Marywood University to Honor Alumni Award Winners

Marywood University will welcome alumni back to campus, along with families of current students, during its combined celebration of Alumni & Family Weekend, set for Friday, September 30, through Sunday, October 2, on the university’s campus. To see a full listing of the weekend’s events and to register for any events, visit: marywood.edu/alumni/events/alumni-family-weekend

Alumni Award winners will be honored at a dinner on Friday, September 30, at 6 p.m., in the Latour Room at Nazareth Student Center. Reservations are required to attend, and the cost is $40 per person. This year’s honorees include:

  • Sister Mary Persico IHM ’69, Ed.D., who is receiving the 2022 Sister M. Denis Donegan Award for Long Term Service to Marywood.
  • The Honorable Anne Healey ’72, who is receiving the 2022 Golden Marywoodian Award.
  • Dr. Joseph Trunzo ’93, who is receiving the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.
  • Dr. Amy Freeman ’98, MSW ’07, MBA ’22, who is receiving the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.
  • Dr. Matthew Nice, MS ’15, who is receiving the 2022 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award.
  • Kristinia Beckage Luke ’11, who is receiving the 2022 Alumni Community Achievement Award.
  • Lia Richards-Palmiter, Ph.D. ’09, who is receiving the 2022 Faculty and Staff Alumni Impact Award.

Outreach To Hold Annual Mighty Oak Awards

Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host its annual Mighty Oak Awards honoring pillars in our community for their leadership and contributions on September 29, 2022 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic.

The 2022 Mighty Oak honorees include:

Daniel Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank. Dan has dedicated his life not only to his profession but also to his community’s civic engagement through supporting philanthropic organizations throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.

Linda Ciampi, former Executive Director of Outreach, spent six of her over 25-year career forwarding the mission of Outreach through her commitment to overseeing operations and providing leadership that ensured excellence in providing evidence-based programming to families, adults, and children in northeastern Pennsylvania.

A new award, the Beth Beh Community Spirit Award, will be presented this year to The Lackawanna County Penn State Master Gardeners. The award is to recognize their service in beautifying the grounds of Outreach and partnering with local organizations to provide instruction on gardening while improving neighborhoods throughout Lackawanna County.

NET Credit Union Celebrates New Taylor Branch

NET Credit Union held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Taylor, PA location on Monday, September 19th. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the branch’s new location, the former Via Appia Catering Building, 900 S. Main Street, Taylor, PA 18517. This building will open as NET Credit Union’s third branch in 2023.

Having been located in Scranton and Olyphant for so many years, NET Credit Union is excited to join another community in Lackawanna County. Opening this new branch will not only welcome new members, but it will also be conveniently located for a large number of our current membership. NET would like to thank our volunteers and employees for their sustained hard work as we continue to grow. NET would also like to thank our members for their continued support as we continue to grow and develop in order to serve them better.

NET Credit Union is excited about this new chapter and is eager to meet all of our neighbors in Taylor, PA. Further details on the official opening date will be announced. Follow NET Credit Union on all social media platforms for updates.

Second Row Pictured L to R: Mike Burke, NET Supervisory Committee Volunteer; Bob Durkin, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President; Janelle Kaczmarek, CFO of NET; Clarence Baltrusaitis, CEO of NET; Chuck McKeel, Taylor Borough Councilman

Front Row Pictured L to R: Don Bailey, NET Board Chairman; Karen Clifford, NET Board of Director; Mayor Loni Kavulich Loiselle, Mayor of Taylor Borough; Rich Surridge, NET Board Treasurer; Dick Nezlo, Taylor Borough Councilman; Paul Franceschelli, NET Board of Director; Lori Doherty, NET Board of Director

Geisinger Welcomes Pediatric Cardiologist Into Leadership Role

Shuping Ge, M.D., has joined Geisinger as system chair of the Department of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology.

A specialist in pediatric cardiology, Dr. Ge cares for babies before and after birth, children and adolescents with congenital heart disease. He has clinical and translational research interest and expertise in non-invasive cardiovascular imaging, fetal cardiology and pediatric preventive cardiology.

Dr. Ge joins pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgeon Gerhard Ziemer, M.D., Ph.D., to lead Geisinger’s congenital heart program, which cares for patients from their prenatal days through adulthood. An avid academic, Dr. Ge will also mentor future providers and scientists as a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

He earned his medical degree at Shandong University School of Medicine in Jinan, Shandong, China, and conducted research in cardiovascular ultrasound at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland and Wake Forest University Bowman Grey School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Ge completed his residency in pediatrics at St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center in New York City and his fellowship training in pediatric cardiology at The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado School of Medicine, in Denver. 

Before joining Geisinger, Dr. Ge held clinical leadership roles at Children’s Hospital of Iowa, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in Iowa City, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, and Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey.

He’s also held professorships at University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University College of Medicine.

Dr. Ge is certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology by the American Board of Pediatrics, and he has a subspecialty certification in pediatric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging from the American College of Radiology.  He has practiced fetal, pediatric, and preventive cardiology for 20 years and has been named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly, US News and World Report, Philadelphia Magazine and America’s Most Honored Doctors.

His collaborative and translational research in cardiovascular imaging, fetal cardiology and pediatric preventive cardiology has been funded by the American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health, and he’s authored or co-authored about 250 published scholarly works.  

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Treasurer Stacy Garrity: U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Pennsylvania Unclaimed Case

The U. S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Monday, October 3, in a dispute first filed in 2016 by Pennsylvania against Delaware involving unclaimed property. Following Pennsylvania’s lead, 29 other states later joined the suit.

It’s estimated that Delaware could owe as much as $400 million in escheated funds to other states – including nearly $19 million to Pennsylvania – as unclaimed property from MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., a provider of money transfer and bill payment services.

“Pennsylvania was the first state to challenge Delaware’s actions in court six years ago,” said Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. “We’re pleased that so many other states have adopted our position and followed our lead. I’m optimistic that the Supreme Court will make the right decision to return these funds to Pennsylvania and the other states so that we can work to return the money to the real owners of this unclaimed property – hardworking taxpayers across Pennsylvania and the nation.”

This is the first time in almost 30 years that the Supreme Court will consider a question involving the laws governing unclaimed property.

In May 2021, SCOTUS-appointed Special Master Judge Pierre N. Leval of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Pennsylvania’s favor – in a 100-page report – that Delaware improperly demanded and received uncashed MoneyGram checks purchased in other states.

Pennsylvania argues that uncashed “official checks” sold by MoneyGram in Pennsylvania are a form of money order. According to the Federal Disposition Act (FDA), uncashed money orders and similar instruments are to be escheated to the state in which they were originally purchased. Delaware argues that MoneyGram’s “official checks” do not fall into this FDA classification, and are therefore due to the state where the company is incorporated.

As part of Special Master Leval’s 2021 decision, he conclusively determined the disputed MoneyGram “official checks” should be returned to the state of original purchase in compliance with the FDA. He found Delaware’s argument to be logically “flawed” and both “insubstantial and unpersuasive.”

“Delaware has an aggressive, well-documented history of demanding unclaimed funds and then using those funds to cover a substantial portion of its state budget,” Garrity said. “In fact, when this matter began, Delaware admitted that unclaimed property was the third-largest budget source for the state. But – as demonstrated by the Special Master’s decision – these MoneyGram checks were claimed and received by Delaware and are rightfully due to other states, where the original owners will have a chance to reclaim their property.”  

Pennsylvania’s case was originally filed in February 2016 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The case was subsequently moved to the Supreme Court as a dispute between states that falls within the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction. After Pennsylvania’s filing, 29 other states filed suit using the same legal arguments advanced by Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is the only state directly represented by its unclaimed property administrator, Treasurer Garrity. Pennsylvania Treasury is represented by its Chief Counsel, Christopher B. Craig, along with Matthew H. Haverstick and Joshua J. Voss of Philadelphia-based Kleinbard LLC.

The other states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, all of whom are represented by their respective Attorney General Offices.

Tobyhanna Army Depot Extends Strategic Planning Focus

Tobyhanna Army Depot has announced its newest strategic planning target: the year 2035.

An offshoot of the TOBY2028 effort, TOBY2035 has four strategic focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications – all aimed at posturing the organization for success in the year 2035.

The strategic refocus serves two main purposes, according to Organizational Development Specialist Heather Fiedler.

“It has always been our intent to continue moving the target. Readjusting our focus to 2035 allows us to be nested with the Army’s overall strategic plan and align with the 15-year modernization plan for all organic industrial base entities,” she said.

TOBY2035 represents a continuation of the depot’s aggressive, future-focused strategic planning efforts, building upon incredible success with the plan’s predecessors, TOBY2028, and TOBY2020.  Each plan resulted in significant accomplishments for each line of effort.

Under the Invest in Our People banner, Fiedler says employee development programs, such as the “In Their Boots” shadowing program and developmental rotation opportunities, have made a big difference.

“These voluntary opportunities encourage employees and supervisors to develop new perspectives of operations, broaden their network and knowledge, and increase empathy toward peers while learning about their experiences in the workplace.”

A key achievement by the C5ISR Readiness line of effort was the establishment of a dedicated Business Intelligence team, focused on consolidating and standardizing production reports – enabling leadership the tools they need to make the best decisions for the organization.

The Shape the Future line of effort is developing a microelectronics strategy assessment to determine if Tobyhanna can support the microelectronics market in support of domestic supply chain shortages.

“As a result of the supply chain challenges facing the Department of Defense Tobyhanna recognizes the need to build an agile and flexible microelectronics capability to support overarching defense strategies,” said Katlin Edmunds, Chief of the Strategic Initiatives Office and leader of the Shape the Future line of effort.

Among the Strategic Communications line of effort’s accomplishments is a major upgrade to audio systems across the depot, reducing downtime and increasing wide access to information disseminated audially. The team also re-tooled communications processes to heighten inclusivity to individuals with disabilities.

University of Scranton Names Seven New Trustees

The University of Scranton named seven individuals to its Board of Trustees: William Canny ’77, H’07; Joseph Collins ’90; Mary Collins, Ph.D.; Matthew Cooper, M.D. ’90; Lisa DeNaples, D.M.D.; Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.; and Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J. ’07.

William Canny

William Canny, executive director of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS), has more than 30 years of service to the Catholic Church and to refugees and migrants through his current position, as well as previous positions held at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the International Catholic Migration Commission.

Canny joined USCCB/MRS in 2015. He previously served as CRS in several positions during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He served as director of emergency operations at CRS from 2010 to 2012, leading the emergency department in global prevention, preparedness, protection and response operations. Canny directed CRS’ initial response to the Haiti earthquake of 2010. From 1998 to 2004, Canny served as secretary general for the International Catholic Migration Commission. He also served as the chief operations officer of the Papal Foundation.

Throughout his distinguished career, Canny has demonstrated commitment to – and has provided a wealth of experience in – providing service to migrants, refugees and others in need. He has lived and worked in Niger, Djibouti, Burkina Faso, India, Switzerland and Haiti.

Canny received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from The University of Scranton at the New Student Assembly in 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human services in 1977 from

Scranton and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife Patricia and his twin sons Alex and Roan.

Joseph Collins

Joseph Collins, vice president, Medical Intelligence, Patient Insights and Solutions at Astellas Pharmaceuticals, has spent his career in the pharmaceutical industry. At Astellas, a global Life Sciences organization, Collins manages teams tasked with ensuring the perspective and insights of patients and healthcare providers are considered in all phases of drug development and commercialization. Prior to joining Astellas, he worked at Sanofi and Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Collins is active in several organizations including serving on the board of Times Shamrock Communications. He is a member of the President’s Business Council at The University of Scranton and serves as a mentor to undergraduates in the Kania School of Management. He has served on the Devon Preparatory School Alumni Board, Keystone College Board of Trustees and the Greater Scranton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Collins graduated from The University of Scranton in 1990 with dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and received his master’s in business administration from Villanova University in 2007. He lives in Scranton with his wife Mauri Haggerty Collins and their five daughters Clare, Catie, Cecelia, Rita and Elizabeth.

Mary Collins, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Collins, associate provost and as a resident Chaplain at Le Moyne College, has 40 years of experience in Jesuit Catholic higher education. During her time at Le Moyne College, Dr. Collins has served as associate provost for twelve years, as resident Chaplain for ten years, as the inaugural dean of management for several years, as the department chair of accounting for multiple terms, and as Faculty Senate president three times. As a faculty member, Dr. Collins, who is also a licensed certified public accountant in New York, has taught upper-division courses in financial accounting and auditing, pursued her research interest on budgets and organizational behavior and served on numerous committees primarily in academic affairs and finance. She received two awards for teaching excellence.

During her distinguished career, Dr. Collins has served on numerous boards, including the Institute of Internal Auditors of Central New York Chapter, Peace Action of Central New York, VNA Systems, Inc., among others. She served on numerous committees of professional organizations and

local initiatives including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, vice-chair of Mayor’s Commission on Living Wage, New York State’s Assembly’s Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation and the American Accounting Association Auditing Section National Committee, to name a few.

Dr. Collins earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Le Moyne College, and her master’s degree in accounting and Ph.D., focusing on accounting and organization behavior, change and development, from Syracuse University.

Matthew Cooper, M.D.

Dr. Matthew Cooper is a professor of surgery at Georgetown School of Medicine, and director of kidney and pancreas transplantation and director for quality at the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute (MGTI). He is involved in transplantation activities both in the U.S. and around the world. He is the current United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network president. He is a member of the National and D.C. Board of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and a member of the NKF’s National Transplant Task Force. He has served as a councillor for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He is a current board member for the National Kidney Registry, the American Foundation for Donation and Transplantation, the International Pancreas and Islet Cell Transplant Association and Donate Life America. Dr. Cooper has served as chair of the American Transplant Congress.

Dr. Cooper seeks new opportunities for living donation through innovation and by removing the disincentives for those considering donation while promoting the safety and long-term care of live organ donors. His clinical interests include kidney and pancreas transplantation; particularly the use of marginal organs. He has authored over 220 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 300 abstracts and 12 book chapters. He is regularly invited to speak on a variety of transplant-related topics both nationally and internationally.

Prior to his current role at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, which he began in 2012, Dr. Cooper directed the kidney transplant and clinical research program the University of Maryland (2005-2012). He joined the transplant faculty at the Johns Hopkins Hospital upon completion of his training and was appointed surgical director of kidney transplantation and clinical research in 2003.

Dr. Cooper graduated from The University of Scranton in 1990, earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He earned his medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

He completed his general surgery training at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed by a fellowship in multi-organ abdominal transplantation at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Dr. Cooper and his wife, Alicia, reside in Columbia, Maryland. They are the parents of 3 children: Julia’ 19, Emily and Matthew.

Lisa DeNaples, D.M.D.

Dr. Lisa DeNaples, is owner and managing trustee at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, a premier resort in the Poconos with nearly 300 rooms, a spa and salon and five restaurants. Mount Airy was the first AAA Four Diamond casino resort in Pennsylvania.

When a hand injury forced Dr. DeNaples to reduce some of her dental work, she became co-owner and vice president of a Harley Davidson Dealership located in Williamsport. She attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, for one and a half years, where she had an externship in the City District Attorney’s Office. While attending law school, she was asked by her father to lead the Mount Airy Project where she currently serves as owner and managing trustee.

Dr. DeNaples is a current board member of Highmark Blue Cross. She is a former board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Scranton, Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, The University of Scranton, Scranton Council on Literacy Advance (SCOLA) and Mercy Hospital (Scranton Regional Hospital).

A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Dr. DeNaples earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Marywood University. She earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School with a focus on General Family Dentistry.

Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.

Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J., is the director of campus ministry and university Chaplain at Fairfield University, where he has served since July 2021. A native of Long Island, New York, he joined the East Coast Province Jesuits in the summer of 2008. He has served mainly in campus ministry at the college and high school level, in retreat work, and in faith formation. He has also served as the director of religious education at a diverse parish in Oakland, California.

Father Maczkiewicz was ordained a priest in June 2018 and has worked in campus ministry at Georgetown University, the College of the Holy Cross and The University of Scranton, where he lived in Hafey Hall as a resident minister from 2006 to 2008.

Father Maczkiewicz earned his bachelor’s degree in history/American studies/education from Fairfield University and his master’s degree in secondary education from Providence College. After entering the Society of Jesus, he completed his philosophy studies and earned a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and his completed theology studies earning a M.Div., Th.M., S.T.L. at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He is currently a student in the Executive Doctor of Higher Education program at Boston College, in its inaugural cohort.

Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J.

Rev. Adam Rosinski, S.J., a priest of the USA East Jesuit Province, currently serves as the Socius and assistant director of novices at the St. Andrew Hall Jesuit Novitiate in Syracuse, New York. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2019, he previously served as associate pastor at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and as the assistant director and promoter of vocations for the Jesuits’ USA East Province.

Father Rosinski serves as a trustee of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

Father Rosinski earned his bachelor’s degree in theology and counseling and human services from The University of Scranton in 2007. He entered the Society of Jesus in 2009 and, during his Jesuit formation, he earned his master’s degree in social philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, served as a teacher and campus minister at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, and went on to earn Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

FNCB Bank Donates $15,000 To Allied Services

FNCB Bank recently presented Allied Services with a generous $15,000 donation as part of Team Allied Services & You. FNCB Bank is a proud major sponsor of Team Allied Services & You, the annual charity campaign formerly known as Ryan’s Run. The bank’s donation and proceeds from fundraising events, appeals, and the efforts the team’s 73 marathon runners will benefit patients and residents at Allied Services. 

FNCB Bank is a long-time supporter of Allied Services, contributing to various health and vocational programs run by the non-profit health system. This November, FNCB Bank team member Theresa Verdon will participate in the TCS New York City Marathon while raising funds for patients at Allied Services. 

“We are excited to partner with Allied Services to help change the lives of children and adults in our area,” commented Jerry Champi, President & Chief Executive Officer, FNCB Bank. “We will be rooting for Theresa and encourage everyone to support her run with a donation to Allied.”  In recent years, proceeds from the charity campaign have enabled Allied Services to invest in cutting-edge rehab technology not available anywhere else locally. One example is the Exoskeleton from Parker Indego. The device assists individuals with spinal cord injuries, neurological conditions and other injuries to stand and walk as part of physical therapy treatments at Allied Services.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart Receives Grant From the SACF

Hospice of the Sacred Heart recently received a grant for $12,000 from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support caring for patients and families during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. The grant is part of the Scranton Area Community Foundation 2022 Spring Community Needs Grant Cycle and was funded in 2022.  

“The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to ravage our community, state and nation. This generous grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation will go a long way in advancing our mission of providing comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families,” said Diane Baldi, CEO, Hospice of the Sacred Heart.

The mission of Hospice of the Sacred Heart is to provide comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families, while guiding them through their end of life journey.