Healthy MOMS Case Manager Presents at U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Conference Marcella Garvin, a case manager of the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program (MOMS) at The Wright Center for Community Health, recently made the presentation, “It Takes a Village: Utilizing a Collaborative Approach to Promote Breastfeeding Among Women with Substance Use Disorder,” at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Conference in June. Garvin’s presentation focused on how the novel program educates mothers in recovery early in their pregnancies about the importance of breastfeeding their newborns. “Breastfeeding is strongly recommended for any new baby. However, women with substance use disorder have lower rates of breastfeeding. When a mother in recovery is utilizing medication as part of their treatment, babies can sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms,” said Garvin. The Healthy MOMS program aims to reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptoms through intensive case management. Part of the collaborative approach includes providing mothers with education about the importance of breastfeeding early in their pregnancy. “We have seen excellent results, improving our breastfeeding rate nearly 40% from the inception of the program. We have also seen that educating and providing mothers with support early in their pregnancy has resulted in better outcomes for their babies,” said Garvin. Data from the program shows a lower incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in mothers who join the program more than 30 days prior to delivery and lower incidences or severity in mothers who are breastfeeding. NAS is a withdrawal syndrome that can occur in newborns exposed to certain substances, including opioids, during pregnancy. Garvin joined The Wright Center for Community Health as a case manager for the Healthy MOMs Program in 2020. In her role, she works closely with mothers working to overcome substance use disorder through recovery. Launched in 2018, the Healthy MOMS program has 140 mothers active in the program and has had 177 children born into the program, as of June 2022. The program takes a collaborative, holistic approach to treating mothers with substance use disorder. It aims to help pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. Participants are offered blanket services that include medication-assisted treatment and addiction services, counseling, primary health care, OB/GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice and a range of other support. The program promotes the well-being of both mom and newborn, ideally engaging them in wrap-around services until the child turns two years old. The Healthy MOMS program has served mothers as young as 14, but most are in their late 20s and 30s. Named after a program of the same name in Ohio, it was introduced in this region as a pilot program in two counties, with initial grant funding secured by the Lackawanna/ Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Today, it assists women in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. The nonprofit Maternal and Family Health Services Inc. and multiple area hospitals are among the many health care, social service and government agencies that power the program’s ongoing success. For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, call 570-955-7821 or visit HealthyMOMS.org.
5k to Honor Fastenal Founder The BK5K Road Race is held to honor Bob Kierlin, founder of Fastenal and lifelong supporter of youth programs. All proceeds go to various area youth organizations/programs demonstrating financial need. Funding grants will be evaluated for merit and dispersed by the BK5K Youth Fund Award Committee.
PennDOT News PennDOT Driver License, Photo Centers Closed for Juneteenth The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, June 18, through Monday, June 20, 2022, in observance of Juneteenth National Freedom Day (Juneteenth). Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas – the furthest point in the south – with news of the end of the Civil War. Slaves were previously unaware they had been freed more than two years earlier when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, or that Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered in Virginia two months earlier. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2022 is available online. Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts. Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram. PennDOT Seeks Public Engagement in Transportation Planning Process The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to participate in a comment period between now and June 30 on the draft 2023 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). “We encourage and eagerly anticipate public feedback on our transportation improvement program,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “It is critical to understanding needs and concerns across the commonwealth and helps us shape a vision for Pennsylvania’s transportation future that supports continuing economic growth and opportunity, connectivity, thriving communities, a cleaner environment, and safe travel.” The draft 2023 STIP reflects the first four years of the 12-Year Program (TYP). It lists prioritized projects identified for federal, state, local, and private funding in each federal fiscal year between 2023 and 2027. Federal funding in the draft STIP is based upon expected funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), a $3.2 billion increase over previously planned amounts. Included are 23 regional Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs), the independent Wayne County TIP, and two statewide-managed programs, the Interstate Management Program and Statewide Initiatives TIPs, all of which were developed collaboratively between PennDOT, its federal partners, and the state’s metropolitan and rural planning organizations The draft 2023 STIP can be viewed on the Talk PA Transportation website. The public can comment by filling out the online comment form at the website or emailing RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. The public may also call PennDOT and share their comments at 717-783-2262 from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. An infographic was created specifically for the draft 2023 STIP Comment Period and provides an overview of the process. State law requires PennDOT to prepare an update to Pennsylvania’s TYP every two years and submit it for approval to the State Transportation Commission (STC). The draft 2023 STIP will be adopted as part of the 2023 TYP update by the STC during the August 17, 2022, STC business meeting. After the approval of the 2023 TYP, PennDOT submits the draft 2023 STIP to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and the US Environmental Protection Agency for a 45-day federal review period. Learn more about transportation planning by visiting the Planning page at penndot.pa.gov. PennDOT Invites Public Feedback on Components of Proposed State Plan for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today launched a survey for the public to share feedback on the goals, infrastructure-prioritization, and program-administration components of the Draft Pennsylvania State Plan for access to National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program funds. “PennDOT is committed to making future-focused investments in Pennsylvania to update our highway network to accommodate more electric vehicles and hybrids,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We have received public and stakeholder feedback throughout this process, which is vital to understanding wants and needs as this transformational technology takes hold.” The survey – which also includes an overview of the Federal Highway Administration’s NEVI Formula Program Guidance – is available at penndot.pa.gov/EV, and will close on Thursday, June 30, 2022. The public can also submit feedback by emailing ra-pdevcorridors@pa.gov. The results of this survey will build upon outreach and discussions the department has previously had and continues to have with lawmakers, planning partners, utilities, local government organizations, EV-charging companies and stakeholders with equity, labor, education, and environmental expertise. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), PennDOT will receive and distribute $171.5 million in formula funds for EV charging infrastructure over the next five years. The department must outline and submit state EV infrastructure deployment plan to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) by August 1, 2022. The funding supports the commonwealth goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (list) and Interstate lookalikes. Federal AFC criteria was updated earlier this year to require AFC designated corridors to have charging stations no more than 1 mile from an Interstate exit or highway intersection (previously 5 miles) and no more than 50 miles apart. The department has been reviewing all corridors to align all AFCs with the new criteria. Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs. Per the guidance from U.S. DOT, any EV charging infrastructure installed with NEVI formula funds shall be located along a designated AFC and meet U.S. DOT minimum standards and requirements. Should PennDOT determine, and U.S. DOT certifies, that the AFCs are fully built out, then Pennsylvania may use funds to build EV charging equipment on any public road or in any publicly accessible location, including but not limited to parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and parks. Additionally, PennDOT – following guidance issued from U.S. DOT – will use its EV Equity Guiding Principles announced this year to help the department evaluate EV proposals in accordance with the federal guidance. The principles aim to increase accessibility to the infrastructure and maximize benefits for all Pennsylvanians and fall into five categories: Make EVs more affordable;Make EV charging more accessible;Invest in fleet electrification;Invest in traditionally underserved, low-income, persons of color and otherwise vulnerable population areas; andIncrease EV awareness, education, and technical capacity. The commonwealth’s previous work and the new funding will support growing EV usage and industry transitions. There are more than 23,000 EVs registered in Pennsylvania, more than double the roughly 9,700 that were registered in March 2019. To enhance traveler information for the growing number of EV drivers, the state’s traveler information system – 511PA – now also includes EV charging station locations as an option on its traffic map. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the map shows locations across the state by connector type, including CCS, J1772, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and NEMA. More information on PennDOT’s Alternative Fuel Corridors can be found on the department’s website.
Cancer Institute Announces New Board Member The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s Board of Directors appointed James Pettinato, RN-HP, MHSA to the Board of Directors. James Pettinato, RN-HP, MHSA, is the Chief Executive Officer at Wayne Memorial Hospital. He was previously the Director of Patient Care Services at Wayne Memorial before taking over in January 2022 as the Chief Executive Officer. James has a Master’s in Health Services Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marywood University. He started his career as an EMS captain and from there held positions as Director of Clinical Management, Registered Nurse- Intensive Care Unit, Case Manager- Associate Director of Professional Services/IV Program Manager, Critical Care Nurse Manager, Head Nurse II, and Director of Critical Care for a variety of healthcare organizations. James has experience on the administrative side of health care as well as firsthand experience collaborating with patients as a registered nurse at the bedside.
Women’s Resource Center to Host Great Chefs After two very long years, Great Chefs is returning “in person” and will be held on July 20th at Constantino’s Catering in Clarks Summit. This special dessert edition of Great Chefs will be emceed by WNEP-TV 16’s Jackie Lewandowski. Attendees will enjoy a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres, raffles, music – and of course – dessert tastings! Funds raised at Great Chefs support the WRC Safe Housing Program. The Program prioritizes emergency housing options for adults and children who are in immediate danger, are in a potentially lethal situation due to intimate partner violence, and/or are homeless due to that violence. Schedule:5:30 pm – Passed Hors D’oeuvres / Raffle Baskets / Music / Cash Bar7:00 pm – Program7:30 pm – Dessert Tastings & Coffee8:00 pm – Basket Winners AnnouncementThank you to our Media Partners: WNEP-TV 16 & Lamar Advertising To get tickets visit https://wrcnepa.org/great-chefs-2022/ or call (570) 346-4460 ext. 143.
Drucker & Scaccetti Merges with Armanino Armanino LLP, one of the 20 largest accounting and business consulting firms in the U.S., announced that the partners and employees of Philadelphia-based tax firm Drucker & Scaccetti will join Armanino effective July 1, 2022. Drucker & Scaccetti will carry the Armanino LLP name and will be adding its downtown Philadelphia and Scranton, Pennsylvania offices to Armanino as the firm continues to expand its presence nationally and on the East Coast. Armanino opened its New York office in 2021 and this expansion represents a commitment to continue investment across the country. “Drucker & Scaccetti has its finger on the pulse of the market, understands the importance of being ahead of trends and has a 30-year track record of bringing strategy to all their engagements, demonstrating both the curiosity and tenacity anyone would want from an accounting partner,” said Matt Armanino, CEO of Armanino LLP. “They share our values when it comes to putting clients and people first and finding the best solutions to help organizations, making them the perfect fit to expand Armanino’s presence into the region.” Complementing Drucker & Scaccetti’s extensive tax consulting services, Armanino brings a plethora of specialty tax practices, including state and local tax, use tax, R&D tax credits, international tax and more. Clients will also have access to Armanino’s robust audit and risk assurance services that includes everything from financial statements and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance audits to SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports, data privacy and cybersecurity. “Since our founding, we’ve prided ourselves on our passionate advocacy on behalf of our clients, and they are who inspire us to constantly ask how we can find better ways to do things and bring forward the best solutions,” said Geoffrey Mesko, partner and board chair at Drucker & Scaccetti. “Armanino shares our drive and vision and has the capabilities to help us best serve our clients with a comprehensive suite of services backed by deep industry knowledge and a focus on client goals.” With the addition of Armanino’s wide-ranging capabilities in consulting, Drucker & Scaccetti clients will have access to a new range of transformative capabilities and software addressing business challenges ranging from outsourced accounting to digital transformation. “Whether we’re helping a client with accounting, human resources or CFO-specific challenges, or whether we’re helping them evolve their technology systems and software, we want to take that journey together with clients and bring them more power and depth. That’s why we’re excited about what Armanino means for us and for the businesses we serve,” said Rosalind Sutch, chief growth officer and partner at Drucker & Scaccetti. Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination, commented: “Armanino is one of the country’s most admired and respected firms. Their innovation, technology, passion for client excellence, leadership, talent and culture are the ‘gold standard’ that other firms try to emulate. Drucker & Scaccetti is known as Philadelphia’s ‘go-to’ firm when it comes to sophisticated high net worth tax clients and owner operated businesses. They have become a ‘melting pot’ for young, entrepreneurial talent and are known in the marketplace for the brilliant tax and business advice they provide to their clients, making them a perfect fit to help drive Armanino’s continued national expansion.” Armanino’s strong growth is anchored in its pursuit of expanded solutions, technology focus and specialized expertise. The firm has been listed on Inside Public Accounting’s Best of the Best Managed Firms list for 19 out of the last 20 years and is regularly featured in best places to work lists. Armanino is a Certified B Corporation®, committed to balancing people and purpose with profits and helping other organizations do the same. This transaction is scheduled to close on July 1, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.
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.
Workforce Survey and How the Chamber can Help Email our workforce specialist, Emily Pettinato, to learn more about our services!