Explore the Benefits of the United States Air and Space Force The United States Air and Space Force has countless career opportunities and benefits they can offer you. Travel opportunities, tuition assistant, rent and food allowance, free medial coverage, 30 days paid vacation, and so much more! If interested in enlisting or finding out more information please contact SSGT. Taylor Holt, Enlisted Accession Recruiter. Please call (570)-840-9871 or email taylor.holt@us.af.milt 3 West Olive Street, STE #113 Scranton, PA 18508
Marywood University’s New Executive MPA Program Marywood University is launching an Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) Program to fast track graduate degree completion for those working in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. The program, set to begin in the fall 2023 semester, is currently accepting applicants. Designed for working professionals with at least five years of post-bachelor’s degree experience, the EMPA program allows students to take graduate courses in public policy and administration without taking time off from their careers. Consisting of only six courses (18 credits) divided between two semesters, classes are completely online and asynchronous (no specific date/time for meeting), giving students a path to completing a master of public administration degree in just one year. The curriculum features both practical and theoretical skills applications and engagement with practitioners in the classes. Students learn principles of public administration, public policy analysis, human resource management, research methodology, and public budgeting and finance, in addition to completing a capstone project. “The style of the online classes fits the students’ demanding professional lives, while they are able to deploy their newly learned skills and knowledge in their chosen work,” said Alexander Dawoody, Ph.D., public administration program director. “It is the best of both worlds. The students continue to work as they learn, and, at the end of one year, they earn an MPA degree, helping them to advance in their career aspirations.” For more information about Marywood University’s master’s program in public administration, including the EMPA program, visit marywood.edu/public-administration-masters-degree or contact Marywood University Admissions by email at GoGrad@marywood.edu or by phone at 570-348-6234.
RailRiders Announce Promotions and New Hires The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are excited to announce key promotions and additions to their front office staff. Opening Day is March 31 and the team is gearing up for the new campaign with several promotions and hires across multiple departments. “The 2023 season will be here before we know it and we are thrilled to promote several staff members while also adding talent to our staff,” said Katie Beekman, General Manager of the RailRiders. “Any new season in Minor League Baseball always brings some change in every front office. We believe these promotions will put our staff in a tremendous place to succeed. Our new hires are primarily focused on expanding our ticket and premium sales departments to improve customer service and make it easier for fans to enjoy a game at PNC Field.” In December, Matt Hamilton was promoted to the role of Assistant General Manager. Kristina Knight was promoted to Senior Director, Partnership Management & Marketing. Ryan Long has been promoted to Senior Director of Stadium Operations and Dustin Spiegel is now the team’s Manager of Field Operations. Hamilton joined the RailRiders staff before the 2022 season as the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2010 and spent seven years as a news reporter and anchor before a transition to media sales. He joined the Amarillo Sod Poodles in 2018. In three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, Hamilton advanced from serving as a corporate partnerships executive to leading the department. In his new role with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Hamilton’s responsibilities will include overseeing corporate partnerships, premium sales, group sales and ticketing. Knight joined the RailRiders front office team in January 2006 as a Ticket Account Executive. After the announcement of the New York Yankees affiliation, she was promoted to Group Sales Manager. After one year in Group Sales, she was named Sponsor Service Manager. She was then promoted to the position of Senior Sponsor Service Manager. In addition to handling sponsorship accounts and activations, she will oversee the RailRiders Marketing and Game Day Entertainment. She is a 2001 graduate of Riverside Jr./Sr. High School and in 2005 earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Bloomsburg University. Long joined the RailRiders staff in January 2021 as Director of Ballpark Operations. He attended Lackawanna College, graduating with an Associate Degree in Sports Administration. He then went on to Misericordia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Management. Long has over 15 years of experience, serving in buildings such as Comerica Park in Detroit, the American Airlines Center in Dallas and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Spiegel has been with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since the 2019 season as the Assistant Groundskeeper. Before joining the RailRiders, he spent three years in the same role for the Lexington Legends in the South Atlantic League. Spiegel is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Turfgrass Management. In addition to these promotions, the RailRiders have added seven staff members to the front office over the last few months. Patrick Cawley has rejoined the RailRiders front office as the Director of Finance. He is a 2002 graduate of Pittston Area High School and a graduate of Misericordia University. During his time at Misericordia University, he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2007 and went on to complete his MBA in 2010. Cawley worked for SWB as their Senior Accountant from October 2020 through December 2021. Mark Ambrose joined the RailRiders in December as an Account Executive in Season Ticket Sales. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management in 2021 and will finish his masters in Business Administration in 2023, earning both degrees from Keystone College. Ambrose, a Honesdale, PA, native was a member of the men’s basketball team as a walk-on from 2018 through 2021. Colby Emma has been hired as a Group Sales Executive. He grew up in Scituate, Rhode Island. He attended Clarkson University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, as well as attending Northeastern University, where he received his master’s degree in Sports Leadership. Spencer Barberree joins the staff as an Account Executive in Premium Sales. He is from Carlsbad, California, and after high school attended Texas A&M at Galveston, graduating in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies. During the 2022 season or shortly after, Anthony Daniel, Krista Lutzick and Dan Ross were added to the front-office roster in full-time positions. Daniel joined the RailRiders last summer as Account Executive in the Season Ticket Sales department. A native of Easton, PA, he attended East Stroudsburg University and majored in Sports Management. After graduating in 2021, he went on to work for Kevin Garnett’s Big Ticket Sports as their event operations intern. Lutzick was a Community Relations Intern at the beginning of the 2022 season and was hired as the Community Relations Manager in August. Originally from Northeast Pennsylvania, she moved to Nashville in 2013 to attend Belmont University to study the music business. She graduated from Belmont University in 2016 and worked in the music industry for seven years. Lutzick will graduate with her Master of Science in Sport Management from Liberty University this spring. Ross joined the franchise’s front office in January 2022 after serving as a sales intern for the 2021 season. In October, he was hired full-time as the Ticket Operations Manager. He is a native of Stroudsburg and attended East Stroudsburg University. Ross graduated from ESU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Management. For more information on these personnel moves or the upcoming season, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255 or visit swbrailriders.com.
Noteology Debuts Custom Candle Studio Parade Day may be on the horizon but “getting lit” in Scranton has a whole new meaning! When you think of Noteology, your mind, or shall we say your nose, goes right to their Custom Perfume Studio experience where you make your very own perfume. Since they opened in 2013, this has been their signature experience, with over 10,000 guests coming to Scranton from around the world to experience it. But when the calendar flipped into the new year, a new experience made its debut! “Ever since we opened in 2013, customers always wanted to make candles with us. We simply didn’t have the room in the shops to do it. With our recent expansion and move to 537 Wyoming Ave. in Scranton came the opportunity to do it! We’ve made hundreds of thousands of candles over the years but all behind the scenes. Now you can make them with us using the exact same methods and ingredients that we use.” “What’s great about the Candle Studio experience is that it truly is custom; from picking your vessels to your scents, you get to customize it in very hands-on way.” Each participant gets to pick 2 vessels (aka candle jars) from their vessel wall of over 20 options to choose from, with names like Midnight Black and Mercury Gold, it’s a fun process right from the start. The customization doesn’t stop there. Participants can blend up to 2 scents per candle to create their blend from notes that are brand new to Noteology customers while using the same methodology of the Custom Perfume Studio. “Customers sniff and create their blends with our patented fragrance blotter technique. This really allows you to smell the purity of the scents instead of smelling them in wax like other studios do.” In regards to the hands-on approach, Fleming shares with us that the process is very hands-on, “it’s like being in a chemistry class and an art class at the same time!” Participants select 2 vessels, 2 scent combinations, set their wicks, pour their wax and blend the scents into the wax. Candles need 2 hours to cool, so participants can return later to pick up their candles or have them shipped. “In mimicking our Custom Perfume process, we will also keep your formula on file so you can have it re-made at any time. I always felt this was an important offering for our customers and something that sets us apart from other candle studios. Love you candle? We will be happy to make it again for you!” The experience is $60 per person, takes about an hour, and you’ll make 2 candles. Noteology also offer candle-making parties called Wax and Wine, that are BYOB that occur during hours or after hours for a private event where the shop is reserved exclusively for your group. They are now also offering individual charcuterie boxes to accompany your party package. Sessions and parties are by reservation only and reservations can be made by calling 570-343-2100. “With Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day and Mother’s Day coming up, it’s a great time to spend with friends and family while having fun and creating something scent-sational.” What’s happening in the studio this week? Some popular winter combinations have been Scarlet Plum + Beachwood and Vintage Cedarwood + Vetiver. What does your next candle smell like?
National Civics Bee Invites Middle School Students to Enter Essay Topic Identify a problem facing your community. How might a citizen solve the problem? Write a 500-word essay, two pages, double-spaced, that includes the following: What is the problem, and how do different members in your community or neighborhood view it?What civic principles or systems could help to address the problem?What is your idea or recommendation for solving the problem?What primary sources, such as the Declaration of Independence or the United States Constitution, provide supporting evidence or examples for your idea or recommendation?How might members of your community or neighborhood bring your idea or recommendation to life? Judging Criteria Your essay will be evaluated based on how well you: • Demonstrate an understanding of civics.• Acknowledge and address opposing points of view.• Acknowledge and address at least one Founding Principle and one Civic Virtue.• Use primary sources, like newspapers, data, historical documents, images, or other documents that relate to your idea.• Clearly describe an idea innovative or new to you. Local Prizes First Place: $500 cash prize Second Place: $250 cash prize Third Place: $125 cash prize State Prizes First Place: $1,000 cash prize Second Place: $500 cash prize Third Place: $250 cash prize Each finalist receives a certificate. About the Bee The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. In the first round of the contest, local 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will participate in an essay competition. Judges will then select 20 finalists to participate in the local competition: a live quiz event testing civics knowledge. Then, the top 3 students from each local competition will advance to the state competition
8 Participants were Selected for TechCelerator Program Scranton, PA—Lackawanna County, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners recently launched a new entrepreneurial program: TechCelerator @ Lackawanna County. Following a competitive application process, eight small businesses were chosen as finalists. All eight were selected for their unique tech-based ideas, commitment to completing the program, and creating a company and jobs based in Lackawanna County. “Lackawanna County is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship by providing the tools necessary to bring a business plan to reality,” said Brenda Sacco, Director of Economic Development. “We are proud to have funded this great initiative and look forward to seeing these businesses grow and become viable members of our community.” The first cohort session will take place on Tuesday, February 7, at TekRidge, in the Jessup Business Park. The eight participating businesses will walk away with solid networking skills and a foundational understanding of finances, marketing, business strategy, and more. After ten weeks, a graduation ceremony will take place where participants will pitch their finalized business plan. For those who successfully meet the requirements, $10,000 in reimbursable business expenses will assist them in launching their venture. “The tremendous response to the offering (29 applicants) shows that the entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in our region,” said Bob Durkin, President and CEO of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “What is more, while this pilot program was limited to a select group of technology-based participants, our Chamber IGNITE team will be working to help all the applicants further their dreams of starting a new business.” The eight businesses are Babinski Co., Gamer Realities, Mass Layer, Neuralytics, McGowan Co., Sensify, Success Fundamentals, Sylf. Future products and services range from 3D printing services, a self-serve alcohol dispenser, video game production, educational podcast, and more. 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.
NEPA SHRM Hosts Event for Opioid Epidemic NEPA SHRM hosts The Opioid Epidemic & Substance Abuse in The Work Place. The event will take place on March 9, 2023 from 8:00-10:30AM at Top of the 80s in Hazleton, PA Breakfast will be included. Attendance is FREE for NEPA SHRM Members and $25 for non-members Please Register by March 6, 2023 at www.nepashrm.shrm.org
Lexington Entertainment February Music Schedule Lexington Entertainment is hosting live music at local events throughout the month of February. Friday, February 17, 2023 at 6:00PM-7:00 PM DOUG SMITH’S DIXIELAND ALL-STARS Blakely/Peckville Crimewatch Association Fundraiser – Mardi Gras Style Fiorelli’s 1501 Main Street, Peckville PA 570-489-6777 The cost is $65 Tuesday, February 21, 2023 (Fat Tuesday) at 5:00PM-7:00PM DOUG SMITH’S DIXIELAND ALL-STARS Mardi Gras Celebration – Authentic Cajun Cuisine Villa Maria II 1610 Washburn Street, Scranton, PA (570) 347-8010
Outreach to Host Job Fair Outreach invites job seekers to attend the Department of Corrections Job Fair to be held at the LEAD Center at Outreach, 431 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton, on Wednesday, February 15. 2023 from 10 am to 2 pm. In the event of snow, the makeup date will be Friday, February 17, 2023, from 10 am to 2 pm. The LEAD Center at Outreach is hosting an on-site job fair with the Department of Corrections. Timothy Budgeon, Lieutenant Department of Corrections Recruitment and Retention Specialist, will be on-site to provide information regarding the amazing career opportunities available with the Department of Corrections. Job opportunities include work with: State CorrectionsState ParoleState Community Corrections The Department of Corrections has positions that cover all spectrum’s of experience and education in Civil and Non-Civil Service categories. Positions range from administrative, security, maintenance, food service, education, psychology, medical, dental, and more. Earn up to $22.28 per hour to start! Outreach – Center for Community Resources serves over 4,500 adults and children each year by offering a variety of programs that promote family stability and economic self-sufficiency, with respect for the individual and with the highest professional standards. The LEAD Center at Outreach helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and is proud to partner with the Department of Corrections to serve our local community. For more information, contact: Jennifer Shoemaker at 570-703-0049.
