Chamber Goes “All In” on AI at the 155th Annual Dinner The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce held its 155th Annual Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, on Wednesday, March 27, at the Scranton Cultural Center in downtown Scranton. Over 450 people attended, including Lackawanna County Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin. Shawn Kanungo, a disruption strategist, bestselling author, and former innovation expert for Deloitte, was the keynote speaker. The event included a networking dinner followed by the Chamber program where board chair, Attorney Jerry Musheno offered remarks and had a little fun with generative AI. The Chamber, along with the help of member Posture Interactive, developed AI photos and videos for the night’s entertainment. Members submitted prompts that generated photos. The Chamber’s President, Bob Durkin, stated, “The Chamber is blessed to have such strong support from our regional business community. The Annual Dinner is an occasion to salute all of our members and celebrate the efforts of our literally hundreds of volunteer leaders over this past year.” Pete Danchak, northeast PA regional president of PNC Bank, offered remarks and introduced Shawn Kanungo, the keynote speaker. Kanungo is a world-renowned generative AI expert who gave an inspiring keynote on AI’s power in businesses. Kanungo delivered a riveting challenge to the audience on AI and its power of influence on the world. AI can be a useful tool to help advance small businesses that don’t have the manpower but use the tool wrong, and the intent of AI can have a negative impact. Kanungo’s work with corporations has shaped their trajectory as they harness AI’s power to advance operations and lay a foundation of mining through data, creating social campaigns, and more. His presentation gave Chamber members a perspective on AI for their businesses and paved a path for future discussions. The incoming board chair, Attorney Marianne Gilmartin, concluded the evening with remarks and looked to the upcoming 2024–25 program year. The Chamber’s success stems from its members and their growing businesses.
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.
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
PNC Bank to Host Third Annual Penguins 5K The third Annual Penguins 5K presented by PNC Bank benefiting the Penguins Goals Foundation is taking place at the Back Mountain Trail in Luzerne on Saturday, August 26th at 9:00 a.m. All registered participants will receive a free voucher for a 2023 Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins home game, Penguins 5K T-shirt, and a finisher puck. There will be top prizes for overall male and female and age group awards. The run/walk is just $35 and proceeds benefit the Penguins GOALS Foundation, an organization dedicated to removing barriers on and off the ice by supporting and creating programs to make youth sports more accessible, to advocate for education, and offer support to Northeastern Pennsylvania communities and their programming. Questions? Reach out to Mollie Boyd at mboyd@wbspenguins.com or (570) 208-5414.
The Chamber Celebrates its 154th Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker Harold Ford Jr used the Chamber’s mission statement to make a connection with personal, professional, and community relationships The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce held its 154th Annual Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, on Thursday, May 24, at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center in downtown Scranton. With over 400 in attendance, special guests included U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. The Keynote Speaker was former Congressman, television personality, Executive Vice President, and Regional President of New York City for PNC Bank, Harold Ford, Jr. The Chamber’s President, Bob Durkin, stated, “The Chamber Annual Dinner was a chance to celebrate the hard work of so many volunteers, partners, and public officials who lent their support to the business community of northeastern Pennsylvania over this past year. And we were equally pleased to have had a guest of the stature of Harold Ford sharing his experiences and thoughts on the important economic and political issues of the day.” The event included a networking dinner followed by the Chamber program where newly elected board chair, Attorney Jerry Musheno offered remarks and honored former board chair, Deborah Kolsovsky. Kolsovsky has been a part of The Chamber community since 2012 and held numerous leadership roles within the board and chamber affiliates. She is the executive vice president at PNC Bank and has been a forward thinker in her leadership to The Chamber over the years. Attorney Musheno began his duties as board chair this May. Special remarks were given by Dr. Julie Byerley from Geisinger, followed by Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber. Durkin presented a year-in-review presentation, which displayed The Chamber, its partners, and volunteers’ success over the last year. A few notable points are that The Chamber has a membership of 1,500 plus businesses and organizations; 2300 attendees to all its events; $43 million in community investment; eight graduates from the first TechCelerator program in Lackawanna County; $1.2 million deployed through loans to small businesses; 100 high school students in attendance at the Workforce Summit; and $68,000 community investment through Leadership Lackawanna. Following the year in review, Durkin highlighted two Chamber employees retiring in 2023: Karen Durkin, a chamber operations assistant who has served the organization for 17 years, and Virginia Goodrich, an executive assistant who has served the organization for 58 years this June. Goodrich is reportedly the longest-serving employee of a chamber of commerce in the United States. Pete Danchak, northeast PA regional president of PNC Bank, offered remarks and introduced Harold Ford Jr, the keynote speaker. Following opening remarks, Ford. was joined by Durkin on the stage for a line of questions and answers about the current political climate, the debt ceiling, banking, and the federal reserve, and the idea of attracting, sustaining, and growing personally, professionally, and as a community. Chamber board chair Musheno concluded the evening with remarks in anticipation of another successful year in 2023-2024. “With programming planned out, the volunteers and staff of The Chamber are ready to make an even greater impact as we work to attract, sustain, and grow businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania,” says Attorney Jerry Musheno, board chair of The Chamber. View the online photo album from the 154th Annual Dinner. Photo from Left to Right: Pete Danchak, Harold Ford, Jr, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, and Bob Durkin About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Former Congressman Keynote at 154th Annual Chamber Dinner Scranton, PA—The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce announced that the 154th Annual Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center. The Annual Dinner celebrates the accomplishments of The Chamber’s past fiscal year and will feature a keynote presentation by Harold Ford, Jr, a former United States Congressman and executive vice president and regional president in New York with PNC Bank. Ford is the executive vice president and regional president of PNC Bank, New York. In this role, he is responsible for new business development and deepening relationships with clients and community organizations. Prior to being named to his current role in February 2023, Ford served as vice chairman of Corporate & Institutional Banking (C&IB) for PNC Bank. Serving as a Congressman for 10 years (1997–2007), he represented the people of Tennessee’s 9th congressional district. He was on the House Financial Services, Budget, and Education Committee and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Tickets for the annual dinner are available online at www.ScrantonChamber.com. The Chamber board of directors, staff, and membership looks forward to celebrating all that has been accomplished in the greater Scranton community. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
8 Years of EMPOWERING Women Regionally Scranton, PA—The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its eighth annual EMPOWER NEPA Women’s Leadership Conference on Thursday, April 13, at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. A full-day conference, EMPOWER featured nationally recognized keynote speakers, Melissa Gilbert and Robyn Hatcher and 32 regional breakout session speakers. Over 800 attendees participated in the conference. Robyn Hatcher, international speaker and communications professional, said in her breakfast keynote, “Fake it till you make it; I hate that phrase; instead, you should Own it While You Hone it.” Hatcher continues, “We were all born with the gifts, the talents, the abilities to make that powerful impact; we just need to own your values.” Themed “Fearless Together,” EMPOWER is the premier Women’s Leadership Conference in NEPA. It highlights the ability all women have to create positive change in their communities and in their own lives – both professionally and personally – while recognizing the extraordinary power that exists when women come together to support each other. Presenting Sponsor, Dr. Julie Byerley from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine EMPOWER’s lunch keynote speaker, Melissa Gilbert, known for her iconic role in the classic TV series, “Little House on the Prairie,” shared, “I was very excited to hear about [the conference], and to speak [.] Whatever I can do to empower young and older women. My primary focus is bringing awareness to nurturing and empowering women over 50.” EMPOWER 2023 included a Wellness Studio that allowed conference attendees to attend yoga, Zumba, stretching, and other fitness experiences throughout the day. In addition, there was a Wellness Marketplace and a Vendor Marketplace where attendees could network or engage with vendors who were selling products or services. The conference concluded with a networking reception. On the right is Melissa Gilbert, Lunch Keynote Speaker, and on the left is Robyn Hatcher, Breakfast Keynote Speaker The 32 regional speakers included Kate Sholonski, Guzal Mustafina, Dr. Christine Kiesinger, Elizabeth Keiper, Deborah Kolsovsky, Susan Unvarsky, Jasmine Willois, Laura Ducceschi, Karolyn Demarco, Mandie Hendricks, Kimberlee Greenleaf, Megan Stone, Noelle Krempasky, Holly Pilcavage, Alex Grover, Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, Maria Traino, Danielle Weinschenk, Kim Drumgo, Dr. Katie Leonard, Nicole Strauser, Jill Valentini, Susan Kelly, June Webre, Elizabeth Nagy, and Marlyn Kissner. While Wellness Instructors included Chelsea Manganaro, Talia Walsh, Jackie Kerekes, Edna Cementina, Christie Estadt, and Michael Normandia. Empower 2024 will be held on April 25, 2024. The featured image is the EMPOWER Lunch Sponsor, PNC Bank, local team: from the left, Jennifer Stull, Joyce Petrenchak, Lauren Allen, Angela Mariotti, Melissa Gilbert, Kathy Dunsmuir, Debbie Kolsovsky, Nicole Costanzo, Elise Hill. Check out the EMPOWER 2023 Photo Album Watch EMPOWER 2023 Keynote, Breakout, and Panel Sessions Videos About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
NeighborWorks Welcomes PNC Bank as Fall Festival Presenting Sponsor NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) is pleased to welcome PNC Bank as this year’s presenting sponsor for the West Scranton Fall Festival. In collaboration with the City of Scranton, the inaugural West Scranton Fall Festival will be a two-part event that is FREE to the public and will be held Saturday, Oct. 22. Rain date is Nov. 5. It will take place first at Clover Field, located at 400 W Locust St, in Scranton from noon to 3 p.m., and then at Allen Park at the corner of North Main Avenue and Price Street from 6-9 p.m. “Coming together to support local businesses and celebrate our community has never been more important than it is now,” said Pete Danchak, PNC regional president for Northeast PA. “As a National Main Street Bank, supporting the West Scranton Fall Festival as the inaugural presenting sponsor is simply the right thing to do – and fun!” From 3-6 p.m., attendees will be encouraged to check out local establishments within the West Scranton business corridor. For more information and future business promotion regarding the Fall Festival, please go to the Facebook event page here.
Johnson College’s Inaugural Fall Fest Johnson College announces PNC Bank as the presenting sponsor of its inaugural Fall Fest. This free-admission community event will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the College’s campus in Scranton, PA. The event will feature a variety of activities for all ages. Families can enjoy live music, games, pumpkin decorating, and face painting, and browse an array of items from over 25 local artisan, craft, and food vendors. There will also be an all-ages scavenger hunt and program displays for attendees to learn more about what the College has to offer. Johnson College alumni can catch up with each other in the alumni tent, which will feature special giveaways. The Fall Fest will also feature the College’s first-ever Cornhole Tournament, sponsored by NET Credit Union and in partnership with NEPA Cornhole. The tournament will feature both Social ($20/team) and Competitive ($40/team) divisions with double elimination. A team will consist of two players, and anyone from beginners to pros can play. Prizes for the Social division will include: 1st place, $100 cash; 2nd place, $50 in gift cards. Prizes for the Competitive division will include: 1st place, $300 cash; 2nd place, $150 cash. There will be food and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Teams can pre-register online at https://johnson.edu/cornhole-registration-form/ or register at the door from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Additional sponsors for Fall Fest include Lamar Advertising, Sweda Advertising, Fastenal, Commonwealth Charter Academy, Highmark, L.R. Costanzo Co, Inc., NRG Controls North, Inc., Onvo, Troy Mechanical, Gibbons Ford, Mesko Glass & Mirror, Shea Industries, ShopRite, Lace Works Tap & Grill, Walmart Dickson City, Carpenter’s Local Union 445, Citizens Savings Bank, FNCB Bank, IBEW Local Union #81, and Topp Business Solutions. More details can be found at johnson.edu/FallFest. Proceeds from Fall Fest, presented by PNC Bank, will benefit the Johnson College Annual Fund, which helps to maintain important scholarships, programs, and facilities to continue providing hands-on learning to Johnson College students.
