Tobyhanna Business Intelligence Leader Honored for Supervisory Excellence A focus on customer and employee experience resulted in a major award for one Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) leader. Dr. Matthew Raup was recently named Supervisor of the Quarter by TYAD’s headquarters, the Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). The accolade honors supervisors across the command who embrace the Army values, drive innovation, and lead by example. CECOM personnel nominated Raup for the award based upon his leadership of TYAD’s Business Intelligence Division (BID) and efforts to create data collaboration across the organization and the Army overall. In addition, Raup earned praise for spearheading the Army Materiel Command Data & Analytics Summit. The July event, attended by more than 300 personnel worldwide, explored how data can enhance the readiness and efficiency of the joint warfighter. Raup said he never expected a leadership award – especially one from TYAD’s headquarters. “It surprised me because not a lot of my work is directly with CECOM,” he noted. “I thought it was really neat because I got a much greater feeling of pride in the organization.” Raup started his depot career in 2020 as the Chief of the Resource Management Directorate’s Customer Service Branch, which provides direct information technology (IT) support to the workforce. Under his leadership, the branch implemented a highly successful walk-in help center where depot personnel could receive immediate IT support and gain assistance with submitting help tickets – an endeavor focused on making life easier for Team Tobyhanna. Prior to working at Tobyhanna, Dr. Raup managed IT functions at the Pennsylvania State University and at a K-12 school district – roles that align with his personal values and pushed him towards federal service. “I’ve always had a drive to help other people. So, the idea of working for the Army and Tobyhanna really meshed well with my perspective of wanting to serve and help people,” said Raup. Raup’s personal leadership philosophy was largely shaped through his service in the Army National Guard, where he learned to empower others through respect and honesty. A self-described “employee engager,” he sees leadership as a service. “I’ve always believed that your job as a leader is to find people smarter than you and to support them in whatever they need,” he said, adding that his success has only been possible because of others. “I attribute all that I have achieved to the teams I have led here at Tobyhanna. I am proud of their accomplishments,” he said. Those who work with Raup celebrate him as an innovative leader who encourages continuous improvement. “Matt empowers us to think critically, take calculated risks, and deliver solutions that have a tangible impact on the business. His ability to bridge the gap between IT and operations has been crucial in aligning our business intelligence efforts with the depot’s overarching mission and priorities,” said Joseph Bilotta, program analyst in the BID. Fellow program analyst Edward Gliniecki agreed. “Matt’s leadership inspires the entire team, serving as a model for how to cultivate a scalable, sustainable, and impactful supervisory approach. Under Matt’s direction, the team has achieved remarkable outcomes, demonstrating the benefits of his exceptional leadership abilities. Matt’s leadership not only guides our direct team, but also drives positive change across the wider organization. “ Employee recognition programs are a key tenet of TOBY2035, TYAD’s long-range strategic plan. The plan, which has four focus areas – Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications, aims to posture the depot to meet the future needs of the joint warfighter on a multidomain battlefield. Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters. About 3,300 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to deliver integrated C5ISR weapon systems, business systems, and medical sustainment to enable full spectrum combat operations at the point of need
U.K. Architect Addresses Tangible Spirituality/Sustainable Architecture at Marywood Dr. Iliona Outram Khalili, a U.K licensed architect, spoke on “Tangible Spirituality: The Mason’s Methods, Analogy, and Sustainable Architecture” on Tuesday, September 10, at 7 p.m., in the Center for Architectural Studies at Marywood University. The event, which was an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Center for the Living City and Marywood University’s School of Architecture, School of Humanities, and Centers of Excellence (Center for Urban Studies, Mother Theresa Maxis IHM Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation, and Center for Law, Justice, and Policy), was free and open to the public. In her presentation, Dr. Khalili proposes a sustainable 21st century architecture that inherits methods and figures developed by masons thousands of years ago. Using these ancient practical analogies, a theological meditation emerges that is not limited by cultural or religious symbolism, but brings perennial archetypes together in conscious combinations during design and construction. Dr. Iliona Outram Khalili is a U.K licensed architect and graduate of the Architectural Association School in London. She has been a recent lecturer and course lead at Manchester Metropolitan University and currently teaches “Advanced Earth Architecture Design” with New Earth UK. Her childhood was filled with the architecture of her renowned father, John Outram, and with the diaspora Greek culture of her mother Rima’s family. Later, she learned “earth and ceramic architecture” from humanitarian architect Nader Khalili, who designated her a “Master Builder in Earth Architecture.” She trained by designing and building hands-on to develop Khalili’s innovations on traditional earth architecture, which were inspired by the Sufi mystical poetry of Rumi in his native Persian language. As a widow, she continued her spiritual education with Sufi healers Murshid Shaykh Taner Ansari and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, designing and building for their sustainable living project in New York State, and, most recently, the memorial vault of Shaykh Taner.For details on Marywood’s School of Architecture, visit: marywood.edu/architecture. To learn more about Marywood University’s School of Humanities, go to: marywood.edu/humanities. For information about the Center for the Living City, visit: centerforthelivingcity.org
Lackawanna College’s Sporting Clay Tournament Benefits Petroleum and Natural Gas Program Lackawanna College is set to host its annual Sporting Clay Tournament, a pivotal event supporting the Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) program and its students. Originating from an initiative by Coterra, the tournament has been organized by Lackawanna College since 2018. It continues to provide crucial financial support to students in the PNG program. 100% of the proceeds from the Sporting Clay Tournament are allocated to the PNG program, funding scholarships, equipment, and materials that reflect the tools and technologies used in the natural gas industry. “We try to provide our students with hands-on experience with the equipment PNG companies use in the industry. Investments from the tournament allow us to purchase smaller, industry-specific equipment,” Vice President of External/Government Affairs Brian Costanzo said. “The dollars from this tournament not only help purchase equipment but also provide students with scholarships and grants for the PNG program.” While the Lackawanna College School of PNG and the College Advancement team present this event, the tournament couldn’t achieve the same levels of past success without the direct support of numerous natural gas companies from across the region. This partnership emphasizes the mutual benefit of connecting education with industry needs. Students actively participate in the tournament by volunteering to staff the event and meet some of the companies who sponsor it. “The PNG students have the unique opportunity to interact with the managers of the companies during the tournament,” Costanzo said. “These interactions serve as an early introduction to potential future employers, enhancing their professional network.” The Lackawanna College Sporting Clay Tournament has become a significant annual event, offering students unique opportunities for both educational advancement and career preparation. The tournament will be on Thursday, September 19, at Hausmann’s Hidden Hollow in Friendsville, PA. Those interested in attending can find more information or register online at the Sporting Clay Tournament page on Lackawanna.edu. Parties interested in sponsoring the event can also find additional information on sponsorship packages and ways to get involved
Scranton Cultural Center Announces The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple and Magic City Productions will present The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas on November 30 at 7:30 PM. Comprised of Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Declan Kelly, the performance will take place in the SCC’s Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Theatre. The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since they burst upon the scene during a 1998 special. With ten best-selling CD’s to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli as the biggest money makers PBS has presented. The Irish Tenors rekindled the love of all things Irish in America and opened the door for countless Irish music groups to hit the United States, but The Irish Tenors cannot be duplicated; The Irish Tenors have stood the test of time and appeal to audiences of all ages. The Irish Tenors have performed all over the world, including the best venues in America including Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Gardens, Carnegie Hall in New York and The Hollywood Bowl in California. They have blazed the trail from coast to coast stopping in nearly every city in between, thrilling audiences at every single stop with their enchanting Irish repertoire, sweeping secular selections and dynamic holiday fare. The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas will take place in the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Theatre, located on the building’s first floor, with doors opening for bar and concessions at 6:30 PM. Tickets start at $46.65 (includes fees), and will be available for purchase beginning August 23 at 10 AM at the Fidelity Bank Box Office at the SCC in person or by calling (570) 344-1111, or via Ticketmaster. For more information or to view a full schedule of events, visit SCCMT.org. The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple’s 2024-2025 Season is sponsored by Fidelity Bank and LT Verrastro and supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Lackawanna County Office of Arts and Culture, and Commissioners Matt McGloin, Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak. A special thank you to its media partners: Allied Services, Audacy, Lamar Advertising and MAC Signs.
Everhart Museum and Lackawanna County Library System Host Free Jazz Concerts Join us for a free summer concert series with Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars! The Everhart Museum is teaming up with the Lackawanna County Library System to bring music throughout the county, supported by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The series includes programs for all ages, and some for children, each with multiple dates, inviting all to enjoy the spirited sound of Dixieland Jazz and learn about its rich history. During the children’s program, participants will even get a chance to play some instruments themselves! To attend, please contact your local library. September 12 @ 6:00 p.m. Valley Community Library All Ages/Adult Program September 16 @ 5:00 p.m. Valley Community Library Children’s Program September 18 @ 6:00 p.m. North Pocono Public Library All Ages/Adult Program September 19 @ 6:00 p.m. Abington Community Library All Ages/Adult Program September 23 @ 6:00 p.m. Taylor Community Library All Ages/Adult Program
Geisinger hosts March for Babies on Sept. 22 Walk supports March of Dimes helping to prevent preterm births and defects Get ready to take steps, whether big or small, to join the fight for the health of local parents and babies. Geisinger is hosting the March of Dimes’ March for Babies at noon on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Henry Hood Center, which is on Center Street next to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The event will include a superhero sprint for children at 11:45 a.m. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and opening remarks will be made before the walk. Money raised during the March for Babies helps to fund the NICU Family Support programs in Geisinger’s Danville and Wilkes-Barre hospitals. NICU Family Support provides educational and supportive activities to help local families through the NICU journey and prepares them to take their baby home. Geisinger has partnered with the March of Dimes since 2006. The organization plays critical roles in raising awareness and funds to help prevent preterm birth, birth defects, and deaths. Register or donate at marchforbabies.org/event/geisinger and join the movement on Sept. 22.
University of Scranton Hosts Volunteer and Service Fair A fair is planned on Sept. 10 at The University of Scranton for area nonprofit organizations seeking college students as volunteers. Fair for Nonprofit Agencies Seeking Volunteers The Center for Service and Social Justice at The University of Scranton will hold its annual Volunteer & Service Fair for local nonprofits from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, on campus. The fair offers University students and student-led clubs interested in service projects and community-based learning sites a chance to meet representatives from nonprofit organizations in need of volunteers. To register a nonprofit organization for the event, email ellen.judge@scranton.edu or call 570-941-7429. The deadline to register for the fair is Thursday September 5.
