, AnesthesiologyArsalan Rafiq, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMarylou Rainone, DO, General SurgeryJodie Alton Reider, MD, EndocrinologyWells T. Reinheimer, DO, OphthalmologyDavid D. K. Rolston, MD, Internal MedicineDana L. Rubin, PA-C, Plastic SurgeryLisa Lorrae Schroeder, MD, Internal MedicineElizabeth Keslar Scott, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseMark Alan Seeley, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryJohn A. Semian, MD, General SurgeryKeith E. Shalongo, OD, OphthalmologyMatthew J. Shellenberger, DO, GastroenterologyCatherine Terese Shoff, DO, Pulmonary DiseaseDennis Randall Smith, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseJordan Bennett Southern, MD, UrologyRandle H. Storm, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseAlexis Svokos, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologyJill Susan Sweigard, CRNP, PediatricsJohn Robert Tomedi Sr., MD, Family MedicineTyler William Baran, PA-C, ConvenientCareTyler Raymond West, DO, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementCaitlin Jean Wiscount, MD, PediatricsSandrina Dawn Womer, CRNP, Cardiovascular DiseaseJessica Gidaro Yancoskie, CRNP, OphthalmologyKathya Michelle Zinszer, DPM, Podiatry North-central:Mark Judson Rockwell, PA-C, ConvenientCareMelissa Jean Kireski, CRNP, ConvenientCareTena Delores Miller, PA-C, Family MedicineNicholas Showman, PA-C, DermatologyDana M. Smith, DO, PediatricsRoy Erroll Tuller, DO, OphthalmologyJessica Ann Zozos Stehman, PA-C, Obstetrics/Gynecology Northeast:Christian Stephen Adonizio, MD, Medical OncologyAlexander M. Piczon, PA-C, Ortho & Sports Medicine Urgent CareJoseph Patrick Bannon, MD, General SurgeryLouis C. Blaum Jr., MD, General SurgeryElizabeth A. Bordy, PA-C, Family MedicinePranjal Kumar Boruah, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMary Catherine Brady, MD, DermatologyLaurie Campfield, DO, PediatricsJose I. Castillo, MD, Medical OncologyPeter Joseph Cawley, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseCharlea Natasha Pedro, CRNP, ConvenientCareStacy J. Conway, OD, OphthalmologyKelly Jo Dalton, OD, OphthalmologyBrian A. Delvecchio, DO, RheumatologyLaurel Foxworth Dodgson, PA-C, Anesthesiology, Pain ManagementMitchell J. Gross, MD, NeurologyCollin Douglas Hair, MD, OphthalmologyMegan Ward Harris, PA-C, DermatologyJulia Ann Zafia Carey, PA-C, ConvenientCareKarla Grace Dalious, PA-C, ConvenientCareAkiko Kawamura, MD, PediatricsAmanda Katherine Keegan, PA-C, UrologyEric J. Kemmerer, MD, Radiation OncologyKimberly Kaminsky, PA-C, ConvenientCareDavid J. Kolessar, MD, Orthopaedic SurgeryKimberly A. Kovalick, DO, Family MedicineMichael A. Kovalick, DO, Family MedicineMelissa Laporte, CRNP, EndocrinologyLeopoldo Legaspi, MD, PediatricsLauren Nicole Polanin, PA-C, ConvenientCareKara Anne Levandoski, PA-C , Cardiovascular DiseaseMaya Lillyan Lichtenstein, MD, NeurologyPaul R. Long, MD, DermatologyBenoit Mapa, DO, Obstetrics/GynecologyDavid R. Mariner, MD, Vascular SurgeryVernon H. Mascarenhas, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseMartin Eugene Matsumura, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseEvan Lee McClennen, DO, Obstetrics/GynecologySandeep Mehrok, MD, Family MedicineElizabeth Erin Miller, DO, General SurgeryCarl Andrew Nieweld, MD, Pulmonary DiseaseKathleen Marie Noss, DO, PediatricsFrank C. Olshemski, MD, Family MedicineMark Peter Pallis, DO, Orthopaedic SurgerySandra L. Pensieri, DPM, PodiatryJohn Mark Prater, MD, Family MedicineBrogdan Protyniak, MD, Colon & Rectal SurgeryJohn Robert Ramey, MD, UrologyWaqarun Nisa Rashid, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologyJamian M. Ryan, DO, PediatricsLakshmi Neeharika Saladi, MD, Pulmonary DiseaseThomas Spencer Samuelsen, MD, Obstetrics/GynecologySarah Ann Brown, CRNP, Urgent CareKenny Alan Schwartz, MD, NeurologyShreya Sinha, MD, Oncology, MedicalAlessandro G. Smeraldi, MD, Surgery, VascularJohn Joseph Sobuto III, DO, Critical Care MedicineJames A. Tricarico, DO, Family MedicineCassandra Lynn Tunis, DO, Family MedicineJustin Gerard Tunis, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports MedicineDaniel William Upton, MD, OphthalmologyPugazhendhi Vijayaraman, MD, Cardiovascular DiseaseKathleen Iezzi Walsh, MD, PediatricsMary Rachel Wolf, PA-C, Surgical OncologyJason Raymond Woloski, MD, Family MedicineJoseph Alexander Wong, MD, Physical Medicine & RehabilitationSarah Ann Worsnick, PA-C, Cardiovascular DiseaseBonnie Tong Young, CRNP, Cardiology (Interventional)Shane Steven Young, MD, Family Medicine West:Lorraine L. Rosamilia, MD, DermatologyTrevor Sherrick Smith, DO, Family MedicineNatalie Rebeccah Steffen, PA-C, Family MedicineMichelle Jane Thal, PA-C, Allergy & ImmunologyKathleen Mary Zazzali, DO, Cardiovascular Disease
