Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal--01-17

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January 2017 VOL. 32 NO. 1

Experts optimistic about year ahead ‘The stock market is resilient and growing’

By Kathy Ruff

Economic Forecast 2017

SEE INSIDE PAGES

Consumer confidence is at pre-recession levels, according to The Conference Board, a global, independent business membership and research association headquartered in New York City and that may mean higher consumer spending in 2017.

“By and large it’s going to be the strength of the labor market that’s going to dictate whether consumer confidence remains high,” said Brian Schaitkin, senior economist at The Conference Board. “It was already high before the election. As long as wages are good for most of those in the labor market, that’s going to portend well in terms of consumer confidence. In northeast Pennsylvania, though, you may have more workers who have already been disconnected from the labor market.

If their situation does not improve rapidly, then you may see a deterioration in consumer confidence. “ Labor Market According to Schaitkin, the national labor market should remain tight.

“What that means is that the number of people looking for work relative to the number of job opportunities that are out there is a fairly favorable condition for workers,” he said. “Right now the jobs report reported 4.6 percent unemployment. That’s the lowest rate we have seen since the Great Recession.”

Schaitkin expects historical trends to continue as NEPA unemployment remains above state and national levels. He also sees optimism in the job market as statistics show a higher rate of people who quit jobs and a lower number of people laid off.

ALSO INSIDE:

UGL celebrates 85 years

SEE PAGE 33

“You’re starting to see that translate broadly from a national perspective into higher wages,” he said. “We have seen wage growth at around 2 ½ percent year over year.”

While jobs and wages pick up in the national economy, NEPA will see a continued lag in both, in part because of a substantially lower participation in

the workforce by people aged 25 to 54 than before the Great Recession.

“What that indicates is that some people who lost their jobs during the Great Recession were simply unable to find new jobs afterward and have left the labor force,” he said. “When you think about some of the industries that drive Northeast Pennsylvania, think about manufacturing. When manufacturing jobs leave, some people who have those specific skills may have trouble translating those skills into other job opportunities and that can cause them to lose contact with the labor market.”

Please see FORECAST, Page 31

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Volunteerism promotes wellness

SEE PAGE 26

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On THE COvER experts optimistic about 2017

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ECOnOMIC FORECAsT 2017 Immigration.............................. 4 globalization ............................ 5 Manufacturing .......................... 6 Real Estate .............................. 7 Healthcare ............................... 8 Tax/Regulatory .......................... 9 social Issues .......................... 30

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employers take heed: Dol requires full disclosure on retirement plans

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JANUARY 2017

Employers who offer retirement benefits to their employees will soon meet stricter compliance standards because of a Dept. of Labor rule scheduled to take effect April 10, 2017.

Among other things, the new ruling requires full disclosure about fees, conflicts of interest and all available options.

“The Dept. of Labor was starting to get complaints from a lot of participants in 401(k) plans,” said Lynn S. Evans, CFP and president of Northeastern Financial Consultants, Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County. “What they were discovering that the choices people had in the 401(k) plans were pretty limited by whatever their employer picked.

People were starting to complain because the costs inside of those plans were getting to be prohibitive.”

Many of the plans sold by insurance companies included an annuity structure that charged excessive commissions to insurance agents, brokers and others.

The new ruling requires full disclosure on fees and conflicts of interest by plan sponsors, brokers, employers and investment advisors. It also requires those professionals to disclose all of the options available to participants such as keeping their

retirement fund in its current plan, moving it to another entity or taking it to a bank.

“Now what the DOL rule is, you must disclose all of the choices people have,” Evans said. “If you are being compensated or paid by the employer for your work with the 401(k) plans, you must disclose that. The assumption was, ‘I have to buy an annuity with the same company that underwrote the 401(k) plan’ or you have to give it to the person who is your investment advisor.”

With the disclosure rules looming, many of those insurance companies who used to sell high-fee annuities and insurance packages chose to get out of the business of offering 401(k) plans anticipating a more competitive situation including fees and offerings.

Evans believes educated participants will make more informed — and less fee-intensive — choices.

“A lot of people are getting nervous,” she said.

“It’s going to completely change the landscape of 401(k) plan offerings by the time this all gets implement, which I believe is January of 2018.”

That landscape includes strengthened fiduciary responsibilities with plan sponsors. “(Employers) never realized that by default they Please see DISCLOSURE, Page 43

The new ruling requires full disclosure on fees and conflicts of interest by plan sponsors, brokers, employers and investment advisors.

It also requires those professionals to disclose all of the options available to participants such as keeping their retirement fund in its current plan, moving it to another entity or taking it a bank.

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ECONOMIC FORECAST 2017

Immigration reversal confounds

By John L. Moore

At some point after Inauguration Day — Friday, Jan. 20 — the lid will finally get pried off the can of worms labeled “Immigration.”

Immigration, with its many different aspects, became one of the hottest issues of the 2016 presidential election campaign.There’s widespread interest in seeing how the incoming Donald J. Trump administration will deal with: • The wall that candidate Trump promised to build between the United States and its southern neighbor, Mexico; • The 11 million immigrants who are in this country illegally? Will Trump summarily round all of them up and deport them?

• The so-called Dreamers, the estimated 1.5 million undocumented children and young adults who have grown up in the U.S.; • The H-1B program, which allows for the annual admission of 85,000 high-skilled workers who come to the U.S. to be employed in specialty occupations that require specialized knowledge; • Guest visas for agricultural workers; and • Legislation to fund border security and immigration-law enforcement.

To say that the picture is murky is to engage in understatement. By press time, he had not disclosed a comprehensive plan listing specific actions or approaches he intends for his administration to take. However, since the Nov. 8 election, the president-elect has made a variety of comments that prompted speculation he might soften some of his positions on the topic. In mid-November, for instance, he told CBS that in some places a fence might be “more appropriate” than a wall to stop illegal entrants coming from Mexico.

During the presidential election campaign, candidate Trump vowed to rescind administrative orders issued by President Obama that benefitted undocumented aliens. In 2012, the Obama administration created DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) that allowed undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to obtain work permits.

But in a seeming contradiction, President-elect Trump recently told Time magazine, “We’re going to work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud.” He added: “They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they’re in Never-Never-Land because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”

As of press-time, Trump’s campaign website continued to list three specific measures the candidate said that, if elected, he would implement on Day One, presumably Jan. 20. They are: • “Begin working on an impenetrable physical wall on the southern border. Mexico will pay for the wall.”

• “Move criminal aliens out … in joint operations with local, state and federal law enforcement.

We will terminate the Obama administration’s deadly, non-enforcement policies that allow thousands of criminal aliens to freely roam our streets.”

• “Immediately terminate President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties. All immigration laws will be enforced. we will triple the number of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. Anyone who enters the U.S. illegally is subject to deportation. That is what it means to have laws and to have a country.”

Arrests, removals of criminal aliens an ongoing exercise The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that during fiscal year 2015 (Oct. 2014-Sept.

2015) the agency conducted 235,413 removals nationwide. Ninety-one percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.”

Early last month (Dec. 2016), ICE said a five-day sweep of New Jersey resulted in the arrests of 82 “priority enforcement targets,” all of whom “were previously convicted of a variety of offenses,” which included attempted murder, sex offenses, robbery, narcotics violations and assault.

Arrested throughout New Jersey, the individuals were nationals of Brazil, Colombia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and Ukraine, ICE said.

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JANUARY 2017

The economics of immigration

By John L. Moore

In the years following World War II and into the 1960s, “the number of immigrants was actually quite low,” Card said, stating that in 1965, first-generation immigrants made up only about 5 percent. But that share has now risen to about 15 percent. Most immigrants come from Mexico, India and the Philippines.

“Notice one thing right away,” the professor said.

“No countries on that list are white Europeans.”

Card blasted the notion that an increase in immigrant labor causes wage levels to fall in a way that hurts American workers.

He said that wages for men climbed steadily from the late 1940s through the ’60s, but stalled the during the ’70s. Overall, “there’s really been relatively slow progress in wage growth for quite a few decades now,” Card said.

During the past 40 years, women have seen “some pretty important gains,” but since around 2000 wages for women “stopped growing as well,” he said.

Statistics show that over a 20-year period from 1990 to 2010, during “20 years of very high immigration,” real wages for the lowest group of U.S. workers — high school dropouts — “fell about 15 percentage points.” Card said. Competition from immigrants “contributed three of those percentage points.”

“My view is that the evidence doesn’t show much (effect) and a calculation done by someone who’s deeply skeptical of immigration doesn’t show too much, maybe a little bit of negative effect at the very bottom. How shall we understand attitudes toward immigration? If it’s really true that the effects of immigration on native wages are small, what’s the concern?”

“People care about more than just economics.

People care about the direct effects of immigration on their wages and taxes and also on what we call, euphemistically, the compositional effect. What we mean by that is that they look around and see neighbors, coworkers, their daughter’s boyfriend, school mates for their children who are not exactly like them. Different race groups, different religious groups, different linguistic backgrounds… those concerns are extremely important drivers.”

The professor said older people, people living in rural regions and non-college grads are more concerned about “compositional issues” and tend to have a more negative attitude toward immigration.

Many news people have an incorrect notion of the impact that immigrants have on wages, according to a leading economist.

“Most journalists,” said Dr. David Card, “believe that if you have more people, wages will fall, and so, to them, it’s completely obvious that immigration lowers wages. And you have to go out of your way to explain that that simply isn’t true.”

The U.S. has a “high demand for low-wage services” provided by immigrants at the bottom of the skills pool, many of whom come from Mexico.

Card said. At the same time, the nation has need for highly educated professionals from Asia and Europe.

These factors create “a weird combination of high-skilled and low-skilled immigrants,” Card said.

“The way I put it, we have immigrant doctors and immigrant janitors.”

The presence of more workers in a labor market tends to be a good thing, he said.

“When you get an increase in labor, … almost immediately you see an increase in investment,” Card said. He explained, “so-called modern growth theory said that size matters in a positive way … a larger economy is more productive, and my friends in New Zealand all believe that New Zealand would be much better off if it could just get a little bit bigger.”

“As an economist, I can’t resist saying that it’s all supply and demand,” Card said.

Speaking on “The Economics of Immigration” during a recent speech at The University of Scranton, Card said that in 2015 there were a total of about 42 million immigrants in the United States.

“A quarter of all those immigrants are unauthorized,” and most stayed after their visa expired “and are largely working without authorized documents,” said Card, a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

There’s a reason for this. In poor countries, “many, many people would like to come to the U.S.,” Card said. “They would make more here than they ever could at home, across the board.” The difference between what an unskilled worker could earn in India and in the U.S. “is just unbelievable,” the economist said.

Immigrants tend to cluster in major cities rather than in rural areas, and wages paid to urban workers tend to be higher than those earned by their rural counterparts.

This article is based on a video of Card’s presentation and provided by The University of Scranton.

ECONOMIC FORECAST 2017

Rhetoric won’t bring back jobs lost to globalization ation, Croop said he is forced to believe that many voters didn’t really analyze Trump’s economic President-elect Donald Trump is not backing away proposals and the predictable effects on the nafrom his pledge to create large numbers of hightion’s middle class. They took a chance on forcing paying jobs and in the process, reduce the nation’s big change, but consequences will result. annual trade deficit that now exceeds $530 billion.

“I suspect many of Trump’s voters will inevitaTrump also is committed to an expansion of bly have buyer’s remorse,” said Croop. the nation’s GDP by at least 6 percent annually, a Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., professor of economics revitalization of manufacturing across America, and finance at the University of Scranton, proreshoring of manufacturing for consumer goods claimed that Trump’s promise to bring consumer lost to Asia, the renegotiation of all foreign trade good manufacturing back to the United States deals and imposition of new taxes on many imports with trade deals will create a Mt. Everest to climb. into the country up to 40 percent. In addition, he Even if Trump is partially successful, Ghosh fears said, coal production will once again become a key renegotiated trade terms will result in job losses in energy source. other sectors and even a recession.

Scores of American voters bought into these “Global integration can’t be stopped,” he said. broad ideals without specifics because of accumuHe added that American GDP growth, which is lated frustration with certain economic sectors and now exceeding 3 percent annually, is respectable government, according to Fred Croop, MBA, dean for a “mature” economy such as the United State’s. of the college of professional studies and social China and India both are generating higher levels of sciences at Misericordia University. But, he warned domestic product growth, but according to Ghosh that trade now occurs within an entrenched global- this is from the existence of “adolescent” economies ized system and, even though annual American within these nations and the growth is unsustainable. exports are exceeding $2.23 trillion, Trump appears “These Trump statements about what he is gowilling to gamble with risky trade wars in an ating to accomplish are simply outrageous,” Ghosh tempt to reduce the overall trade deficit. said. “He cannot turn the economic clock back.”

“Trump can only succeed if he finds a way to reduce imports within the existing global frameChinese retaliation? work,” Croop said.

Christopher Stevens, Ph.D., assistant professor With regard to the reshoring of basic manufac- with the department of history and government at turing, Croop stated that the current global system Misericordia University, emphasized that Americans has become so entrenched it is doubtful manufac- overall love free trade because it provides them turers will re-invest in American operations even if with exceedingly cheap goods. Job losses through a 40 percent tariff exploded retail prices for Chinese outsourcing are the sour parts of this system and goods. Americans have become accustomed to the Stevens said a Trump tax on imports, with resultant extended buying power created by cheap products, higher retail prices, will incur retaliation from China and Croop would advise Trump to take a hard look and also create scores of angry Americans. at the consequences to consumers resulting from a “Trump’s import tariffs will wound retail sales, curb on imports. prices will explode and sales will drop,” Stevens said.

“This undoubtedly would create mid-term disasters Completed energy? for the Republicans in Congress when consumers Revitalized coal use, which would largely invote (in two years) with their depleted wallets.” volve bituminous, is another issue. While the policy Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsounds good, Croop is skeptical and cited envisylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said ronmental issues and the costs already absorbed protection of intellectual property must be a key because of boiler conversions all across the nation. issue in trade deal revision. He said walls which “Industry won’t go back to coal because these save jobs also keeps investment out, citing the energy conversions to natural gas are complete,” new Royal Dutch Shell $250 million ethane cracker said Crop. “A market does exist for some anthracite plant near Pittsburgh as an example of international use for home heating, but this will not stimulate the investment and job creation. economy on an industrial scale.”

“I understand free and fair trade, but in an Taking these and other factors into considerattempt to be fair how much loss of free will we

By Dave Gardner

experience?” Barr asked.

He is extremely skeptical of tariffs that would raise retail prices as much as 50 percent, running the risk of kindling another recession. In addition, America has become a leader in high-tech exports because domestic industry no longer focuses on basic manufacturing which is outsourced. Barr questioned what effect mass reshoring would have upon the nation’s industry as a whole.

“The cost of tariffs, the ramifications, and the consumer reactions were not debated during the presidential campaign,” Barr said.

Command and control?

Any belief that Trump can bring back manufacturing with executive power implies command and control that doesn’t exist, warned David Taylor, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association. He said, contrary to popular belief, the president does not run the country and has jurisdiction over only one branch of an immense federal government.

“There is no magic fix to the manufacturing jobs we lost,” Taylor said. “Supply chains for industry are a major factor and very complex. Our economy is the product of millions of enterprises, with great diversity and intervention is difficult.”

Taylor said Trump made campaign promises with unrealistic solutions to the trade deficit and America’s addiction to cheap oil and Chinese consumer goods. Access to American consumer dollars is the top prize in evolving global economy, and Taylor supports a more realistic trade policy that is mutually beneficial to participants, but scorned simplistic solutions and reliance on campaign rhetoric.

“We now have a great opportunity to export liquefied natural gas, which is actually a manufactured good,” Taylor said. “For a variety of reasons, such as market forces and Washington’s regulatory overkill of coal, manufacturing and the energy sector are not investing in coal-based power, and natural gas has quickly become the fuel of choice.”

NEPA’s anthracite mines have been flooded since the 1959 Knox disaster, Taylor pointed out.

This fact, and the reality that industry largely uses bituminous instead of anthracite coal for energy production, stand in the way of Trump’s promise to reopen NEPA’s deep coal mines.

“Anyone who believes that these anthracite mines can be reopened is living in the past,” Taylor said.

ECONOMY Terminal to locate problems remotely Technicians at Tobyhanna Army Depot hoist and install the 12.2-meter antenna reflector assembly of an AN/GSC-52B terminal.

The unit, part of the Department of Defense’s Modernization of Enterprise Terminals Acquisition Program will be able to leverage increased data capabilities of Ka-band Wideband Global SATCOM (satellite communications) satellites and is scheduled to be fully-operational by midFebruary 2017.

Thanks to the installation of this fixed terminal, Tobyhanna technicians will be able to recreate faults and failures of terminals around the globe from an electronic enclosure building and provide rapid solutions without having to send a team into the field.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s corporate philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

SAT COM mock up

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JANUARY 2017

me the hard stuff,” they say. “Tell me how to build a smart factory, not a smart workforce.”

Someone asked me recently about my thoughts It has to be the other way around. Start by on smart manufacturing — the so-called IT revolubuilding a smart workforce, one that is engaged, tion in the factory. They couldn’t believe that I didn’t enlightened and empowered. A workforce that trusts see smart manufacturing as the salvation of Ameriin its leadership. can manufacturing.

Here are four key ways to start: Don’t misunderstand me. Smart manufacturing 1. At the top. Build leadership credibility. The has a place in reviving American manufacturing. I only way to have leadership credibility is if your have a smart factory. We employ the latest in pick to leaders demonstrate the key values of respect and light systems, automated CNC machines and seamintegrity. less integration from order inquiry to accounts receiv2. Leaders need to treat their employees with able. But that isn’t where I started my revolution. And respect. But many don’t. In a recent Harvard Business you shouldn’t either.

School study of 20,000 employees,half of them did The problem with many CEO’s today is they have not feel respected by their leaders. And respect was turned away from the astonishing potential of the rated by the participants as more important than anyworkforce and turned toward automation instead. Big thing else, including compensation. Imagine how the mistake. But I hear it all the time. company performance would skyrocket if you solved What is the sense in spending millions on autothis one problem alone. mating your factory if your workforce couldn’t care 3. Leaders have to demonstrate integrity. In study less? What is the sense in buying expensive machine after study, integrity is a key attribute in leaders that tools if your workforce drag themselves to work in people admire — and want to follow. So integrity is a the morning and can’t wait to get to the bowling alley key part of building credibility. But leaders also need at night? integrity in everything they say. You can’t tell half the I’ll tell you why. Because too many CEOs view truth, hoping the other half doesn’t show up. You have their employees as expendable assets. They should to be bone honest all the time. You have to tell them view them as renewable resources. And renew what they need to know. If the company is headed for them. trouble, tell them. If the company needs to pivot into Don’t bother with smart manufacturing if you new markets or products, tell them. And tell them why. have a dumb workforce. And if your workforce is 4. This is not just for the top. Your entire dumb, it’s your fault, not theirs. Don’t bother with an workforce has to embrace the values of respect and IT revolution. Your revolution has to start with a smart integrity. But you cannot expect the people below to workforce. You have to make a new pact with your do what the top will not. You may have leaders that employees. You need to ignite the human spirit in lost credibility long ago. They can’t get it back. You your workforce. Imagine how your company would have to replace them. soar if your employees were absolutely dedicated to Steven L. Blue is president and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a supporting the mission and each other in attaining it? global supplier of mission-critical solutions in the transImagine what it would be like if your employees were portation industry and author of the new book, “American Manufacturing 2.0: What Went Wrong and How to Make It like Cirque de Soleil performers?

Right.”Visit SteveBlueCEO.com, milleringenuity.com and This is the place where I get blank stares from connect with Blue on Twitter @SteveBlueCEO. many CEOs. They don’t like the “soft stuff.” “Give

By Steven L. Blue

POCONO MOUNTAINS REAL ESTATE FORECAST 2017

Executive sees real estate boom for year a summer season is “I can show a house in the rain, I can’t show a home in an ice storm.” It’s a As we approach year-end 2016, our home pronounced opportunity for buyers and sellers. sales will be 11.2 percent ahead of last year. You Then home sales boomed in August, September, may wonder, why was 2016 such a October and even November. December good year? we’re at record highs. We’ve seen no The answer is multifaceted. Interest slow down, thus we’ll end the year ahead rates are at the lowest point ever, the by more than 11 percent.

Pocono Mountains has an adequate In contrast, Lehigh Valley brokers inventory of homes and confidence in are not seeing record sales. Not that the housing market is extremely high, the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton (ABE) especially in the Poconos. market is slow, instead the Lehigh Valley Wilkins But, looking back, with no snow is seriously lacking inventory. There are during the first three months of 2016, fewer homes for sale. When a contract the real estate market came to a screeching halt. Ski does come in you’ve got seven or eight offers. Only areas had no skiers, people in the hospitality busione will be able to make the purchase. Lehigh Valness made minimal income and snow plowers, etc. ley will make up the difference in sales with a strong made no money, thus the trickle-down effect was new construction market. In other words, Lehigh very few sales. We were down year-over-year close Valley is creating inventory. to 15 percent.

Our economic forecast for 2017 is the Poconos The Poconos has always had a winter selling has all the markings of an even stronger year. season. The only difference when compared to While (typically) it’s too early to predict a continued

By Thomas R. Wilkins

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MLS# 16-2140 JUDY 714-9230 OR ALEXE 714-9266

$338,500

NEW LEASE

DALLAS

An artistic opportunity! This 2300SF (plus) Barn offers natural light, HWY exposure, 3 levels of possibilities. Ideal for retail, café, showroom, co-op and more! By appointment only.

MLS# 16-4767 JUDY R. 714-9230

$199,995

EDWARDSVILLE

Zoning is C-1 Commercial Business District.

The 5 apartments are currently occupied.

Owner occupies 1/2 of the 1st floor section.

Restaurant is vacant. Call for more details!

MLS# 16-4585 MATT 714-9229

Kingston: 570.288.9371 Shavertown: 570.696.3801

to home buyers ready to buy, home sellers ready to sell and rentals (a market often overlooked by our competition). In 2016, 80 percent of our advertising was online. In 2017, 98 percent of our marketing dollars will be online. No other broker is direct-target marketing to buyers by income, lifestyle and down to the type of home they’re looking for.

From foreclosures to our distinctive collection of luxury homes, we’re able to zero in on the exact buyer that we want. In 2015, we introduced the Pocono Latino Real Estate Team because of the expected high number of Hispanics moving to the Poconos. While in the past, we concentrated on modest priced homes, in 2016 we’ve been extremely successful in marketing to the luxury market. Although our luxury market is lower than the Lehigh Valley, when you add in the fact that we have inventory, it produces a lot of business.

Google, Google+, Facebook, Trulia, Zillow are the platforms that we use to market our listings. Our print advertising costs are down 30 percent for 2016 Please see BOOM, Page 9

NEW

Great opportunity! Currently optical office/ workshop, or make this 3,281SF space your own. Plenty of parking and ideal location.

Call today!

MLS# 16-6407 JUDY 714-9230

strong 2017 market, I feel safe saying 2017 will be a continued positive housing market. Inventory is not a problem in the Poconos. Even with the fed raising the interest rate 25 basis points, it’s a buyers’ market and we’re seeing more sellers making a profit at closing.

Another prediction is the Poconos will experience a huge real estate boom within the next 36 months. While I may be the only one saying that, I predict this because of the increase of tax dollar spending going to more police, fire protection, municipal spending and homeland security, which will drive up New York/New Jersey real estate taxes by at least 15 percent to 20 percent. The Poconos has real estate taxes running between $10,000 and $14,000 — that spread will be enough for the New York/New Jersey buyer to move to the Poconos. It’s all about affordability.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates is one of the largest real estate companies in the Pocono area. We set ourselves apart from our competition through targeted marketing directly

$129,900

NANTICOKE

Former Church & Rectory. Church approx.

5,300SF w/gas heat & C/A. Rectory has 10 rooms. Must be sold together.

MLS# 13-3998 MATT 714-9229

$109,000

Mountain Top: 570.474.9801 Wilkes-Barre: 570.822.1160

DRUMS

Buyit...BeyourOWNboss.Greatplace,greatspacewithmany useopportunities.TerrificH’WayexposurewithH’wayOcc.permit inplace.Multi-usepropertyincludesoffice,garageandwarehouse space.ZonedGeneralCommercial.Openadaycare,restaurantor cabterminal.Allpermitteduses!2Buildingsincludedforsale.

MLS# 16-5314 PAT 501-7580

$269,900

NEW LEASE

KINGSTON

Embarking on a new business venture or looking to upgrade? This highly visible, high traffic area is waiting for you to put your finishing touched on it!

MLS# 16-4150 SHANNON 696-0720 OR JESS 696-0871

$1100/M

FORTY FORT

Clarks Summit: 570.585.0600 Scranton: 570.207.6262

$265,000

MLS# 16-625 PAT S. 696-6670

NEW LEASE

Avenue exposure! Two suites being 2125 SF & 2400 SF. Open space w/reception area and offices. Plenty of parking.

MLS# 16-6214 & 16-6215 JUDY 714-9230

KINGSTON

Create your own business opportunity in nearly 9000SF; price includes building & land only. See MLS# 15-2880 for furniture, equipment & liquor license

$11/SF

PLAINS

FOR LEASE-Very attractive 1st floor office suite (2150SF) Ideal for attorney or medical.

Reception area, conference room, several offices. Conveniently located in an established professional building. Lower level also for rent see MLS# 16-2160. Call agent for details.

MLS# 16-2157 DEB ROSENBERG 714-9251

Drums: Hazle Twp:

$10/SF

570.788.1999 570.501.7575

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 7 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B07] | 12/28/16

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ECONOMIC FORECAST 2017

A steep climb ahead for healthcare changes

By Dave Gardner

The devil may be in the details when Presidentelect Donald Trump and his Republican Congress begin reform of the nation’s massive $4 trillion health care system.

One of Trump’s campaign promises involved the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare and its replacement with a marketbased form of health insurance. This promise was accompanied by a pledge to save Medicare and Medicaid, without cutting benefits.

Republicans in Congress cheered Trump in his pledge to kill the ACA. Meanwhile, a congressional movement has formed to have Medicare beneficiaries buy private health insurance from competing commercial insurers while receiving a voucher from Washington for a limited premium payment.

Medicaid reform with big cutbacks would be especially tough House Repoublicans propose real but incomplete reform, according to forbes.com.

The proposal’s two central elements involve replac-

ing the open-ended federal financing structure with, at states’ option, a per capita allotment or a block grant and increasing the ability of states to reform their programs and transition people off Medicaid by reducing federal rules and streamlining bureaucracy. However, it should be noted that the vast majority of Medicaid payouts are for senior citizens receiving 24/7 care in nursing homes.

The ACA, with approximately 13 million health insurance policies in effect, was implemented in an honest attempt to provide health care and insurance to millions of people, according to Justin Matus, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the MBA program for the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University. However, the legislative program has been plagued with disinformation claiming the ACA is behind the high cost for all health insurance, even though the vast majority of insurance plans are not purchased through the ACA’s internet marketplace.

In reality, stiff price increases for insurance have been the norm for decades and were the top

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8 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B08] | 12/28/16

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JANUARY 2017

issue during the 1992 presidential campaign. After decades of price increases the United States is now outspending the rest of the industrial world two-toone versus total national GDP for health care, even though the overall effects of ACA have been subtle for most insured Americans.

“If we just simply cancel the ACA it could create severe long-term effects,” Matus said. “This may include rising costs for insurance in general.”

He cited statistics from the World Bank from 2014, which indicated that the United States spent 17.1 percent of total GDP on health care. This percentage dwarfs those of other nations, such as Denmark with 10.8 percent, Sweden 11.9, and Canada 10.4.

“It would be good to loosen insurance regulations, interstate sales and encourage further competition between insurance carriers, but our costs problems obviously go back way before the ACA was signed into law,” Matus said.

He added that pharmaceutical company profits connected to medication use, co-morbidity from obesity, high tort costs and expensive costs for technologies all are playing steep roles in insurance cost increases. Cancellation of the ACA would remedy none of these, but it could remove young and healthy people from the ranks of overall policy holders, thereby raising insurance costs.

“I also believe there is zero chance to privatize Medicare,” Matus said. “The public would never allow it.”

Processes re-tooling?

America’s insurance companies are now geared up for the ACA and have re-tooled their processes, according to Allen Minor, DBA, assistant professor of business and director of health care management program at Misericordia University. Trump and Congress must be careful with abrupt change and not destroy insurance coverage for those insured by the ACA’s 13 million policies.

“A replacement program must be something better and also insure as many people as possible, which will be a tough order,” Minor said. “Pharmaceutical greed and high salaries must be addressed, plus the influence of lobbyists.”

With overall insurance costs, cost decreases will only be possible with mass lifestyle changes by the public, particularly smoking, obesity and the handling of Alzheimer’s disease. President-elect Trump has not discussed public responsibility for

their health at all, nor mentioned the direct relationship between insurance payouts and policy costs.

“At age 65, healthcare use jumps, and then again at 85, and these facts must be recognized with any insurance changes,” Minor said. “I just can’t see a private Medicare system working.”

Kyle Kreider, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Wilkes University, believes that promises to repeal the ACA were symbolic. With 13 million policies in effect, destruction of this program would be a political minefield and some of the program’s guarantees, such as inclusion of children on a parent’s insurance until age 26, would be political suicide.

“Trump appears to have Teflon with his supporters, but he hasn’t governed a single day and is still in the campaign mode,” Kreider said. “These supporters have enormously high hopes that he’s their savior, but after January 20 people will push away if harsh legislative changes begin to happen.

Accountability will develop.”

Kreider also warned that one-third of the Senate is up for re-election in 2018, and cuts to Social Security or Medicare will make the supportive politicians easy game for their competition.

“Re-election is a check on politicians, and the Republican media has been effective with its base, but not with the middle-of-the-road and independent voters,’ Kreider said. “Convincing the voters as a whole to accept an entitlement revolution will be almost impossible and sets the stage for payback in the voting booth.”

Care limits?

Fred Croop, MBA, dean of the college of professional studies and social sciences at Misericordia University, voiced a difficult truth that a reduction of health care costs will require limits on care, particularly in futile situations. System participants and consumers must therefore change their ways, and while the ACA was an attempt at changing a portion of the overall system, only a big push on wellness will substantially lower costs.

“Americans are now spending more on restaurants than groceries, which is playing a big role in the obesity epidemic,” Croop said. “Vital wellness programs are only taken seriously by fringe groups and unless we put financial teeth into insurance costs for a lack of wellness participation, people are not going to get healthier.”

ECONOMIC FORECAST 2017

Compromises abound with changes to tax code and regulatory system

Knee-jerk regulation?

The Dodd-Frank legislative system of financial Taxpayers and economists alike will be carefully regulation has been a knee-jerk reaction by Conwatching as President-elect Donald Trump and his gress to the 2008 financial crash and therefore is in Republican Congress begin tinkering with the tax need of change, according to Lynn Evans, president code and regulatory mechanisms to manipulate the and CEO of Northeastern Financial Consultants. She nation’s $18 trillion GDP. acknowledged that financial regulation is necesTrump has promised to simplify the tax code sary, but also believes sensibility and moderation Barr Champney Croop Evans and reduce the number of tax brackets while must rule so that the nation’s community banks are collision course with Trump and his tax cut-andcuts we must ask who will pay for the increased making tax cuts across society. According to not corralled as tightly as their larger peers. spend plans, according to Gene Barr, president spending. Trump may wind up in an open war in some analysts, in adherence to the philosophy of She noted, in the home mortgage arena, and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business paperwork from federal compliance regulations is supply-side economics where vast sums of money Congress.” and Industry. He called this scenario predictable Croop warned that many of Trump’s tax-andflow upward to suppliers instead of downward to now overwhelming and can become detrimental to because it would expand the federal budget deficit spend proposals have already received Congresthe consumers, Trump wants the top 0.1 percent closing a sale and establishing a mortgage. while shifting payment responsibilities to other sional scorn and trade-offs will be necessary for of Americans to receive more tax relief than the “This scenario is serves as a brake to expansion groups of tax payers. the tax code to be rewritten.

However, the Trump bottom 60 percent of taxpayers combined. of the economy,” Evans said.

“We are going to see a weird dance coming for campaign pledge for a universal 15 percent tax on Trump also has called for elimination of the Meanwhile, she is not impressed by the stock Trump with Congress as he is forced to shift from business could expand the economy and in the “marriage penalty” for taxpayers, as well as an market’s latest bump upward. She said this is the the campaign to govern mode,’ Barr said. end to income taxes for single individuals earning process raise overall tax revenues. result of end-of-the-year maneuvering by brokers David Taylor, president of the Pennsylvania “Tax changes of these magnitudes must involve less than $25,000 per year or couples earning to finish the year above 20,000, which will unleash Manufacturers Association, applauded the fact that a cascade of bonuses for the system participants. less than $50,000. The heavily-debated corporate compromises,” Croop said.

Trump would allow American companies who have Trump’s pledge to eliminate Dodd-Frank and tax rate would fall to 15 percent and corporations “If the federal regulatory system is sensibly earned profits overseas to bring cash home without modified there is no real danger of a return to the other financial regulatory mechanisms to stimulate would be awarded a one-time window to transfer money being held overseas while paying only a 10 the economy are another matter. Croop is skeptical a second round of crushing international taxes. conditions that caused the 2008 crash,” Evans said.

According to Taylor, this could result in America of these ideas, because corruption seems to now percent tax.

“We have no way of knowing how this debate will receiving a $2 trillion financial stimulus. be the norm within many areas of American comIn another proposal, sure to create a Congresunfold in Congress, but you can be sure senators “Even if this cash winds up becoming only bank like (Democratic) Elizabeth Warren, plus the system merce, even among non-profit organizations. sional uproar, Trump has pledged to eliminate regu“The recent Wells Fargo scandal was very disap- deposits it will be put to work in our economy,” latory mechanisms such as the Dodd-Frank Wall of checks and balances, will be very active.” pointing, but not surprising,” said Croop. “A lack of Taylor said.

Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This regulatory oversight on organizations just doesn’t vast control apparatus over the nation’s financial work. Great profit pressure from a CEO down is the sector was designed to curb process abuses that norm and regulatory oversight is necessary.”

FROM PAGE 7 led to the nation’s 2008 financial crash. it’s a buyer that going to buy in a short period of Leonard Champney, Ph.D., professor of political and we feel that this number will drop down to 15 time. The technology is absolutely incredible. science at the University of Scranton, zeroes in on percent or less. We can advertise more often and Sub economy?

And my last 2017 to 2018 prediction is communicate with more people through the inter- families that went through foreclosure 2 to 5 years Fred Croop, MBA, dean of the college of profes- the Trump pledge for corporate taxes to fall to 15 percent as misleading. According to Champney, net at a much lower price than in-print advertising. ago who are now renters, will come back into the sional studies and social sciences at Misericordia change of the corporate rate to 15 percent would Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has a University, agreed that the overall tax system must market place as buyers over the next 24 months. actually be awarding these companies a workable very structured marketing plan for the company, in- Their credit has been reestablished, the foreclosure be simplified, but warned this will be a huge project tax rate of 7 percent because, at the end of the busidividual agents and our real estate teams for 2017. is behind them and the truth of the matter is they with opposition because a whole sub-economy ness day, that would be the “nominal” rate paid.

In January, the company is launching Dot Loop, an don’t want to rent. They enjoy homeownership depends on the need for complex tax preparation.

“When business tax cuts occur, profits ineviinteractive online back office management program and with the drop in the real estate prices, their In addition, tax reform inevitably shifts payment tably increase but the business must then decide specifically designed for Real Estate. burdens from one societal group to another, creatcredit being repaired, they will add to the pool of if the money will be used for expansion or just Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins buyers. They will only add to the New York / New ing happy winners and angry losers. pocketed,” Champney said. is also launching ZAP, which will be a website ad“Tax cuts are payment shifts and the fate of the Jersey buyers, ethnic buyers and of course, our dress. ZAP (through algorithms) qualifies buyers local first time buyers. middle class must be carefully considered,” said Collision course? through certain aspects of their buying and spendCroop. “The public also likes infrastructure and Thomas R. Wilkins is chief executive officer of Better Washington’s deficit hawks are probably on a ing habits to let the agent know, with a high score, Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Wilkins & Associates. defense spending, but when combined with tax

By Dave Gardner

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 9 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B09] | 12/28/16

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BANKING AND FINANCE

Where do people save the most by refinancing?

Refinanced mortgages are an important part of the overall mortgage industry, saving homeowners billions of dollars every year. So where is refinancing having the biggest impact? To answer that question, SmartAsset looked at data on pre-and post-refinance interest rates, and the total balance of refinanced mortgages in every county in the U.S. Specifically, the company applied the regional average pre-refinance interest rate and the regional average post-refinance rate to the total balance of refinanced loans in every U.S. county. That gave the company the expected total interest payments with, and without, refinancing. The difference between those two numbers yielded the total refinance savings by county. The total savings were divided by the number of loans per county to produce the average savings per refinance.

Find out more details on the study including full methodology and an interactive map at smartasset.com/refinance/refinance-calculator?year= 2016#Pennsylvania.

Check out the top saving counties in Pennsylvania in the table.

The Top 10 Pennsylvania counties where refinancing is having the most impact To find out where people save the most, Smart Asset looked at data on pre- and post-refinance interest rates and the total balance of refinanced mortgages in every county in the United States.

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JANUARY 2017

FOCUS ON BANKING & FINANCE NBT Bank celebrates 160 years and leadership transition

Wayne Bank hosts trivia challenge at ScrantonMade Holiday Market

Martin Dietrich and John Watt, shown, and members of NBT’s executive management team ring the NASDAQ opening bell in celebration of NBT Bank’s 160th year in business and its leadership transition.

Matthew Swartz, the Wayne Bank Central Scranton Community Office manager is shown at the holiday market.

The board of directors of NBT Bancorp Inc. (NBT) (NASDAQ:NBTB) met on Friday, Dec. 16, and named John H. Watt Jr. president and CEO of NBT and NBT Bank N.A. The appointment represents the culmination of a succession plan unanimously approved by NBT’s board on May 3, 2016 when Watt was named president of the bank and NBT’s retiring president and CEO Martin A. Dietrich was elected chairman of the board. At the meeting, the board also appointed Watt to serve as a member of the board of directors.

Watt has more than 30 years of experience in banking and financial services. He joined NBT in 2014 and has played an expanding role providing executive leadership for a number of key areas, including commercial and consumer lending, credit administration and marketing. He was

promoted to executive vice president and joined NBT’s executive management team in 2015.

Dietrich began his career in financial services with NBT in 1981. He joined the bank’s senior management team in 1995. Dietrich became president of the bank in 2000; advanced to president and CEO of the bank and president of NBT in 2004; and ultimately became CEO of NBT in 2006.

He joined the bank’s board of directors in 1993 and NBT’s board of directors in 2005.

NBT Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Norwich, N.Y., with total assets of $8.8 billion at Sept. 30, 2016. NBT Bank N.A. has 154 banking locations with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. More information about NBT and its divisions can be found at nbtbancorp.com.

Wayne Bank recently participated in the ScrantonMade Holiday Market at the Globe Store in Scranton on the first weekend in December.

The bank, a sponsor of the event, hosted a booth featuring a “Scranton Trivia Challenge” with questions about Scranton’s history, landmarks, current events, local businesses and more. The game was accessible through a floor standing touchscreen and four desktop computers and offered prizes for participants, while supplies lasted.

A special 100-question version was also offered for trivia enthusiasts. Top scores in the 100 question-version were earned by Barbara Rudzinski with a third-place score of 650, Avry and Adam with a score of 670 for second place and the firstplace scorer, Ryan Caviston, with a total of 760.

“We are thrilled with the incredible reception that Wayne Bank’s booth received at this event,” said Joseph Castrogiovanni, Wayne Bank’s Pennsylvania Retail Banking market manager.

“We estimated that thousands of people took the ‘Scranton Trivia Challenge’ during the three-day event. We received so much positive feedback and it was wonderful to see groups of families, friends and even strangers having fun and working together to answer trivia questions. It was the perfect way to celebrate everything that makes Scranton unique.”

The ScrantonMade Holiday Market featured more than 100 local artisan vendors, live music, photos with Santa Claus and a restaurant which resulted in an enormous turnout during all three days of the event.

Wayne Bank is a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp., member FDIC and is located in Honesdale. The bank has 27 community offices serving Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Lackawanna counties along with Delaware and Sullivan Counties in New York State. The stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol— NWFL.

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 11 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B11] | 12/28/16

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FOCUS ON BANKING AND FINANCE Fidelity Bank supports the arts in NEPA

For your business loan, may we suggest our business-friendly bank?

(And our people-friendly bankers.)

Stop into any branch or contact our business bankers, and let’s find a loan that’s right for your business.

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12 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B12] | 12/28/16

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BUSINESS JANUARY 2017

W E A LT H

From left: Daniel J. Santaniello, president and chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank, Deborah Moran Peterson, executive director, Scranton Cultural Center; Dr. Timothy Welby, president of the SCC board of directors and Jason Helman, business manager, SCC. Fidelity Bank president and chief executive office, Daniel J. Santaniello presented the Scranton Cultural Center with a check for $7,500 in sponsorship of the center’s box office.This sponsorship supports the programming and events of the SCC. This is the third year Fidelity Bank has made the commitment.

“Fidelity Bank is very proud to support the Scranton Cultural Center which stands as a pillar of arts and culture in our area. We believe the arts are a powerful and important tool in helping our local economy to thrive by educating and enriching our communities throughout NEPA,” Santaniello said.

The Scranton Cultural Center serves as the residence for national tours of Broadway musicals and concerts and hosts many of the area’s top regional companies. The Fidelity box office at the Scranton Cultural Center is located on the first floor lobby, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.

Fidelity Box office hours are weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or call (570) 344-1111.

Fidelity Bank has built a strong history as trusted advisors to customers and is proud to be an active member of the community of NEPA. With 10 branches located throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Trust & Investment Departments, a mortgage center, and an array of personal and business banking products and services. The Bank provides 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service to customers through branch offices, online atbankatfidelity.com and through the Customer Care Center at 800-388-4380.

FOCUS ON BANKING AND FINANCE

Growth and commercial lending in a time of financial uncertainty

By Charles D. Hangen

Few banks can be all things to all people. Some are too large to react nimbly to business needs, while others lack local decision-making and/or do not truly understand their local markets.

Worse yet, the outcome of a loan request is often decided in a place far away from your business.

With this in mind, when a company is looking to a bank for a business loan, it makes sense to compile a list of “what’s most important” to help make an informed decision on what bank to partner with.

While the content of these lists will undoubtedly vary, there are a few items that would likely be found on almost all lists: experience, loan terms that make sense, fair pricing, and longevity.

ESSA Bank & Trust is one local bank that can talk about longevity, understanding its markets and the importance of local decision making. Having just celebrated its 100th anniversary, ESSA recently received the honor of ringing the NASDAQ closing bell in New York City.

“Ringing the closing bell highlights another milestone in our company’s history—a milestone

that would not exist without the dedication of our employees and the loyalty of our customers over the last 100 years,” said Gary Olson, ESSA president and CEO. ESSA’s recognition of the importance of its employees and loyal customers is noteworthy and connotes how being grounded in the basics is a good plan for success, for any company.

Growth Based on Strategic Planning ESSA’s centennial celebration was a good time for the bank to reflect on some important decisions that have withstood the test of time — and one course of action in particular that can be put to use for most companies: the development of an annual business plan that projects out over a three-to-five year horizon.

Within the plan, finding and maintaining the right employees is paramount, followed closely by high service levels, investing in technology, and offering in-demand products and services.

For ESSA, this strategy works, and by combining this strategy with three bank acquisitions in the last four years, has enabled the bank to handle larger loan requests, yet remain nimble enough to make swift loan decisions to improve processes

With the credit they deserve, our clients are more confident than ever.

For 100 years, ESSA has been providing businesses like yours with the tools they need to succeed.

It’s time to start banking confidently.

877-630-3410 | essabank.com/business

when necessary.

ESSA’s decisions are made locally by lenders and underwriters that know their regional market.

This is how the bank continues to grow to meet the challenges, both regulatory and financial, of banking in the 21st century, while never forgetting that ESSA is a community bank that takes pride in both our employees and our customers.

A Unique Value Proposition By taking these major steps in strategic growth, ESSA now has $1.8 billion in assets, allowing the bank to increase our lending capacity and giving ESSA the power to originate and service multimillion dollar loan relationships. This is ESSA’s unique value proposition — ESSA is a regional bank providing customer service at a community level and enhancing relationships by exceeding our consumer and business customer needs. This did not happen overnight, however. This was a concerted effort to grow, develop and enhance critical relationships.

The tightening of interest-rate spreads does not waiver ESSA from its commitment to remain inde-

pendent. In a flat economy, news of national and regional banks laying off lenders and underwriters are the norm, yet ESSA continues to be an anomaly within the financial sector. ESSA is actively seeking growth of staff, which includes hiring commercial lenders across the bank’s footprint. By hiring experienced and dedicated lenders and underwriters ESSA is able to grow strategically, which dovetails into increased relationships and becomes a selffulfilling prophecy of expansion.

As ESSA Bank & Trust looks at 2017, what does the future for ESSA look like?

ESSA will continue to attract and earn the trust of business clients, ranging from the small business owner through middle-market-sized companies. ESSA will continue to stay diverse and enhance existing relationships by offering a full array of products and services to both business and personal banking customers — paving the way for our next 100 years.

Charles D. Hangen is senior vice president and chief operating officer, ESSA Bank & Trust.

$4,300,000

$4,000,000

$3,900,000

Commercial Construction/ Permanent

General Obligation Note

Refinance & Capital Improvements

$3,764,000

$1,380,000

$1,200,000

Property Acquisition

Commercial Construction/ Permanent

Heavy Equipment Financing

$1,075,000

$633,500

$575,000

Commercial Real Estate: SBA 504 Loan

Commercial Real Estate: SBA 504 Loan

Senior Housing Rehabilitation Loan

Equal Opportunity Lender • Member FDIC

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 13 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B13] | 12/28/16

16:14 | GRAHAMTOM

FOCUS ON INVESTMENT AND TAX PLANNING

How President-elect Trump’s tax cuts and hikes will impact us

Donald Trump pledged during his campaign to deliver tax cuts for everybody, especially for working-class Americans. And with Republicans taking charge in both the House and the Senate, it looks like the president-elect will get his chance.

But what does that really mean for you?

“Trump’s income tax reform is a simplification: He wants to cut down the number of tax bands from seven to three,” writes HowMuch.net’s Raul Amoros. “But simplifying is not necessarily the same as reducing taxes.”

As the graph demonstrates, some taxpayers would definitely benefit from Trump’s tax reform — especially those at the higher end of the income scale,” Amoros said. “There are others who would see their tax rates go up. Especially lower incomes.”

The current income tax bands range from 10 and 15 percent at the lower end of the scale, more than 25, 28, 33 and 35 percent in the middle to the top band of 40 percent. Under the Trump plan, only three tax bands would remain: 12, 25 and 33 percent.

This would be good news for everyone currently in the top two brackets (35 and 40 percent).

These taxpayers would see their effective rate drop

down to 33 percent, by 2 and 7 percentage points respectively. Conversely, the simplification would bad news for the taxpayers in the lowest bracket (10 percent). These would see their effective tax rate go up by 2 percentage points, to 12 percent.

But even in the middle, where many would stay in the same bands as before (25 and 33 percent),

there would be losers as well as winners. Most people in the 15 percent bracket would drop down to a 12 percent rate. But a tiny sliver of top earners in this bracket (earning between $37,500 and $37,650) would see their effective tax rate go up by 10 percentage points, to 25 percent.

A similar thing would happen to the old 28

Louis Ingargiola

percent bracket: taxpayers with incomes between $91,150 and $112,500 would drop three percentage points to 25 percent, while those between $112,500 and $190,150 would see their tax rate go up 5 percentage points to 33 percent.

The graph does not take into account other aspects of the Trump tax plan not directly related to the changes to income tax bands, such as the increase of standard deductions and a cap on itemized deductions. These would have an impact on net incomes.

Great news for those in the 35 percent and 40 percent brackets. Not so great for those earning less than $18,550, where, according to HowMuch. net, the tax rate would actually go up by 2 percentage points to 12 percent.

Those in the middle would see some mixed results.

Of note, Amoros points out that the graph doesn’t account for other aspects of Trump’s plan, like the increase of standard deductions and a cap on itemized deductions.

|

Sean McAndrew

203 North Blakely Street

Caring for your future

Dunmore, Pennsylvania 18512 570.961.1161 | 800.440.1776 www.iwmg.us

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, member FINRA/SIPC, a registered investment adviser.

Fixed insurance products and services offered through CES Insurance Agency.

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JANUARY 2017

FOCUS ON BANKING & FINANCE

Success starts with the right team and the right tools “At Fidelity Bank, our goal is to help you meet and Fidelity Bank’s employees feel their job as bankers is to be one of your top three advisors, the other two exceed your business goals,” said Sharon Mullaney, being your lawyer and accountant. “We take our role vice president and business services manager at very seriously, and want to help all business owners Fidelity Bank. “Lending and deposit options are only succeed both personally and professionally,” he said. part of the picture. We want to also provide local “Serving as your financial advisor, somebusinesses with the tools they need to one you trust and can turn to for financial operate more efficiently.” advice is our top priority.”

Business Services at Fidelity works One of the most important ways in conjunction with 20 relationship Fidelity Bank advises local business managers including branch managers owners is through its free cash-flow and and business and commercial bankers business-efficiency consultation. Fidelity lenders, in order to help local businesses Bank’s Business Services experts work thrive. Whether it’s doing more banking in with merchants and business owners to less time with Remote Deposit, or saving Mullaney determine how they can create efficienhundreds of dollars a year by creating cies to increase daily cash flow, process direct deposit for employees rather than traditional paper checks to employees, Mullaney and electronic transactions, facilitate credit card processher team are passionate about getting to the heart of ing, both mobile and in store and cost effectively grow their businesses by offering loyalty and gift card their customers’ needs. programs.

“It’s really about being proactive. I will sit with Fidelity Bank believes that it’s important to undereach client; sometimes it may be over the course of several weeks and even months, to really understand stand today’s trends but the bank also encourages its their complete business model and cash-flow needs. relationship managers to strive to anticipate advanceWe conduct a thorough SWAT analysis to determine ments in technology so that customers are one step ahead of their competition. One such example, of what the business is doing right, and to identify this process came about through the bank’s eGiving inefficiencies,” said Mullaney. “We then can present options that speak to that customer’s specific needs, program.

“As a parishioner and member of the finance instead of a ‘one size fits all’ model which in the long committee at his local church, a bank employee term, does nothing to build meaningful relationheard about a company based out of state that can ships.”

“We really strive to be a partner in your business,” automate the process for collecting parishioners’ tithing,” said Mullaney. “He recognized that so many said Mullaney. “Small businesses are at the heart of of our customers, from churches to non-profit the local economy, and by training and supporting organizations, to health clubs, stand to increase local businesses, we can help them thrive.” revenue by collecting monthly payments using As a community bank, Dunmore-based Fidelity automatic bank deductions. He presented the idea Bank takes great pride in lending back to the local to the bank’s Product Committee and it immediately community. As a matter of fact nearly 90 percent of began creating a program that would work in much all Fidelity Bank’s deposits get lent to qualified individuals, families and businesses as home mortgages the same manner. It doesn’t make sense for a local organization with local supporters to go outside the and business loans. area for this kind of service when Fidelity Bank can On the other hand, big financial institutions are only required to keep a small number of loans within provide it right here and at a significantly lower cost the area they operate. So, money you have on deposit to their organization.”

This is just one example of how Fidelity works at a national or regional bank doesn’t necessarily get loaned to your neighbors and friends. This difference with its customers to provide innovative and modern becomes especially important when local economies solutions to meet often complex problems. Part experience a slowdown. The national “chain” system of the benefit of being a locally based community bank is that decision makers live, work and play in of banking moves money from struggling markets the same communities customers do. There aren’t into thriving ones while banking locally is a way of multiple layers of red tape which means capitalizing investing money in the future of the area. on ideas and bringing new products and services to Led by president and CEO, Daniel J. Santaniello,

the marketplace is faster and more efficient than at “big box” banks.

Fidelity provides a full line of tools designed to run a company’s finances as efficiently and conveniently as possible. A dedicated team of Business Services professionals can help companies improve cash flow by expediting receivables, controlling payables and providing the resources to manage money anywhere and at any time. This month Fidelity Bank is excited to premier its new Business Mobiliti application which offers the ability for business customers to make deposits anytime, anywhere, from their mobile phone for free.

The ability to bank wherever and whenever it is most convenient for you is not only important to business clients but to all Fidelity customers. Fidelity Bank touts a robust online system that allows clients to do most of their personal banking from their phone or tablet, as well as allowing them to check balances, pay bills, move money and deposit checks from any device. And of course with this digital tool box of products and services at their fingertips, both busi-

BANK

ness and personal banking clients can be confident that their accounts and their money are safe and secure.

Built-in features such as online and mobile and text alerts will notify clients when their debit card is used or there is a low account balance. In the next few weeks Fidelity Bank will also roll out its new Digital Wallet for Apple, Samsung and Android phones so clients can digitally store debit cards and credit cards. Every time you pay for something using the digital wallet, the app generates a unique identification number which means that none of your account numbers pass to the merchant. All these services keep your money and your finances as free of fraud as possible.

It’s that kind of confidence, along with the financial tools and services clients need to make their banking experience convenient, efficient and safe, so that they can succeed both personally and professionally. This kind of responsive service is the hallmark of Fidelity Bank’s goal to be the best bank for all their customers. bankatfidelity.com

570.342.8281 800.388.4380

EVERY CUSTOMER IS UNIQUE & SO IS THE WAY THEY PREFER TO PAY! Let our Business Services Experts show you how our electronic cash management tools can improve efficiency to help your business grow and succeed.

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Contact us today either at 1-800-388-4380, FREE, No Obligation Cash Flow stop in any of our local branches or & Business Efficiency Consultation visit us at www.bankatfidelity.com.

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EDUCATION

University of Scranton graduate Family Nurse Practitioner program awarded grant

America’s youth have history deficit

Those “gotcha” moments on TV when young passersby are asked to name the first president of the U.S. and respond with quizzical looks may be funny. But, they expose the fact that American youngsters suffer from a history deficit.

“It’s the reason the Grateful American Book Prize was created,” said David Bruce Smith, co-founder of the award. “The prize encourages authors and publishers to produce more works of historically accurate fiction and nonThe Univerof Northeast fiction for young sity of Scranton’s Pennsylvania.” learners and we graduate nursing Hanson said program was this region of the feel compelled to awarded a federal state is in desper- encourage parents traineeship grant ate need of family and grandparents to give the gift of hisfrom the U.S. nurse practitiotory to the children ners. “We have Department in their lives. graduated more of Health and Numerous than 120 FNPs Human Services, since we created studies have shown Bureau of Health school children the program in Professions, for have a discouraging 1995 and nearly $348,500 for lack of knowledge nine out of 10 the 2016-2017 of American history. academic year. of our graduToo many of them The grant funds ates continue to don’t know even will be used to live and work in the basic facts support the eduNortheast Pennabout our nation’s sylvania.” cational preparapast, about the Hanson said FNPs at Scranton are committed tion of graduate students in the University’s Family to serving in this region in part due the University’s events that shaped Nurse Practitioner Program (FNP). Through this grant, the majority of the FNP students at Scranton Jesuit commitment to serving others. “Most of our America, the graduates end up in the region because they enter people who founded the country and those who will have approximately 90 percent of their tuition built it, creating the world’s first superpower. One the program with that passion for service,” Dr. costs paid this academic year. survey of elementary school children revealed that Hanson said.

The grant is designed to help Scranton FNP 25 percent believed Columbus sailed to America It is also a wise career move. Nationally, nurse graduates improve the quality of rural health care, sometime after 1750 — not 1492. practitioner was listed first in a 2016 USA Today particularly in Northeast Pennsylvania, which Author and publisher Smith teamed up with Dr. article identifying five fast-growing jobs worth a as a region was ranked last by the University of Bruce Cole, former chair of the National EndowWisconsin Population Heath Institute (2015) when career change, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics ment for the Humanities, to establish the Grateful compared with the rest of the state, with regard to projecting a 35 percent increase in employment American Book Prize.

It’s the first award of its kind for nurse practitioners through 2024. The annual heath indicators and behaviors. that offers an incentive for new writers and estabmedian income for the role was listed as $98,190 According to Mary Jane Hanson, Ph.D., prolished authors to focus on historically accurate fessor of nursing and director of the Department of in 2015. books for children, novels and biographies that can Hanson also noted that the primary care family Nursing’s Graduate Program at the University and bring history to life for kids. nurse practitioner program at Scranton has had a author of the grant, “the objectives of the trainee“Our children are not stupid, so there must be 100 percent first-time pass rate on the family nurse ship grant are: to increase the number of gradupractitioner national certification examination since another reason for the widespread and appalling ates from our FNP program with a focus on rural lack of the basic knowledge of who, why and how health; promote competence among the graduates the program began more than 20 years ago. the nation was founded. If you ask the students, Since 2000, the University’s Department in the use of telehealth modalities; and cultivate they are apt to tell you that history class is boring, of Nursing has received more than 3.5 million expertise in inter-professional collaboration and that they don’t get the connection between what teamwork. Our overarching goal is to increase the dollars from competitive federal grant programs through the U.S. Department of Health and Human happened then and what is happening now and that supply and expertise of primary care FNP providhistory books are dull. But maybe the real reason is Services. ers for residents of predominately rural areas

Funds will help Scranton FNP graduates improve the quality of rural health care, particularly in Northeast Pennsylvania

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JANUARY 2017

that many schools don’t even have history classes anymore; they cover that base nowadays with social studies and/or civics classes using texts that provide the facts but do little to spark an interest in history,” Smith said.

Perhaps since we live in an age when the focus of education is on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM subjects, history takes a back seat in the classroom, Smith said. “Some say it’s critical that we teach young learners practical subjects so they’ll be competitive in the global economy of the 21st Century.

That may be so, but as education consultant Robert Pondiscio put it: ‘Many Americans have forgotten we have public schools so students can become educated citizens capable of self-government.’”

Smith noted that the odd thing is that as kids grow older, particularly when they are out of school, many develop a hankering for the past. They seek out history-based films and, more important, books about historical places, figures and accomplishments.

Here’s what one young woman who was bored in history class said: “Since I left school I have become pretty good at reading lots of historical novels. It’s because they are more interesting. If I had done this while still at school, I think my marks would have been heaps better.”

It makes sense, Smith remarks. “The books she read were engaging; they roused her curiosity and dusted up her desire to learn more about the historical characters and places in those novels.

Her regret is that she didn’t start reading while she was in school. And that shows us that there is a way of encouraging students to embrace history class: give them a good read. So, when you go shopping for gifts this year, don’t just go to the toy store; make a stop at your local book store while you are at it.”

HEALTHCARE

TCMC lecture examines nutrition’s role in health

Gathering at the Nov. 30 Preventive Medicine lecture at The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) are Robert W. Naismith, Ph.D., a founder of both TCMC and its successful Preventive Medicine Program; guest lecturer, T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., founder of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies; Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., TCMC president and dean; and David Feinberg, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer, Geisinger Health System.

The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) and the advisory board for its Preventive Medicine Program followed up on the success of the program’s inaugural event in April with another free offering to the public that examined the myriad ways proper nutrition is intrinsically linked with better health.

Guest lecturer for the second event, which took place on Nov. 30 at the college, was renowned biochemist and author, T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. who spoke about how food impacts disease, especially, cancer.

“The fact that we once again hosted a standing-room-only crowd suggests the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania are eager to learn more about how they can preserve their health and maintain wellness before the illness or disease strikes,” said Robert W. Naismith, Ph.D., a founder of TCMC and the lecture series. “We need to recognize that many of our current diseases are food-borne illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.”

Campbell’s best-seller, “The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health,” was the result of what many in the scientific community believe to be the most

comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted. Campbell is also the author of the New York Times best-seller “Whole, and The Low-Carb Fraud” and the founder of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and the online plantbased nutrition certificate in partnership with eCornell. Campbell’s talk is entitled, “Why Is Nutrition Ignored in Medicine?”

The best-seller, “The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health,” by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., was the result of what many in the scientific community believe to be the most comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted.

The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) is one of the nation’s newest, fully accredited medical colleges.TCMC offers a community-based model of medical education with campuses in Scranton, Sayre, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport.TCMC offers doctor of medicine (MD)and master’s of biomedical sciences (MBS) degrees. The college’s innovative curriculum, focused on caring for people in the context of their lives and their community, attracts the next generation of physicians and scientists from within its 17-county region in Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania as well as from across the state and the nation. The Commonwealth Medical College is committed to non-discrimination in all employment and educational opportunities. Visit tcmc.edu.

EDUCATION

Penn Foster graduates more than 1,000 through workforce board partnerships Penn Foster, a leading skills solutions organization, based in Scranton, and focused on providing competencies, credentials, career pathways and employment matching for today’s evolving workforce, announced it has graduated more than 1,000 opportunity youth and adult learners from its Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) partnerships across the country.

As part of its ongoing commitment to skills attainment, Penn Foster provides career pathway opportunities to help unemployed or underemployed individuals through local workforce boards in states such as Arkansas, California, and Wisconsin. Through these partnerships, more than 1,000 individuals have earned their Penn Foster high school diploma, career school diploma or college degree in areas such as auto repair, criminal justice, veterinary technician, HVAC-R technician, and medical billing and coding. Workers learn in-demand skills which improves the quality of the workforce, enabling local businesses to succeed.

“Workforce Investment Boards are playing an increasingly critical role in our country’s economic growth,” said Frank Britt, CEO, Penn Foster Inc. “Together we can create new efficiencies in skills development and provide real outcomes within

communities.Through our extensive portfolio, Penn Foster is able to deliver high-growth, occupation-focused training programs for each workforce board to fill the needs of that particular labor market.”

Job seekers come to WIBs with varying work experience and education, but with a common goal to gain relevant knowledge and additional skills to achieve economic mobility. Penn Foster now works with more than 100 workforce organizations and over 200 Career Centers under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which became law in July 2014.

Students, employers and partner organizations rely on Penn Foster to build the skills and knowledge to power the 21st century workforce. For more than 125 years, Penn Foster has been dedicated to helping people lead more meaningful and productive lives and to improving social outcomes through education.

Penn Foster provides career pathways for opportunity youth and adult learners through diverse and affordable online diploma, certificate and degree programs, offered via its high school, career school and college. With more than 44,000 graduates each year, Penn Foster’s online and blended learning programs are delivered in a self-paced, competency-based model, reinforced by comprehensive academic, professional and personal support and coaching. Visit partners.pennfoster.edu/.

10 best jobs in PA for recent college grads Labor compiles job growth statistics, and ONet Online, another government source, has data on After some research and number crunching, job requirements. we’ve determined the 10 best jobs for recent colWe combined data from each of these sources lege grads in Pennsylvania. Here they are: to produce a master database that contains • Computer Repairman information for every profession. Specifically, we • Counselor looked at the following criteria: • Database Administrator • Location quotient. A measure of how com• Cytotechnologist mon a job is a given state.

• Statistician • Only for jobs in Pennsylvania that require a • Financial Aid Advisor college degree.

• Job Coach • Average annual entry level salary .

• Sales Engineer • Projected growth as an industry over the next • Engineering Technician 10 years.

• Web Developer By limiting the dataset to only those jobs that We’ve been talking to a lot of recent college require a bachelors degree, we were left with 41 graduates recently, so we have a pretty good sense jobs to rank. We then ranked each job on each of what they want in their first job. criteria from 1 to 41 with 1 being the best.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data See more at zippia.com/advice/best-job-inon pay, by location, each state’s Department of pennsylvania-for-recent-college-grads/.

By Chris Kolmar

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Relationship

YOUR GATEWAY TO GROWTH engagement and donations.” And for their corporate PDQ’s Lynett says to help his team overcome customers, “we provide on-demand printing and ful- price objections, “we focus on a customer’s real goals, fillment for companies worldwide. That enables them what they’re trying to achieve with a designed and to have just-in-time inventory for sales and marketing printed piece. A discussion around goals and returnmaterials, which frees up their cash.” on-investment ensures we’re acting as a partner, not And when it comes to cash, remember, a bargain just another vendor. Vendors sell on price, partners that doesn’t deliver just became expensive. In dollars, sell on value.” time and energy.

To compete effectively and profitably: • Don’t merely discount. Create differentiation.

Can you negotiate? If you’d like to. Yet do it with we have to get the job done right, the first time.” And • Don’t only offer savings. Provide solutions. value concessions, not just price concessions. value is a reflection of price. Do you buy only based • Don’t simply slash prices. Solve problems.

When you sell, don’t fall prey to a price battle. upon price? I doubt it.

Understanding cost and delivering value, help both Focus on value and cost. Meaning, what’s the cost Look at your stuff. Is your home or apartment, you and your customers or clients prosper. of not using your product or service. Cost and price the cheapest one you could have bought or rented?

For years, I’ve had a card called Values written by aren’t the same thing. It’s your responsibility to show How about your car and clothes? Are you cruising in a John Ruskin. It says: It’s unwise to pay too much, but the difference.

Yugo wearing shiny polyester? No. Not surprising. it’s unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much As a simple example, every day, folks are gulping you lose a little money, that is all. When you pay too down “luxury” cups of coffee. They’re not paying for Do you really get what you pay for? tasty black liquid, frothy white foam or fancy flavoring little, you sometimes lose everything, because the You know you’ve said to yourself at least once, “I that ends in a vowel. They’re paying for the feeling, the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you should have spent extra bucks to avoid the headaches bought it to do. The law of business balance prohibits emotion and the experience. and hassle of dealing with those bozos!” paying a little and getting a lot. It can’t be done. If you Decision makers will pay a premium for value.

The adage, “you get what you pay for” is false. deal with the lowest bidder, it’s well to add something Especially when that value enhances their lifestyle or Because you really get more. Like: pain, suffering and for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have their bottom line. frustration. enough to pay for something better.

Don’t find ways to drop your price. Instead, If you don’t buy only based upon price, why discover and promote what you currently offer or will convince yourself others do. It just isn’t so. Your soon offer, that can’t be found elsewhere. Stuff that prospects, customers or clients want solutions, impacts service, delivery, design, implementation, Increasing the effectiveness and outcomes, results and improved conditions. And they training, choices, results, performance, etc. enhancing the lives of business owners know that only happens with value. Value like your Ace-Robbins’ Kukuchka emphasizes, “We also and senior executives. differential competitive advantage. Your knowledge. convey value and address price challenges with a Your expertise. Your experience.

For membership information, contact team of trained certified technicians, available 24/7.

David Farrington, Chair To create differentiation, Kukuchka at Ace-Robbins You can talk to a person, not a machine.”

570 878 1654 says, “We’re large enough to take care of you, yet still know who you are. Plus, we embrace technology with state-of-the-art processes and equipment, to be fast Jeff Blackman is a Hall of Fame speaker, Vistage Fast-Track Speaker of the Year, and attentive.” bestselling author, success coach, broadcaster and lawyer. His clients call him a businessLynett believes PDQ creates distinction, when growth specialist. If you hire speakers, contact him at: 847-998-0688 or jeff@jeffblackman. they help, “Our non-profit customers with a proven com. And visit jeffblackman.com to learn more about his other business-growth tools and to subscribe to Jeff’s FREE e-zine, The Results Report. Blackman’s bestselling books include; direct mail/email program, who partner with animal Stop Whining! Start Selling! and Peak Your Profits. You can also stay connected with him via shelters and service-focused charities, increase donor Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter: @BlackmanResults

POWER!

By Jeff Blackman, J.D.

If you think you’re in a commodity business, selling commodity stuff, you and your company are contributing to that perception, because you believe it.

Price isn’t the place to compete.

Don’t want to beat you up, just kinda shake you up. Does price matter? Sure. Yet the greatest obstacles associated with a price, an investment or a fee, aren’t in the minds of buyers, they’re in the minds of sellers.

If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, guess what, neither will anyone else. If you don’t think it’s worth it, whatever it is, you aren’t going to convince a decision maker. Your skepticism will be easy to sniff out. Your hesitation will scream “buyer beware.”

You never hear a sales and marketing message that boasts: “You’ll pay the lowest price. And our quality stinks and our service is lousy!” Price doesn’t eliminate other buying motives. It’s merely a decision influencer, not a decision driver.

Scott Lynett, CEO/partner of PDQ Print Center, (a Times-Shamrock company), in Taylor, says he conveys value by, “making our customers lives easier — providing beautifully designed and printed business materials and direct mail at the touch of a button and just in time.”

Ron Kukuchka, president of Ace-Robbins in Tunkhannock adds, “As a one-stop shop for home comfort, we sell heating oil, propane, air conditioning, fireplaces and appliances. And to best convey value,

VISTAGE

MAKE YOUR MARK 18 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B18] | 12/28/16

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How do you want to make your mark? Whether you dream of starting or expanding a business, our business bankers are ready to make your vision a reality. At Landmark Community Bank, our greatest achievement is delivering exceptional service to help you make your mark.

NEPA

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LCBBank.com JANUARY 2017

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FOCUS ON INVESTMENT AND TAX PLANNING

Answers to questions on capital gains and losses

Plan ahead tax steps that can save money Did you take advantage of all the tax planning opportunities available to you in 2016? The Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA) offers tips on a few of the options you can use to keep more money in your pocket.

Did you know that when you sell an asset, such as your home, collectables or stocks, you may have to pay taxes on the proceeds? Knowing the rules on capital gains and losses can help you make decisions about when, or if, it makes sense to sell. The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) offers answers to some key questions.

What Gains Are Taxable? You may have taxable gains when you sell a capital asset, which can include your home, other property, or investments such as stocks and bonds. The capital gain is the difference between your basis (usually the purchase price you paid for the asset) and the sale price. The cost of improvements made may increase your basis in the property. In a simple example, if you paid $200,000 for your home and added on a bedroom that cost you $25,000, $225,000 would be your basis. If you later sell the house for $500,000, the $275,000 difference between your basis and the sale price is your capital gain. (Most settlement fees and closing costs can be added to your basis and most selling expenses can be subtracted from your sale price, so consult your CPA for details on determining your gain.) The basic rules are similar for other kinds of personal property. If you bought an antique chair for $1,000 and later sold it for $1,500, your taxable capital gain is $500.

Is There a Break When I Sell My House? The good news is that you get a large tax break on capital gains associated with the sale of your home.

Profits of up to $250,000 for a single filer and up to $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly are tax free. Anything above those amounts must be

reported on your income tax return as a capital gain.

You can use the proceeds however you like, and the exclusion is generally available every time you sell a home, as long as you owned the home and used it as your main home during at least two of the five years before the sale. There is a different set of rules for second homes and real estate investment property, so ask your CPA for more details.

What about Gains and Losses on Investments? Gains on assets you’ve owned for one year or less are considered short-term gains and are taxed at your ordinary income rate, which can range from 10 percent to 39.6 percent. Gains on anything you’ve held longer than a year are long-term gains, and are taxed at the capital gains rate for your bracket. For most people, that means long-term capital gains will be taxed at 15 percent.

If you’ve had losses on assets, they can be applied against your gains. Let’s say that you’ve sold a portfolio of stocks and bonds. Some went up in value a total of $500 above your basis, but others went down in value by a total of $700 below your basis. In that case, you can deduct your net $200 capital loss. There is a $3,000 limit on losses you deduct in any tax year, but you can carry over the excess amount to following years. Be aware, though, that you can’t deduct capital losses on personal-use property, such as your home or car.

Each situation is unique, so contact your local CPA with any questions you have on capital gains and losses. He or she can offer advice on all your financial concerns. To find a CPA in your area or for more financial tips, visit picpa.org/moneyandlife.

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JANUARY 2017

Manage Your Income and Deductions If you expect your economic situation to change next year, you may want to consider managing when you receive income or take deductions. If your income may go down, take the opportunity to postpone invoicing for freelance or consulting income or to put off any other earnings you can delay. You may also consider taking qualified deductions before year-end so that you can claim them against your higher 2017 income. The opposite would be true if you think your income will go up in 2018.

year-end and are reported on your W-2. You can contribute up to $18,000 to a 401(k), 403(b), and many profit-sharing plans (and another $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older). Self-employed individuals have some special rules regarding amounts and timing of contributions, depending on the type of plan selected. Don’t postpone building a secure retirement. If you’re just getting started, talk to your CPA about the best retirement savings strategy for you.

Take Your RMDs If you’re age 70½ or older, you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from certain retirement accounts each year. Those distributions are generally included in your taxable income, but you can’t skip them, even if you don’t need the money. You’ll face a 50 percent excise tax on the amount not distributed as reCheck Your Withholding quired. If you don’t need your RMD for income, Consider adjusting your withholding status if consider contributing some or all of it directly you receive a tax refund in 2017. If you lower your from your IRA to a charity in what’s known as a withholding amount you may not get a refund, but qualified charitable distribution. You can donate you’ll get more money in each paycheck rather up to a maximum of $100,000. The amount of than at tax time. This means you can immediately the RMD you donate will not be included in your channel your money into an interest-bearing taxable income. savings account or other investment. You can do the same with your tax refund check, of course, Your CPA Can Help but you miss out on the interest you could have Comprehensive tax planning not only helps earned throughout the year. Conversely, consider you minimize the tax bite, but it can also help you raising your withholding if you expect to receive identify and address a number of important finanextra income in the year. On another front, will you cial planning concerns. Turn to your local CPA for experience milestone events — such as a marexpert help with taxes and other financial issues. riage or the birth of a child — in 2017 or expect to To find a CPA in your area or for more financial do so in 2018? They can affect your tax situation tips, visit picpa.org/moneyandlife. and your withholding status as well, so make sure to factor them into your decisions.

About PICPA PICPA is composed of 11 regional chapters Manage Your Retirement Planning which host educational and social events for You have until April 17, 2017, to make fellow CPAs in counties throughout Pennsylvania. contributions to an individual retirement account There are a variety of chapter leadership opportu(traditional or Roth) and deduct them on your nities ranging from officer positions to committee 2016 return, if eligible. If you contribute to an involvement. individual retirement account, you can set aside The counties in the northeast chapter are: Carup to $5,500 (plus $1,000 more if you’re 50 or bon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, older). Employee deferrals to qualified retirement Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wycoming. plans are made through payroll deduction by

EDUCATION

Giant/Martin’s donates $100,000 to local education

ESU launces undergraduate certificates

A new initiative at East Stroudsburg University (ESU) of Pennsylvania focuses on offering certificate programs that will help students and professionals advance in their careers.

Certificate programs are concentrations of • Wyomissing Area Education Foundation, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets courses designed to enhance knowledge and skills Wyomissing — $5,000; and announced a $100,000 donation to 17 Pennsylvain key areas. By earning the credential, students will • York Suburban Education Foundation, York — become more attractive and useful to employers. nia educational foundations which support local $5,000. schools. The $100,000 donation is part of the The College of Arts and Sciences announces four company’s participation in Pennsylvania’s Educanew certificate programs in the areas of geographic tional Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). This and information systems (GIS), 3-D printing and prodprogram encourages eligible businesses to contribuct design, business writing and crisis intervention. ute to scholarship organizations or educational imThe GIS certificate will give students marketable provement organizations within the Commonwealth skills in GIS and remote sensing, technology that to receive tax credits. GIant/Martin’s has participated is used extensively throughout private, public, and This holiday season, customers and associates in the program for more than 10 years. nonprofit sectors. at GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S Food Markets “This year’s $100,000 donation is one of many The 3-D printing and product design certificate donated $656,349 through its annual Children’s ways Giant/Martin’s is proud to support schools shows students how to use the latest 3-D equipwithin our local communities,” said Tom Lenkevich, Miracle Network (CMN) Candles for Kids in-store ment in graphic and object design. campaign. president. “In addition to EITC donations, our A+ The business writing certificate will enhance a “For 20 years, we have been proud to partner School Rewards school fundraiser provides millions student’s ability to write effectively in the workplace. with our customers, associates and vendors to raise for local school programs and supplies annually.”

The crisis intervention certificate prepares stumore than $41 million for local CMN Hospitals,” The following organizations recently received dents to assess and de-escalate crises in a variety of said Tom Lenkevich, GIANT/MARTIN’S president. donations from Giant/Martin’s: (Local institutions in health and human service settings.

“Combined with our CMN paper balloon campaign, bold). our generous customers and associates donated • Altoona Area School District Foundation, more than $1.2 million at the checkout this year Altoona — $5,000; to support CMN in providing healthier futures for • American Paradigm Schools, Philadelphia — children in our local communities.” $5,000; GIANT/MARTIN’S is one of the top 10 fundrais• Bubbler Foundation, Boiling Springs — ers in the country for CMN. In addition to the annual $5,000; in-store campaigns during the summer and at the • Centennial Education Foundation, Warminster holidays, associates also regularly volunteer at — $5,000; CMN Hospital events, including radio and television • Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley, telethons.

Allentown - $10,000; CMN Hospitals, the alliance of premier hospitals • Economics PA, Selinsgrove — $10,000; for children, is a non-profit organization dedicated • Falcon Foundation, Lebanon — $5,000; to saving and improving the lives of children by • Greater Hazleton Partners in Education, West raising funds for children’s hospitals across North Hazleton (Luzerne County) — $5,000; America.

The following CMN Hospitals in GIANT/ • Green Dragon Foundation, Lewisburg — MARTIN’S communities benefitted from the $5,000; Candles for Kids campaign: Penn State Hershey • Harrisburg Public School Foundation, HarChildren’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital of risburg — $10,000; Philadelphia, The Janet Weis Children’s Hospital • Lancaster Education Foundation, Lancaster — at Geisinger, Children’s National Medical Center, $5,000; University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh • Manheim Township Educational Foundation, Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children’s Lancaster — $5,000; Center, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. • Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit CORE Foundation, Archbald (Lackawanna County) GIANT/MARTIN’S operates nearly 200 grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, — $5,000; under the names of GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN’S • Opportunity House, Reading — $5,000; Food Markets. GIANT/MARTIN’S employs more than • Susan P. Byrnes Education Center, York — 33,000 associates. $5,000;

Giant/Martin’s donates to Children’s Miracle Network

Whether as a stand-alone credential or as part of an undergraduate degree, the certificate typically involves a package of four or five courses. If an ESU undergraduate takes the courses as part of their baccalaureate degree, costs are covered by general tuition. A stand-alone 12-credit certificate costs about $5,000 in tuition and fees, less than the cost of an undergraduate degree.

Certificates can be helpful for students who wish to stand out from their peers in the job market and are a good option for professionals who wish to continue their education in their field of work.

“Certificates are becoming a popular option as more universities begin to offer them,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Peter Hawkes, Ph.D. “The programs offered at ESU range across disciplines and are offered in a mixture of classes, both face-to-face and online.”

To add a certificate, current students should go to their MyESU portal, hit the e-warrior tab, and then add a major/certificate.

For more information about the new certificate programs contact Hawkes at 570-422-3494 or email phawkes@esu.edu.

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FOCUS ON WILKES-BARRE

Wilkes-Barre tech-based economy can ‘flatten the world’

The Innovation Squared project brings higher education to public and private sector to aid tech industry

are happening within the city. Above all, WilkesBarre’s commercial renaissance needed a brand Data compiled by The Institute for Public Policy to market and it was crucial to tell the story of the & Economic Development show Luzerne County’s city’s downtown and tech revival from a business economic indicators have measurably improved point of view. during the past two years.

Central to this effort has been an initiative Employment growth has been particularly strong known as Wilkes-Barre Connect. This program is in the transportation and warehousing arenas, with billed as “a clearing house for business developwages finally creeping upward despite being lower ment in Northeast Pennsylvania by formulating than corresponding state averages. The county’s strategic partnerships with the academic and busieducational and medical sectors are economic ness community to spur business and job creation, drivers and downtown tech companies are thriving. retention, expansion and business attraction A rebounding manufacturing environment is now through support services, including mentoring, among the county’s top three employment sectors. training, networking, technical assistance, access This is all joined by the re-emergence of to capital and facilities.”

Wilkes-Barre’s downtown as the site for the operaAccording to Boylan, Luzerne County’s tion of successful business incubators, such as the manufacturing revival is the product of various Innovation Center at Wilkes-Barre and the Allan P. factors. These include recognition of the practical Kirby Enterprise Center at Wilkes University. advantages of doing business there, as well as the Joe Boylan, vice president of economic develefforts of development agencies such as Penn’s Wilkes-Barre’s riverfront opment with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Northeast and its peer groups.

Commerce has recognized that many good things “We’ve found that manufacturing desires sites that are available with no waiting, plus the availability of effective infrastructure, cheap energy and high-speed data capability,” Boylan said. “These factors are pleasing to site selectors and our subsequent success often goes back to the Connect program.”

Wilkes-Barre’s 16-block downtown now has 13,000 daytime workers, according to Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership. One-third of these individuals reside outside of Luzerne County and work at companies such as Highmark Blue Shield, Berkshire Hathaway, GUARD Insurance, Wilkes University, Kings College, Pepperjam and various government agencies.

The downtown is also being recognized as an innovation and start-up district that houses onethird of the information sector jobs in the MSA. Harrisburg is pumping $2 million into WilkesBarre’s Innovation Squared project, which is bringing area colleges and universities together with the public and private sector to add technology companies downtown. A visible segment of this involves renovation of the long-vacant First National Bank building in 2017, which features classic architecture.

Another rehabilitation project features renovation of the historic Jersey Central Railroad Station into office space. This will join a business community that has witnessed the number of downtown restauBy Dave Gardner

Join us for Winter Open House!

Saturday, January 21 from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Register online at kings.edu or call 1-888-KINGS PA

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JANUARY 2017

rants rise from 17 in 2005 to more than 40 currently and a net gain of 50-plus operating storefronts. The number of college-educated millennials living in the downtown over the past four years has tripled.

“The millennials love to walk and they enjoy downtown living, so the number of housing units is on a steep rise with at least 35 more apartments becoming available in 2017,” Newman said. “College educated millennials make up 10 percent of the area’s population, but comprise 19 percent of our downtown residents.”

Fiscal challenges Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George deals with a diverse city population of approximately 41,000 that, according to the last census, is 79 percent Caucasian, 10 percent African-American and 11 percent Latino. Annual budgets exceed $51 million, and George emphasized that there are no magic fixes to the city’s ongoing fiscal challenges even though he personally is optimistic about the future.

“We will be able to pay our bills for the coming year, even though recent budgets haven’t been realistic because they depended on unattainable revenue sources,” said George. “We have to recognize and fix this.”

Unrealistic revenue sources in the budget listed Please see FOCUS, Page 23

FROM PAGE 22

by George include $350,000 in delinquent taxes, $1 million for permitting fees, $250,000 in unpaid magistrate charges and $100,000 of delinquent recycling fees. George said that city hall will only be able to receive a percentage of these payments, and that a resultant $1.4 million budget shortfall can only be reduced with collection.

Wilkes-Barre is also facing $53 million in unfunded pension obligations, which will increase the pension debt service next year from $5 million to $8 million. George declared that this deficit is the result of “kicking the can of obligation” down the road, and he is seeking arbitration to base pensions on base salary and not overtime.

“A high percentage of retirees now leave the city and I’m asking for a 30-mill tax increase which in all honesty I doubt we will receive,” said George.

“This may open the door to layoffs.”

Rodney Ridley, Ph.D., director of the Allan P. Kirby Incubator, is seeing increased investment. This may appear somewhat mediocre from the outside, but the city’s addition of tech and e-commerce companies are actually reversing the notorious brain drain of talent.

“Some of the most interesting jobs that are being created downtown involve highly-specialized e-commerce communications to promote internet buying,” Ridley said. “These are specialized careers that create a nurturing environment for the tech-based entrepreneur and provide evidence that Wilkes-Barre is on its way to becoming a special city in Pennsylvania.

Data-based powerhouse Mike Jones, chief operating officer/general counsel with Pepperjam, operates one of the nation’s fastest growing, digital marketing and analytics companies. Jones, a commercial litigator, now employs 300 people within 10 offices, with 130 employees based at the firm’s Wilkes Barre headquarters.

According to Jones, his company has achieved 2,000 on-line business relations with customers such as Calvin Klein and the NFL. He also deals in proprietary distribution media outlets and the company was recently named 2016 Emerging Business of the Year by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.

“All around the country we’re now seeing business operate in non-traditional locations such as Wilkes-Barre,” Jones said. “I’ve been beating the Wilkes-Barre drum for 10 years because the city offers some genuine reasons to do business here.”

Wilkes-Barre’s geography includes accessibility to urban commerce centers, the international airport, a favorable employee work ethic and 14 nearby

universities with quality interns readily available.

“About 50 percent of our current staff previously were interns,” Jones said.

Regional operating costs and turnover are also substantially lower than other urban locations, which lowers employee recruitment costs for Jones.

“We have an average employee tenure of six years, which has created a stable and experienced work force,” Jones said. “There’s also very little talent poaching by other companies.”

Jones described the ongoing changes to Wilkes-Barre’s downtown as extraordinary. Talent remains tight for some jobs such as computer engineers that can code and build platforms, but Jones is advocating that the region’s universities tailor their programs to match these skill needs.

“Regional negativity can also be hard to shake, but this is improving along with public safety,” Jones said.

Perhaps, above all, Jones has recognized that Wilkes-Barre’s millennials are no different from their nationwide counterparts. This group has a social consciousness, demands job transparency, performance and results and is not motivated by the old ways of doing business with closed doors, muddled promotions and talentless nepotism.

“The old coal-miner mentality is gone,” Jones said. “The Internet has flattened the world.”

An aerial view of Downtown Wilkes-Barre Photo by Jake elko

can no longer avoid post-high school education and expect to land a good-paying job, especially in modern manufacturing and even warehousing and logistics require a mastery of applicable automation with associated skills.

“Some of the workforce is being left behind as

employment becomes more tech-oriented,” Ooms said. “Yet, Wilkes-Barre as a whole is experiencing upward movement and the economic numbers prove it.”

Site selection Ian Robson, founder of American Paper Bag, is now in the process of a May 2017 startup that will manufacture an all-new sustainable paper bag at a location in Sugar Notch. Robson, who is British, will initially employ 10 local workers with plans to hire as many as 40 more.

Developers have noted that Robson could have gone anywhere with his company and he did investigate sites from California to New Jersey to Canada. Factors which clenched Luzerne County as his location included the region’s proximity to major markets, low overall startup costs, and the Connect initiative.

“The development team here has got it together,” said Robson. “The package of incentives, partnerships and bankers are efficient and logical.”

Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development, sums up Wilkes-Barre’s situation by declaring that the city and surrounding locales are achieving economic improvement that is limited but real. Unemployment has dropped, manufacturing jobs are actually pegging a net gain and overall commerce is increasing.

The Wilkes-Barre area is also a home to genuine poverty that often is the result of a mismatch between job needs and education. Wage earners

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ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR FINANCE 2017

What financial issues should be watched under the new administration?

from seven to three (12, 25 and 33 percent); While changes are likely after the presidential • Increasing standard deduction amounts and election, the specifics and scope will take time to limiting use of itemized deductions; unfold. For now, here are three key financial issues • Repealing the federal estate tax, alternative minito watch: mum tax and 3.8 percent net investment The Patient Protection and Affordincome tax; able Care Act (ACA), commonly referred • Lowering the business tax rate from to as Obamacare, has faced intense 35 to 15 percent (Trump plan) or 20 partisan conflict. The ACA became a percent (House Republican plan) central issue during the presidential camThere are significant differences paign, with Trump vowing to “repeal and between the two plans, and Senate Rereplace” the legislation. In the late days of publicans may not be in full agreement on the campaign, criticism of the ACA was Shelp either one. Some Republican leaders see underscored by news reports of rising the possibility of bipartisan cooperation premium costs and health-care providers with their Democratic counterparts to enact lasting leaving the exchanges.

It seems likely that Obamacare will be among the tax reform.

Investments: To the surprise of many observnew administration’s early priorities, but full repeal ers, Trump’s unexpected victory sparked a moderate and replacement may be complicated. One GOP stock market rally and stocks trended higher followsenator recently estimated that it could take two ing the election. This suggests that investors may be years. optimistic that his promised pro-business agenda Some 20 million Americans have obtained could help continue the upward market trend of the coverage under the ACA, and Trump has signaled last few years. interest in keeping some popular provisions, such On the other hand, bond prices — led by the as ensuring that people with pre-existing conditions benchmark 10-year Treasury note — fell steeply the continue to have coverage, and extending coverday after the election and continued to trend downage to dependents up to age 26 on their parents’ insurance plans. Many other provisions, including the ward. This, too, was a surprise because Treasuries individual and employer mandates, may be changed are seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty, but investors were more interested in selling Treasuries or eliminated. than buying them.

Although Republicans will control both houses In this initial stage, money flowing out of Treasurof Congress and the White House in 2017, they will ies suggests that bond investors may see a Trump lack the needed 60 votes in the Senate to overcome presidency as leading to higher inflation and higher a Democratic filibuster. The ACA originally passed over a similar level of Republican opposition through interest rates due to a combination of more protective a simple majority vote under a process called budget trade policies and heavier government borrowing to reconciliation. The same process might now be used fund infrastructure spending and reduce taxes.

These are early impressions, and there could be to chop away at Obamacare. many market swings as investors try to understand Tax reform, to some degree, also appears likely. what the new administration’s policies might be, how In early 2016, House Republicans published a tax reform “blueprint,” a summary of policies that could much support they have from Congress, and how form the basis of new legislation in 2017. Trump also they might affect the broader economy. Moreover, campaigned in part on the promise of large-scale tax government policy and political debate are only two of many factors that can create market volatility. The reform.

Significantly, late in the election cycle, the Trump most stable approach in changing times is generally campaign released a revised tax plan that moved the to maintain a well-diversified portfolio using a stratcandidate’s proposals closer to the House Republican egy appropriate for your time frame, personal goals, and risk tolerance. plan.While it’s impossible to predict exactly what Contact Adam D. Shelp, CRPC®, Kingston Retirenew tax legislation will look like, it may make sense to ment Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, 270 Pierce focus on provisions common to both the Trump plan St., Kingston 18704. Call (570) 283-8140 or visit kingstonand the House GOP blueprint, which include: retirementgroup.com Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC. Prepared by Broadridge • Reducing the number of income tax brackets Investor Communication Solutions Inc. Copyright 2016.

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JANUARY 2017

ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR TECHNOLOGY

High technology shapes PA Congressional districts in Pennsylvania also While policy discussions about technology ranked in the top 50 districts nationally for the and innovation issues often focus narrowly on iconic places like Silicon Valley or Boston’s Route following indicators: • Average number of broadband providers per 128 corridor, the Information Technology and household (PA-1, No. 40; and PA-13, No. 49); Innovation Foundation (ITIF) reported in a new • Computer and math workers (PA-6, No. 49); study that high-tech innovation plays a critical role • High-tech share of all manufacturing exports in the economy in all 18 congressional districts in (PA-13, No. 37; and PA-8, No. 24); Pennsylvania, too.

• IT services exports (PA-13, No. 46; PA-14, ITIF, the leading U.S. think tank for science and No. 34; and PA-6, No. 33); technology policy, examined 20 indicators of the • IT share of all services exports (PA-11*, No. innovation-driven high-tech economy — both traditional economic data such as technology exports 48; PA-13, No. 35; PA-14, No. 42; PA-15, No. 28; PA-17, No. 42; PA-6, No. 28; and PA-8, No.39) and newer metrics such as broadband deploy• Public R&D funding (PA-14, No. 26; and ment — to paint statistical portraits of all 435 U.S. PA-2, No. 24) congressional districts, 50 states and the District of Columbia. It found a nation in which the drivers “The country’s innovation-driven, high-tech of high-tech innovation are widely diffused. economy really is much more widely diffused than “The myopic view that the high-tech economy most people imagine,” said Atkinson. “We urge is only Silicon Valley and a few other bright spots members of Congress and other policymakers like Boston or North Carolina’s Research Triangle to find common cause in advancing an agenda that continues to build up the foundations of an is flat wrong,” said Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF’s innovation-driven economy, including a highly president. “Indeed, all districts in Pennsylvania skilled workforce, robust research and develophave some kind of tech-driven activity occurring ment spending, digital-age infrastructure, and locally. This should serve as a signal to every globally competitive member of Congress All districts in Pennsylvania have tech-driven industries. from Pennsylvania and some kind of tech-driven activity It’s the surest way to the rest of the country occurring locally. This should serve as raise productivity, bolthat tech matters to their states and a signal to every member of Congress ster competitiveness, and boost wages.” districts, so they should from Pennsylvania and the rest of support broad-based, To read the report, the country that tech matters to their bipartisan policies to states and districts, so they should browse interactive spur further innovation maps, and download support broad-based, bipartisan and growth at home policies to spur further innovation and individual profiles for and across the nation.”

Pennsylvania and each growth at home and across the nation.

The new ITIF report of its congressional — Robert D. Atkinson, president, ITIF includes statistical districts, visit itif.org/ profiles of Pennsylvania technation. and each of its congressional districts, as well as *The 11th Congressional District of Pennsylvania is comspecific examples of companies, universities, and prised of all of Columbia, Montour, and Wyoming counties and other organizations driving innovation locally. parts of Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne, NorthumberPennsylvania ranked among the top 10 states land, and Perry counties. Major locations in the district include Harrisburg, Sunbury, Carlisle, Tunkhannock, Hazleton, Bloomsfor the following indicators of the innovationburg, and Danville. - Source: barletta.house.gov/11th-district. driven high-tech economy: The Information Technology and Innovation Foun• Computer and math workers (No. 8); dation (ITIF) is an independent, nonpartisan research • High tech manufacturing exports (No. 8); and educational institute focusing on the intersec• Highly educated immigrant workers (No.10); tion of technological innovation and public policy.

• High-tech sector workers (No. 7); Recognized as one of the world’s leading science and technology think tanks, ITIF’s mission is to formulate • IT services exports (No. 6); and promote policy solutions that accelerate innova• IT share of all services exports (No. 5); and tion and boost productivity to spur growth, opportu• STEM workers (No. 7); nity, and progress. Learn more at itif.org.

HEALTHCARE

$50,000 gift to TCMC will assist behavioral health initiative

Stop the Bleed When someone is critically or seriously injured with severe bleeding, a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why Geisinger Community Medical Center’s (GCMC) trauma team has begun teaching life-saving techniques to the community through its recently launched “Stop the Bleed” program.

Part of a nationwide campaign to teach the public simple steps on how to stop or slow lifethreatening bleeding, GCMC’s trauma team is the only Level II trauma center in Lackawanna county and the only regional hospital to present this White House initiative.

“Bystanders are often the first at the scene of an injury, so having skills to stop severe bleeding can mean the difference between life and death,” says GCMC trauma surgeon Brian Frank, MD. “Improving public awareness by providing the tools and knowledge to stop severe bleeding could literally save lives.”

GCMC’s “Stop the Bleed” program teaches ordinary citizens — and potential bystanders — simple steps that can be taken to manage severe bleeding until emergency responders arrive.

Severe bleeding is a common cause of death during emergency situations and traumatic accidents such as car crashes, violence, and home or industrial accidents, with nearly 35 percent of fatalities occurring before victims even arrive at the hospital, according to the National Trauma Institute.

“This program places the knowledge of first responders into the hands of the public,” said GCMC trauma education outreach coordinator Kathryn Bommer, RN. “If you offer a little bit of education to those who already possess a desire to help others in need, those people will be more likely to step up and feel confident in doing so.”

GCMC’s trauma team has given “Stop the Bleed” training to several local groups including teachers, security officers and local law enforcement. Each 90-minute session involves an interactive demonstration and hands-on experience to learn to use tourniquets and pack gauze.

GCMC’s “Stop the Bleed” program is free and available to public groups or organizations. Please contact 570-703-7329 or krbommer@geisinger.edu for more information or to request group training.

For severe bleeding, take these actions From left are Terri Lacey, R.N., executive director of The Commonwealth Medical College’s Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI); Bill Calpin, Margaret Briggs Foundation; Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., president and dean of TCMC; and Jane Kanyock, TCMC director of corporate and foundation relations.

The Margaret Briggs Foundation, a Scrantonbased charitable organization, recently announced that it has bestowed a $50,000 grant upon The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC). The gift will assist two important initiatives of the college’s Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI). A portion of the funds will be used to develop a “train the trainer” module as part of BHI’s certificate program offering physicians and other primary care providers education on addressing the behavioral health needs of the population. The remainder of the funds will aid the BHI in developing a “Behavioral Health in Lackawanna County” lecture series. The lecture series aims to offer information to both the medical community and to the public about identified, community-specific health issues in Lackawanna County, including addiction, depression and suicide prevention.

“We are delighted to present this gift to the

Behavioral Health Initiative at TCMC,” said Bill Calpin, secretary of the foundation. “The mission of the Margaret Briggs Foundation is to support and advance innovative programs having a major effect on the residents and institutions of Scranton and Lackawanna County. I can think of no program that more closely aligns with that mission than the BHI. We believe the initiative will greatly improve the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., president and dean of TCMC said, “We are grateful to the Margaret Briggs Foundation for supporting the important goals of our BHI. Behavioral health ranks among the most under-served health needs of our community. The support of the Briggs Foundation will go a long way toward building an infrastructure equipped to deal with this most pressing need.”

Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Don’t remove large or deeply embedded objects. Don’t probe the wound or attempt to clean it yet. Your first job is to stop the bleeding.

Wear disposable protective gloves if available.

Stop the bleeding. Place a sterile bandage or clean cloth on the wound. Press the bandage firmly with your palm to control bleeding. Maintain pressure by binding the wound tightly with a bandage or a piece of clean cloth. Secure with adhesive tape. Use your hands if nothing else is available.

Raise the injured part above the level of the heart.

Special cases: • Don’t put direct pressure on an eye injury or embedded object.

• Don’t reposition or put pressure on displaced organs. Cover the wound with a clean dressing.

• Help the injured person lie down, preferably on a rug or blanket to prevent loss of body heat. If possible, elevate the legs.

• Don’t remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding seeps through the gauze or other cloth on the wound, add another bandage on top of it.

And keep pressing firmly on the area.

• Tourniquets: A tourniquet is effective in controlling life-threatening bleeding from a limb.

Apply a tourniquet if you’re trained in how to do so. When emergency help arrives, explain how long the tourniquet has been in place.

• Immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to the emergency room as soon as possible.

• Call 911 or your local emergency number if the bleeding is the result of major trauma or injury.

Also call for emergency help if you suspect internal bleeding. Signs of internal bleeding include: • Bleeding from a body opening, such as the ear, mouth, nose or anus; • Vomiting or coughing up blood; • Bruising; • A tender or swollen stomach; • Cold, clammy skin; • Thirst; • Fractures; and • Shock, indicated by a rapid, weak pulse, pallor, sweating, rapid breathing and decreased alertness.

Source: Mayo Clinic

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HEALTHCARE

GWOT veterans not suffering more mental health disorders than other war vets

of suicidal issues in this population than we would A new Geisinger Health System study, have expected.” funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, has Boscarino says that may be because the recent found that recently deployed National Guard and vets volunteered for service while those from earlier Reserve veterans returning from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) — military campaigns that conflicts may have been drafted and deployed at younger ages. started after the September 11 attacks on the United States — are not suffering higher rates of “Many recent vets have at least some college or mental health disorders higher education and none The rates of PTSD aren’t that than Vietnam and Gulf War of them were drafted,” he high, nor are we seeing higher said. “They were a more veterans. In fact, veterans rates of suicidal issues in this highly-screened population from the previous conflicts population (recent vets) than were more likely to report and they had to have a miniwe would have expected, maybe mum IQ level to enter the “fair” or “poor” health status and a servicebecause the recent vets volun- service, which was not the connected disability than teered for service while those case in previous conflicts.” the GWOT vets.

Lower IQ is one of the from earlier conflicts may have best predictors of develop“We hypothesized been drafted and deployed at ing PTSD and other mental that the recent guard and younger ages. health disorders according reservists would have — Joseph Boscarino, Ph.D. to Boscarino. “In order to more mental health issues meet the manpower draft than those from earlier conflicts, but that didn’t seem to be the case,” said quotas during the Vietnam War, the Department of Defense lowered the minimum IQ level, which was Joseph Boscarino, Ph.D., MPH, a professor in Geisinger’s Department of Epidemiology & Health a big mistake in my opinion,” he said.

The newer veterans also had much better supServices Research, who led the study. “We don’t see the large surge in mental health disorders. It’s port at home than those in previous conflicts.

“Many of them were married and had much relatively confined to a small group of veterans, however, we found that the GWOT vets were more more social support both at home and in the community than they had years ago,” he said. likely to seek mental health counseling, which is “The conflict is also different. There’s much more probably a good thing.” precision and war fighting is more specialized than Preliminary data from this three-year study of 1,800 veterans who are Geisinger patients found that in the past, so fewer are directly exposed to heavy combat situations.”

26.7 percent of the recent guard and reservist vetAdditional Geisinger authors on the study inerans had a mental health visit in the past year, with 23.5 percent reporting using psychiatric medications cluded Stuart Hoffman, D.O.; Thomas G. Urosevich, O.D., MS, FAAO; H. Lester Kirchner, Ph.D.; Johanna and 48.7 percent using the VA system during that C. Hyacinthe, MS; and Jared V. Pajovich, BA. time. Current mental health disorders included alcohol misuse (14.6 percent), depression (10.1 percent), Geisinger Health System is an integrated health servicgeneralized anxiety (11.4 percent), and post-traumat- es organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development of ic stress disorder (PTSD) (10.4 percent). They also innovative care delivery models such as ProvenHealth experienced sleep disorders, with 42.7 percent having Navigator® and ProvenCare®. As one of the nation’s difficulty sleeping during the past year. largest health service organizations, Geisinger serves “While the recent veterans are experiencing more than 3 million residents throughout 45 counties in Central, South-Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, mental health issues that are somewhat higher and also in southern New Jersey with the addition than the rest of the male population, they’re not of AtlantiCare, a National Malcolm Baldrige Award extremely higher than what you’d expect. They’re recipient. The physician-led system is comprised of pretty moderate,” said Boscarino, himself a Vietapproximately 30,000 employees, including nearly nam veteran who has studied the psychopathology 1,600 employed physicians, 12 hospital campuses, two research centers and a 510,000-member health plan, of PTSD among veterans and others exposed to all of which leverage an estimated $8.9 billion positive trauma for several decades. “The rates of PTSD impact on the Pennsylvania economy. Geisinger has also aren’t that high, nor are we seeing higher rates a long-standing commitment to medical education, research and community service. Visitgeisinger.org.

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JANUARY 2017

REGIONAL

Volunteering promotes wellness in individuals and support to nonprofit agencies others to know that we are okay and you will be Nathan Williams was born on August 7, 2013 okay. Thanks to the March of Dimes, we truly feel — about three months early. Born with medical complications, the March of Dimes provided lifethat they’ve given us a true sense of direction. We’re saving medication to help him fight. doing something good in honor and in memory of Unfortunately, Nathan lost his fight four days Nathan.” after he was born.

People can volunteer in many ways and often “We were like, where do we go from here,” said in areas that interest them the most, said Sherry Bayard Williams, Nathan’s Nealon-Williams, executive father. “We can do a negadirector of the Volunteer tive. We can do a positive.

Action Center, Scranton, We decided to help the which oversees nine differMarch of Dimes.” ent volunteer organizations Williams, and his wife helping everyone from Jennifer, spent hours at the children to senior citizens. hospital during Nathan’s illBig Brothers/Big Sisters ness. They noticed plaques and Prime Time Health on the wall thanking the are some of their biggest March of Dimes for their programs. support.

“Without volunteers, no one in any of these They decided to give nonprofit organizations back to the March of Dimes. could function,” she said.

Within the first year “Because of funding reof Nathan’s death, the strictions we have and the Williamses started a walk Jennifer, Bayard and Russell (Nathan’s funds we have, you want in their son’s memory. little brother) Williams. to give back to the people They set a goal of $1,000 you’re trying to serve. and easily raised more. The Volunteers are necessary.” following year, they set a goal of $2,000 and raised more than $5,000.

Nealon-Williams said she got into volunteering That led to “bagging for charity” events where as a stay-at-home mother at Scranton’s Everhart they teamed up with grocery stores to bag groceries Museum. for the March of Dimes.

“Little by little, the more it got into my system, the more I wanted to do it.”

Through various events, they’ve raised more She said many of their volunteers begin young. than $9,000 to date and in 2017 they hope to raise $20,000.

“The younger they begin, the longer they volunteer,” “We sold T-shirts with the March of Dimes logo,” she said. “You become addicted to the feeling of said Williams. “We did a craft fair last year where helping.” we had 20 vendors sign up. It was for the babies, in She said volunteering is also good for your health. honor of our son Nathan, and it was a big success.”

“A lot of times, it’s a necessity for people,” she said. They have a lot of gifts and talents and they The Williamses were recently honored with a want to share that with people. They don’t want to proclamation from the City of Scranton. use it as a job. They want to donate their time.”

“They gave us that proclamation for the work She also said it positively impacts the business we are doing in the community,” he said. “We community. were honored.”

“Having businesses that are socially responsible Williams said from their tragedy, they feel they have accomplished something out of Nathan’s death. makes the world go around,” she said.

Volunteering can help reduce stress, combat “This was a way for us to stop thinking about depression and provide a sense of purpose. (helpwhat happened to our son over and over again,” he said. “In volunteering, it was a way to move on. guide.org) For Bayard and Jennifer Williams, their work with the March of Dimes consoles them.

We went through such a horrific time and we want

REGIONAL

The Woodlands has evolved over the years the years and it has made them more competitive.

The opening of the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in 2008 began to change the marketplace, especially when it came to fine dining.

By Phil Yacuboski

Late one winter night, decades ago, Steven Tyler and his band Aerosmith made an unsched“Although it’s nice to have, it’s really not profituled stop at The Woodlands during a snowstorm. It able,” he said. They leased out space within the was after midnight, I-81 was a mess and the band facility to a Japanese restaurant that specializes in was hungry. sushi and made a pizza restaurant, which is also the “They just wanted something to eat,” said Mitch spot for free breakfast for overnight guests. They Kornfeld, who co-owns The Woodlands along with also leased space on the property to a bank. his brother Ross.

“In 1997 we sold the most booze of anyone “The kitchen was closed, so I personally opened in the state of Pennsylvania,” Kornfeld said. “We it and cooked for them at 2 o’clock in the morning.” were more of a bar than hotel and the casino The menu, Kornfeld said, wasn’t anything crazy changed all that. We’re now rooms-driven with (just snack foods and club sandwiches), but it’s the bar as an amenity.” just one story he and his family tell about their The Woodland has 150 rooms and Kornfeld 45-year-run as a boutique-style hotel, resort and said they will build eight extended-stay rooms, conference center. complete with kitchens.

In 1969, Gary and Mark Kornfeld created The “We are working to build residential living spacWoodlands and through the past 45 years, the hotel es on 20 acres of property where we’ll construct has endured a number of industry changes. It has townhouses, condos and apartments,” he said. played host to presidents, rock stars and entertainTo many who’ve gone to “The Woods” over ers in addition to countless weddings, gatherings the years, it’s synonymous with ‘The 25th Hour,’ and family events. the popular nightclub where people danced the In March, The Woodlands underwent a consolinight away on the so-called “cruise that never dation of ownership. moves” — part of a marketing campaign on area “The environment was right,” he said about the radio stations. process of buying out Gary, who along with brother In 1979, Gary and Mark saw the Studio 54 craze Mark began the business in 1969. Mark Kornfeld growing in Manhattan and decided to spend more died in 2014. Mitch also bought out his older than $1 million in lights and sound equipment to brother. “As you may know, in a family business, turn the ‘Penny Arcade’ into ‘The 25th Hour.’ things can sometimes can get hostile, but things “It worked and we ran it until 2000 and then crewent beautifully.” ated Club Evolution,” he said. “And now in 2016, The Kornfelds came from the catering side said we’re going back to the music of the 90s and 80s.”

Mitch, whose grandmother, Esther, created the S&B He said millennials “aren’t dancers.”

Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre and taught the business to her sons Gary and Mark. Ross and Mitch Kornfeld are second generation family owners, who began in the family business washing dishes.

Kornfeld said he attributes the success of The Woodlands to ‘aggressive marketing, good food and drinks and the perfect setting.

“The family still walks around checking on things,” he said. Many business travelers and consumers latch on to chain hotels for rewards points and Kornfeld noticed the trend. They are members of Choice Hotel’s Ascend Collection where members can use rewards worldwide.

Kornfeld said the business has changed over

Mitch Kornfeld

“Your Business... is Our Business” The Region’s Award-Winning Source of Business News and Information

“The college bars are keeping the kids downtown,” he said, “and it’s actually better for us because we don’t have to be as aggressive in the bar business, which keeps our liability expenses down and we don’t have as much craziness that goes on.”

Kornfeld recalled an overnight stay by President George W. Bush, who came to Wilkes-Barre during a campaign stop. The Secret Service made them turn out all of the lights on their famous stream.

“They wanted to create a blackout situation, so they were prepared for anything with nightvision. “ “It was good business,” he said.

Judy Gregg

For Advertising 570-207-9001 ext. 5425 jgregg@timesshamrock.com

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149 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 • 75 North Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 For subscription information: mrade@timesshamrock.com

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HEALTHCARE

Geisinger, Regeneron study finds genetic disorder substantially underdiagnosed

Disorder is life threatening for untreated people whose bodies can’t remove LDL-C fat from the blood

A study conducted by Geisinger Health System in collaboration with the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC) has found that a life-threatening genetic disorder known as Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Science on Dec. 23 alongside another significant study from the same Geisinger-RGC collaboration known as DiscovEHR. That foundational paper describes the exome sequencing and analyses of the first 50,726 adult participants in the DiscovEHR cohort — all members of the Geisinger MyCode Community Health Initiative. (webapps.geisinger.org/articles/ articles/SciencePublicationHighlights8032.html).

In the FH study, the collaborators examined genetic variants causing FH in the DiscovEHR cohort and then compared the findings against the de-identified medical histories of these patients as contained in Geisinger electronic health records.

Traditionally, in the United States, FH is diagnosed in patients with high cholesterol who also have a family history of early heart attacks and strokes. Genetic testing for FH is currently uncommon in clinical practice.

FH is caused by a defect that makes the body unable to remove “bad” cholesterol from the blood.

This cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL-C) then accumulates, often undetected, and can lead to early death from heart attacks or stroke — even in very young people.

Results of the new study found many undiagnosed cases of FH and helped to define the extent of FH in the general population and the extent to which it is systematically undertreated.

“The study shows us that FH is about twice as common as it was once thought to be, and that large-scale genetic testing for FH helps identify cases that would otherwise be missed,” said Michael F. Murray, M.D., Geisinger director of clinical genomics. “We now hope to use DNA sequencing to guide better management for patients.”

“FH is a serious disease that can have severe consequences for some people, but also has available treatment options,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., president, Regeneron Laboratories

and chief scientific officer, Regeneron. “We hope that this study will drive higher awareness of the prevalence of FH, since with greater vigilance more patients could be accurately diagnosed and treated with effective therapies.”

Among the many findings of the study were that 1 in every 256 people has a disease-causing mutation, or variant, in one of the three FH genes. It showed that participants with a deleterious FH gene variant had significantly higher “bad” cholesterol than those without an FH gene variant. They also had significantly increased odds of both general and premature coronary artery disease.

The study identified 35 mutations, or variants, in the genes that have been determined to cause FH: LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9. Only 24 percent of people who carry FH-causing variants had sufficient criteria within their electronic health records to support a probable or definite FH diagnosis, meaning that without genetic confirmation, many of these patients would go undiagnosed.

Additionally, 42 percent of people with these FH-causing variants did not have a recent active prescription for statins, the first line therapy for cholesterol lowering. Among statin-treated people with FH-causing variants, less than half met goals for cholesterol lowering, suggesting the need for more intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy.

“We’ve focused on this condition for research at this time because of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) interest in this condition as a public health genomics priority, and the long-standing understanding that this condition goes undiagnosed in the vast majority of cases,” Geisinger’s Murray said.

“Being able to connect patient’s de-identified medical records with their DNA data is an advantage that few others in this field have, particularly with this large number of patients. Paired with the RGC’s unique technological and analytical resources, we are able to make meaningful discoveries that may advance the implementation of precision medicine today and the development of new or improved medicines tomorrow,” said Noura Abul-Husn, M.D., Ph.D., associate director

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JANUARY 2017

of translational genetics at the RGC and co-author of the paper.

“Geisinger is committed to translating this important research directly into improved care for our patients,” said Geisinger executive vice president and chief scientific officer David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D. “We have begun a major effort to confirm individual patient findings and inform individual participants and their doctors when genetic findings, that are known to cause illness, are discovered in our population,” he said.

FH is one of 27 genetic conditions being targeted at Geisinger. So far, some 200 patients — including 29 FH carriers — have already been informed they carry one or more disease-causing genetic mutations with consequences that can be treated. These conditions are mainly related to risk for cancer or cardiovascular illness. The effort to return individual results will continue as more findings are confirmed.

For details see go.geisinger.org/results.

About Geisinger Geisinger Health System is an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development of innovative care delivery models such as ProvenHealth Navigator® and ProvenCare®. As one of the nation’s largest health service organizations, Geisinger serves more than 3 million residents throughout 45 counties in central, south-central and northeast Pennsylvania, and also in southern New Jersey with the addition of AtlantiCare, a National Malcolm Baldrige Award recipient. The physician-led system is comprised of approximately 30,000 employees, including nearly 1,600 employed physicians, 12 hospital campuses, two research centers and a 551,000-member health plan, all of which leverage an estimated $10.5 billion positive impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economy. Visit geisinger.org, or follow the latest Geisinger news on Twitter and Facebook.

About MyCode The MyCode Community Health Initiative is a precision medicine project, originally launched in

2006, at Geisinger Health System in which Geisinger patient-participants have consented to donate blood and other biological samples to a system-wide biobank designed to store those samples for wide research uses and for genomic or precision medicine.

About DiscovEHR The DiscovEHR human genetics study population for this analysis includes 50,726 adult Geisinger Health System patients who agreed to participate in the MyCode Community Health Initiative. More than 126,000 MyCode participants have consented into the program to date. MyCode volunteers have given informed consent to allow sharing of de-identified electronic health records, provide samples that can be linked to their health records for broad research, and permit re-contact for additional studies. Electronic health records for the group in this DiscovEHR study are available for a median of 14 years of clinical care. For MyCode participants who are suspected to harbor a pathogenic variant in one of the 76 clinically actionable genes, Geisinger will confirm preliminary research findings in a lab facility that is certified to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Act, the federal standard for clinical testing. Qualified Geisinger personnel will provide the results of confirmatory CLIA-certified testing to patients and their primary care providers along with genetic counseling and appropriate referrals to other specialists.

The RGC is a fully integrated genomics program that spans early gene discovery and functional genomics and facilitates drug development. The primary goal of the RGC is to improve patient outcomes by identifying novel drug targets, clinical indications for development programs, and genomic biomarkers for pharmacogenomic applications. The RGC is tackling various sequencing (exomes, targeted sequencing, etc.) and analytical approaches and has established numerous collaborations with leading human genetics researchers. To enable this large-scale sequencing and analysis program, the RGC utilizes fully-automated sample preparation and data processing, as well as cutting-edge cloud-based informatics. Including efforts with Geisinger, the RGC has sequenced de-identified DNA from more than 130,000 individuals to date and is now sequencing at a rate of 150,000 individuals per year.

FOCUS ON ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

ECONOMY

Whole person wellness highlights senior living

Tobyhanna techs support Army, Marine Corps artillery components

International design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman announced the publication of its latest white paper, “Centers for Healthy Living: Providing Whole-Person Wellness to Seniors,” co-authored

by Emily Chmielewski EDAC, and Claire Dickey AIA, who are based in the firm’s Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., offices, respectively.

The report is the culmination of a comprehensive design research study, conducted by the firm’s in-house research group, which examines what existing centers for healthy living (CHLs) are doing today and how they may evolve to better serve the complex needs of seniors.

Centers for healthy living, a new building typology that supports seniors through eight dimensions of wellness, are currently being developed all over the U.S. in various forms and serving a diversity of needs, either within life plan community campuses or as stand-alone community centers.

Rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all model, today’s CHLs vary widely in terms of services offered, which in turn reflects the fact that there are many definitions of “wellness.” According to one survey participant, the COO of a prominent residential and care provider in a suburb of Washington, D.C., “With so many definitions of wellness,

a successful CHL needs to be able to adjust and adapt to be all inclusive and participatory.”

With the number of older adults in the U.S. in need of long-term services and support projected to grow from 15 million to 27 million by the year 2050, there is a distinct need to explore where and how senior services are delivered.

“CHLs help bridge the gap between the senior living and healthcare sectors, yet they go beyond the typical provision of clinic and exercise spaces to address all eight dimensions of whole-person wellness,” write the authors.

While this holistic approach is optimal, research study findings suggest that some providers tend to focus more on residents’ physical and social wellness, and pay less attention to accommodating the other six. This white paper explores the causes behind this (e.g. certain dimensions of wellness are easier to support and quantify), among other things, and offers informed, research-based recommendations for how CHLs of the future and corresponding models of care can better meet the wellness needs of seniors.

The entire paper is available for free download at perkinseastman.com/white_papers.

Poll: Infrastructure united voters Before Election Day, a national poll by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) found that half of registered voters said the nation’s infrastructure has gotten worse over the last five years, and a majority of voters said roads and bridges are in “extreme” need of repair.

The findings were part of a national poll commissioned by AEM to gauge voter perceptions and attitudes about the current and future state of U.S. infrastructure amid a high-profile election. The poll found that registered voters, regardless of political affiliation, recognize the declining state of the nation’s infrastructure as an issue that should be addressed and believe that the federal government should do more to improve infrastructure across the board.

“Americans across the political spectrum understand the dire state of U.S. infrastructure and believe that the federal government should do more to improve our infrastructure,” said Dennis Slater, president of AEM.

The national poll identified a number of key findings, including: • Nearly half (46 percent) of registered voters believe that the state of the nation’s infrastructure has gotten worse in the last five years.

• A significant majority (80 – 90 percent) of registered voters say that roads, bridges and energy grids are in some or extreme need of repairs.

• Half (49 percent) of the surveyed population feel that the federal government is primarily responsible for funding repairs to the nation’s infrastructure.

• Seven out of every 10 registered voters say increasing federal funding for infrastructure will have a positive impact on the economy.

• More than eight out of every ten Americans consider water infrastructure (86 percent), solar powered homes (83 percent) and smart infrastructure (82 percent) as the top three important innovations.

AEM provides innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace.

Operational readiness is the Army’s number one priority as advocated by Army Chief of Staff General Mark A. Milley and emphasized across Army major command leadership, including Army Materiel Command’s Gen. Gustave F. Perna.

All major Army elements from the top down support the operational readiness of Soldiers.

Tobyhanna Army Depot, part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), is no different. Tobyhanna personnel, along with various CECOM counterparts across AMC’s major subordinate commands, are doing their part to ensure America’s warfighter readiness.

Technicians at Tobyhanna Army Depot are overhauling several key components of an artillery system used by the Army and Marine Corps in Afghanistan.

Personnel in the C4ISR Directorate are carrying out overhaul and testing on four electronic components of the M777 howitzer — the chief of section display indicator (CSD), power conditioning and control module (PCCM), digital mission system control computer (MSC) and communication location radio enclosure assembly (CLE).

The howitzer’s CSD allows the operator to enter position coordinates while the other components provide power, GPS and radio inputs, and process input to identify the target location.

The M777 is a 155 millimeter artillery piece that replaced the M198 and made its debut in Afghanistan in 2005. The M777 uses a digital fire-control system similar to that found on self-propelled howitzers to provide navigation, pointing and self-location, allowing it to be put into action quickly.

When outfitted with this system it is referred to as the M777A. This effort came to the depot in 2007 following a request by the Joint Program Management Office Lightweight 155, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, to conduct organic depot sustainment of the components.

Tobyhanna also performs similar work with the commander’s interface computer used in the M95/M96 Mortar Fire Control System.

Fiscal 2016 production here included 150 CSD, 75 MSC, 50 PCCM and 26 CLE units, totaling 301 units at a cost of $6 million.

East Stroudsburg resident Brian Labar, chief of the C4ISR Directorate’s Airspace Management Systems Section, said the work hasn’t come without challenges, but depot personnel constantly meet or exceed expectations.

“We have had issues with receiving parts, but the technicians on the floor have been efficient in reutilizing parts to ensure we are sending a high-quality product to the warfighter in a timely manner,” he said.

Another challenge arose during testing in the integrated family of test equipment (IFTE) system.

Labar again noted the proficiency of shop personnel to keep things on track.

“We had some issues with the IFTE because it is an older piece of test equipment, but thanks to the diligence and expertise of shop floor techs and Equipment Maintenance Branch personnel we are able to continue testing,” said Labar. “These employees are integral in completing the mission.”

Planned production for fiscal 2017 is 184, totaling more than $3 million.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR 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 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.

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ECONOMIC FORECAST 2017

Financial challenges certain to put a crimp in social issues

By Dave Gardner

Investigation of a few key details reveals that President-elect Donald Trump will undoubtedly face some tough financial challenges involving his domestic spending promises and Washington’s availability of cold, hard cash.

During the campaign, Trump promised to, transform America’s crumbling infrastructure.

He has pledged to massively increase defense spending and fix the Social Security system without cutting benefits.

One of Trump’s most popular pledges involves building a 1,200-mile-long wall along America’s southern border. it. In addition, he will round up and deport the almost 11 million immigrants illegally living in the United States.

Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., professor of economics and finance at the University of Scranton, noted that mass infrastructure spending usually flows from the Democratic side of the political aisle. This spending is popular with economists because infrastructure improvements have a great “multiplier” effect among tax expenditures.

However, in view of Trump’s multiple pledges to raise spending on infrastructure and national defense while also cutting taxes, massive budget deficits would occur. According to Ghosh, all of Trump’s spending promises would raise the cumulative national debt by at least $30 trillion.

“I have no idea what congressional reaction to these proposals will be, with both houses now dominated by Republicans,” Ghosh said.

Immigration costs?

Fred Croop, MBA, dean of the college of professional studies and social sciences at Misericordia University, sees trouble coming for Trump with his immigration-related proposals.

Croop said the vast majority of Latino immigrants he has encountered are hard workers with a religious faith and a history of survival in tough times.

This survivor mentality is the reason these immigrants will do difficult jobs, such as farm harvesting, for very low pay. Replacing immigrants with American workers would require

Champney

vastly higher pay and in the process destroy farm profitability.

“I picked when I was younger, and believe me it is hot and hard work,” Croop said.

“Excluding Latinos from these types of jobs is not the solution to employment problems for our citizens, who need family sustaining work in large numbers.”

Leonard Champney, Ph.D., professor of political science with the University of Scranton, noted that virtually all domestic commerce flows through the nation’s infrastructure, and problems with roads, bridges and rail inhibit business. He believes congressional Republicans will fall into line with Trump’s spending plans, and with the 2018 midterms looming big deficits from infrastructure improvement will become acceptable.

Champney has also noticed that Trump appears to be backing off on almost every campaign promise he made. The huge wall may wind up being simply a fence and other challenges remain such as the fact that most of border land where the fence would be located is private and often held by anti-Trump landowners who would legally fight seizure by eminent domain.

“I suspect Trump just threw red meat to his base and it wouldn’t surprise me if he never believed in the wall concept,” Champney said.

“He’s smart and pragmatic and backing off the immigration roundup because he must know how expensive it would be to identify and deport these people.

According to Champney, Trump has another related challenge he will be forced to deal with.

His campaign legitimatized racism from the pri-

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Croop

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JANUARY 2017

Ghosh vate to public arenas and the consequences for American society, and its costs, are unknown.

Global retreat?

According to Christopher Stevens, Ph.D., assistant professor with the department of history and government at Misericordia University, Trump has promised to be less of an internationalist than predecessors and gives the impression he is only interested only in American security and not its global implications. The Trump campaign featured an undefined agenda in rhetoric, but Stevens forecasts that the presidency will force the real Trump to stand up and reveal his true belief systems.

“Everything he speaks about seems to be a cost-benefit analysis from business,” Stevens said. “Business and politics are very different, and I have suspicions about Trump’s longevity.”

The financial costs for Trump’s plans, such as the illegal alien roundup and the wall construction, could be Trump’s undoing. Business interests will also fight back because hotels and agriculture all depend on the work they do, for profitability.

“Trump may find himself blaming all his problems on Congress, creating a very bad spot for himself,” Stevens said.

Kyle Kreider, Ph.D., associate professor of political science with Wilkes University, said it is not yet clear what Trump will actually push for.

Many congressional Republicans have gerrymandered safe seats on long leashes and their voters will give these representatives lots of room to comply with Trump’s supply-side economics and resultant deficits.

“The massive tax changes will undoubtedly create new cash reserves for business, and if

Ridley

Stevens

Trump is successful in obtaining private dollars for his infrastructure spending he may remain very popular,” Kreider said. “However, legislation such as the ban on Muslim immigration will require heavy congressional support.”

Supply-side system?

Rodney Ridley, Ph.D., director of the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Wilkes University, called Trump a true follower of Ronald Reagan-era supply-side tax cuts for business. In theory, making business rich with cash will inspire management to expand the company and create jobs.

“Nobody I know has ever created a job from a tax cut,” Ridley said. “There is no evidence this works. Jobs are only created as needed.

Even if a mom-and-pop store added a job from a tax cut it would be a mid-to-low wage position.”

William Parente, Ph.D., professor of political science with The University of Scranton, sums up Trump’s domestic situation by noting that he has already backed down on many campaign promises and the public should never have taken him seriously. Trump was simply pandering to conservative voters and as president he’ll be accommodating and compromise.

Some problems will call out for attention.

Parente identifies the upcoming social security fiscal problems to be among these, because Americans are living longer and therefore taking out more than they paid in, while fewer numbers of young people are available to submit revenues.

“The people surrounding Trump will also discourage the campaign rhetoric,” Parente said.

“Nothing extreme is going to happen.”

FROM PAGE 1

That loss of contact has contributed to fewer people in the work force.

“The total number of people who are looking for jobs or people who are employed, if you add them up altogether that labor force is actually shrinking a little bit,” said Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., professor of economics and finance at the University of Scranton. “If it keeps on falling, that may show some weakness in the economy but we are not there yet.”

Job Growth A shrinking labor force combined with job growth make interesting dynamics in NEPA. “I’m very bullish on 2016 for Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University. “We’ve seen positive job growth, and I think that will likely continue. We’ve seen some entrepreneurial activity and that will likely continue.”

Ooms believes the region and the entire country are now on the right track and is optimistic for 2017.

“Nationally, we’re on the right trajectory despite the worry of what the stock market would do based on election results,” she said. “I think it’s demonstrated that it’s been very resilient and growing.

National job figures are positive and everything is certainly on the right track. Political risk is always a factor because we don’t know what’s going to happen with the transition but if everything remains constant, I am very confident that both regionally and nationally we will continue to improve, create jobs and improve our standard of living.”

Ooms’ confidence extends throughout NEPA where people appear hopeful for the coming year.

“I believe we must be hopeful if what we saw in the campaign comes,” said John N. Kallianiotis.

Ph.D., professor of economics/finance at the University of Scranton. “The industries doing well are hospitals and other health care industries. Others are declining. We have to keep young people here and we have to create jobs for them. I feel now that something is going to happen because we cannot continue in the same way.

Another observer gives a slightly different perspective on the effects of an improved labor market for northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The outstanding issue that northeast Pennsylvania faces right now is a rising unemployment rate as a result of labor force growth and job declines,” said Kurt Rankin, economist with PNC Financial Services Group. “Both Allentown and Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton metropolitan areas we define as northeast Pennsylvania will close out 2016 with fewer jobs on total than they started the year with. That spreads across several industries but manufacturing is

prominent as is professional business services.”

Rankin sees the lack of opportunities locally and increased hiring in other parts of the country creating challenges for the region.

“It’s not a good picture for Northeast Pennsylvania,” he said. “Now that the housing markets have at least stabilized and are continuing to improve, something that prevented workers with certain skill sets from relocating in the early part of the recession, values are getting back to where homeowners are no longer underwater on their mortgage can sell their homes and relocate where their opportunities are improved.”

Housing According to the National Association of Home Builders, the housing industry contributes an average of 15 to 18 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product.

“We’ve continued to be very busy in the fourth quarter of this year,” said Steven Farrell, owner and broker of Classic Properties, Clarks Summit.

“Typically, we’re a seasonal business but our third quarter, which is traditionally strong, has carried over into the fourth quarter. So our December may be comparable to say May or June numbers in terms of closings.”

Classic Properties experienced 17 percent growth in 2015 — its best year in business — but expanded that growth by 9.7 percent this year.

“There is growing optimism in the residential home market, from the Poconos, Monroe County, Lackawanna County and Luzerne County,” Farrell said. “People know that interest rates are going to creep up. Buyers see that as a sign that they better make a decision because in some cases we’re going to highest and best offers, (seeing) multiple offers for homes that are priced right, across all different (price) ranges, too.”

Farrell forecasts 5 percent growth for 2017 due to factors including higher consumer confidence, pending interest rate hikes, the expected growth of first-time home buyers and job security.

particularly for the lower income groups, but that has changed also,” Ghosh said. “We have been doing very well, although minimum wage growth is needed now for overall economic growth.”

The likelihood of that happening seems slim.

“I would be extremely doubtful if there would be any upward movement that many people wanted to see in minimum wage,” he said. “Republicans never really want an increase in minimum wage. Now the Republicans are in full power, I don’t see there would be an increase in minimum wage.”

Interest Rates/Strengthening Dollar A jump in interest rates appears imminent. That upsurge will have a mixed effect on the economy both locally and nationwide.

“The Federal Reserve is anticipated to raise interest rates and then to continue doing so in 2017,” Schaitkin said. “That’s caused the dollar to become stronger. In most major world currencies, that’s going to mean that U.S. exports are going to be more expensive and less competitive relative to those of other countries.”

Schaitkin expects consumption to remain strong due to a strong labor market, but lower prices for imported goods will entice American consumers to buy foreign goods, increasing job pressures in domestic companies that export their products.

At the same time, rising interest rates will spur income growth in financial investments including IRA and pension plans.

also face is a national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent. So in order to find workers with the skills that they need – especially in manufacturing, transportation, warehousing — they are going to have to offer higher wages in order to attract that talent, but they are going to have to attract it from outside their local market or outside of where their options currently are. “ Rankin expects an acceleration of workers relocating to find good-paying jobs not available in NEPA. “With an already slow economy, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Northeast Pennsylvania businesses to grow and even to retain their workers,” he said, citing the lack of job growth and an increased hiring spree across the country on the horizon.

The state’s tax structure will add to that battle, especially in regions bordering other states.

“Pennsylvania has the highest corporate tax in the country but is competing with dynamic regions such as the New York City broader region,” Rankin said. “That won’t change as a result of the incoming presidency, but it does put the region at a disadvantage versus those in New York.”

Regulatory Effects In his campaign, the president-elect promised to cut government regulations, hoping to reduce business hurdles and spur economic growth.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act represents one area where those cuts seem imminent.

“In our region, we did not see the direct impact of the financial crisis that perhaps many other parts Tax Burdens of the country felt more severely than what we did,” Economists expect business investment to Ghosh said. “Even if it’s not repealed directly it will remain sluggish in 2017. Uncertainties in the economy and weak global demand may perpetuate be rendered totally powerless. The risk taking and other kinds of reckless behavior that we had seen in that lethargy. the early 2000s that essentially led to our financial “Those concerns I don’t think have gone away crisis, I think we would be going back to that era.” entirely,” Schaitkin said. “It’s unclear to me how Ghosh believes that if that risky behavior resurmuch additional investment tax cuts will generate. faces, it will have a negative effect for investors.

We’re already seeing the fact that the new adminAt this moment, no one can tell what, if any, istration is adopting a more expansionary fiscal policy, which is going to require higher levels of bor- regulatory changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will look like. rowing. That process is already causing borrowing Wage Growth rates both for the government and for corporations Uncertainty about a better alternative shrouds that “Average wages in the region are growing vision but repeal or adjustments undoubtedly will afto rise.” stronger in 2016,” Rankin said. “Some of that’s Economists with PNC Financial Services Group fect the self employed and many employees without because maybe some of the lower-paying jobs are predict by mid-year, changes created by the new employer-provided group health benefits. being cut first as employment shrinks. But as wages administration and Republican-controlled Congress While regulatory changes may improve the rise, northeast Pennsylvania won’t be immune to will lead to corporate tax reform, infrastructure national economy, they may create more challenges (increased domestic competition). That’s another spending and other programs projected to stimulate for NEPA to compete. hurdle that Pennsylvania faces and they won’t face it the economy.

“Regulations will fall in line with taxes in the alone. Nationwide, they will see wages rise in 2017.”

“What that means is businesses are going to sense that businesses will face fewer hurdles to doThat’s good news for workers across the find themselves already flush with cash but with ing business,” Rankin said. “It will cost businesses country, but NEPA typically sees lower wages and more money as a result of lower tax burdens,” less to expand or to try to grow new market share slower growth.

Rankin said. “We may finally start to see businesses to advance their own interests. Less regulation will “We did not have much growth in income, investing in themselves. But what (local businesses) help that, as lower taxes will.”

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Aya Fair Trade

Although she faces complications, the passion and joy that she gets from her work makes Ellen Clauss, a recent graduate of Marywood everything worth it, Clauss said. Ironically, the University and owner of Aya Fair Trade, always name of the company acts as a perfect symbol for knew that she wanted it. “Aya” is an Adinkra to own her own busi(representing concepts ness. What exactly her and used in fabrics and business would be, pottery) symbol of the she was unsure, but Ashanti people of West in every scenario she Africa. Aya is the fern imagined, from 4 to representing endur18, Clauss was the one ance and resourcefulrunning the business. ness; a plant that can It was not until grow in difficult places. entering college, as Aya Fair Trade a marketing and works with artisan philosophy major and seamstresses in Ghana holding an internship to create a variety with a small company of unique, fair trade called Daakye, did bags using an African Clauss have a better wax, black-print style idea of what she of fabric. She uses a would do. This past April, Aya Fair Trade was portion of the profits to fund educational scholarstarted — or, rather, continued. ships for children in Ghana. Currently, 36 children As a freshman in college, Clauss, was an are being funded. intern for a small Scranton-based company called Clauss offers a few pieces of advice to aspiring Daakye. Originally started by Abby Speicher, the entrepreneurs: company worked with seamstresses in Ghana to • Never be afraid to ask for help. “So many create bags that were sold in the United States. other people have already faced the challenges A portion of the profits made from the sale of the that you will face and getting their perspective and bags were used to fund educational scholarships advice can be extremely helpful.” for children in Ghana.

• Think about why you are starting a business.

Speicher closed shop in 2012 and even before “We live in an interconnected world that impacts graduating this past May, Clauss asked Speicher others. Think about what that impact is going if she could restart the business. Speicher gave to have on those who make your products, the Clauss the thumbs up. employees who give their time and the customers Since the business had been closed for almost who support your business.” four years, starting it back up was not easy. Clauss • “Business cannot and should not solely be had to go through a long process of rebranding, about the bottom line, but about giving considergetting in touch with old contacts and developing ation to other people and giving consideration to new products. To get Aya Fair Trade off the ground the environment.” she and her team competed in TecBridge’s busiClauss attributes her success to many of her ness plan competition and won. The win gave them past teachers, professors, friends from all walks of the boost they needed and by May the company life and most importantly her family. was up and running.

You can see the children being helped and all of Along with the expected struggles of starting the products Aya Fair Trade offers at onayafairtrade. a business, Clauss faced difficulties getting her com, on Facebook and Instagram @aya_fair_trade. shipment from one country to another, getting the Denise Rizzo is an intern with the Women’s Entreprecompany’s name out there and figuring out new neurship Center at The University of Scranton under the places to source their raw materials. A challenge she supervision of Donna Simpson consultant manager. is dealing with now, is becoming fair trade certified. Rizzo is a senior in the Kania School of Management

By Denise Rizzo

and a member of the Lady Royals basketball team.

32 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B32] | 12/28/16

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JANUARY 2017

THE SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT IS ON

Essential Beauty Treatments Salon and Spa Clarks Summit (570) 586-0700 essentialbeautytreatment.com Member since 2015

advertorIal

CELEBRATING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

causing it to open. It reduces inflammation and increases flexibility, refreshes stagnant tissue and promotes lymphatic drainage and healing. It can soften and reduce scar tissue. It is compared to deep tissue, but without the pressure.

When you feel happy and healthy — it shows. Essential Beauty Treatments Salon and Spa seeks to help clients What is your most popular service? find enjoyment and relaxation after a Our organic hair coloring service is busy day or as a special treat. Owner our most popular service, followed by Julie Paddock says that the botanical facials. salon believes in pampering Organic hair color is popuclients not only in comfortlar because people are beginable surroundings, but also by ning to become more aware using the latest techniques as that it is important to be well as high-quality, botanicalcareful what you use on your ly-based, non-toxic products. body. Facials are popular with Meet Essential Beauty people interested in looking Treatments Salon and Spa. their best for as long as posPaddock sible and for gently reversing How do you differ from skin damage. other salons and spas in the area?

Our natural products, mobile serIs the old adage that “looking vices, spa parties, and the fact that we good is feeling good” true? How offer so many services at one location does your business reflect this? all make us unique.

We feel we help our clients look and feel good with our terrific services.

What are some of the specialized Using natural products to perform services you offer to customers? services will also give our clients peace All our services are performed with of mind. non-toxic, botanically-based or organic Today, most people are more aware products. We offer unique massages, of toxins in our environment and how such as Thai and cupping. We also perthey can affect our health. If a beauty form hair and make-up on location or at service can be performed without our salon for bridal events. We also host toxins, then that is one less thing our birthday, bachelorette, or office parties. clients have to be concerned with.

What is cupping?

Cupping massage is an ancient Chinese medicine technique that loosens muscle and brings an influx of blood and oxygen to an area. It uses suction to pull skin, tissue and muscle upward,

How do you envision the Chamber helping your business?

We hope that the marketing aspect of the Chamber and the classes it offers, as well as the networking opportunities will benefit our business.

Each month, we recognize one of the region’s top manufacturers with the aid of NEPIRC, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center. Since 1988, NEPIRC has been working with manufacturers to improve their productivity, profitability, competitiveness and long-term viability through consultative services.

UGL celebrating 85 years of manufacturing in Scranton In 1932, Herbert Hoover was president of the United States, Amelia Earhart made her famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States to Ireland in 14 hours and 54 minutes, Charles Lindbergh, Jr’s infant son was kidnapped, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit its lowest level of the Great Depression.

However, 85 years and more than 80 developed products later, UGL is going strong and is celebrating its 85th anniversary.

The company employs nearly 150 people at its plants in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Jacksonville, Illinois; Dayton, Nevada, and Jackson, Mississippi. More than half of the employees work at the Scranton plant.

It was in the years after World War II that the home improvement market sparked the sales of many of UGL’s products which necessitated the need to expand the manufacturing facilities in Scranton.

That same year in Northeastern Pennsylvania, a young entrepreneur, Gerald Baker Payne, used his savings of $5,000 to hire eight employees and rent a building in Scranton where he launched United Gilsonite Laboratories, or UGL as it is more commonly known. He purchased a used meat grinder for $5 from a junk yard and with that began making cement for furnaces.

In 1953, UGL introduced its DRYLOK line of masonry waterproofing that would become the company’s largest selling product.

DRYLOK has twice been rated number one by a national rating company as the best masonry waterproofing product on the market.

In July of 2016, James Tates became the fourth CEO of UGL since it was founded in 1932.

Payne had previously worked in sales for another UGL has remained a family-owned business and has had three presidents since its founding in company and decided to launch his own company, in part, because he wanted to improve on the 1932 through mid 2016, when a fourth head of the organization was named. quality of the products he was marketing. That focus on quality remains the number one priority of UGL today.

In July of 2016, James Tates took over as Chief Executive Officer. Before coming to UGL, Tates Looking to expand his product line, Payne began manufacturing cement for roofing. Again he used his ingenuity and connected an open vat to a fivehorsepower motor and five Ford automobile rear ends and fans that ran the homemade mixing line.

Gerald Baker Payne, right, meets with George Walker, UGL Treasurer in this 1946 photograph.

was president of the U.S. West Region & Latin America for the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

As UGL looks to the future, the company is working with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center on its ISO certifications and NEPIRC has assisted them with lighting retrofits to save on energy usage and make the company more green.

This feature is sponsored by...

For years, Payne struggled, paying himself only $25 a week.

After 10 years, he had just broken even.

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 33 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B33] | 12/28/16

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MARKETING

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Locally built brands may have to switch Building a team is an on-going process strategies to expand their reach

team members to participate in planning so they feel ownership of the initiative.

There are lots of small things you can and should • A balance between how much effort workers

By Dave Taylor choice between two main strategies. First, they do to build stronger and more productive relationput it and the rewards they receive. can continue the slow and steady ships within your team.

We establish milestones with the If your business sells T-shirts process of building their business by I know this sounds unimaginative, sponsor and if we hit them we have small on the internet, you probably aren’t growing personal relationships and but when was the last time you thanked celebrations. Low cost but effective. dependent on a few key customers local reputation over time. This will • A certain level of autonomy and conor limited by geography, although require that either Mantle or Berra move someone for a job well done or asked your team members how they feel about trol for employees to work unsupervised. you have to compete with every other to Red Stocking, or that they add a key their jobs?

Allow flexibility around work day online T-shirt provider with a website. employee or partner who can take on I am amazed when I call someone hours and remote work.

But if your business requires this role on a permanent basis.

It’s important to know what’s imporstrong relationships between people The second choice is to begin shift- or stop by their desk to thank them for Taylor Puleo their contribution to the team I usually tant to your team and it’s not just financial (if you refer to your customers as ing their brand strategy to one where get the following response, “I’ve been rewards. Team members want meaningclients, for instance), then you will the organization represents the brand likely have challenges expanding a local brand to as much or more than the people who lead it. The here 12 years and no one has ever thanked me for ful work that makes use of their talents and interests.

During a project team members play follow-ship regional. trust that they had built as well-known members doing anything.” Sad, but true.

Team blending and building is an ongoing and leadership roles so as a PM you can provide The reason, of course, is that a single person of the community in Yankeetown now has to be process, not a one-time event. At the outset of each opportunities for recognition and leadership. can only stretch his or her influence so far. A law- built with the brand of their firm instead, or at project I meet one-on-one with each team member As a project manager you are not in a position yer can only juggle a certain number of clients. A least in concert with building personal relationfor a half hour just to get to know them better. to offer promotions, new titles or compensation. commercial realtor can only know a limited num- ships. They will have to examine what brand What do they do for fun? How’s their family doing? But you can ask; what would they like to do more ber of people. There is a threshold at which the messages will best set them apart in their new What’s your commute like? Do you like sports, of? What would make their jobs more interesting? personal attributes of key people in a business market — can they build a brand based on being cooking or gardening? Each response provides • Communicate the bigger picture. reach their limits. And often that boundary can be a more innovative law firm, one with provable insight and it never fails, they ask me the same This should be something every project manager defined geographically when a local brand starts expertise in certain law specialties or experience should do from the kickoff meeting onwards. eyeing up the potential in certain industries? questions in return.

Subsequent to the “get to know you better” Employees look to team leaders to remind them why of the next city or Reaching into new markets may reveal They will need to meeting, get out and walk the talk and ask your their work is important and how it fits in the bigger county, or maybe the build coherent a sobering reality — a brand that was stories around team some questions to build and blend. picture, and to create excitement about what the next state.

• Do you see how you fit in with this initiative? built on personal relationships, where these messages company is doing. Remember we are implementing Reaching into new • How was your weekend? positive change to move the company forward. markets may reveal the person and brand are interwoven, and deliver content • What are the aspects of your work that you There’s no quick way to achieve this. It’s your a sobering reality—a that helps reinforce may have trouble growing past the like most? job to align business values and goals for employbrand that was built on reach of those relationships without them.

• What would you like to learn as a member of ees.

Focus on results and the benefits realized. personal relationships, In short, their re-tooling their approach. this project?

Find ways to make people feel like their work has where the person and brand marketing will • What are your aspirations and how can this an impact on the overall business, such as keepbrand are interwoven, have to move to a project further your development? ing them in the loop on what happens next for a may have trouble new level and take on new forms of communiCreate a great project experience project they’ve completed or having someone from growing past the reach of those relationships cation to compete in a brand new, competitive I ask each team member what will make this the executive team personally meet with them to without re-tooling their approach. marketplace, where the firm of Williams and project a good experience for them. Here’s some acknowledge their work and how it has helped the Imagine with me for a moment a fictional law Yastrzemski is already firmly established. organization reduce costs, generate more customfirm known as Ruth, Mantle & Berra, located in Building personal relationships will always be feedback I usually get and my approach to meet their needs: ers, stay compliant or increased revenue.

Yankeetown, USA. important to a business like this one, but building • Task variety, something outside my usual role.

• Credibility is the foundation.

George Ruth was the founder of the firm and their brand as a company will be a key to growth To accomplish this I look for a component of Team members must be able, above all else, to gained prominence as a civic leader in Yanfor Ruth, Mantle & Berra in the Red Stocking the project that a team member can lead. believe in the project leader. For them to willingly keetown. He has since retired, but Michael Mantle market.

• Workplace friendships. follow someone else they must believe that the and Lawrence Berra have continued to build the I encourage and support this by having lunch leader’s word can be trusted, that he/she is paspractice to one that is well-respected locally. But Dave Taylor is president of Taylor Brand Group, a sionate and enthusiastic about the work and that when they decide to open an office 50 miles away company that focuses on developing brand strategy and meetings and facilitating meetings with small groups of team members he/she has the knowledge and skill to lead. in Red Stocking, no one has ever heard of either ongoing brand marketing. Based in Lancaster, Taylor Brand Group works with national and regional clients.

• Fair procedures. of them, and they appear to be just another law Larry Puleo a certified project manager (PMP) is He can be reached at 717-393-7343. Visit taylorbrand I set expectations by communicating project president of MLP Consultants, LLC which helps compafirm with a typical variety of legal services. group.com. nies execute their strategies. Contact him at lpuleo@ ground rules, behaviors that are expected and the Ruth, Mantle & Berra will have to make a escalation process so there are no surprises. Allow mlpconsultants.com or visit www.mlpconsultants.com.

By Larry Puleo

34 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B34] | 12/28/16

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JANUARY 2017

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HERITAGE TOURISM

Surveying the regional economic power • Travel development continues as a major economic tool in the region and nothing exists to Events, venues and natural resources empower believe that this will change in the future. this region to achieve goals and objectives for the • Sports continues to be a large segment of benefit of the one million or so people who live regional life. A regional sports commission could here. Some of these attributes that make improve events. Steps should be the region a powerful influence in meetundertaken to bring together a group ing the needs of its residents and fosterinterested in this topic, examine such ing a better quality of life are historical entities elsewhere and create a Poconoand current and some lie in the future. A Northeast Sports Commission. few historical events include: The future can bring new initiatives • Being the lead region to establish the to regional attention. Some of these may Industrial Revolution in this country. This include the following: enabled railroads, energy (coal), manu• Forming a regional asset district, Grossman facturing and other elements to be shared similar to the successful Allegheny throughout the nation in past decades.

County District of 15 years that supports • Creating incentive industrial development cultural, sports, libraries and other public facilities programs that became statewide standards for with a special 1 percent sales tax. economic development, such as the Pennsylvania • Creating a new regional image for this region Industrial Development Authority’s financial loans such as was the case in the 1970s with “The that led to many industries being able to come to Pocono-Northeast: A Place to Grow.” It may be the Commonwealth and this region. time for a 21st century image approach for the • Organizing the “greatest regional economic region. comeback in the history of the United States.” In • The Pocono Mountains is a special area that certain cities this has occurred, but not at a regional deserves special attention by the General Assembly level as it has across the Pocono-Northeast. This of Pennsylvania with a special designation for a historical picture needs to be further reviewed as landmark designation and then funding which goes a means to make sure that such a history is never beyond what is available for the Pocono Mountains forgotten. This alone has great value. tourist agency. There was a 10-year plan developed • Much of our regional landscape has been several years ago that should be updated for this cleaned up and used for industrial development key sector of the region. purposes. In fact, the region probably serves as a • Land use and land development needs attenmodel for other regions facing similar situations, tion. A revitalized Pennsylvania State Planning Board and this should be outlined in text, much like the needs to be worked on to help direct a land use Greater Hazleton Area did many years ago. pattern that could, perhaps, use Oregon as a model.

In current terms, here are a few ideas that make • What are the industries of the future that the region different than its competitors. need attention inside the region? Will they be like • We have a regional private-public partnership, the natural gas trends or gaming trends that have second to none in the nation. In fact, it has set a caught hold? Some effort should be undertaken model for Bahia, a state in Brazil, where a similar to examine what can be best suited for regional step has been taken and still exists. economic development in coming years, in addition • Community and economic development con- to biotechnology and other current ones. tinue to be strong elements of what is taking place • A new fiscal examination of local and county across the region and will likely be a high priority in governments should be developed so that the issue coming years. facing these entities can be addressed more fully.

• Telecommunications and location are strong This includes pension plans, debt issues and other factors that make this region a candidate for an elements that require perhaps a new approach. array of economic activity beyond current levels.

• Regional governance needs to be examined • There is a model small city — Pittston, that as a tool for improving the delivery of services to has made a comeback and this can be replicated in residents and families in the region. other cities through political leadership and grant Howard J. Grossman is the former executive director funding. It is a home-grown change that continues of EDCNP, now NEPA Alliance. Email him at Grossto evolve. manHJ@aol.com

A year in the life of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley

By Howard J. Grossman. AICP

venue for community programs and events. Watch for a Sculpture Park on this site in 2017.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the LHV, The trail is a wonderful venue for educational volunteers organized a series of special programs such as Railroads, Rivers and events, projects and programs, starting You!. Steamtown NHS created RRY! for with the Heritage Explorer Golf Tournafourth graders to study language arts ment at Pine Hills Country Club in June and mathematics and to explore the hisand culminating with the 25th annivertory and science of the railroad industry sary gala on the Scranton Riverwalk in in the Lackawanna River Valley. Students September. Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, spent the mornings at Steamtown and founding chair of LHV, and charter the afternoons along the Lackawanna members of the Founders Circle, were River Heritage Trail.

Gelb honored at the gala for their vision and Steamtown NHS and Lackawanna leadership in creating the LHV. A legacy Heritage Valley also collaborated on the Heritage keepsake book was published to pay tribute to the Explorer Train, a special excursion from Scranton founders of LHV and the businesses and families to Carbondale in August and the 20th annual that make this region so special.

Christmas in a Small Town (Santa Train) in DeHeritage Explorer Bike Tour participants encember. Details will be announced soon for a new joyed a fall ride along the Lackawanna River HeriSteamtown/LHV program —Piecing Together the tage Trail (LRHT) and on streets passing through Past, a geocaching tour of local historical sites Blakely, the Mid and Upper Valley, and north to the for people of all ages. Follow Lackawanna River Stillwater Dam. After the tour, they enjoyed harvest Heritage Trail on Facebook for details. festivals presented by the Carbondale YMCA and There are several upcoming trail projects the Archbald and Eynon Lions Clubs. scheduled for 2017, including initiatives in CarbonBicycling remains a popular activity on the trail dale, Fell Township, Dickson City and Scranton. and, in support of this trend, LHV’s free bike share The Carbondale Riverwalk is scheduled to open program expanded from four to six share sites next summer. A 1.2 mile section of trail in Carbonwith the addition of Radisson Lackawanna Station dale will connect to a 2.2 mile section of trail in Fell and Marywood University. In 2017, Bike CarbonTownship, creating a direct link for trail users to dale will be introduced at the Carbondale YMCA the D&H Rail-Trail in Susquehanna County. and at the Carbondale Grand Hotel with funding Development of a 1.1 mile section of the Lackfrom the Northeast Pennsylvania Healthcare awanna River Heritage Trail will connect Dickson Foundation.

City to Olyphant. This project will be funded by a The LRHT, the premier project of the Lacka$499,900 grant from PA Department of Conservawanna Heritage Valley, is the centerpiece of all tion and Natural Resources and a $470,560 grant of these programs. In 2016, the trail was the from PennDOT’s TAP program venue for 28 charitable races, welcoming 9,261 The Scranton Safety Improvements project participants who ran, walked and biked along its will enhance safety conditions for pedestrians and pathways. bicyclists at the following intersections: Elm and Two major trail projects were completed with Broadway Streets in South Scranton; Olive and funding from the Scranton Half Marathon ComPoplar Streets in Central Scranton; Albright Avenue mittee. The Half Marathon Committee donated and Green Ridge and East Market Streets in North $90,000 to fund the installation of 14 state-ofScranton. The $1 million project is made possible the-art cameras between the Olive Street and 7th through funding support from the Department of Avenue Trailheads in Scranton in partnership with Community and Economic Development (DCED) the Scranton Police Department. In addition, the Multimodal Transportation Fund; Lackawanna Half Marathon funded safety improvements that County; and the City of Scranton. enhanced a quarter mile pathway connecting the Natalie Gelb is executive directorof the Lackawanna trail on Olive Street to Providence Road directly Heritage Valley Authority (LHVA). Email her at natalie@ hva.org across from Scranton High School. This link, known as the “Spur Trail,” is now a wonderful

By Natalie Gelb

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 35 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B35] | 12/28/16

15:56 | GRAHAMTOM

PERSONNEL FILE Barry Isett & assocIates

Barry Isett & associates Inc., a multidiscipline engineering firm with offices in Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, has brought in two new additions to the Code Services Department. anthony (tony) todoro, Bco, of Reading, brings 30 years of experience in conducting various quality inspections disciplines. He holds 18 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) certifications, as well as a bachelor’s degree in science and math from Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. Before joining Isett, Tony served as a building codes enforcement officer for Motley Associates Inc., in Reading.

John Decusatis, Bco, Todoro seo, of Stroudsburg, previously served Stroud Township, Monroe County, as planning administrator, commercial zoning & codes officer and alternate sewage enforcement officer. He also worked in real estate with Legend Properties Inc. John is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.

DeCusatis Isett’s services include: municipal engineering; code services; civil, structural, forensic, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; landscape design; construction inspection; survey services; environmental services; and construction services. The company website isbarryisett.com.

Better Homes anD GarDens real estate WIlkIns & assocIates

anisha t allen was hired as a sales associate for the Mt Pocono office. Allen, originally from Queens, New York, has lived in the Poconos since 1999. She graduated from Polly & Associates in 2011 and will work as an administrative assistant for Jennifer Lynn Amantea, associate broker. Amantea handles both the Poconos and Lehigh Valley. Allen is also a graduate of Northampton Community College with an associates degree in business management.

Frank scirica, Realtor will work from the Stroudsburg BHG business campus. Originally from Elmont, New York, Scirica has lived in the Poconos for the last 15 years. Scirica is a Scirica graduate of the Weichert Real Estate School in Bethlehem. He was formerly employed by Keller Williams Real Estate in Stroudsburg.

Students from Swiftwater Intermediate School raised $1,150 towards United Way of Monroe County’s Annual Campaign. “We are excited about being able to give back to those who don’t have as much as we do,” said one of the fourth graders.

Sanofi Pasteur raised more than $300,000 for United Way’s campaign. From left: Pamela Reincke, manager, Marketing & Sales Incentive Compensation and campaign co-chair; Kurt Lupinsky, deputy director, R&D Project Management and campaign co-chair; Don Zipp III, deputy director, HSE Project and Process Safety and campaign co-chair; Ellyn Schindler, director, North America Corporate Social Responsibility and company campaign coach and board member of the United Way of Monroe County; Grace Tobin, deputy director, Public Health Marketing and campaign co-chair; Sharon S. Laverdure, honorary campaign chair for United Way of Monroe County; and Michael Albert, president and CEO, United Way of Monroe County.

nBt Bank

BANKING

essa Bank & trUst

ESSA Bank & Trust announced the hiring of several key players in the commercial lending division, further positioning the bank to expand their commercial loan presence and capability in the Lehigh Valley market area.

Today’s announcement includes the following positions: commercial loan officer, small business loan officer, com-

36 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B36] | 12/28/16

FIDelIty Bank

Joseph tomko has joined Fidelity Bank as vice president, commercial relationship manager. Tomko comes to Fidelity Bank with nearly 35 years of banking experience.

Tomko utilizes his business expertise to assist area companies in developing strategies to grow their businesses and secure the financial resources they need to accomplish their business goals.

Tomko earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from the University of Scranton With 10 branches located Tomko throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Trust & Investment Departments, a Mortgage Center, and an array of personal and business banking products and services. Log on to bankatfidelity.com

Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi announced another record-breaking year of funds raised to support community services in Monroe County.

UnIteD Way oF monroe coUnty

At a United Way of Monroe County community meeting held Thursday, December 15 at Northampton Community College in Tannersville, corporate partners, community leaders, and student and staff representatives from Monroe County’s local school districts announced the results of their respective United Way campaigns to a packed room of volunteers and supporters of the United Way. Among those presenting their results, Sanofi

mercial credit manager, and special assets manager. christine Walp, vice president, commercial loan officer is a seasoned commercial lender, providing knowledge and assistance to a variety of real estate clients with a broad range of needs. Christine specializes in commercial real estate financing including apartments, medical offices, flex/warehouse space and retail centers.

She is also adept at both residential and commercial construction projects. Christine joins ESSA from National Penn Bank (now BB&T) where she worked for the past 16 years. steven kiss, commercial credit manager, adds significant experience to the commercial lending credit group at ESSA. With over 17 years of experience in the banking sector, Steven will serve as commercial credit manager and will oversee the bank’s commercial underwriting department. Prior to joining ESSA, Steve spent 9 years at TD Bank where he served most recently as a credit portfolio manager.

Jeff Dorio, small business loan officer joins ESSA with more than 20 years experience in the banking and financial services industry, serving in a variety of roles in both retail and commercial leadership. Jeff specializes in commercial loans and banking solutions including commercial real estate, investment real estate, C&I, lines of credit and equipment financing. Prior to joining ESSA, Jeff served as a commercial business development officer for Wells Fargo. scott labenberg, special assets manager joins ESSA as a special assets manager with more than 30 years of banking experience centered in commercial lending and credit. Scott will oversee ESSA’s special assets area, which is responsible for the management of the commercial loans portfolio. Prior to joining ESSA, Scott was with National Penn Bank (now BB&T) for more than 17 years.

He has held various management level positions at banks throughout his career.

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JANUARY 2017

Coates

edward coates has been elected vice chairman of the American Bankers Association’s Agricultural and Rural Bankers Committee for the 2016-2017 association year. Coates is senior vice president and regional agricultural banking manager at NBT Bank. He leads NBT’s team of bankers who specialize in serving the financial needs of farm operations and agri-businesses

across the bank’s footprint. Established in 1913, the committee is made up of 14 agricultural and rural bankers from across the country. Committee members volunteer their time to provide guidance and recommendations to ABA. The committee meets in person three times per year.

Coates, has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry specializing in agri-business. He joined NBT Bank in 1995 as agriculture lending manager.

EDUCATION

keystone colleGe

Keystone College Assistant Professor of Sport and Recreation Management, mac ross, Ph.D., Tunkhannock, has co-authored a chapter in the recently released book, “The Routledge History of American Sport.” The chapter, coauthored with Dr. Kevin Wamsley of St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada, focuses on sport and masculinity in America from the colonial period to the present. Routlege is a global publisher of academic books, Ross journals and online reference materials.

kInGs colleGe

Bridget mcFadden has been named an academic advisor/international student coordinator at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre.

A resident of Dallas, McFadden will provide educational guidance and assistance for undeclared and first-year students with a special emphasis on international students. She will be primarily responsible for helping students improve their academic performance by assisting in scheduling courses, McFadden monitoring at-risk students and developing action plans for students on academic probation. She also will coordinate orientation programs for new international students. Prior to coming to King’s, McFadden earned a master’s degree in hispanic linguistics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she served as an instructor for beginner Spanish courses and research assistant in the department of Spanish and Portuguese. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French with minors in linguistics and Latin American Cultures at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

mIserIcorDIa UnIVersIty

Two Misericordia University students majoring in communications recently were part of creative marketing teams that placed first and second in the American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 2016 “Cropped’’ competition. Misericordia University student christa Porasky of Falls collaborated with teammates Helen Lavelle of Lavelle Strategy Group and Joey Zarcone of Posture Interactive to write a slogan, design a logo, and create and execute a print advertising campaign for a regional nonprofit.

The winning entry was designed for the Employment Opportunity & Training Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania (EOTC). Called “Connect, Serve! Moving Today’s Families Forward,” the overall campaign utilized other catch phrases, including “How To Strengthen Our Community. Together.” “How To Lift Her Up. Together.’’

PERSONNEL FILE

Misericordia University communications students Christa Porasky, Falls, right, and Erin Dougherty, Dallas, left, pose with Rachel Urbanowicz, M.S., assistant professor, Department of Mass Communications and Design, after being members of the creative marketing teams that earned first and second place in the American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 2016 “Cropped” competition.

Porasky and her teammates competed against three other teams in a live advertising competition format in the style of the Food Network’s “Chopped.’’ The competition featured three, timed rounds at AAF’s office @ the THINK Center in Wilkes-Barre.

Misericordia University student Erin Dougherty of Dallas teamed up with William Childs of AAF Lehigh Valley and Trifecta Technologies Inc., and Donna Shrader of Ideaworks Marketing to earn second place in the fastpaced competition. Dougherty is the multimedia editor of The Highlander student newspaper. The winning creatives will present real-life versions of the logo, taglines and plans for executing their campaign at the annual AAF Holiday Party in December. For more information about the Department of Mass Communications and Design at Misericordia University, call (570) 674-6400 or log on to misericordia.edu/communications.

Penn College manufacturing engineering technology student Joel E. Bergerstock, of Liverpool, proudly displays one of three emblems he recently made for The Bicycle Center’s Susquehanna River Walk initiative. Bergerstock is standing in front of the electrical discharge machine he used to cut aluminum to form the emblems. levee system in Williamsport, South Williamsport and Loyalsock Township. The manufacturing engineering technology major devoted about 15 hours outside of class to make the 6-inch-by-8 inch emblems. Bergerstock employed electrical discharge machining, a process that utilizes fine wire to cut material via electric charge.

UnivERSiTY oF SCRAnTon

David

PEnnSYLvAniA CoLLEGE oF TECHnoLoGY

A $5,000 matching grant toward the purchase of a new lumber-drying kiln chamber at Pennsylvania College of Technology has been provided by the Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania Inc. through Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The kiln project, aided financially by other related industry groups, wood products companies and Penn College and Williamsport Area Community College alumni and friends, will augment the hands-on curriculum for students in the college’s two-year forest technology major.Visit pct.edu.

Also, the manufacturing skills of a Pennsylvania College of Technology student are helping a local business highlight its commitment to the community. Joel E. Bergerstock, of Liverpool, produced aluminum emblems depicting the logo of The Bicycle Center for the South Williamsport business’ Susquehanna River Walk initiative.

The emblems will be placed on each of the three repair stations that The Bicycle Center intends to install on the paved walkway and bike trail, which loops atop the

Baker

Barrasse

Blake

University of Scranton sophomore computer science major Joshua David of Scranton won the grand prize in the general computing category of the 2016 APL problem-solving competition. In addition to winning a $2,000 cash prize, David presented his solutions at the Dyalog APL User Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The APL Problem Solving Competition, sponsored by Dyalog, requires contestants to use the APL programming language, along with problem solving skills, to answer a series of questions in computer code. The goal of the competition is to educate college students about APL and to encourage problem-solving skills. David was introduced to APL as an intern with Paul Mansour at the Carlisle Group in Scranton. David, a runner up in last year’s APL competition, is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and is a Dean’s List student at the University.

Also, The 10 individuals named to the Board of Trustees for The University of Scranton include seven alumni and three Jesuits, as well as presidents, CEOs, attorneys and

physicians, who have served in leadership positions in their fields and at numerous nonprofit organizations.

The new Board members are: Rick Baker ’77; Linda D’Andrea Barrasse, M.D. ’77; David Collins Blake, Ph.D., J.D. ’69; Frank Dubas ’75; Matthew E. Haggerty, J.D.; Mary Dubas R. Haveron ’85; William Kelley, S.J. ’73; Dan Lahart, S.J.; Keith F. Muccino, S.J., M.D.; and Yohuru Williams, Ph.D. ’93 G’93.

Baker is president and chief executive officer of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, a nonprofit that owns and operates the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Dr. Barrasse is a partner with Haggerty Great Valley Cardiology, a Scrantonbased cardiac treatment facility. She is currently on staff at Regional Hospital, Moses Taylor Hospital, and Geisinger Community Medical Center, all of which are based in Scranton.

Dr. Blake is a consultant of health care compliance and ethics, as well as a consultant to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Haveron Dubas recently retired as a global managing partner for sovereign financial institutions at Deloitte, a New York City-based tax, auditing, business consulting and financial advisory services firm. He oversaw a global network of approximately 1,700 Deloitte professionals from more than 100 countries.

Kelley Haggerty is the managing director of Elk Lake Capital, the private equity arm of the Lynett-Haggerty family. He is also the CEO of Times-Shamrock Communications and publisher of the Times-Tribune in Scranton, the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, and the Standard Speaker in Hazleton.

Haveron is a certified public Lahart accountant and principal of an accounting and consulting practice that works with small businesses. She has more than 30 years of experience in the accounting field.

Fr. Kelley was ordained in 1985 and is a member of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. He is currently a member of the pastoral Muccino team at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. Fr. Lahart was elected to serve the 22nd president of Regis High School in New York, with his term set to begin in August 2016. Regis High School is a tuition-free, Jesuit college preparatory school.

Fr. Muccino is currently the associate provost for educational reWilliams sources at Loyola University Chicago, health sciences division; associate dean for clinical performance at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine and director of its division of continuing medical education.

Dr. Williams is a tenured history professor and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University.

HEALTHCARE AMERiCAn HEART ASSoCiATion

The American Heart Association will recognize one of its most dedicated volunteers and supporters, Cornelio (Cor) Catena, CEO of Commonwealth Health, as a distinguished honoree at the 2017 Northeast PA Heart Ball. The annual gala is set for Saturday, April 8, at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. Catena is a veteran health care executive with more than 30 years of hospital management experience. He was named CEO of Commonwealth Health, a multi-hospital system offering nationally recognized cardiovasCatena cular care, serving Northeast Pennsylvania, in Feb. 2012. He previously served as CEO of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital starting in May 2009. Catena has been involved with the American Heart Association, Northeast PA Division for the past three years. He served as the Northeast PA Heart Ball chair in 2014 and has served on the event’s executive leadership team since 2013. Commonwealth Health has been the top fundraising organization for the Heart Walk since 2005 and has raised more than $100,000 in recent years for the American Heart Association. The Northeast PA Heart Ball is sponsored locally by Geisinger and UGI. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or event tickets, visit northeastpaheartball.heart.org or contact Tara Sokola at 570-430-2391 or Tara.Sokola@heart.org.

GEiSinGER CoMMUniTY MEDiCAL CEnTER

Pulmonologist and critical care physician Ajay Shetty, M.D., has joined Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC). As a critical care specialist, Shetty treats patients in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He also treats patients with pulmonary issues including various forms of lung disease, asthma, bronchitis, chronic cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, lung cancer, obstructive sleep apnea and tuberculosis Board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine Shetty and critical care, Shetty earned his medical degree from Armed Forces Medical College, India. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at State University of New York, Brooklyn and an internal medicine residency at Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, where he was elected chief resident. Additionally, he completed a threeyear fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia.

Prior to joining GCMC, Shetty held several positions at Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital, including consultant, pulmonary and critical care medicine; chief, section of pulmonary medicine; and intensive care medical director. Shetty also has an extensive background teaching medical students at several institutions, including The Commonwealth Medical College and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. Shetty is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the American Thoracic Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. To make an appointment with Dr. Shetty, call the GCMC physician and services referral line at 844-703-GCMC (4262).

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FOR THE RECORD COLUMBIA COUNTY

Bayview Loan Servicing LLC. Property Location: Briarcreek. Seller: Richard E. and Diane S. Aikey Jr. Price: $5,273.10 f-m-v $131,725.62.

Bloomsburg Town Center LLC. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Burham Contracting Inc. aka Burkham Contracting Inc. Price: $450,000.

LSF9 Master Participation Trust. Property Location: Benton. Seller: Lanea G. Kyttle. Price: $1,874.76 f-m-v $42,730.20.

Bank of America. Property Location: Berwick. Seller: Wayne S. Hamilton. Price: $3,915.35 f-m-v $79,401.42.

Andrea L and Wayne M Bedrigian. Property Location: Hemlock Township. Seller: Susan Tetrick Lynch and David A. Lynch. Price: $475,000.

Mendenhall Hill LLC. Property Location: Pine Township. Seller: Marie C. Slack. Price: $419,000.

Christopher R Kelshner and Kristen M Cunnington.

Property Location: Briarcreek Township. Seller: Samsel Apartments LLC. Price: $135,000.

ETK Ventures LP. Property Location: Scott Township.

Seller: Erwin T. and Michele Kost Sr. Price: $1 f-m-v $470,268.

Rose Stine and Earnest L Houser. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: U.S. Bank. Price: $27,500.

Michelle M Wesley. Property Location: Berwick.

Seller: First Baptist Church of Berwick. Price: $102,000.

Sirva Relocation Credit LLC. Property Location: Scott Township. Seller: Mark D. Karas and Michelle L. Verquer. Price: $338,250.

Clair Jeramie Barber. Property Location: Scott Township. Seller: Sirva Relocation Credit LLC. Price: $339,000.

Shaffer Hollow Investing LLC. Property Location: Scott Township. Seller: Joseph T. and Gail A. Derck Mullen. Price: $30,000.

Brightside Homes LLC. Property Location: Briarcreek Township. Seller: George Beuka. Price: $10,000.

David H and Tana G Cooper. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Mercer Ltd. Partnership. Price: $1.

LSF9 Master Participation Trust. Property Location: Montour Township. Seller: Kimberly A. Seebold and Worldwide Asset Purchasing LLC. Price: $2,195.54.

PNC Bank. Property Location: Mifflin Township.

Seller: Kelly M. and Phillip J. Disidoro. Price: $1,972.66 f-m-v $68,209.65.

LSF8 Master Participation Trust. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: David A. Hamilton. Price: $1,745.89 f-m-v $78,585.93.

Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance Inc. Property Location: Benton Township. Seller: Deanna L. and Richard Charles Babb. Price: $1,936.75 f-m-v $81,438.30.

U.S. Bank. Property Location: Beaver Township.

Seller: Timothy S. and Megin L. Woodside. Price: $1,909.75 f-m-v $74,087.82.

Shale Ridge Properties LLC. Property Location: Benton. Seller: Colton T. Benjamin. Price: $32,000.

Randall K and Susan A Sidler. Property Location: Jackson Township. Seller: Joseph R. and Andreae K. Hoosty. Price: $550,000.

US Bank. Property Location: Pine Township. Seller: Steven R. and Karen A. Lombardo. Price: $1 f-m-v $299,089.

Landmark Signature Homes LLC. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Northumberland National Bank.

Price: $24,000.

Thomas P. and Kelly S. Bowman. Property Location: Orange Township. Seller: US Bank. Price: $150,000.

Wells Fargo Bank. Property Location: Berwick. Seller: Rachel E. Trivelpiece. Price: $4,387.03 f-m-v $66,545.46.

Lauren Force. Property Location: Briarcreek. Seller: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Price: $74,000.

Wells Fargo Bank. Property Location: Mifflin Township. Seller: Francis G. and Beth Ann McGady. Price: $2,438.69 f-m-v $81,892.17.

BS2 Properties LLC. Property Location: Bloomsburg.

Seller: Mary E. Chamuris. Price: $82,500.

Veterans Affairs. Property Location: Berwick. Seller: Bank of America. Price: $1 f-m-v $79,401.42.

Southern Specialty Properties LCC. Property Location: Briarcreek Township. Seller: US Bank. Price: $11,000.

Berwick Area Joint Sewer Authority. Property Location: Berwick. Seller: TS Develoment Co. Price: $10,000.

First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Property Lcoation: Bloomsburg. Christopher M. and Janna P. Dillon. Price: $395,00 Central Susquehanna Community foundation: Property Location: Berwick. Seller: American National Red Cross. Price: $10 f-m-v $148,802.94.

Matthew Scott and Crystal Lynn Reilley. Property Location: Roaringcreek Township. Seller: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Price: $60,000.

LACKAWANNA

Dana Ann Stefansky. Property Location: Covington Twp. Seller: Perih Group LLC. Price: $374,000.

James Clegg. Property Location: Glenburn Twp. Seller: Jeanne Marie Swick. Price: $390,000.

Ronald Mercatili Jr. Property Location: Jermyn Boro.

Seller: Edward J. Marion. Price: $282,000.

Jason J Petrochko. Property Location: Jermyn Boro.

Seller: Robert W. Munley. Price: $295,000.

John Scott Perry. Property Location: Madison Twp. Seller: Ethel A. Rebar. Price: $300,000.

Eric J Carron. Property Location: Moosic Boro. Seller: James J. Pallante Agent. Price: $310,000.

Premier Holding Oakwood Terrace LLC. Property Location: Moosic Boro. Seller: Christopher Place Nonprofit Corp. Price: $4,000,000.

Susan L King. Property Location: Moscow Boro.

Seller: Joseph Catania. Price: $635,000.

Ronald Zaykowski. Property Location: Old Forge Boro. Seller: Thomas Cusumano. Price: $267,070.

Kate M Grebb. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Seller: Joseph A. Nardelli. Price: $344,000.

Eric M Neishell. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Seller: Randy L. Spatzer. Price: $309.000.

Red Mill Holdings LLC. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Seller: Tiombervest Partners PA LLC. Price: $700,000.

Andrew Morris. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Seller: R. Williams. Price: $257,500.

Christopher Brandon Otto. Property Location: Scott Twp. Seller: John W. Minelli. Price: $325,000.

Benjamin Rochinski. Property Location: Scott Twp. Seller: Joseph Yantorn. Price: $250,000.

Frank M Regan III. Property Location: Scranton City.

Seller: Frank M. Regan Est of DECD. Price: $385,000.

William E Fischer Jr. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Michele Diana. Price: $289,000.

Mark A. Harrington. Property Location: Scranton City.

Seller: Saul Kaplan Es of Decd. Price: $256,150.

Lackawanna Junior College. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Wyoming Avenue Development LLC. Price: $950,000.

Francis Dubas. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: 500 Lackawanna Development Co. Price: $262,000.

Jason Lachapelle. Property Location. So. Abington Twp. Seller: Outlook Design & Construction Inc. Price: $382,000.

James M Kuhle. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Gravel Pond Townhouses, Inc. Price: $455,451.

Timothy P McGurrin. Property Location: So. Abing-

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JANUARY 2017

ton Twp. Seller: Florey Lumber Co. Inc. Price: $630,000.

LG-OHI Clark Summit LP. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Edella Street Associates. Price: $10,817,977.

Kevin Murphy. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Robert Sylvester. Price: $300,000.

Kevin Beck. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Brian Ebersole. Price: $325,000.

Mark J. Barbernitz. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Robert J. Viercinski. Price: $312,000.

Michael Cravath. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Brent Postal. Price: $265,360.

Trident Drilling LLC. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Peter Weinberger. Price: $260,000.

5F Realty LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Robert H. Caldara. Price: $310,000.

Amanda R Morin. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Jeffrey J. Ellsworth. Price: $300,700.

David Alvarado. Property Location. W. Abington Twp. Seller: Frank T. Archer. Price: $289,900.

Andrew Weinberger. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Peter Weinberger. Price: $1,000,000.

Joel Matthew Salansky. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Linda Vanbeke. Price: $675,000.

Anne M Ellis. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Melissa Lestrange. Price: $450,000.

Christopher D Moore. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Carole Mott. Price: $359,000.

ANJ LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: 416 Light LLC. Price: $650,000.

Weichert Workforce Mobility INC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: John L. McFarlane. Price: $320,000.

Kunal S Mistry. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc. Price: $320,000.

Joanne M Kelly. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Boston Land Company, Inc. Price: $253,000.

Mary Grace Rizzo-Fryzel. Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Perih Group LLC. Price: $822,105.

Sterling Way Properties LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Peter Amato Per Atty in Fact. Price: $360,000.

Griffin Pond LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Peter Weinberger. Price: $1,300,000.

Abington Center LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Peter Weinberger. Price: $300,000.

Alexander Koth. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Thomas Berardelli. Price: $260,000.

Sunil R Roop Parlapalli. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Seller: Vinny Q. Lam. Price: $527,000.

James Charles Petriello. Property Location: Springbrook Twp. Seller: William E. Collins. Price: $289.000 ML570 Realty LLC. Property Location: Springbrook Twp. Seller: Samuel C. Lomeo Est Of Decd. Price: $800,000.

Ronald Mercatili Jr. Property Location: Springbrook Twp. Seller: Edward J. Marion. Price: $282,000.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Yordan H Kovacheva. Property Location: Dennison Twp. Seller: Dan S. Butoi. Price: $800,000.

Plymouth Twp. Property Location: Plymouth Twp. Seller: Francis R. Donnelly. Price: $130,000.

Nescopeck Boro. Property Location: Nescopeck Boro. Seller: Julia Ann Bull. Price: $95,000.

Waterfront Management Group LLC. Property Location: Pittston City. Seller: 304 Kennedy Boulevard Associates. Price: $380,000.

United States Department of Housing & Urban Development, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Seller: Planet Home Lending LLC. Price: $175,000.

Plains Twp. Property Location: Plains Twp. Seller:

Clark R. Watkins. Price: $10,000.

Property Couple LLC. Property Location: Nanticoke City. Seller: Wells Fargo Bank (Trustee/per Attorney in Fact). Price: $49,400.

United States Department of Housing & Urban Development Secretary of Housing & Urban Development.

Property Location: Forty Fort Boro. Seller: Robert Zavada, Elizabeth Milauskas. Price: Not listed.

M, E & T Investments LLC. Property Location: Kingston Boro. Seller: Kathy J. Winderman. Price: $62,000.

Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company. Property Location: Kingston Boro. Seller: M, E & T Investments LLC. Price: Not listed.

Luzerne Bank. Property Location: Wyoming Boro.

Seller: C&E Homes LLC. Price: Not listed.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Keirand Daniels. Price: $9,000.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Ricky A. Holmes. Price: $8,800.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Jasseas LP. Price: $9,000.

James C Armstrong. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Lynne Kost. Price: $450,000.

Luzerne Properties LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: 32 Beech Street LLC. Price: $25,000.

Walsh BM Group, Limited Liability Company.

Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: Florence A. Grantor. Price: $82,500.

Donald A Brominski. Property Location: Rice Twp. Seller: David Giarrantano. Price: $385,000.

Kevin F Doyle. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Seller: Jeffrey C. Metz. Price: $642,500.

Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Shanon C. Peterkin. Price: $381,500.

Michael A Slacktish. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc. Price: $337,500.

BLT LLC. Property Location: Kingston. Seller: Federal National Mortgage Association (Per Attorney In Fact).

Price: Not listed.

Phillip Maggie DIgwood Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: W.W. Grainger Inc. Price: $770,000.

Luzerne Bank. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City.

Seller: Phillip Maggie Digwood Real Estate LLC. Price: Not listed.

Laszio Schaffer. Property Location: Rice Twp. Seller: Thomas W. Ensley Jr. Price: $397,500.

Bank of America. Property Location: Hazelton City.

Seller: MERS Countrywide Home Loan Loans Inc. Price: Not listed.

Daniel McEllhenney. Property Location: Hazleton City. Seller: John Cauley (Attorney in Fact). Price: $3,500.

NEPA Housing LLC. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Seller: Bank of America. Price: $28,833.

2317 Glebe LLC. Property Location: Hazleton City.

Seller: Joseph G. Fierro III. Price: $130,000.

Jerome E Majusiak. Property Location: Dallas Boro.

Seller: Terrence M. O’Toole. Price: $300,000.

CE Sassaman. Property Location: Foster Twp. Seller: Wright C. Sassaman. Price: $290,000.

Charles A Brown. Property Location: Dallas Boro.

Seller: Michael C. Brown Executor. Price: $410,396.

Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: Quad Three Group Inc. Price: Not listed.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Property Location: Forty Fort Boro. Seller: U.S. Bank (Trustee) Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

Community Bank. Property Location: Freeland Boro.

Seller: Freeland Business and Development Authority.

Hager Delaware LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre Twp. Seller: Store Master Funding II. Price:

FOR THE RECORD $1,200,774.61.

Toys “R” Us Property Company II LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: Toys “R” Us Property Company II LLC. Price: $3,402,528.

Robert A Murphy. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Cartus Financial Corporation. Price: $319,000.

Kiliti’s Family Farm LLC. Property Location: Salem Twp. Seller: David L. Kiliti. Price: $147,744.

Jesse Halteman. Property Location: Huntington Twp. Seller: Nancy Ceppa. Price: $400,000.

FNCB Bank. Property Location: Wyoming Boro. 4 Parcels. Seller: LCN Real Estate Inc. Price: Not listed.

First National Bank of Pennsylvania. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: D&D Hampton II LLC. Price: Not listed.

Choice One Community Federal Credit Union. Property Location: Rice Twp. Seller: David L. Coleman.

David L Coleman. Property Location: Rice Twp. Seller: David L. Coleman, Choice One Community Federal Credit Union. Price: Not listed.

DRG Real Estate LLC. Property Location Pittston City. Four Parcels. Seller: Dime Bank . Price: Not listed.

Anthony Joseph Bruno. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Patrick Deats. Price: $305,664.

Renda Antonaccio Holdings LLC. Property Location: Pittston Twp. Seller: Wal-Mart Stores East Inc. Price: $76,480.

PIP Properties LLC. Location: Butler Twp. Seller: Robert S. Shandrick. Price: $460,000.

Secretary of Housing & Urban Development United States, Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Property Location: Hazleton City. Seller: Midfirst Bank.

Price: $114,268.

Secretary of Housing & Urban Development United States, Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Property Location: Courtdale Boro. Seller: Midfirst Bank.

Price: $63,504.

Secretary of Housing & Urban Development United States, Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Property Location: West Wyoming Boro. Seller: US Bank (Trustee) Pennsylvana Housing Finance Agency. Price: $105,300.

Mary D Edwards. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Seller: Joseph J. Zoeller. Price: $250,000.

Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company. Property Location: Pittston Twp. Seller: 460 Research Drive LLC. Price: Not listed. Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Seller: 155 Research Drive LLC. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Transportation.

Property Location: Newport Twp. Seller: Earth Conservancy. Price: $1,002,336.

Alnajukchahat Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Butler Twp. Seller: ACC Ventures LLC. Price: $650,000.

Landmark Community. Property Location: Butler Twp. Seller: Alnajukchahat Real Estate LLL. Price: Not listed.

FM Corporation Inc. Property Location: Kingston Boro. Seller: Stifel Trust Company (trustee) Price: $30,000.

K-Tech Holdings LLC. Property Location: Ashley Boro. Seller: Kelly A. Girman. Price: $69,000.

M&T Bank. Property Location: Exeter Boro. Seller: Luzerne County Sheriff. Price: $82,560.

Bayview Loan Servicing LLC. Property Location: Kingston Boro. Seller: Luzerne County Sheriff. Price: $102,048.

Bank of New York Mellon (Trustee). Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: Luzerne County Sheriff.

Price: $71,424.

Housing Opportunity Partners REO LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Seller: Luzerne County Sheriff. Price: $63,504.

M & T Bank. Property Location: Pringle Boro. Seller:

Luzerne County Sheriff. Price: $86,880.

LSF9 Master Participation Trust. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Seller: Luzerne County Sheriff. Price: $4,023,85 North East Pennsylvania Land Bank Authority.

Property Location: Pittston City. Seller: Pittston City Redevelopment Authority. Price: $55,872.

North East Pennsylvania Land Bank Authority.

Property Location: Pittston City. Seller: Pittston City Redevelopment Authority. Price: $45,696.

Stephen J Valenti. Property Location: Plains Twp. Seller: Presidential Land Company LTD. Price: $291,542.

POESNECO LLC. Property Location: Ashley Boro.

Seller: Renee Poesnecker. Price: $47,520.

Jayce Inc. Property Location: Kingston Boro. Seller: Southern Lincoln Inc. Price: $911,520.

MONROE COUNTY

Anthony Lapadula. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Brian and Ellen Stone. Price: $700,000.

ETK Ventures LP. Property location: Chestnuthill Township. Seller: Michele and Erwin Kost Sr. Price: $1.

Tax basis: $342,430.

ETK Ventures LP. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: Michele and Erwin Kost Sr. Price: $1.

Tax basis: $252,447.

ETK Ventures LP. Property location: Stroud Township. Seller: Michele and Erwin Kost Sr. Price: $1. Tax basis: $611,466.

EPA Real Estate LLC. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Edward and Mindy Abraham. Price: $1.

Tax basis: $392,435.

TL Realty Corp. Property location: East Stroudsburg.

Seller: Martin and Annabel Perdomo. Price: $62,600.

Benjamin and Adriana Hejl. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: David and Shanon McCormick.

Price: $300,000.

Linda Gordon. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Jeannine and Karl Langlois Jr. Price: $390,000.

LTS Homes LLC. Property location: Jackson Township. Seller: MrZ Family LP, Z&G Partners Inc. (gen. partner). Price: $25,000.

Michael and Jenny Angelucci. Property location: Stroud Township. Seller: William and Linda Horvath.

Price: $319,000.

Johnny and Sohang Wong. Property location: Eldred Township. Seller: Thomas Dowling. Price: $333,000.

Pocono Medical Center. Property location: Smithfield Township. Seller: Monroe Medical Buildings Partnership.

Price: $1,100,000.

Rental Growth LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: Orefield Investment Holding LLC. Price: $60,000.

Daniel Hessel. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Marie Abbazio. Price: $400,000.

Wolff Properties LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: 684 Mill Street Associates LLP. Price: $187,000.

DJM Group LLC. Property location: Tunkhannock Township. Seller: William and Valerie Hollingsworth.

Price: $152,500.

Anton and Barbara Bonifacic. Property location: Hamilton Township. Seller: Robert and Jacqueline Caffese. Price: $590,000.

Mark Gravel and Julianne Newman. Property location: Paradise Township. Seller: James and Deanna Bays.

Price: $328,900.

Nicholas Baliotis. Property location: Pocono Township.

Seller: Vicki Ness and Thomas Boehm. Price: $345,000.

John and Nicole Lefante. Property location: Pocono Township. Seller: Robert Banks. Price: $448,800.

Jeffrey and Stacy Green. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Dariusz and Iwona Dzietczyk.

Price: $455,000.

Exeter 2086 Corporate Center LLC, Exeter Operation Partnership III LP, Exeter Industrial REIT III LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: JJ I-81 LLC, Ridce-JJ-81 LLC, US Industrial REIT III-Gateway.

Price: $72,500,000.

Thomas and Ann Kersetter. Property location: Chestnuthill Township. Seller: Maria Fritz. Price: $316,500.

DEPG Parcel D LLC. Property location: Stroud Township. Seller: DEPG Bartonsville Route 611 Plaza LP. Price: $1. Tax basis: $70,132.

Lukov & Associates LP. Property location: Pocono Township. Seller: Stephen and Patricia Howanitz. Price: $1,900,000.

Peter Troiano and Elaine Finkel. Property location: CoolbaughTownship. Seller: Richard and Sylvia Carbone.

Price: $400,000.

Robert Cirincion. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Hannig Development LLC. Price: $323,000.

Beltzville Enterprises LLC. Property location: Chestnuthill Township. Seller: Mamie and Joseph DiBella Sr. Price: $275,000.

Global Funding Services LLC. Property location: Stroud Township. Seller: Seth Tanner. Price: $500,000.

VW Holdings LLC. Property location: East Stroudsburg. Seller: Vassar Investment LLC. Price: $355,000.

Toasty Feet LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: Stephen Schlissel and Faith Salvo. Price: $160,000.

Adam Wilk. Property location: Eldred Township.

Seller: Roswell Klinger III. Price: $300,000.

Matthew Hosking. Property location: Chestnuthill Township. Seller: Northland Development Corp. Price: $375,000.

Judy Asmus. Property location: Stroud Township.

Seller: Rosemarie Good. Price: $405,000.

Gregory Daniel. Property location: Hamilton Township. Seller: James Wiggins. Price: $395,000.

David Caleb. Property location: Stroud Township.

Seller: LTS Homes LLC. Price: $375,392.

Rustic Roots LLC. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Seller: Michael DelCampo. Price: $650,000.

Jonathan Dellacona. Property location: Smithfield Township. Seller: Frank Toton. Price: $300,000.

Shane Brown. Property location: Smithfield Township. Seller: Jeffrey Serowick. Price: $319,000.

Cardiello Properties LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Seller: South Ninth Street Enterprises Inc. Price: $380,000.

Circle Holdings LLC. Property location: Hamilton Township. Seller: Howard Johnson. Price: $179,000.

Nee Akrong. Property location: Hamilton Township.

Seller: Classic Quality Homes Inc. Price: $328,500.

PIKE COUNTY

Lawrence E Johnson. Property Location: Greene Twp. Seller: Paul A. Evans. Price: $370,000.

Hooi Ming Ng. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Woodloch Pines, Inc. Price: $639,900.

Nicholas Seminario. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Edward Driscoll. Price: $765,000.

Thomas J Manoy Sr. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Paupack Property Management LLC. Seth C Freund. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Sequoia Group Northeast LLP. Price: $269,900.

Stuart Altman. Property Location: Lackawaxen.Twp. Seller: Jadwin Associates. Price: $330,000.

Damion P Riera. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Kevin Cummings. Price: $274,000.

James C Robinson. Property Location: Palmyra Twp.

Seller: Jams W. Lyons. Price: $307,400.

Matthew W Shelley. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: Robert Mascitelli. Price: $370,000.

Robert J Keyes. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: John F. Curley. Price: $2,725,000.

Mark Lischner. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: George Gedrimas. Price: $265.000.

Christopher B Simpler. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: Fernando C. Santarelli. Price: $286,000.

PPL-Lords Valley LLC. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Lords Valley Center, LP. Price: $2,998,390.

Zachary Evans. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Gerald Joseph Rooney. Price: $307,000.

Alex Golubenko. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Robert J. Henkel. Price: $382,000.

Angelo Galante. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Michael McNamara. Price: $280,000.

Christopher Jahn. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Seller: Gary F. Reitz. Price: $265,000.

Michael J McMenamin. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Seller: Alfred G. Segro. Price: $330,000.

Kathy Talka. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: James C. Robinson. Price: $425,000.

Robert J Pustarfi Jr. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Marthinus Engelbrecht. Price: $295,000.

Eileen Gallagher. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Louis Tripido Jr. Price: $255,000.

Jay A Manasco. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: C. Tyler Mathisen Tr. Price: $344,500.

Thomas A Mauro Jr. Property Location: DIngman Twp. Seller: Shawn Maciorkowski. Price: $259,000.

Milo Selin. Property Location: DIngman Twp. Seller: Edward T. Haines. Price: $300,000.

Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement East Central U.S. Field. Property Location: Shohola Twp. Seller: Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement Eastern U.S. Field. Price: $380,000.

Sander Jacobowitz. Property Location: Shohola Twp. Seller: Heather Y. Deiner. Price: $335,000.

Jouliana Petranker. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Seller: David A. Polatnick and Victoria Traina-Polatnich, Trustees. Price: $437,500.

One-Sky LLC. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Seller: Tripodo Investments Limited Partnership. Price: $2,500,000.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Riverview Bank. Property Location: West Brunswick Twp. Seller: Fanelli Group Properties LLC. Price: $1,771,185.

Robjake LLC. Property Location: Pottsville Twp. Seller: Coca Cola Refreshments USA Inc. Price: $300,000.

T and S Real Property LLC. Property Location: Girardville Twp. Seller: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Price: $1,000.

Accordian Group Inc. Property Location: Girardville Twp. Seller: ARH Properties LLC. Price: $ 1,350.

Accordian Group Inc. Property Location: Girardville Twp. Seller: ARH Properties LLC. Price: $ 1,825.

Mady Real Estate Co. Property Location: Schuylkill Haven Twp. Seller: Losch Boiler Sales and Service. Price: $ 95,000.

Blackstone Funding LLC and Watermelon Realty.

Property Location: PottsvilleTwp. Seller: Jason Keller.

Price: $ 6,800.

Joe Kuperavage Coal Co. Property Location: Blyth Twp. Seller: Eagle Hill Energy LLC. Price: $ 12,745.

Mauch Chunk Realty Enterprises. Property Location: Norwegian Twp. Seller: LSF9 Masta Participation Trust.

Price: $60,000.

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 39 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B39] | 12/28/16

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FOR THE RECORD

er: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $250,000.

Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. Property Location: Covington Twp. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. TR. GEG Real Estate. Location: Honesdale. Seller: Mark Amount: $25,000,000.

J. Conway Trustee. Price: $280,000.

Neil Deluca. Property Location: Dalton Boro. Lender: GEG Real Estate: Property Location: Honesdale.

GPS Funding LLC. Amount: $250,000.

Seller: Mark J. Conway Trustee. Price: $265,000.

Toys R Us Property Company II LLC. Property LocaMark Vanacker: .Property Location: Salem & Paupack. Seller: Carol A. Murray Indv. & for Karen I. Rapiejko. tion: Dickson City. Lender: Goldman Sachs Mortgage Co. Amount: $1,024,000,000.

Price: $280,000.

Trevor Daniel Woodruff. Property Location: Dunmore Vivian Bellofatto & Phillip R. Vernon. Property Location: Lake. Seller: Stephen Treffinger Exr. Price: $390,000. Boro. Lender: Franklin American Mortgage Co. Amount: $250,750.

Robert Luciani. Property Location: Dunmore Boro.

WYOMING COUNTY Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: David Nitch. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. $320,000.

Seller: Arthur G. Pelka. Price: $273,000.

Patrick Lombardo. Property Location: Glenburn ETK Ventures LP. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: Twp. Seller: Erwin T. Kost. Price: $274,557. $400,000.

Charles K Porter. Property Location: Forkston Twp. Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. Property Location: Glenburn Seller: Monica Denison Excs. Price: $310,000.

Twp. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co TR. 87 Marina Drive LLC. Property Location: TunkhanAmount: $25,000,000. nock Twp. Seller: Lakefront Investments Inc. Price: Matthew C Haley. Property Location: Greenfield Twp. $291,000.

United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Penn- Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $460,000.

Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. Property Location: Jefferson sylvania. Property Location: Lemon Twp. Seller: Joseph Twp. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co Tr. C. Bambera DD Trustee. Price: $1,691,944.

Amount: $25,000,000.

Ronald Mercatili Jr. Property Location: Jermyn Boro.

Lender: Summit Mortgage Corp. Amount: $275,793.

MORTgagEs Jeffrey Vanston. Property Location: Jermyn Boro.

COLUMBIA COUNTY Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $650,000.

Downtown Student Housing LLC. Property Location: Jeffrey Cavanaugh.Property Location: Jermyn Boro.

Bloomsburg. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Lender: Nationstar Mortgage LLC. Amount: $265,000.

Amount: $351,000.

Joseph Trapani Carr. Property Location: MadiMD Bloomsburg Buckhorn LLC. Property Location: son Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: Hemlock Township. Lender: Starwood Mortgage Capital $475,200.

LLC. Amount: $10,500,000.

Patricia Anne Day. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Andrea L and Wayne M Badrigian. Property LocaLender: Total Mortgage Services LLC. Amount: $276,000. tion: Hemlock Township. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Eric A Gasper. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $380,000.

Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $417,000.

Ledger Spaide Partnership LP. Property Location: Eric A Gasper. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Scott Township. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $285,000.

Amount: $55,000.

Paul Rainey. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Patriot Realty Holdings LLC. Property Location: Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $256,400.

Berwick. Lender: Chris Garman. Amount: $500,000.

Premier Holding Oakwood Terrace LLC. Property Claire Jeramie Barber. Property Location: Scott Location: Moosic Boro. Lender: Pillar Multifamily LLC. Township. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Amount: $6,800,000.

Systems Inc. Amount: $305,100.

Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. Property Location: No. Milco Industries Inc. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Abington Twp. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co Lender: FNB Bank. Amount: $650,000.

Tr. Amount: $25,000,000.

Shale Ridge Properties LLC. Property Location: Benton.

Ronald Zakowski. Property Location: Old Forge.

Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $182,000. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $253,716.

Randall K and Susan A Sidler. Property Location: Sierra Morano. Property Location: Olyphant Boro.

Jackson Township. Lender: Joseph R. and Andreae K. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $312,000.

Hoosty. Amount: $400,000.

Kate M. Grebb. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Spring Run Investors LLC. Property Location: BriarLender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $326,800. creek Township. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $48,000.

Petty Family Trust Per Tr. Property Location: Ransom Rakki LLC. Property Location: Berwick. Lender: Twp. Lender: FNCB Bank. Amount: $434,768.

Luzerne Bank. Amount: $50,000.

Eric M Neishell. Property Location: Ransom Twp. Bower Memorial United Methodist Church of Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $299,730.

Berwick aka United Evangelical Church of Berwick.

Justin Burns. Property Location: Roaring Brook Twp. Property Location: Berwick. Lender: First Keystone Com- Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $728,000 munity Bank. Amount: $40,500.

Colin P Dwyer. Property Location: Roaring Brook East Street Rentals LLC. Property Location: Blooms- Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $%255,000. burg. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: Ryan Romanaskas. Property Location: Roaring $140,000.

Brook Twp. Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $320,000.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY Brandon Christopher Otto. Property Location: Scott Walter J Woehrle. Property Location: Covington Twp. Lender: North American Savings Bank. Amount: Twp. Lender: FNCB Bank. Amount: $344,000. $335,725.

Peter J Dyson. Property Location: Covington Twp. Eugene J Long. Property Location: Scott Twp. Lender: Lender: PS Bank. Amount: $344,000.

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. Amount: $408,000.

Kathryn Levin. Property Location: Covington Twp. Lend747 Roberts Limited. Property Location: Scranton

WAYNE COUNTY

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JANUARY 2017

City. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $250,000.

Frank M Regan III. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $325,000.

Cop Scranton LLC. Property Location: Scranton City.

Lender: Farmers Exchange Bank. Amount: $2,800,000.

Jason Lachapelle. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Premia Mortgage LLC. Amount: $3,629,000.

Eric Griffin. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Mortgage Research Center LLC. Amount: $250,031.

Jean Monahan. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: American Advisors Group. Amount: $300,000.

Jean Monahan. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: USA HUD. Amount: $300,000.

Timothy P McGurrin. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $415,000.

LG-OHI Clark Summit LP. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Morgan Stanley Bank. Amount: $535,000,000.

Kevin Beck. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $260,000.

JACK JR LP. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc. Bk. Amount: $690,000.

William Chase II. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Quicken Loans Inc. Amount: $284,000.

Mark J Barbernitz. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $304,200.

Kunal S Mistry. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: PS Bank. Amount: $256,000.

Stephen Watt. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: NBT Bank. Amount: $382,500.

David Fryzel. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $781,000.

Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co Tr. Amount: $25,000,000.

Roop Sunil R. Parlapalli. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $417,000.

Taylor 1 LLC. Property Location: Taylor Boro. Lender: FNCB Bank. Amount: $437,000.

Michael Thomas Carroll. Property Location: Throop Boro. Lender: Finance of America Mortgage LLC. Amount: $274,500.

Jason T. Burke. Property Location: Taylor Boro.

Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $300,000.

Michael Cravath. Property Location: Throop Boro.

Lender: Quicken Loans Inc. Amount: $260,553.

Michael D. Whitbeck. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $528,000.

Amanda R. Morin. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Mortgage Research Center LLC. Amount: $300,700.

Kelly Paasch. Property Location. W. Abington Twp. Lender: Homeside Financial LLC. Amount: $250,000.

Richard Weinberger. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $315,000.

Christopher D Moore. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Residential Mortgage Services Inc. Amount: $366,718.

Brian Roberts. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Stearns Lending LLC. Amount: $258,000.

ANJ LLC. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $925,000.

Kendyl M. Alvarado. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Residential Mortgage Services Inc. Amount: $275,000.

Robert Murphy. Property Location: W. Abington Twp.

Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $360,000.

Joel Matthew Salansky. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: AGChoice Farm Credit ACA. Amount: $473,000.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Waterfront Management Group LLC. Property Location: Pittston City. Lender: FNCB Bank.

Sphere International LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Six Parcels. Lender: Wilkes –Barre City.

Amount: $250,000.

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. Property Location: Fairmount Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Sytems Inc. Branch Banking and Trust Company.

Daniel Upton. Property Location: Kingston Boro.

Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $320,000.

James C Armstrong. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $360,000.

Donald A Brominski. Property Location: Rice Township. Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $365,750.

Michael A Slacktish. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $320,625.

Phillip Maggie Digwood Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Lender: Luzerne Bank.

Amount: $616,000.

Quad Three Group Inc. Property Location: $850,000.

Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $850,000.

James Nelligan. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. Amount: $306,801.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation: Property Location: Ashley Boro; Avoca Boro Two Parcels; Bear Creek Twp. Three Parcels; Buck Twp. Two Parcels; Butler Twp. Four Parcels; Duryea Boro. Three Parcels; Duryea Boro.

Three Parcels; Dupont Boro. Four Parcels; Exeter Twp. Eleven Parcels; Hanover Twp. Four Parcels; Hazle Twp. Twelve Parcels; Hollenback Twp. Two Parcels; Jenkins Twp. Two Parcels; Kingston Twp. Two Parcels; Laflin Boro. Three Parcels; Nescopeck Twp. Six Parcels; Plains Twp. Twenty-Three Parcels; Pittston Twp. Two Parcels; Salem Twp. Eight Parcels; Wright Twp. Four Parcels; W. Wyoming Boro. Three Parcels; Yatesville Boro. Four Parcels; Hazleton City Seven Parcels; Wilkes-Barre City Twenty-Two Parcels. Lender: Bank of New York Mellon.

Amount: $115,500,500.

Robert A Murphy. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration System Inc. Amount: $329,527.

Toys “R” Us Property Co II LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Lender: Bank of America. Amount: $512,000,000.

Scott A Caplan. Property Location: Rice Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $259,462.

Francis Yanik. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Lender: FNCB Bank. Amount: $312,720.

Andrew Seromovski. Property Location: Dallas Boro.

Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $496,000.

D&D Hamptson II LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Lender: First National Bank of Pennsylvania.

Amount: $950,000.

David L Coleman. Property Location: Rice Twp. Lender: Choice One Community Federal Credit Union.

Amount: $250,000.

PIP Properties LLC. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: MID Penn Bank. Amount: $263,000.

Daniel R Cronauer. Property Location: Penn Lake

FOR THE RECORD Park Boro. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $316,000.

155 Research Drive LLC. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Lender: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company.

Amount: $5,500,000.

1 Great Valley LLC. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Lender: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company.

Amount: $5,375,000.

Mericle 3 Great Valley LLC. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Lender: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company. Amount: $8,500,000.

Alnajukchahat Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: Lankmark Community Bank. Amount: $548,000.

Deep I Shah. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $455,200.

ASST Holdings LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre City. Lender: First National Community Bank. Amount: $375,000.

Smithfield Township. Lender: United Federal Credit Union.

Amount: $520,000.

Zusah Construction Inc. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Lender: Silvan Funding LLC Series 1609s. Amount: $35,000.

Julianne Newman and Mark Gravel. Property location: Paradise Township. Lender: Family First Funding LLC. Amount: $312,455.

John and Nicole Lefante. Property location: Pocono Township. Lender: PNC Mortgage (DIV) PNC Bank NA. Amount: $337,500.

Jeffrey and Stacy Green. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Lender: Bank of America NA. Amount: $318,500.

Get Connected Inc. Property location: Stroud Township.

Lender: Robert and Donna Pasquin. Amount: $140,000.

GNJ Homes Inc. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Lender: Colony American Finance Lender LLC. Amount: $500,000.

Forte Inc. Property location: Stroud Township.

MONROE COUNTY Lender: PNC Bank NA. Amount: $820,000.

Julner and Elta Ducosse. Property location: Stroud Jackson Creekside LLC. Property location: StroudsTownship. Lender: PNC Mortgage (DIV) PNC Bank NA. burg. Lender: First Northern Bank and Trust Co. Amount: Amount: $364,214. $161,000.

Anthony Lapadula. Property location: Tobyhanna Edwin and Stephanie Castillo. Property location: Township. Lender: Atlantic Home Loans Inc. Amount: Chestnuthill Township. Lender: North American Savings $417,000.

Bank FSB. Amount: $313,073.

Richard Boots. Property location: Price Township.

Lukov & Associates LP, Monolith LLC (gen. partner).

Lender: Finance of America Reverse LLC and Secretary of Property location: Pocono Township. Lender: Fidelity Housing and Urban Development. Amount: $330,000.

Linda and Robert Ardelean. Property location: Chest- Deposit and Discount Bank. Amount: $1,374,500.

Anderson and Kelly Munoz. Property location: nuthill Township. Lender: Finance of America Mortgage Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Freedom Mortgage Corp.

LLC. Amount: $2,016,196.

Raceway Holdings LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Amount: $299,239.

Peter Troiano and Elaine Finkel. Property location: Township. Lender: FNB Bank NA. Amount: $900,000.

Coolbaugh Township. Lender: East Coast Capital Corp.

Dyson Road LLC. Property location: Pocono TownAmount: $320,000. ship. Lender: NBT Bank NA. Amount: $64,000.

Lukov & Associates LP, Monolith LLC (gen. partner).

Linda Gordon. Property location: Tobyhanna TownProperty location: Pocono Township. Lender: Fidelity ship. Lender: Firstrust Bank. Amount: $310,000.

Deposit and Discount Bank. Amount: $962,150.

LTS Homes LLC, Eastern Premier Holding Co. LLC Rental Growth LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh (member). Property location: Jackson Township. Lender: Township. Lender: Lafayette Ambassador Bank. Amount: Lafayette Ambassador Bank. Amount: $193,800. $219,750.

RGB Homes. Property location: Stroud Township.

Beltzville Enterprises LLC. Property location: Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $300,000.

Chestnuthill Township. Lender: New Tripoli Bank. Amount: Michael and Jenny Angelucci. Property location: $220,000.

Stroud Township. Lender: Weichert Financial Services.

Steven and Coleen Parisi. Property location: Polk Amount: $303,050.

Township. Lender: First Northern Bank and Trust Co. Under Contract LLC. Property location: Tunkhannock Township. Lender: NE PA Community Federal Credit Amount: $595,000 and $500,000.

Global Funding Services LLC. Property location: Union. Amount: $46,800.

Stroud Township. Lender: Seth Tanner. Amount: $425,000.

Daniel Hessel. Property location: Tobyhanna TownRalph Hawks and Andrea Argeson. Property locaship. Lender: Atlantic Home Loans Inc. Amount: $320,000. tion: Hamilton Township. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust.

David and Lynette Quaresimo. Property location: Amount: $296,000.

East Stroudsburg. Lender: First Keystone Community VW Holdings LLC. Property location: East Stroudsburg.

Bank. Amount: $800,000.

Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $150,000 and $187,500.

Robert Holz and Kathleen Kilhaney. Property locaJHJF Properties LLC. Property location: Mt. Pocono. tion: Tobyhanna Township. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust.

Lender: New Tripoli Bank. Amount: $115,000.

Amount: $730,000.

Toasty Feet LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh TownLTS Homes LLC. Property location: Stroud Township. ship. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $124,000.

Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $237,360.

Kimberly Williams. Property location: Stroudsburg.

Vertullus DWG LLC. Property location: Delaware Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $360,000.

Water Gap. Lender: Wilmington Trust NA. Amount: Matthew Hosking. Property location: Chestnuthill $145,000,000 and $125,000,000.

Township. Lender: Merchants Bank of Bangor. Amount: East Lake Outdoor LLC. Property location: Pocono $300,000.

Township. Lender: John and Catherine Young. Amount: Judy and Michael Asmus. Property location: Stroud $246,500.

Township. Lender: Residential Home Funding Corp.

Wolff Properties LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Amount: $418,365.

Township. Lender: 684 Mill Street Associates LLP. Gregory and Vicki Daniel. Property location: Amount: $157,000.

Hamilton Township. Lender: Home Point Financial Corp.

Foundry Farm PA LLC. Property location: Hamilton Amount: $316,000.

Township. Lender: Robert Miceli and David Zaffuto.

New Creekview Associates LP. Property location: Amount: $216,000.

Stroudsburg. Lender: Berkadia Commercial Mortgage Allen and Tracey Blad. Property location: Middle

LLC. Amount: $4,875,000.

Rustic Roots LLC. Property location: Tobyhanna Township. Lender: First Keystone Community Bank.

Amount: $512,000.

Maple Ridge Stables Inc. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Lender: Honesdale National Bank.

Amount: $100,000.

Matilda Scott. Property location: Chestnuthill Township. Lender: Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Amount: $500,000.

Shane Brown. Property location: Smithfield Township. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. Amount: $303,050.

Robert Sanchez. Property location: Paradise Township. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank NA. Amount: $788,500.

JHJF Properties LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Lender: New Tripoli Bank. Amount: $118,650.

Cardiello Properties LLC. Property location: Coolbaugh Township. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $285,000.

Circle Holdings LLC. Property location: Hamilton Township. Lender: Customers Bank. Amount: $180,000.

LTS Homes LLC. Property location: Price Township.

Lender: Beneficial Bank. Amount: $205,275.

Charles Hannig. Property location: Stroud Township. Lender: First Keystone Community Bank. Amount: $300,000.

John Kron. Property location: Chestnuthill Township.

Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $395,000.

Ronald Hicswa. Property location: Hamilton Township. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $300,000.

Lukov & Associates LP. Property location: Pocono Township. Lender: Stephen Howanitz. Amount: $1,000,000.

PIKE COUNTY

Paul E Cunningham. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration System Inc. Amount: $290,360.

Joel Talka. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $340,000.

James Robinson. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: MERS. Amounts; $301,832.

Matthew Shelley. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $333,000.

PPH-Lords Valley LLC. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Lender: Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Amount: $12,250,000.

Zachary Evans. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $291650.

Robert J Keyes. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $1,500,000.

Joseph J Curley. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration System Inc. Amount: $339,200.

Robert J Pustarfi Jr. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $289,656.

Alex Golubenko. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Lender: NBT Bank NA. Amount: $272,000.

Garnon Kubahki Pabs. Property Location: Milford Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $335828.

Frank Marcos. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $980,000.

Robert Giarratano. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $251,750.

Delgil Properties LLC. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $415,000.

Jay A Manasco. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $351,906.

Nicholas Seminario. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $612,000.

David S Lewis. Property Location: Lackawaxern Twp. Lender: First Keystone Community Bank. Amount: $325,000.

Alexander Khabensky. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. Amount: $350,000.

Stuart Altman. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $264,000.

Jerry Graham. Property Location: Shohola Twp. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $250,000.

One-Sky LLC. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Lender: Tripodo Investments Limited Partnership.

Amount: $1,300,000.

Angela Bania. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $254.308.

Dakshinamurthy Singaravelu. Property Location: Milford Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $444,750.

Johnny R Pitts. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $258,774.

Damion P Riera. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $283,042.

Milo Selom. Property Location: DIngman Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $309,900.

Victor Cruz. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $$310,500.

Christopher B Simpler. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $271,700.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Brooks Family Realty LLC. Property Location: Auburn Twp. Lender: Firstrust Bank. Amount: $500,000.

James T Croley. Property Location: Pottsville Twp. Lender: Riverview Bank. Amount: $190,000.

James T Croley. Property Location: St. Clair Twp. Lender: Riverview Bank. Amount: $192,000.

Marvin and Glenda Miller. Property Location: West Brunswick Twp. Lender: Anthony and Sandra Forino.

Amount: $2,000,000.

Community Fire Co. Property Location: Landingville Twp. Lender: VIST Bank. Amount: $100,000.

Truly Blessed LLC. Property Location: Orwigsburg Twp. Lender: Customers Bank. Amount: $ 280,000.

George D and Deborah L Donnon. Property Location: Tamaqua Twp. Lender: Mid Atlantic Farm Credit ACA. Amount: $ 242,000.

WAYNE COUNTY

Ellen Memorial Health Care Center Honesdale Inc. Property Location: Honesdale. Lender: The Dime Bank.

Amount: $300,000.

GEG Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Honesdale.

Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount :$560,000.

Shaun M Bewick. Property Location: Lehigh. Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $292,800.

Vivian Bellofatto. Property Location: Lake. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $312,000.

Gary P Woods. Property Location: Texas. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $424,000.

WYOMING COUNTY

Ray D Petty, Trustee, Barbara B Petty, Trustee.

Property Location: Factoryville Boro. Lender: FNCB Bank.

Amount: $434,768.

Anthony J Wisnosky. Property Location: Tunkhannock Boro. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company. Amount: $300,000.

CHK Utica LLC, Chesapeake Clements Acquisition LLC, Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, Chesapeake Exploration LLC, Chesapeake Land Development Company LLC, Chesapeake Royalty LLC, Empress LLC, GSF LLC, MC Louisiana Minerals LLC, MC Mineral Company LLC, Chesapeake Louisiana LP, Chesapeake Louisiana LP, Empress Louisiana Properties LP. Property Location:

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL JANUARY 2017 41 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B41] | 12/28/16

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FOR THE RECORD Meshoppen Twp, Nicholson Twp., Mehoopany Twp., Windham Twp., North Branch Twp., Forkston Twp., Braintrim Twp, Washington Twp., Lemon Twp., Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: Carl Stutzman Trustee MUFG Union Bank NA. Amount: $1,500,000,000.

Eric L Thomas. Property Location: Falls Twp. Lender: NBT Bank NA. Amount: $258,000.

NEW INCORPORATIONS CARBON COUNTY

J & H Flooring Inc. Filed: Oct. 11. Floor Covering Services. 352 West Bertsch St., Lansford.

McCullions Air Conditioning Heating & Electrical Inc. Filed: Oct. 20, 2016. HVAC Installation & Service. 119 South 9th St., Lehighton.

Ming Chinese Restaurant Inc. Filed: Oct. 18, 2016.

Restaurant. 306 North 1st St., Lehighton.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Break On Through Inc. Filed: Oct. 11. Entrepreneurial Support For Women. 2 East 12th St. Bloomsburg.

Cerridwen’s Garden Inc. Filed: Nov. 7. Retail. 990 Boulevard, Bloomsburg.

Food Express Beer & Deli Inc. Filed: Dec. 2. Convenience Store & Gas Station, 1545 West Front St., Berwick.

Freas Beer & Deli Inc. Filed: Dec. 7. Convenience Store. 1148 Freas Ave., Berwick.

for Medical Entities. 117 Bubernak Blvd. Old Forge.

DFM Management Inc. Filed Nov. 7. Real Estate. 317 Linden St. Scranton.

DMK747 Inc. Filed: Nov. 2. Real Estate. 216 W. Mary St., Old Forge.

Flawless Marketing Strategies Inc. Filed: Oct. 13.

Promotional Marketing. 3211 North Front St., Harrisburg.

Haul Away Waste Company. Filed: Nov. 2. Transport of Waste. 4000 4th St., Moosic.

HCNY Inc. Filed Oct. 11. Design Services. 409 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton.

Kondash Construction Inc. Filed: Oct. 12. Construction. 30 Circle Dr., Eynon.

Kriger Pipeline Incorporated. Filed: Nov. 15. Utility Construction. 859 Enterprise St., Dickson City.

Prime Motor Group Ltd. Filed: Oct. 12. Used Car Sales. 511 North Keyser Ave., Scranton.

Rosslyn Auto Performance Inc. Filed: Nov. 28. Products and Services. 21 Laurel St., Carbondale.

Scranton Transload Inc. Filed: Dec. 1. Transloading.

701 Wyoming Ave., Scranton.

Sky Tooly Corp. Filed: Nov. 30. Spa. 539 Scranton Carbondale Highway, Scranton.

Space Time Mead & Cider Works Inc. Filed: Oct. 11.

Wine and Cider Sales. 207 North Apple St., Dunmore.

TFZ Inc. Filed: Oct. 31. Staffing & Recruiting. 500 Sherwood Ave., Dunmore.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Caputo Design Inc. Filed Oct. 19. Web Design and Collins Beauty Academy Inc. Filed Dec. 2. Cosmetology Development. Middle Road, Drums.

Colours Equipment Inc. Filed Nov. 11. Automotive School & Beauty Supply Sales. 1010 Delaware St, Mayfield.

Equipment Sales. 50 Dana St. Wilkes Barre Consulting Co. Filed Oct. 31. Marketing/Consulting Columbus Lasik Centers Inc. Filed: Dec. 7. Operation of Lasik Centers. 342 Wilkes Barre Boulevard.

Crazy Canary Inc. Filed Nov. 1 . Office Electronics. 01 Stanley Drive, Kingston.

D&J Partners Inc. Filed Nov. 7. Restaurant with Liquor License. 250 South Church St. Hazleton.

Evanusa Inc. Dec. 1. Facility Maintenance Business.

122 Center St., Hughestown.

New Development & Relocation Faso Tour Freight Inc. Filed: Dec. 2. Transportation.

35 N. Meade St., Wilkes Barre.

Opportunities Needed Feal USA Inc. Filed: Nov. 27. Window Mfg. 530 West Green St., Hazlelton.

Legacy Inc. Filed: Nov. 21. Food Services. 50 Reynolds St., Kingston.

Laid to Rest Pest Inc. Filed: Oct. 12. Exterminator.

795 North St., Luzerne.

New China No 1 Inc. Filed: Oct. 11. Restaurant. 526 Hazle St., Wilkes Barre.

Parente’s Bakery Inc. Filed: Nov. 15. Bakery. 193 North Main St., Pittston.

Parente’s Restaurant Inc. Filed: Nov. 15. Restaurant.

193 North Main St., Pittston.

Pennsylvania Counties of Interest Include: Pittston Beer & Deli Inc. Filed: Dec. 8. Gas Station.

• Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia, 325 Laurel St., Pittston.

Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Shanghai Hong Inc. Filed: Nov. 28. Restaurant. 2450 Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Memorial Hwy, Ste. 10, Dallas.

Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming West Nanticoke Beer & Deli Inc. Filed: Oct. 24. Beer Store. 77 Allen St., Nanticoke.

Locations Wanted: • Flexible space requirements MONROE COUNTY • End Cap, In-Line, Drive-Thru, Free Standing Esteem Martial Art Corp. Filed Nov. 16. Martial Arts.

239 Fox Run Lane, East Stroudsburg.

Bring us any and all potential locations.

Fashion Nail & Spa Inc. Filed: Oct. 13. Nail Salon.

We will determine if we can develop or Village Center Suite 14, East Stroudsburg. possibly relocate to your site.

Global Digital Systems Corp. Filed: Nov. 28. Site Developers Computer Parts & Maintenance. 469 Industrial PLEASE CONTACT Abbie Muto muto_a@sdepa.com Park Dr., Mount Pocono.

Member of International Council Cheryl Green green_c@sdepa.com Guiffre Pizza Inc. Filed Nov. 28. Full Service Restauof Shopping Centers (610) 366-8120 • www.sdepa.com rant. 350 Autumn Lane, East Stroudsburg.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY

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JANUARY 2017

Heyman Realty Corp. Filed: Nov. 21. Real Estate. 200 Summerton Circle, East Stroudsburg.

PMPC Corp. Filed: Dec. 8. Construction. 215 Nadine Blvd, Pocono Summit.

J-Lo Properties Ltd. Filed: Nov. 29. Real Estate. 104 Foglio Lane, Stroudsburg.

Prime NYC Group Corp. Filed: December 9. Contractor. 264 Maloney Ln., Tannersville.

Re-Earth of Stroudsburg Inc. Filed: Oct. 17. Earth Processing. 1 Katz Drive, Stroudsburg.

Safeguard Professionals Inc. Filed: Oct. 31.

Emergency Medical Services. Non-Emergency Medical Transport, Public Safety Service. 707 Rosewood Road E., East Stroudsburg.

Seems Inc. Filed: Nov. 21. Real Estate. 342 Arthurs Way, Blakeslee.

Sycamore Grille Restaurant and Pub Inc. Filed: Dec. 5. Prepare & Serve Food/Drinks. 92 Main St., Delaware Water Gap. The Mc Squared Platform Inc. Filed: Nov. 16. Music Showcases. 2715 Starlight Ter., Tobyhanna.

Homes Inc. Filed: December 9. Buy/Remodel/Sell Properties. 707 Pocono Dr., East Stroudsburg.

Woof Ryders Pet Pawlor Inc. Filed: Nov. 28. Pet Cleaning Service. 168 Brink Road, Saylorsburg.

PIKE COUNTY

Rose Connor Realty Inc. Filed Nov. 29. Real Estate, Construction. 400 Broad St., Milford.

Clark Consulting Inc. Filed: Oct. 14. Computer Consulting. 806 Firelight Court, Lackawaxen.

Ervitas Properties Inc. Filed December 9. Real Estate Holding. 107 Mountain Lake Drive, Dingmans Ferry.

Greg Aran Import Art & Antiques Inc. Filed: Dec. 1.

Antique Gallery/Sales. 806 Hoover Court, Lords Valley, PA 18428.

Hudson Valley Mold Remediation Inc. Filed: Nov. 22.

Mold Remediation. 1009 Bear Drive, Bushkill.

In & Out Brothers Inc. Filed: Oct. 10. Business Management Services. 501 West Harford St., Milford.

Karenina’s 2nd Chance Ltd. Filed: Nov. 8. Retail Sales. 109 Brook Hill Road, Milford.

Paul’s Floorcovering Inc. Filed: Dec. 8. Flooring Installation. 804 Avenue N., Matamoras.

Roseto Auto Performance Inc. Filed: Oct. 27. Auto Shop. 110 Park Ct., Bushkill.

The National Jewish Convention Center. Filed: Dec. 7. Religious Education Observance Discipleship. 406 Broad St., Milford.

Trimble-Brancy Structures Inc. Filed: Nov. 10. Steel & Metal Construction.124 Arbutus Lane, Milford.

Ugo Motors Inc. Filed: Nov. 10. Used Car Sales. 416 Route 6 & 209, Milford.

Unification Sanctuary Inc. Filed: Oct. 31. Charitable.

105 Kahr Ave. Greeley.

Waste Removal Solutions Inc. Filed: Nov. 8. Waste & Junk Removal. 345 Saunders Dr. Bushkill.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Coal St Pub & Grub Inc. Filed: Nov. 23. Restaurant/ Bar. 1017 Park Drive, Tamaqua.

Consulting Inc. Filed Nov. 15. Marketing Consulting.

6 West Washington St. , Shenandoah.

TL Fetterolf Sales & Service Inc. Filed: Oct. 31.

Electric Sales and Service. 1396 Creek Road, Pitman.

The Golden Tiger Trucking Corp. Filed: Oct. 18. Long Distance Trucking. 213 W. Market St., 2nd Floor Front, Orwigsburg.

Tweetys Construction Corp. Filed: Nov. 8. Construction & Roofing. 497 Mount Olive Blvd, Lost Creek.

Yuengling Dairy Products Corp. Filed: November 14.

Manufacture, Market, Distribute and/or Sell Dairy Related

Products. 1058 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg.

Yuengling Foods Corp. Filed: November 14, 2016.

Dairy Products. 1058 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg.

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

JB Bluestone Inc. Filed: October 28, 2016. Cutting Bluestone. 4449 Irish Hill Road, Montrose.

WAYNE COUNTY

C&A Car Sales Inc. Filed: October 19, 2016. Used Car Dealer. 404 Hamlin Hwy, Lake Ariel.

China Castle Inc. Filed: November 29. 2016. Chinese Restaurant. 1143 Main St., Honesdale.

Dellwood Acres Inc. Filed November 29, 2016. Cottage Rentals. 45 Peggy Runway Road, Beach Lake.

Home Movers & Storage Inc. Filed: October 24, 2016. Cargo Transport. 89 Bender Road, Gouldsboro.

Loose Leaf Pages Inc. Filed: December 1, 2016. Tea House/Bookstore. 905A Main St., Honesdale.

Rockhill Plumbing & Heating Inc. Filed: October 18, 2016. Heating & Plumbing Services. 411 Martin St., Browndale.

STOCKS

This report on insider trading activity has been prepared for informational purposes only by James Blazejewski, CFP, senior vice president-investment officer, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, 672 North River St., Suite 300, Plains, PA 18705. It is based on information generally available to the public from sources believed to be reliable.

No representation is made that the information is accurate or complete and it does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security. Current information contained in this report is not indicative of future activity.

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, member NYSE & SIPC. Source of data: Thomson Financial

INSIDER TRADING ACTIVITY ON STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST FOR JANUARY (CBU – 56.87) Community Bank System Inc. Nicholas DiCerbo, chairman of the board of Community Bank System Inc., sold 1,500 shares on Nov. 21 at $55.79 per share for total proceeds of $83,685. DiCerbo controls 193,991 shares directly.

Sally Steele, director of Community Bank System Inc., exercised options for 4,631 shares on Nov. 21 at $29.79 per share for a total cost of $137,957 and sold those shares on the same date at $54.98 per share for total proceeds of $254,126. Steele controls 46,744 shares directly.

Over the last six months, insiders of Community Bank System, Inc. acquired 113,928 shares and disposed of 92,798 shares.

(CZNC – 23.95) Citizens & Northern Corp.

Thomas Rudy, vice president of Citizens & Northern Corp., exercised options for 4,580 shares on Nov. 17 (1,635 shares exercised 1.5 months prior to the expiration date and 2,945 shares exercised 1.1 years prior to the expiration date) at $19.22 per share for a total cost of $88,039 and on the same date surrendered 3,773 shares back to Citizens & Northern Corporation at $23.34 per share for total proceeds of $88,043. Rudy controls 10,646 shares directly and 6,092 shares indirectly.

Leo Lambert, director of Citizens & Northern Corp., exercised options for 5,035 shares on Nov. 14 (538 shares exercised 1.6 months prior to the expiration date; 1,341 shares exercised 2.1 years prior to the expiration date; 1,259 shares exercised 5.1 years prior to the expiration date; 1,251 shares exercised 6.1 years prior to the expiration date and 646 shares exercised 7.1 years prior to the expiration date) at $19.71 per share for a total cost of $99,254 and on the same date surrendered 4,081 shares back to Citizens & Northern Corp. at $24.32 per

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are considered to be fiduciaries of the plan,” Evans said. “The reality is there have been several very significant lawsuits where employers have been held liable for poor investment results. They don’t know they have that exposure but they do by virtue of the fact they are employers and fiduciaries for their employees.”

That awareness and increased education will require more due diligence by employers to do what’s in the best interests of the participant.

“The exposure now to the DOL rule is going to mean a lot of people are going to have to take a look at what they have, both employees, employers and plan sponsors and the people who promote the plans,” Evans said. “It’s really shaking up everything.”

For one Carbon County employer, adhering to the new rule adds a bit more work.

Marshall Walters, president and CEO of Architectural Polymers, Palmerton Carbon County, offers employees an IRA plan with an employer match of up to three percent of an employee’s contribution.

“As an employer you owe a responsibility to your employees to make sure that they have some security in their lives,” he said. “That goes a long way toward I guess you call loyalty. It’s just some security to the employee that there’s an employer that’s actually looks out for them.”

Walters sees the new rule as an added protection for participants but a more time-consuming education process for employers.

“It used to be something you could get done in 20, 30 minutes,” he said. “Now it takes hours.”

That time fluctuates based on a participants’ interest, aptitude and will to understand as Walters sees that most people wisely want explanations.

“There are a lot more things the broker is responsible for explaining,” he said. “That’s the bottom line. They have put out a longer list of things to explain so that the fiduciary responsibility for the broker is limited. That’s a good thing. It watches out for the little guy. It takes a little bit more time away from me because they do it on company hours. In the long run, it’s the right thing to do.”

Walters questions how rollover components of the rule will work but relies on a broker he vetted to guide him through the process as he assumes the liability for what another broker or plan sponsor created.

“Why should I be responsible for what somebody else does?” he asks. “I haven’t experienced it first-hand in my company just yet but there will probably come a day that somebody will want to roll over an IRA and we will get into that position.

The broker is responsible for the liability of that. As an employer, technically so am I.”

Many small- and mid-size businesses and organizations may not have the time, expertise or desire to handle the current and ongoing challenges involved with compliance of an employersponsored retirement plan.

That’s why PNC Retirement Solutions® recently launched fiduciary services for defined contribution plans over $1 million.

“The fiduciary rule is part of a series of things that the government has been doing over the years to provide more transparency in the marketplace,” said Bonnie Fawcett, managing director of PNC Retirement Solutions. “What it will do more than anything is make sure (plan sponsors) understand what the investment fiduciary rule is and what their requirements are.”

Fawcett sees more plan sponsors deciding they may not have the appropriate expertise and tools needed to meet compliance standards such as having resources available and having the investment acumen and aptitude to make reasonable decisions on appropriate funds to choose.

As a platform provider, PNC decided to offer those in-demand services.

“We have all the expertise we need to be able to give that type of guidance to our plan sponsors and step up to the rule,” Fawcett said.

PNC now offers a non-discretionary 3(21) Investment Advisory Service that provides assistance with selecting and monitoring investment options offered to plan participant while allowing the plan sponsor to hold discretion over the plan’s investment lineup. PNC also offers a discretionary 3(38) Investment Management Service that makes available three different types of investment lineups designed for different demographic profiles while it assumes full discretion over fund selection, monitoring and replacement.

While other companies offer these services, PNC believes it offers more.

“What makes us different from all of that is that we are a platform provider that’s not partnering with anyone,” Fawcett said. “We a part of an advisory firm, therefore we have a higher conviction in what we are going to do for them. We are going to visit with plan sponsors. We are not just a recordkeeping platform that offers a service but an advisory service that has a wonderful recording keeping platform.”

For more details about the Dept. of Labor’s rule, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/aboutebsa/our-activities/resource-center/fact-sheets/ dol-final-rule-to-address-conflicts-of-interest. If administration of your plan feels overwhelming or you need more information, contact a professional you trust.

FOR THE RECORD share for total proceeds of $99,250. Lambert controls 18,841 shares directly and 3,239 shares indirectly.

Over the last six months, insiders of Citizens & Northern Corporation acquired 13,164 shares and sold 7,854 shares.

(FULT – 17.85) Fulton Financial Corp.

Patrick Freer, director of Fulton Financial Corp., sold 344 shares on Nov. 28 at $18.02 per share for a total cost of $6,198. Freer controls 111,030 shares directly and 1 share indirectly.

Beth Ann Chivinski, vice president of Fulton Financial Corp., exercised options for 25,741 shares on Nov. 22 (10,609 shares exercised 5.4 years prior to the expiration date and 15,132 shares exercised 6.4 years prior to the expiration date) at $11.12 per share for a total cost of $286,359 and on the same date sold those shares at $17.90 per share for total proceeds of $460,772. Chivinski controls 39,742 shares directly and 8,343 shares indirectly.

Craig Roda, vice president of Fulton Financial Corp., exercised options for 41,680 shares on Nov. 17 (18,000 shares exercised 7.4 months prior to the expiration; 7,722 shares exercised 1.6 years prior to the expiration date and 15,958 shares exercised 4.6 years prior to the expiration date) at $12.24 per share for a total cost of $510,042. On the same date, Roda surrendered 30,388 shares back to Fulton Financial Corp. at $17.55 per share for total proceeds of $533,309 and sold 9,844 shares at $17.70 per share for total proceeds of $174,240. Roda controls 87,182 shares directly.

Over the last six months, insiders of Fulton Financial Corp. acquired 197,758 shares and sold 204,444 shares.

(FNCB – 6.07 ) FNCB Bancorp Inc. Ronald Honick, officer of FNCB Bancorp Inc., sold 1,200 shares on Nov. 30 at $5.80 per share for total proceeds of $6,960. Honick controls 6,500 shares directly.

Louis DeNaples, director and beneficial owner of FNCB Bancorp, Inc., purchased 53,955 shares at $4.75 per share for a total cost of $256,286. DeNaples purchased 8,925 shares on Nov. 15 at $4.75 per share for a total cost of $42,391. DeNaples controls 1,694,372 shares directly and 17,402 shares indirectly.

(HXL – 51.76) Hexcel Corp.

Robert Hennemuth, vice president of Hexcel Corp., exercised options for 8,000 shares on Nov. 22 (exercised 1.2 years prior to the expiration date) at $21.11 per share for a total cost of $168,880 and on the same date sold those shares in accordance with a prearranged trading plan (10b5-1) at $50 per share for total proceeds of $400,000. Hennemuth controls 56,427 shares directly.

Over the last six months, insiders of Hexcel Corp. acquired 30,194 shares and sold 31,379 shares.

(MTB – 146.16) M&T Bank Corp.

Michael Todaro, vice president of M&T Bank Corp., exercised options for 13,101 shares on Nov. 22 (exercised 1.2 years prior to the expiration date) at $91.28 per share for a total cost of $1,195,859 and on the same date sold those shares at $141.68 per share for total proceeds of $1,856,084. On Nov. 15, Todaro exercised 7,870 shares (exercised 2.5 months prior to the expiration date) at $121.31 per share for a total cost of $954,710 and on the same date in accordance to a prearranged trading plan (10b5-1) sold 8,788 shares at $136.05 per share for total proceeds of $1,195,607. Todaro controls 2,054 shares directly.

Kevin Pearson, vice president of M&T Bank Corp., exercised options for 16,000 shares on Nov. 14 (exercised 1.2 years prior to the expiration date) at $91.28 per share for a total cost of $1,460,480 and on the same date sold those shares at $138.41 per share for total proceeds of $2,214,590. Pearson controls 26,943 shares directly and 2,659 shares indirectly.

Gino Martocci, vice president of M&T Bank Corp., sold 1,000 shares on Nov. 14 at $139.15 per share for

total proceeds of $139,145. Martocci controls 8,756 shares directly and 1,604 shares indirectly.

Darren King, chief financial officer of M&T Bank Corp., sold 10,000 shares on Nov. 14-15 in accordance with a prearranged trading plan (10b5-1) at $38.91 per share for a total cost of $389,100 and on November 14 sold 6,542 shares at $136.75 per share for total proceeds of $894,619. King controls 30,623 directly and 2,765 shares indirectly.

Over the last six months, insiders of M&T Bank Corporation acquired 475,091 shares and disposed of 693,087 shares.

(NBTB – 38.50) NBT Bancorp Inc. John Mitchell, director of NBT Bancorp Inc., sold 1,800 shares on Nov. 23 at $39 per share for total proceeds of $70,200. Mitchell controls 35,107 shares directly and 164,041 shares indirectly.

Timothy Delaney, director of NBT Bancorp Inc., sold 10,000 shares on Nov. 17 at $38.59 per share for total proceeds of $385,900. Delaney controls 42,532 shares directly and 280 shares indirectly.

Patricia Civil, director of NBT Bancorp Inc., exercised options for 3,250 shares on Nov. 16 (1,500 shares exercised 5.5 months prior to the expiration date and 1,750 shares exercised 1.5 years prior to the expiration date) at $22.52 per share for a total cost of $73,190 and on the same date sold those shares at $38.74 per share for total proceeds of $125,894. Civil controls 22,668 shares directly.

Joseph Santangelo, director of NBT Bancorp Inc., exercised options for 3,000 shares on Nov. 16 (1,500 shares exercised 5.5 months prior to the expiration date and 1,500 shares exercised 1.5 years prior to the expiration date) at $22.52 per share for a total cost of $67,553 and on the same date sold those shares at $38.90 per share for total proceeds of $116,700. Santangelo controls 17,570 shares directly and 67,999 shares indirectly.

Robert Wadsworth, director of NBT Bancorp Inc., exercised options for 1,375 shares on Nov. 16 (exercised 5.5 months prior to the expiration date) at $22.48 per share for a total cost of $30,916 and on the same date sold those shares at $38.74 per share for total proceeds of $53,270. Wadsworth controls 13,628 shares directly and 164,041 shares indirectly.

Martin Dietrich, chairman of the board of NBT Bancorp Inc., exercised options for 21,741 shares on Nov. 14 (exercised 8 years prior to the expiration date) at $25.16 per share for a total cost of $547,032 and on the same date sold those shares at $40.20 per shares for total proceeds of $873,962. Dietrich controls 166,345 shares directly and 30,352 shares indirectly.

Over the last six months, insiders of NBT Bancorp Inc. acquired 135,866 shares and disposed of 143,636 shares.

(PFIS- 44.90) Peoples Financial Services Corp.

Joseph Cesare, director of Peoples Financial Services Corp., sold 1,771 shares on Nov. 30 at $44.84 per share for total proceeds of $79,419. Between Nov. 22 and 29, Cesare sold 13,229 shares at $45.11 per share for total proceeds of $596,697. Cesare controls 25,188 shares directly and 130,030 shares indirectly.

Over the last six months, insiders of Peoples Financial Services Corp. acquired 266 shares and disposed of 16,923 shares.

(UGI – 44.58) UGI Corp.

Anne Pol, director of UGI Corp., exercised options for 6,000 shares on Nov. 17 (exercised 1.1 years prior to the expiration date ) at $17.63 per share for a total cost of $105,780 and on the same date sold those shares at $44.13 per share for total proceeds of $264,788. Pol controls 5,259 shares directly and 132,041 shares indirectly.

Over the last six months, insiders of UGI Corporation acquired 146,525 shares and disposed of 132,486 shares.

Prices as of close of business Dec. 2, 2016

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