TOPP Business Solutions Acquires Technic IT Group TOPP Business Solutions (TBS), one of the region’s largest family-owned office automation dealers, is expanding with the acquisition of Dunmore, PA-based Technic IT Group, LLC. “This is truly a win-win for all involved,” said Brad Lehman, TOPP Business Solutions COO. “Our goal is to expand our focus and bring our excellent products and services to all current and potential customers within the Managed IT Services regional marketplace.” Technic owner John Martines said, “When two of the best providers in the office solutions space join forces, it creates positive results for both the customers of TOPP and Technic going forward.” TBS, now in its third generation of family leadership, employs approximately 100 people who operate from its four locations in Scranton, Allentown, Montoursville and Altoona. In 2019, TBS generated over $20 million in revenue and has been providing business and office technology services to the Northeast, Central and Leigh Valley of Pennsylvania’s local industries for over 60 years. “We needed to further position ourselves as a leading force in the industry within our PA marketplace. With the addition of Technic, TBS will further solidify its position as the most advanced technology service provider available,” Chris Falzett, VP of Sales for TBS said. “It is clear our customers are changing and expect more from their vendors,” Paul Falzett, Topp Business Solutions CEO said. “Many of our current copier customers have expressed interest in having one provider to handle both their print and IT Services needs and having the Technic team join us will certainly help us deliver on those customer expectations.” TBS President Bill Truchan, an expert in the field of mergers and acquisitions, seeks to create further expansion for the company in the near future. TBS looks forward to the new relationship with Technic customers and anticipates continued growth that fulfills the TBS mission created by Angelo Falzett in 1957: Give people quality products at a fair price, provide prompt, courteous service, and develop long-term relationships with your customers.
Geisinger Uses Virtual Consult at Orthopaedic Urgent Care Clinics Patients can connect with an orthopaedic provider on a real-time video consultation through the virtual consult service at Geisinger Orthopaedic Urgent Care clinics. The virtual consult expands the service and offers more convenience to patients as they have their injuries assessed on a video call and find out next steps. Last May, Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine opened five orthopaedic urgent care clinics, giving people with bone, joint and muscle injuries a convenient alternative to the emergency room or urgent care clinics with no appointment necessary. Now, the virtual consult offers adults and children immediate access to specialized orthopaedic care for common injuries like a strain, a sprain or a simple fracture that occurred in the last 72 hours. Virtual consultations are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The team at each facility has the capability to evaluate and treat injuries, perform X-rays, apply splints and casts and schedule follow-up appointments. “This virtual consult allows orthopaedic providers to help decide the best treatment care plan for minor injuries, thus avoiding the inconvenience of an emergency room visit and making health easier for our communities. It improves access not only for orthopaedic patients but for all other Geisinger patients — especially now, when many facilities are overwhelmed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Suk, chair of Geisinger’s Musculoskeletal Institute. Once a patient is seen by an orthopaedic provider, they are scheduled for follow-up care as needed. The five orthopaedic urgent care clinics are in Danville, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Lewistown and Port Matilda. All locations offer weekday hours, and most offer weekend hours as well. To access the virtual consult, visit https://www.geisinger.org/patient-care/conditions-treatments-specialty/ortho-urgent-care or call any of the sites below for more information: Geisinger Woodbine Lane16 Woodbine Lane, Danville570-271-7430Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon Geisinger Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine3 W. Olive St. Suite 118, Scranton570-961- 3823Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Geisinger Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine1175 East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre570-808-1093Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon Geisinger Electric Avenue Medical Center310 Electric Ave. Suite 240, Lewistown717-242-8124Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Geisinger Gray’s Woods132 Abigail Lane, Port Matilda814-272-6754Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon
The Wright Center Names Interim Associate Designated Institutional Official Michelle Ostroski, a licensed social worker with a background in nonprofit healthcare and educational settings, has been named interim Associate Designated Institutional Official (ADIO) for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. In this leadership role, Ostroski is responsible for supporting and sustaining an environment that promotes academic excellence. The Wright Center trains close to 250 physician learners enrolled in internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry residency programs as well as gastroenterology, geriatrics and cardiovascular disease fellowships. The ADIO oversees academic and organizational compliance with accrediting bodies and partnering institutions of higher learning, and also monitors the quality and safety of clinical learning venues where Wright Center residents and fellows rotate through. As the largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Consortium in the country, The Wright Center trains doctors to provide care to the nation’s most vulnerable patients in high-performing, certified Patient-Centered Medical Homes, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and community-based hospitals. Residents and fellows train at Wright Center clinics and hospital systems throughout Northeast Pennsylvania as well as locations in four states across two coasts, including Tucson, Arizona (El Rio Community Health Center); New Richmond, Ohio (HealthSource of Ohio); Auburn, Washington (HealthPoint); and Washington, D.C. (Unity Health Care). Ostroski joined The Wright Center in June as the Director of Graduate Medical Education Workforce Operations, promoting innovative learning opportunities and best practices in education, and will continue to maintain that role in addition to her new responsibilities. “Michelle’s commitment to empowering our residents and fellows with the best educational experience possible makes her a great fit for this role,” said Dr. Jumee Barooah, Designated Institutional Official for The Wright Center. “My goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment that optimizes the training physician learners receive at The Wright Center and each of our partnering sites,” Ostroski said. “Ensuring these community-minded doctors emerge as competent and compassionate primary care providers goes to the heart of The Wright Center’s mission.” Ostroski earned her master’s degree in social work with specialization in behavioral health from Marywood University, and her bachelor’s in secondary education and English at Temple University. She is pursuing her doctorate in education and leadership in healthcare from Nebraska Methodist College and resides in Forty Fort.
PennDOT Invites Public Review, Comment on 2021 Transportation Performance Report Pennsylvanians can view ratings of the state’s efforts in transportation safety, mobility, system preservation, and accountability in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) 2021 Transportation Performance Report (TPR), viewable at TalkPATransportation.com. The TPR is a biennial report and is developed in a combined effort between the State Transportation Commission (STC), the State Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), and PennDOT. The report is the first step in the state’s transportation program planning process and helps to evaluate the system’s performance and opportunities for progress. “The Transportation Performance Report highlights PennDOT’s progress across major aspects of our system including safety, mobility, preservation, accountability, and funding,” PennDOT Secretary and State Transportation Commission (STC) Chair Yassmin Gramian said. “We will use this to help develop our next 12-Year program, as well as inform our Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan and the Freight Movement Plan. The release of the 2021 TPR also signals the start of the STC’s and PennDOT’s 2023 12-Year Program Update Public Comment Period. PennDOT conducts a statewide 45-day Public Comment Period every two years to collect public comment on multimodal transportation needs, issues, and concerns. The public feedback collected during the Public Comment Period is used to inform the 12-Year Program and other state and regional transportation plans and programs such as Pennsylvania’s Long Range Transportation Plan and the Freight Movement Plan. The Public Comment Period is open now through Wednesday, April 14. During this time the public will be able to submit feedback by taking a Transportation Survey, emailing comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov, or calling 717-783-2262 from 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM to request a printed copy of the survey, or to complete the survey by telephone. PennDOT’s Online Public Forum is set for Tuesday, March 23, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The Public Forum will be broadcast statewide via Zoom and Facebook Live and features PennDOT Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian. The public will be able to submit transportation-related questions to PennDOT during the Public Forum. Questions may also be submitted in advance of the Public Forum by filling out the online registration form or by emailing RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. The public may also call PennDOT and share their questions to be answered at the Public Forum at 717-783-2262 from 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM. Additional details on the Public Comment Period, the Transportation Survey, and the Online Public Forum are available at TalkPATransportation.com. PennDOT will make all reasonable modifications to policies, programs, and documents to ensure that people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. In accordance with Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the Public Forum will be held online only. Interested individuals who do not have internet access should contact PennDOT at 717-783-2262 to obtain the call-in number for listening-in only. To request assistance to participate in the survey or Public Forum, please contact PennDOT’s Program Center by emailing RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov or calling 717-783-2262 from 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM. Requests for Public Forum assistance should be made by Monday, March 15. If you have other questions or challenges, please contact PennDOT’s Bureau of Equal Opportunity to request help by emailing penndot_eoreports@pa.gov or calling 1-800-468-4201; TTY (711).
The University of Scranton to Offer New Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis The University of Scranton will offer a new Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, which will provide students with the educational and supervised fieldwork experiences necessary to achieve national board certification in the much-in-demand profession. Applications are currently being accepted for the graduate program that begins in the fall 2021 semester. Annual demand for board certified behavior analysts “has increased each year since 2010, with a 1,942 percent increase from 2010 to 2018 and a 127 percent increase from 2017 to 2018,” according to a 2019 Behavior Analyst Certification Board report on U.S. Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010-2018 (Littleton, CO. author). In addition, the report noted that demand has also increased in all 50 states during this period. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above-average job growth of 22 percent for behavior analysts between 2018 and 2028. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for Board Certified Behavior Analysists is $62,472. “There is a critical shortage of skilled professionals who can offer behavioral intervention. Board Certified Behavior Analysts are required to demonstrate a high level of understanding and application of behavioral principles and concepts that are scientific and evidence-based,” said Michael E. Kelley, Ph.D., LP, BCBA-D, program director. The 42-credit master’s degree program will be housed in the Counseling and Human Services Department of the University’s Panuska College of Professional Studies. The course content is consistent with certification rules for individuals and accreditation standards for programs that meet the eligibility requirements for graduates to sit for the national certification exam for Behavior Analysis, as specified by Behavior Analysis Certification Board. “Board certification is required for working with individuals living with autism in behavior analysis in most states in the United States of America,” said Dr. Kelley. “Highly-educated and skilled providers of autism services are needed in our region to help our children and family members who are waiting – often desperately – for services.” Students in this graduate program will complete: 30 credit hours of classroom-based didactic courses; six credit hours of thesis or capstone; and six credit hours of a supervised fieldwork experience. The supervised fieldwork experience will provide students with real-world experience in the application of Behavior Analytic principles, clinical services and research. The clinical site selection will be based on the student’s career goals. The University currently offers an 21-credit post-graduate Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. The University also serves as the Executive Hub of five Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence, which are part of a multi-year, multi-million regional initiative supported by the AllOne Foundation to enhance the service delivery system for individuals with autism and their families living in 13 counties in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania. The University’s executive hub, located on Mulberry Street, has state-of-the-art assessment labs to aide in education and training of graduate students. The center is also used for evaluation purposes and research. Applicants to the graduate program must meet admission requirements. For additional information, visit the applied behavior analysis master’s degree program webpage or contact Dr. Kelley at Michael.kelley@scranton.edu or Caitlyn Hollingshead, director of graduate, transfer and international admissions, at Caitlyn.Hollingshead@scranton.edu or 570-941-6202.
A Letter on Workforce Initiatives Dear Chamber Members: The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and our workforce development affiliate, Skills in Scranton, are working to support member businesses with pandemic economic recovery. In the past year we’ve held numerous webinars, industry collaborative meetings, and conducted one-on-one interviews with many Chamber members. Through the outreach, we learned that workforce is a common concern – specifically the availability and access to a qualified labor pool. To assist our members with their workforce needs, we’ve implemented three new programs. Workforce Wednesday: Each week, one Chamber member business will join us to share information about job openings and company culture. The programs are hosted on Zoom and available on Facebook.Chamber Job Board: The Chamber recently launched a new Job Board for members to open positions at no cost. Small Business Internship Fund: If you are looking for help to grow your business, the Chamber can match you with a college student that can work virtually or on-site. We have access to a pool of students who are ready to gain real-world experience and are immediately available to work or intern. Qualified Chamber members can receive funding to offset internship wages. To learn more about these Chamber workforce development programs, contact Brianna Florovito at bflorovito@scrantonchamber.com or 570-342-7711. Sincerely, Bob DurkinChamber President Patrick Fricchione Jr.Chamber Board Chair
Geisinger, Evangelical Community Hospital and the Department of Justice Reach Agreement Geisinger, Evangelical Community Hospital and the Department of Justice today announced that the three parties have reached an agreement on a proposed final judgment that will allow Geisinger to maintain an investment in Evangelical. The judgment resolves the underlying Department of Justice lawsuit filed in August 2020. “We are pleased to have worked with the Department of Justice to develop a resolution that allows us to maintain our investment in the health of this community,” said Matthew Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Geisinger. “We are grateful that the Department of Justice acknowledges the investments Geisinger has made to Evangelical to date and we look forward to our continued work on projects that will benefit patients and the community at large.” Under terms of the agreement, which are pending a public comment period and final court decision in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania later this year, Geisinger would maintain an investment in Evangelical. Since the original minority investment was announced on Oct. 1, 2018, Geisinger has made investments in programs that enhance the health and wellness of the Lewisburg community and surrounding areas. This investment will support expanded access to high-quality care close to home and furthers Geisinger’s commitment to make better health easier in the communities it serves.
Women’s Resource Center Restoring Hope Capital Campaign For more than 40 years the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has been restoring hope for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. WRC is excited to announce it recently launched the Restoring Hope Capital Campaign. This campaign will help ensure the organization’s ability to continue to provide life-saving services in our communities through this financial support. Communities in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties have already begun responding to requests for campaign support. To date, the Restoring Hope Campaign has raised more than $1.4 Million dollars! The majority of which has come from the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations, and families. “The Restoring Hope Capital Campaign is a total community effort and its success thus far is thanks to an overwhelming group of volunteers and donors. The funds raised through this campaign will have a lasting impact on the lives of many families.” -Peg Ruddy, WRC Executive Director The Women’s Resource Center provides comprehensive services for adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence. human trafficking and stalking in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties. Services include a crisis hotline, crisis counseling, emergency shelter, safe housing, legal services, support services, community prevention education, and advocacy. To support this campaign you can visit www.wrcnepa.org or for more information call email amye@wrcnepa.org or email (570) 346-4460, ext. 108.
Marywood University Receives Council of Independent Colleges Program Development Grant Marywood University was recently notified that it is the recipient of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) NetVUE Program Development Grant, in the amount of $46,153. The grant will be used between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2023. Marywood University is among a group of NetVUE, the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, a nationwide network of colleges and universities formed to enrich the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students. Marywood University’s “Integrative Core Curriculum Fellows Program,” was developed to build a curricular structure that supports integrative learning and vocational exploration strategies in the new Core. The Core Curriculum helps students think critically, examine values carefully, and act responsibly. Additionally, the Core Curriculum challenges students to engage in civic responsibility in terms of social justice, unmet human needs, and empowerment of others, as it provides a context within which students can realize meaningful personal and professional lives. This grant program will help Marywood to intentionally support and thread reflective practices that develop vocation throughout the Core in a systematic, measured, and faculty-led process. The work of the eight Fellows and the Project Team will equip Core faculty with the knowledge, support, and materials to integrate opportunities for students to begin to recognize their life’s purpose and their impact on those around them. Marywood University’s mission and message of passion and purposes matches the student’s academics with cultural, social and human experience to give each student a fully immersive education—one that prepares students to make a difference and impact on the world. Colleges and universities that are members of NetVUE are already committed to campus activities that encourage vocational exploration by students. These institutions are making significant investments of their own resources to develop and sustain vocational exploration initiatives. In order to support NetVUE member campuses in their work, Lilly Endowment Inc., has provided funding to The Council of Independent Colleges to be used for NetVUE Program Development Grants. Leaders at colleges and universities have observed that grants for program development at even modest levels enable their institutions to strengthen and expand existing programs significantly. For additional information about Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu, or call the Office of Admissions, at (570) 348-6234. For additional information about the CIC or NetVUE, please visit cic.edu/programs/netvue/program-development-grants.
