Northeast PA Business Journal--02-19

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February 2019 VOL. 34 NO. 2

Health care focus: caring for the elderly

by Dave Gardner

A tidal wave of economic and societal challenges is crashing over America as scores of people enter the ranks of the nation’s 46 million senior citizens.

Michael Landram, Ph.D., assistant professor of exercise science and sport at the University of Scranton, cited various accredited sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that detail how the high-stakes population shift LANDRAM is occurring nationally. More than 10,000 people are being added daily to the nation’s 65 and over population, creating steeply rising needs for elder care.

Dr. Landram detailed how more than 80 percent of these Americans age 65 and above are dealing with one chronic health care problem, and 77 percent are comorbid with two or more ailments.

One out of three people age 65-and-older have limitations in daily activities.

The costs to society of the nation’s population shift is staggering. At least 75 percent of total health care spending is discharged to cope with chronic disease, primarily for the elderly, while only one percent is spent for prevention.

From a macro standpoint, the nation’s aging population of age 50 plus create $7.6 trillion of annual economic contributions, which is sure to decrease as they age. Overall, four out of 10 Americans can’t immediately cover a $400 expense, and 25 percent of the total public have no retirement money set aside.

“All of this economic data indicates we have created a prescription for hardship and com-

pounding pain,” said Dr. Landram. “We need system changes to cope.”

Unfolding epidemic Janine Starinsky, MHA, former executive manager of Oakwood Terrace, confirmed an epidemic crisis has developed involving baby boomers needing elder care, particularly for catastrophic dementia-related diseases. Many of these seniors are lacking financial savings and require complex care they can’t afford.

Dementia-related admissions is also rising for people under age 60, including alcoholics and Vietnam veterans with concussions or other brain injuries. This is unfolding at a time when workforce problems are surfacing with STARINSKI the specialized care arena.

“Our workforce includes many younger people who don’t have the work ethic of the previous generation,” said Starinsky.

“This is one of the reasons we have a shortage of trained caregivers, with the industry’s pay scales partly to blame while we deal with mandated qualifications and staff ratios. Our nursing needs are steep and we’re also not educating them, creating various competency issues.”

Starinsky added the workforce upheaval, plus evolving insurance regulations, steeply rising operating costs and the tactics of questionable management, all are problems care centers may have to deal with. Forecasting is yet another issue.

“We really need to be a decade ahead of changes to properly prepare for them,” said Starinsky.

Another challenge in the elder care involves attempts to reach out to those needing assistance,

according to Maria Maletta-Hastie, outreach and enrollment coordinator with LIFE Geisinger. She explained a lot of people who qualify for care don’t believe they have a need, and rely instead on family, particularly when Alzheimer’s is present.

Within this setting, Harrisburg is now rolling out a new system called ComHASTIE munity HealthChoices, which involves the state entering into contracts with four big providers that select patients must use. The system, according to Harrisburg, draws upon state and federal funding and was designed to coordinate coverage and improve the quality of health care experience for people 21 or older and who receive both Medicare and Medicaid, or receive long-term support through Medicaid.

“This is actually a move back to managed care because it will not be a fee-for-service system,” said Maletta-Hastie. “We are hoping the change will enhance opportunities for community living, improve coordination, and increase quality and accountability.”

Pharmaceutical battlefield Mario Cornacchione, DO, associate professor and assistant chair of family medicine with the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, explained clinical trials are underway with drugs to treat Alzheimer’s. On a global scale, 80 to 90 clinical trials are also in progress with the goal of stopping the disease, slowing its progression, or perhaps curbing it entirely.

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ON THE COVER Health care focus: elder care

by Dave Taylor

The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal is a member of Times-Shamrock Publishing Division

CNG MANAGING EDITOR elizabeth baumeister — ext. 3492 CNG SALES MANAGER alice manley — ext. 9285 PHOTOGRAPHER emma black CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS Dave Gardner, Jon o’connell, Joe Sylvester and Phil yacuboski

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Top 20 Under 40...................... 4-5 Cardiac care.......................... 6-7 Health care and SAD ................... 8 Breweries tax............................ 8 Women entrepreneurs spotlight.... 10 Amy Clegg profile ..................... 12 Winter tourism ........................ 14 Manufacturing spotlight............. 17 Internship program ................... 18

ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS

Highland Associates ................... 9 Barry Isett & Associates Inc. ....... 11

COPYRIGHT

NPBJ is protected under the federal copyright act. Reproductions of any part by any means or facsimiles without the express written permission of the publisher are not permitted. Reprints of NPBJ articles are available. Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited materials — manuscripts or photographs — with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. No information expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities. Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal (iSSN 1078-5698) is published monthly except twice in the month of may by The Scranton Times from offices located at 149 Penn ave., Scranton, Pa. Periodicals postage paid at Scranton, Pa. The Journal serves business owners, managers and professionals in a 10-county region.

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HNB employees honored ............. 10 Smart banking......................... 16 EITC grants ........................18, 20

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Banking & finance .................... 13 Economic development .............. 16 On student loans ...................... 20

BUSINESS BULLETINS

Education briefs ...................... 21 Personnel file ..................... 21-24 Deeds ............................... 25-26 Mortgages ......................... 26-27

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brand myopia: when blinded by your passion, seek objectivity

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as we watched the focus group, the participants were comparing Brand a to Brand B across a wide range of attributes. Brand a, the leader in a certain food category, was winning for having better flavor and texture, better packaging and way stronger brand loyalty.

This wasn’t overly surprising; the consumers in this group had been selected for their preference for Brand a. So naturally they had a lot of positive comments about the brand. what might seem unusual is that the client for this focus group was actually Brand B. and they were taking a beating. even on product aspects where Brand B was sure they had an advantage, they were seeing comment after comment that showed that these Brand a loyalists had a different perception. after two hours of what felt like a very cold shower, the focus group was finally over, and Brand B had learned some invaluable insights into their brand’s weaknesses. as hard as it was to listen to the criticism, Brand B had made a very smart move by seeking out Brand a’s loyalists and enduring a barrage of criticism about their brand. Listening only to your best customers may give you a good sense of what people like about your brand, but heeding only your admirers can ultimately result in a false sense of security. it’s likely that brand myopia helped lead to the downfall of General motors as the leading car brand in the country. Having reached nearly 60 percent market share at one point, its product quality began declining, yet little was done about it. it has been theorized that one reason for this was the free maintenance program that Gm executives had for their cars. any time they wished, they could ask for service on their car and have it waiting for them when they were ready to go home. The Gm cars they drove

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rarely had serious problems, and these executives were left with the perception that their products were of higher quality than what their customers were experiencing.

Gm certainly had many other issues, but failing to see how poorly they compared with other brands that were taking market share every year was clearly one of their problems. it’s natural to be passionate about your brand, its products and the people and processes that keep your business running. But it is critical to regularly inject objectivity into the mix as well. There are numerous formal and informal ways to gather market research about your brand. focus groups are one choice, but surveys, secret shoppers and even random conversations can be used to ask for unfiltered opinions. certainly you should seek praise for your brand, but seek criticism as well. ask people what you could do to make your product or service better. what do they like about competitive brands? what are the key attributes they compare to make a choice between brands? if possible, try to isolate their perception of brand from individual products or services. for instance, you can ask which brand they would choose (and why) if the products were identical and cost the same. if a dominant brand like Gm can run into the problem of brand myopia, so can yours. enduring a healthy dose of criticism can sometimes be the best move your brand can make.

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TOP 20 UNDER 40

Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal honors Top 20 Under 40 award winners The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal honored its 2018 Top 20 Under 40 award winners with a reception Monday evening, Jan. 21 at Nosh in Dickson City.

The honorees are: ■ Lindsay Barrasse of Voyager Video ■ Matthew Borwick of Ollies American Restaurant and the Atrium

■ Robert Bresnahan of Kuharchik Construction Inc. ■ Michelle Cadden of Electric City Bakehouse ■ Julio Caprari of Duchess Outlet ■ John Carson of Bedrock Environmental ■ Edna Darko of Geisinger Medical Center ■ Travis Davis of Alllied Services ■ Melissa Garcia of AAA North Penn

■ Jacob Hauptmann Borton-Lawson ■ Carina Havenstrite of The Wright Center for Community Health ■ Kyle Livingston of Livingston Tire and Auto ■ Jennifer Menichini of Joyce, Carmody and Moran, P.C. ■ Elisha Nolan of Alter House ■ Patrick Nolan of Alter House

PHOTOS BY EMMA BLACK / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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■ Brian D. Stanchak of The BDS Agency ■ Gina Suydam of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce ■ Scott Verdine of ABC Kiddie Kampus and Verdine Enterprises ■ Christa Vinciguerra of Marywood University and Vinciguerra Creative ■ Alison Zurawski of Community Bank, N.A.

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HEALTH CARE

Cardiac care advances

by Dave Gardner

The advancing fields of science, prevention, rehabilitation and behavioral modification are joining hands in an effort to improve the heartbeat of cardiac care.

Scientific progress now includes advancements in the specialty of electrophysiology, according to Alfred Casale, MD, interim systems chief medical officer-surgical chair with the Geisinger Heart Institute. He explained how pacemakers are being made smaller with more sophistication, and installation within the human body now include advancements with wire placement into the heart to allow a better pace and rhythm as conditions change.

CASALE Value replacement through a catheter without opening the chest is expanding in scope, and surgeons can now more efficiently fix holes within the heart’s interior. Use of a temporary heart assist pump is also expanding and that allows the heart to rest and heal, as well as installation of a permanent assist pump using a rotary action that can be inductively charged with no external wires leading into the heart.

“We are making great progress with fixing acute health problems and changing them into chronic conditions, even with severe disease, and this is allowing people to live longer but also become comorbid with more than one serious ailment,” said Dr. Casale. “As caregivers we can’t control lifestyle and whether or not a patient faithfully takes their meds, and these limitations have helped bring the specialty of cardiac prevention to the forefront.”

He detailed how a new preventative technique called calcium scoring can help physicians detect vascular blockages before a heart attack occurs.

This involves using a scanner to image the blood vessels and search for calcium deposits which are a component of blood vessel blockage, and if plaque is detected the physician can recommend a plan of preventative treatment to limit further blockage and hopefully deter a cardiac event.

“We often treat our car better than our bodies, but with the preventative advancements in science a great deal of cardiac problems don’t need to occur,” said Dr. Casale.

Curbing LDL Routine blood tests still are critical to detail fat levels in a person’s blood, with physicians striving for low LDL levels and higher amounts of HDL. Highly effective medications possibly administered via injection to encourage this mix are now available, even for cases where a person inherits a tendency for the creation of very high LDL levels.

The use of precision medicine genomic analysis to predict individual risk is another area of scientific advancement. According to Dr. Casale, DNA testing is being introduced, even for children, that can detect the genetic probability of future cardiac problems, thereby allowing physicians to intervene before trouble develops.

However, at the end of the day, effective cardiac care is not just about science and physicians. Dr. Casale mentioned that patient compliance is a real problem with following the recommendation of a cardiologist, and caregivers must never assume a patient is compliant with any prescribed care plan.

“This is especially true here in NEPA, where we still have the second highest smoking rate in the nation after the tobacco-growing regions,” said Dr. Casale.

He added that large numbers of patients do not have their prescriptions filled, often for economic reasons. Others make mistakes with meds, perhaps creating a form of elder poisoning away for the eyes of a medical caregiver.

“This is why an integrated health care delivery system with follow-up is important,” said Dr. Casale. “It also is vital to provide coordinated health care among multiple physicians treating the same patient, and a single pharmacy source can be useful for medication coordination with patients also in a routine where they take their meds at the same time every day.”

Apart from technology, coordinated care and compliance, Dr. Casale explained that common sense and simple logistics are vital parts of modern cardiology. Medication bottles should be created with large print for elder use, and labels in Spanish can be a communication life saver.

Mobile vans with caregivers that can administer house calls with a cardiac team are also valuable. In particular, paramedics fulfilling the role of a cardiac SWAT team can be very effective for this function during their down times, because they have the commitment, training and equipment right at hand.

“Perhaps we got a little bit lost believing

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Nadine Greco, cardiac rehab coordinator at Wayne Memorial Hospital, works with patient Mary Hassett. knowledge and technology had all the answers,” said Dr. Casale. “It also helps to rethink things and get back to basics.”

Rehab challenges Most insurance policies, include Medicare, pay for 36 rehab visits to strengthen a diseased heart after a cardiac event, according to Nadine Greco, MS, cardiac rehab coordinator at Wayne Memorial Hospital. However, attendance often lags as these sessions continue, and even if a patient completes all 36, only one out of four people continue with exercise and diet modification.

“With all of the unhealthy lifestyles around, it’s becoming common to see people being treated in a heart catheter lab even GRECO though they are in their forties and fifties,” said Greco. “This creates great challenges for us in rehab.”

From one perspective, Greco ponders if the use

of a cardiac stent to open blocked blood vessels in the heart has a down side. She has observed that some patients believe their heart is “fixed” after one of these procedures, even though the metabolic factors that caused the blockage still exist, and they fail to change their unhealthy life style, thereby almost ensuring future problems will occur.

“Even big open-heart surgery is not a wake-up call for a lot of people to change their ways,” says Greco. “Losing weight, a healthy diet, exercise and not smoking continue to be important.”

In fact, obesity throughout NEPA has become so common that caregivers such as Greco routinely are dealing with pre-diabetes. Elevated blood sugar doubles the risk for cardiac problems, while also endangering the body’s blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and pancreas, plus the lymphatic system.

“If you have leg pain when you’re walking, there is a good chance that vascular disease is present,” said Greco. “Fortunately, hospitals are now receiving dollars to help patients with a big push on prevention and rehab. Yet, we can’t control patient diets and behavior, and associated education is vital to avoid hospital readmission.”

HEALTH CARE

Daily steps to keep your heart healthy

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eart disease is a formidable foe. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease accounts for nearly 25 percent of all deaths in the United States each year.

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 Stop smoking right now. One of the best things to do to protect the heart is to stop smoking. The Heart Foundation indicates that smoking reduces oxygen in the blood and damages blood vessel walls. It also contributes to atherosclerosis, or a narrowing and clogging of the arteries.

 Get adequate shut-eye. Ensuring adequate sleep can improve heart health. One study found that young and middle-age adults who regularly slept seven hours a night had less calcium in their arteries (a sign of early heart disease) compared to those who slept five hours or less or those who slept nine hours or more.

 Eat healthy fats. When eating, choose polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats and avoid trans fats as much as possible. Trans fats increase one’s risk of developing heart disease by clogging arteries and raising LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Read food labels before buying anything at the store.

 Adopt healthy eating habits. Changes to diet, including eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, can help you lose and maintain a healthy weight, improve cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure, leading to a healthier heart.

 Keep your mouth clean. Studies show that bacteria in the mouth involved in the development of gum disease can travel to the bloodstream and cause an elevation in C-reactive protein, a marker for blood vessel inflammation. Brush and floss twice daily, and be sure to schedule routine dental cleanings.

 Embrace physical activity. Regular moderate exercise is great for the heart. It can occur at the gym, playing with the kids or even taking the stairs at work.

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FEATURE

Health care and seasonal affective disorder

by Phil Yacuboski

During the cold, bleary winter months when there’s less daylight, bare trees, snow blanketing the ground and dry air, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can make life miserable.

Most cases appear as winter sets in, according to the Mayo Clinic, and symptoms can include feeling depressed most of the day, losing energy in the activities you once enjoyed and loss of appetite.

“We just suggest a balanced lifestyle,” said Corey O’Brien, vice-president and chief strategy officer with AllOne Health in WilkesBarre. “It’s always good this time of year to reflect on how last year went and look forward to this year and find balance in your life.”

AllOne Health provides clients with both physical and mental health services through Employee Assistance Programs, which offer confidential counseling. The company, based in Wilkes-Barre, has 250 employees. They service customers in all 50 states and in 23 countries across the globe.

“It means keeping track of your mental and physical health, balancing your sleep and nutrition along with physical activity,” said O’Brien.

He said the biggest problem with January is New Year’s resolutions.

“People make them and then they realize they are overwhelmed and they take it too far,” he said. “And they are not balanced. Finding a balance in your life is important and it will help you stick with it long-term. You have to find a way to sustain a healthy lifestyle.”

O’Brien said to help with the seasonal blues, a company will hire them and they put an overall physical and mental health employee assistance program into place.

“It goes from people calling to set up through our concierge service a so-called ‘date night,’ with their significant others to plan events to planning vacations to helping with questions about senior citizens, to life

Breweries about to be hit with state sales tax

by Phil Yacuboski

Drinking your favorite craft brew is about to get more expensive.

On July 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue will begin collecting a 6 percent sales tax on every dollar of brews sold in Pennsylvania’s brewery taprooms.

“We definitely don’t look at it in a positive way,” said Rich Schrader, general manager of the Rusty Rail Brewery in Mifflinburg. “One of the big concerns is if it’s valid – if it’s for the right reasons and ... has it been looked at carefully enough. We don’t want to have to impact an industry that’s becoming one of the biggest craft brewery states in the country.”

Breweries already pay a $2.48 cents per barrel excise tax on barrels they produce.

The new tax would not apply to beer that wholesaled to bars and restaurants.

The tax was supposed to begin in January, but was pushed back until July.

The changes affect places like the Rusty Rail that have an on-site taproom where breweries sell pints, flights and other sizes directly to their customers.

“It feels like a way to generate revenue and income off of a blooming industry,” said coaching,” said O’Brien.

Schrader. “Where does it stop?”

He said employees shouldn’t be Schrader questioned why it’s only going to apprehensive about the program. Everything is affect taprooms and not bars and restaurants kept completely confidential. or those who hold a different type of liquor “The company provides the program as a license. The state department of revenue said benefit to its employees,” he said. “They have the tax isn’t ‘new,’ rather a clarification in an no access to the information. What people say old set of laws already on the books. to us is left in the highest level of confidence.”

The National Brewers Association says He said they will often also communicate Pennsylvania breweries contribute more than with employers on a weekly or monthly basis $6 billion toward the state’s economy. to help them set up mental and physical fitness The Rusty Rail produces 5,000 barrels workshops at their places of business. He annually and their beer portfolio features said during tax season, they talk about stress a number of beers; it’s sold in six states management. In the winter months, they talk including Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio and about how to exercise in the cold weather and West Virginia. how to be mentally strong in the lousy weather.

“We’re going to fight this and likely appeal “Most employers want employees who are to Governor Tom Wolf, who has publicly happy,” said O’Brien. “Happy employees make supported the manufacturing jobs and the for a happy workplace and it allows employers industry,” said Ted Zellers, an attorney who to retain good employees. Healthy and happy represents the Brewers of Pennsylvania. employees are productive.”

“Unfortunately, many feel that his words were

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FEATURE

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FEBRUARY 2019

kind of hollow given that the department of revenue is hitting us with this tax.”

Zellers said a court challenge could happen, but he wouldn’t commit to that; however he said with the tax being set up, he thinks it’s a ‘double tax.’

“In places like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, there’s an additional county tax of one percent and elsewhere that’s the case,” he said.

“There’s also a drink tax on top of that.”

Schrader said he thinks they are being double-taxed because they are already paying an excise tax on the barrels of beer they produce and they will have to pay an additional six-percent on top of what they sell in their Union County taproom.

“We are going to have to end up passing it along at the taproom, which we don’t want to do,” Schrader said. “It could amount to thousands of dollars a year. We can’t afford to eat it.”

Schrader said the business, which opened in January of 2015, is growing and began with a large capital investment.

“It’s a competitive business,” he said.

“Is it healthy to do this to an industry that’s growing?”

ADVERTORIAL

FOCUS ON ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS

Highland Associates

Delta Medix, Medical Office Building Scranton Delta Medix is a multi-specialty physician practice with offices previously located throughout the city of Scranton. In an effort to streamline and provide convenience to the patients it serves, it made the decision to consolidate the practice into the first floor of the former Bon-Ton department store at the Marketplace at Steamtown. The project scope included work necessary for the conversion of the former anchor store into a new multi-specialty practice for Delta Medix. The approximately 43,000 square feet houses a breast care center, imaging suite, allergy center, clinical offices for general surgery, vascular surgery, urology, pulmonary and otolaryngology, patient waiting area, exam rooms, consultation rooms, supply storage room and an administration suite with a conference room. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure renovations were required to support the new practice.

Highland Associates worked closely with Delta Medix to complete the project in two phases. At the completion of approved schematic plans and initial budget confirmation, Highland prepared construction documents for the practice. Working directly with Delta Medix and the Marketplace at Steamtown owner, our team determined an appropriate fast track approach to expedite the speed-tomarket. This included strategies such as an early demolition package, separate HVAC, electrical and plumbing packages and creative phasing.

entry procedures. All visitors will enter buildings through a secure administrative area. Additionally, all high school and elementary school doors were upgraded or replaced to meet barrier-free accessibility and current security standards. A fully integrated video surveillance and access control system was installed throughout the buildings and grounds as recommended by staff, state guidelines and insurance criteria.

Preparing students to meet the demands of college, or the working world beyond graduation, through instructional technology is an integral component of the 21st century classroom. All classrooms received upgrades to reflect instructional trends with dynamic, flexible work stations that will provide opportunities for enhanced creativity, communication and collaboration among teachers and students. Upgrades to critical infrastructure were included to ensure that classrooms will be able to keep up with the rapidly changing IT world.

Energy efficient LED fixtures were installed in both buildings. Renovations to the high school

Candor Central School District Candor, New York Highland Associates worked with the Candor Central School District to carry out numerous renovations and upgrades to its high school and elementary facilities. The school district outlined its goals to improve the safety and security of its students, as well as address education and curriculum objectives. Other important items such as roof and window replacement, additional visitor and event parking, sidewalk enhancements and a new electronic sign were included in the scope of work.

New entrances enhance each building’s architecture, clearly defining the main entry while providing security improvements. Both elementary and high school administrative offices were relocated and reconstructed to adhere to single point of entry protocol with separate student and visitor

locker rooms, elementary and high school kitchens, servery and cafeterias were made as well as the addition of two new high school classrooms dedicated to the district’s special education and food services programs.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospotial Emergency Department addition and renovation New Brunswick, New Jersey Responding to an increasing need for emergency medicine and trauma care services in the greater Central New Jersey area, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and RWJ Barnabas Health have launched an ambitious emergency department expansion project. The project expands RWJUH’s current emergency department from 40,000 to 60,000 square feet. Once complete, it will feature more than 100 private treatment areas for patients, including three additional new trauma bays. A new ambulance bay will accommodate eight ambulances at one time. The expanded space also offers patients radiology imaging in the depart-

ment, which can potentially reduce wait times for test results. The new capacity also allows RWJUH to offer a fast-track option for patients who arrive at the department with less-emergent diagnoses.

Highland Associates is providing mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, medical gas and electrical engineering services for this project. The project will be completed in six phases.

The owners of Highland wish to thank our 160+ employees for their dedication and excellent work.

Gil Ben-Ami, PE Hermin Z. Calderon Charles Consagra, AIA Richard J. Guditus, PE M. Bilal Hasan, PE, Thomas G. Hauck, Jr., AIA, Glenn D. Leitch, AIA, Thomas W. Millard, PE Teddy Muliawan, PE James Scandale, PE Brian W. Schafer Michael Wolf, AIA Pennsylvania:

102 Highland Avenue

Clarks Summit, PA

18411

570-586-4334

New York:

One East 33rd Street

New York, NY

10016

212-681-0200

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CELEBRATING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Willow’s Sunshine Boutique

learning new things, and these passions are the At 30 years old, Whitney Kineg of Dunmore has inspiration for Willow’s Sunshine Boutique. her hands full. In addition to being the mother of This boutique offers a wide selection of three boys and one girl, as well as the manager of products, with everything being 95 percent handTanfastic in downtown Scranton, this past year she made by the owner. For newborns, you can find opened Willow’s Sunshine Boutique. everything from customized handmade gowns and For a long time, Kineg wanted to start her blankets to headbands and bows. Kineg also offers own business and be her own boss. She officially her own essential oil lines, one for adults and one opened her storefront in the fall of 2018. She was for babies, with bath bombs, rollers, body scrubs, inspired by her belief in herself and the knowledge body lotions and sleep sprays. that she could do it. About to turn 30, she felt it was One offering that sets the business apart is the perfect time to make the leap, and if she didn’t Reiki, an energy healing technique. Kineg and go after her dream then she never would. her 10-year-old son are both Reiki 2 certified and She was not going to let plan on pursuing their masters More info her fear of failing get in the way degrees together this year.

To learn more about Wiland believed even though there Kineg’s children have low’s Sunshine Boutique, would be ups and downs, she played an important role in her visit the store at 116 would learn and grow from the entrepreneurial ventures. When Depot Street, Clarks Sumexperience. people ask how she does it, her mit, or find it on Facebook and Instagram @willowsKineg has always had a love response is she wants to teach sunshineboutique. for hand-making items and her children that if they follow

by Catherine Farrell and Victoria McCormack

Ten employees honored for five years of service at HNB

LOCAL

Photo courtesy of Honesdale National Bank

Ten employees, each with five years of service, were recognized at The Honesdale National Bank’s Annual Employee Recognition Dinner held at Lukan’s Farm Resort. David Raven, HNB President & CEO, presided over the program and offered his gratitude for the employees’ service and dedication. From left, first row: honorees Jennifer Jaycox, Ann Marie Grado, Kathryn Jonas and Lisa Valentine. Second row: honorees Nick D’Alberto, Jamie Shnipes and William Carmody and president and CEO Dave Raven. Other honorees include Charlie Curtin, Lori Keller and Judy Williams.

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FEBRUARY 2019

their hearts, they will be able to achieve whatever they dream of. She wants to teach them to never let fear get in the way of their dreams, and that if their dreams don’t scare them, they aren’t big enough.

Kineg especially loves teaching her daughter how she can be her own boss one day and even made a shirt that says “mini boss,” which she sells in her store. She gets a kick out of this because some days, she feels like her daughter is her boss.

One struggle Kineg has faced since opening her own business is juggling all she does. Finding a balance between family, her other full-time job and the business is a challenge. Since her business is so new, however, she is confident it will get easier over time as she learns from experience.

In regard to the future, Whitney plans to keep growing and never give up on her store.

She is building Willow’s Sunshine Boutique as a mother-daughter business in hope that one day her daughter can take over.

Kineg encourages other women looking to start

Whitney Kineg and family.

Submitted photo

their own business to never give up when times get hard. Still in her first year of business, she’s experienced both slow months and profitable ones. She believes it may take a while for things to fall into place and there will always be good and bad days.

Catherine Farrell and Victoria McCormack are interns with the University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center under the supervision of Donna Simpson, consultant manager.

Nine employees honored for 10 years of service at HNB

Photo courtesy of Honesdale National Bank

Nine employees, each with ten years of service, were recognized at The Honesdale National Bank’s Annual Employee Recognition Dinner held at Lukan’s Farm Resort. David Raven, HNB president and CEO, presided over the program and offered his gratitude for the employees’ service and dedication. First row, from left: honorees Maggie Klim, Jeanne Frank, Melissa Rushworth and Kaitlyn Carroll. Second row: honorees Ray Ceccotti, Neil Neumann and Theresa Halliday and president and CEO David Raven. Other honorees include John Conte and Christopher Cook.

ADVERTORIAL

FOCUS ON ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS

Barry Isett and Associates Inc.

Firm a major player in revival of city block in downtown Hazleton

Barry Isett & Associates Inc. is helping shape the future of a full city block in Hazleton’s historic downtown.

The multi-discipline engineering firm, serving eastern and central Pennsylvania from eight regional offices, is offering its expertise to help re-imagine and redevelop the north side of West Broad Street, between Laurel and Wyoming streets.

From their office at the same intersection where a new park is taking shape in downtown Hazleton, Isett associates can see the results of their work, and the vision for the city block is clear.

West to east, an aptly named Center City Park that brings green space to a downtown on the rebound; a City Arts Center to showcase Hazleton’s burgeoning cultural scene; an Irish-style pub where patrons can get their fill of food, drinks and entertainment, and a forward-looking business incubator to nurture the area’s best entrepreneurial prospects.

Each project converts formerly vacant or blighted space into new uses that will add vitality to the newly branded Arts & Innovation District, according to Krista Schneider, executive director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, or DHAP, which is overseeing the transformative initiative.

Barry Isett & Associates has played a role in all four projects.

The park, on the northeast corner of West Broad and Laurel streets, will include a plaza, benches, walkways and landscaping, giving regulars and visitors to downtown a place to gather and relax, as well as providing a venue for

outdoor events.

DHAP secured many grants and local donations toward the proposed district, including those needed to help establish the park’s footprint and its initial infrastructure.

Next door, a City Arts Center is in the works.

Barry Isett & Associates has completed plans for phase two of the project, which transforms a historic 1909 bank building. The old bank lobby will become the main exhibition gallery, with studios for clay and glass arts at the basement level. The first floor will include an office, a digital arts classroom and children’s studio and a kitchen. An additional arts studio is planned for the second floor.

The Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress is about to solicit bids on the construction contract for the arts center project, which also involves Hemmler + Camayd Architects of Scranton.

East of the arts center will be an Irish-style pub, Broad and Barrel, to which Barry Isett & Associates has provided various engineering services.

And farther to the east, near Wyoming Street, a business incubator is in the works. Called the Penn State Hazleton LaunchBox, the incubator is a collaboration between the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress and Penn State Hazleton.

Isett personnel are providing the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering in the conversion of the two-story building that features conference rooms, individual offices, collaborative work spaces, a lounge, retail space and restrooms.

Joseph Rominski Architecture of Pittston served as the architect on the project.

Barry Isett & Associates maintains three offices in Northeast Pennsylvania – in Hazleton,

Multi-discipline Engineering, Survey, Environmental, Code and Construction Services barryisett.com

Rendering courtesy of Hemmler + Camayd Architects

Eastbound motorists on Broad Street will see this view of the new city arts center now under construction in the former Security Savings building in downtown Hazleton. The artist’s sketch was included in a booklet for the Banking on the Arts capital campaign.

Wilkes-Barre and Stroudsburg – and five offices elsewhere in the commonwealth, at the company headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, and in Doylestown, Mechanicsburg, Phoenixville and

Wyomissing.

For more information on Barry Isett & Associates and a full overview of the engineering firm, its projects and its services, visit barryisett.com.

Sat, March 23 1 9 Complimentary Breakfast/Lunch General Information/Financial Aid Meet Faculty & Current Students Campus Tours

LCCC Campus Center

Hazleton • Wilkes-Barre • Stroudsburg Allentown • Phoenixville • Doylestown Capital Region • Wyomissing

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 11 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B11] | 02/08/19

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FEATURE

Local entrepreneur shares fruits of success

by Joe Sylvester

Amy Clegg owns and operates Express Employment Professionals in North Scranton, one of the employment chain’s 800 franchises.

It is also one of the company’s most successful offices. She said becoming a franchise office of the international company played a big part in that, though others give a lot of credit to Clegg as a businesswoman and a leader.

“She is genuine,” said longtime employee Nikki Schake. “She knows how to motivate.”

According to a book published by Express and titled, “Portraits of Hope,” Clegg and her team “have grown and become known as staffing leaders and experts in their market.”

Clegg also was Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s Franchisee of the Month for January.

adopted Diana, now 15, from Kazakhstan, and met her husband, Jim. She gave birth to their son, Ryan, now 8, and they later adopted Lori Ella.

“I sold the East Stroudsburg office because I felt Scranton was a better place to raise a family,” Clegg said.

Franchise success Then someone who used to work for her told Express about her, and the company suggested she team up with them as a franchise office.

She questioned why she would do that and have to pay a franchise fee. The person who approached her told Clegg she should do it if she wanted to grow. Express offers resources such as training, benefits, payroll, marketing and leadership events.

Besides, if she didn’t become a franchise, this person told her, there would be an Express office there Adoption advocate, philanthropist anyway competing with her some day.

Clegg’s success and leadership go beyond the “The Oklahoma people seemed way too nice,” office. Despite growing her business beyond her Clegg said of the Express officials in the company wildest dreams, she is not one to focus on only headquarters. work.

The whole thing seemed too good to be true.

Clegg, who has adopted three of her four Yet, in her first year as a franchise office, Clegg’s children from overseas, is a philanthropist who business grew 500 percent. recently raised $10,000 for charity. She supports She won trips and awards. an orphanage in the Philippines, where she adopted “We increased so big, so fast, we were the first her youngest daughter, Lori Ella, now 6.

Express out of the recession,” she said.

Clegg, 50, the former Amy Dougher, is a When her office first teamed up with Express, it Scranton native and Clarks Summit resident who had nine clients a week. That has increased to about grew up in the Poconos. She started working for 100 a week who make an average pay of $13.22 an an employment service when she was 22, while hour. attending college at night.

The office supplies workers for office, industrial “I needed to support myself through college,” and some professional positions. she said. “I worked for a small employment ser“There are many reasons companies would vice. I was looking for a job and they hired me as want our help,” Clegg said. “They can’t find people, their first employee.” they don’t have H.R. (a human resources departSeven years later her employer told her she ment). It’s expensive to take somebody on with the should start her own business. With her mother’s turnover.” help, she started looking for clients for her own But some of those temporary employees could employment business and once met a client in a and have become permanent. bowling alley parking lot.

“Around Scranton, there are a lot of transportaShe was able to fund the business in East tion, call centers,” Clegg said. “Manufacturing is still Stroudsburg with the help of her former boss and alive and well.” through savings and a bank loan. In 2000, she She started the office with one other employee. opened a second office, that one in Scranton.

“Now there are 10 of us,” she said.

“I decided I wanted to start a family through Because she teamed up with Express, she was adoption,” Clegg said. able to offer her staff benefits such as scholarships, In 2001, she adopted a baby, Jack, now 17, health care, holiday pay and a 401k. She could offer from Vietnam. She suddenly was a single mom client companies human resources services, call running two employment staffing offices. She later center support, leadership seminars and leadership

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FEBRUARY 2019

JOE SYLVESTER / FOR NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL

Amy Clegg, seated, with some of her staff, from left, Zayli Melendez, April Nawrocki, Ashley Muriel, Paige Hernandez, Nikki Schake and Ericka Camacho. simulcasts that have featured speaker Jim Stovall, who wrote “100 Worst Bosses,” Andy Buckley, who played David Wallace, Michael’s New York City boss in “The Office,” Dick Vitale and Terry Bradshaw.

“The leadership aspect has been really powerful,” Clegg said.

Penn Foster, formerly ICS, or International Correspondence Schools, in Dunmore, offers free courses.

“We invite our clients to simulcasts,” she said.

Penn Foster also is an Express client, where the Express sends people to work in the call center and various departments.

Clegg also opened an office in Wilkes-Barre.

With a new baby and two adopted children at the time, she ran two offices for four years. She later adopted her fourth child and sold the Wilkes-Barre office.

“Now I’m devoting extra time and energy to helping an orphanage in the Philippines,” she said.

Express Clydesdales She has brought in the Express Clydesdale horses three times for fundraisers, and the team of six horses appeared at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as well as in Scranton’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

She and her son, Jack, who helped with the horses, got to stay at the Clydesdale ranch outside Oklahoma City when she was at a training academy.

The Clydesdales’ appearance last year was to raise money for the orphanage where her daughter is from.

Clegg and her Express office also put on an international fashion show with The University of Scranton’s International Business Club and has helped local food pantries.

Most of the Express franchises are in the United States, but the company also has franchises in Canada and South Africa, Clegg said.

She said when people move around the country, they just go to their local Express office.

“We’re local ownership with international connections,” she said. “Clients recognize that.”

Clegg’s staff includes two business developers who meet with companies to find out their needs, four employment specialists who help match companies and workers and a safety director.

“We can’t help every person who walks in the door, but we provide hope. We’re the doctors of hope,” said Schake, the office’s director of community engagement. “That’s how Amy starts every day.”

BANKING AND FINANCE

Can you live on Social Security?

by Susan A. Whitesell

Could you live on $16,848 a year? Your Social Security benefit may not be enough for you to live on in retirement.

It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is the average annual Social Security benefit for all retired workers in 2018. Could you get by on this amount?

Sure, some expenses could be lower once you retire – your mortgage may be paid off, your children may be financially independent, and you won’t have work-related expenses. However, other expenses, such as new hobbies or additional travel, may take their place. And you should anticipate that certain expenses, such as health care, will be more costly as you age. Also, don’t forget the potential for inflation and its impact on the cost of food, utilities and other goods and services.

Social Security is only a safety net The reality is that it may not be wise to count only on Social Security. If you want a better quality of life in retirement, you have to take responsibility now and focus on building your own retirement savings. You can use the savings you accumulate while working to help make up the difference between what Social Security may provide and what you’ll need to live comfortably when you retire.

Harness the power of compounding

Contributing to your employer-provided retirement plan is an important first step, but it can also be important to keep increasing the amount you contribute over time. The more you put into your plan, the greater your potential retirement income. Long-term compounding may turn even a small contribution increase into a higher plan balance at retirement.

8 percent: The amount your benefit grows per year for each year you put off enrolling after full retirement age (up to age 70) 2.8: The number of WHITESELL current workers for each Social Security beneficiary 95 percent: Percentage of working Americans between age 20 and 49 who have survivors insurance protection for their spouse and children through Social Security 89 percent: Percentage of workers who are protected by Social Security in the event of a longterm disability 6.2 percent: Social Security payroll tax on earnings up to $128,400 in 2018 (the employee and the employer each pay this tax) A heads-up for the soon-to-retire crowd People who are close to retiring will want to avoid these mistakes that could have a big impact

on their retirement finances.

You’ve got plans, so you don’t want to make mistakes that could derail them. If you’re close to retirement, recognizing potential missteps can help you avoid them.

Investing too aggressively What if you haven’t saved as much as you’ll need for retirement? You might decide to choose a more aggressive asset mix because it offers the potential for higher returns, but investing aggressively carries more risk – along with the very real possibility that your investments will lose value instead.

If you haven’t saved enough, consider taking measures that don’t involve investment risk, such as working longer, saving more and spending less.

Failing to track your finances Having a handle on your finances is important at any age, but it’s particularly critical as retirement nears. If you don’t have a budget to track the amount you’re spending, you risk having to dip into your savings to pay the bills at a time when building your nest egg should be a priority. And by checking your net worth once a year, you’ll have a current snapshot of your total financial situation.

Underestimating health care expenses Don’t even think that Medicare will cover all of them. In addition to premiums for Part B, and possibly Part D, you’ll have deductibles, coinsurance and copays. And dental and eye

care typically aren’t covered. Any supplemental insurance you purchase will be an added expense.

Neglecting Social Security planning Your retirement planning should include figuring out the best time to begin collecting Social Security benefits. You can begin receiving reduced benefits at age 62. Or you can wait until you reach your full retirement age (FRA) to collect full benefits. Your benefit amount will increase for every year beyond your FRA (up to age 70) that you wait to collect, but if you don’t wait until your FRA, your benefit will be permanently decreased.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to claim benefits as soon as you retire. If you have other income sources, you might want to wait and claim a larger benefit later on. Other factors, such as your health and tax situation, should also play a role in your decision.

Contact the author: Kingston Retirement Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, 270 Pierce Street, Kingston; 570-283-8140; kingstonretirementgroup.com. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, its affiliates and its employees are not in the business of providing tax, regulatory, accounting or legal advice. These materials and any taxrelated statements are not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC. © 2018 DST Systems, Inc.

Three tips for preparing for a potential recession Economic forecasts for 2019 haven’t been the most glowing, and that has plenty of people worried about what a weak economy could mean for them personally, from job losses to a hit to retirement-savings accounts.

“It is true that we are in the late stages of the current economic cycle,” says Stash J. Graham, managing director of the Graham Capital Wealth Management.

“The debate is about whether we will have an economic slowdown or an all-out recession.”

For those worried about what the coming months might bring, this could be a good time to take stock of your portfolio and perhaps make adjustments.

“Some of it comes down to what your life objectives are and what your risk tolerance is,” Graham says. “Are you the kind of person who

TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B13] | 02/07/19

can ride out a down market without losing a wink of sleep, confident that a rebound will happen eventually? Or will you be stressed out?”

Graham offers a few tips on how to start preparing your portfolio for potentially bad times:

1

Take a deep breath. People often let emotions rather than facts drive their decisions, Graham says. Many investors panic if they fear a recession, and they make changes that cause what would have been a temporary loss to become a permanent loss. Other investors are ruled by a different emotion – greed – and take chances that they probably shouldn’t.

2

Think long-term. Both recessions and recoveries come and go, so it’s always good to keep in mind that old phrase “this too shall

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“It always important to remember that the pass,” Graham says. If you stay focused on the answers about what to do with your portfolio won’t long term, rather than the moment, you may be able to avoid costly mistakes. This is especially true be the same for everyone,” Graham says. “Your if you’re young and retirement is still decades away. personal circumstances should be the driving force, rather than what’s happening in the market on any Reduce risk. Even the young and given day. The right move for your neighbor or your adventurous should want to make sure they co-worker isn’t necessarily the right move for you.” have a sound investment strategy and aren’t just rolling the dice. Having a high tolerance for risk is one thing. Gambling away your future is another.

So, before the next recession arrives, Graham says, examine ways you can reduce at least some of the risk in your portfolio. If you are already at or near retirement age, you may want to take the risk level down quite a bit if you haven’t already.

3

You don’t have as many years to recover before you start spending from your savings.

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 13

FEATURE

Winter tourism flourishes in the region

one-horse sleigh and then rides with a bigger sleigh the marketplace.

“People then can remember it’s still winter,” she and two horses,” said Mertz. Rides run in price While many tourists enjoy Northeast Pennsylva- said. from $80 for a private couples’ ride and $20 per nia for autumn’s majestic fall colors or the warmth Blue Mountain is the only resort in the Poconos person for a group ride. and humidity of the summer months, winter is Rides last a little longer than a half-hour. that has family snowtubing. almost as popular, with many flocking here to “The rides are scenic,” said Mertz, who has “There’s always something going on here on pump money into the local economy. owned the farm for the past 50 years with his wife the mountain,” said Matsko.

Guests can enjoy each other’s company and “People are coming here anytime of year Judy. “You can see deer along the way and there “Snowtubing has become really popular, the scenery on a chair lift up to the top of the and we love having them here,” said Genevieve are nice views from the high points.” along with snowmobiling and off-roading when mountain.

Logan Reese, at the French Manor Inn and Spa in there isn’t snow on the ground in the winter,” said South Sterling. “Winter is my favorite time of year Shannon. “Snowtubing is easy and fun for all ages because you can sit inside in our indoor saltwater because there’s no learning curve like there is for pool and watch the snowstorm outside. It’s just skiing or snowboarding. I think snowmobiling and perfect.” off-roading have grown because of the idea of She said while summer and fall are more popu- adventure tourism; people are looking for new and lar times to visit, winter is not far behind. exciting things to do while on vacation.”

“The Poconos truly is a four-season destinaSleigh rides are also popular among tourists, tion, with things to do and places to stay yearalthough the past few winters have not been kind. round,” said Kelly Shannon, a spokeswoman for “It’s been tough the past few winters because the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau. “Tourism we’ve had little snow to the point where you wonstays fairly consistent year-round but is highest in der if it is worth it,” said Mick Mertz, owner of Daisy the summer when kids are out of school, since it’s Field Farm in White Haven. such a family-friendly destination.”

He said this year he had ‘hundreds’ of calls The region – as defined by the state tourism for sleigh rides around the holidays, but couldn’t department – is not only the Poconos, but the do them because of a lack of snow. He’s hoping Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, the Endless Mountains Mother Nature helps out with a few good dumps of PHOTOS COURTESY OF POCONOMOUNTAINS.COM and the Susquehanna Valley. Tourism is responsnow this winter.

Visitors can take in the winter views from a vista at Blue Mountain Resort. sible for $6.23 billion dollars in annual revenue.

“We have an old-fashioned couples ride with a Shannon said winter numbers keep increasing because of the number of visits to the four indoor waterparks in the Poconos, with Kalahari being the largest in the country. And don’t just think outside when you think tourism in the Poconos – shopping and fine dining rank high on the list.

While many do trek to the Poconos – a more regional draw from the suburbs of New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Washington, D.C. and Maryland – many in the winter do it to enjoy the slopes. Pennsylvania’s 20 ski resorts offer great terrain and according to the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, resorts made $15 million in improvements this year.

“We had a strong start to the season and we were able to have a solid Christmas week, despite some rain this season,” said Tricia Matsko, a spokeswoman for Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton. “We make snow around the clock Mother Nature allows.”

Snow tubing at Blue Mountain can be tons of fun for the Matsko said there’s a big draw of tourists from family and offers a magnificent view of the Pocono Camelback Lodge is conveniently located right next to Camelback Harrisburg and the Maryland and Washington, D.C. Mountains.

Mountain, making it easy to go to and from the slopes. area. She said it also helps when there’s snow in

by Phil Yacuboski

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FEBRUARY 2019

N O RT H E A S T E R N P E N N S Y LVA N I A C O U N C I L , B S A

Congratulates these 2019 Distinguished Citizens E ve r y yea r, T h e N o r t h e a s t e r n Pe n n s y l v a n i a C o u n c i l , B oy S c o u t s o f A m e r i c a h o s t s a d in ne r to re c o g n i z e l e a d i n g i n d i v i d u a l s w h o a c t a s ro l e mod el s i n o u r c o m mu n i t y.

This Year’s Honorees: Tom Donohue of Lamar Advertising & The McCarthy Family of McCarthy Tire & Service Center The evening’s events help to heighten awareness of the Scouting Program and raise the necessary funds to provide quality Scouting Programs for our youth.

36ANNUAL th

2019

YOUR SUPPORT WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Distinguished Citizens Award

Dinner

T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 7 , 2 0 1 9 MOHEGAN SUN POCONO W I L K E S - B A R R E , PA

Come Join Us!

Please fill out the information below and submit it to the NEPA Boy Scouts of America with your donation Contact Person: ______________________________________________ Organization (if applicable):_________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ________________ Phone: __________________________ Fax: __________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________________ Check enclosed for $___________ (made payable to NEPA BSA)

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MC Account # ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Exp. Date:________ Sec. Code:_________ Authorized Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Mail to : Northeastern Pennsylvania Council BSA 72 Montage Mountain Road Moosic, PA 18507-1232

Keynote Speaker

General Frank Wiercinski Lieutenant General, US Army, Retired

Questions: Contact Becky Mozeleski, rmozeleski@nepabsa.org 570-207-1227 ext. 226 Fax: 570-207-1232

Proud Member Agency

Table and Sponsor Information - Deadline is Feb. 28th $150 per Seat or $1,500 per Table Program Ad space is available: Full Page - $1,000 black & white or $1,500 full color, Half Page - $500, Quarter Page - $250, Business Card - $100 Th i s ye ar ’s p re m i e r b us in e s s s p o n s o r s

Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, Boy Scouts of America - Phone: 570-207-1227 ext. 226 ~ email: rmozeleski@nepabsa.org

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 15 TS_CNG/ADVERTISING/AD_PAGES [ADB15] | 02/08/19

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Preemptive planning in the region

by Howard J. Grossman, AICP

In the book “Lights Out” by newscaster Ted Koppel, Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania, is quoted, “we are not a preemptive democracy.

We are a reactive one. Rare are the occasions on which we act in anticipation of a potential problem.”

These words could be utilized in the Pocono-Northeast as this region has experienced a bundle of problems and issues that have come about unexpectedly and are not always caused within but outside eternal factors which have affected how we operate and how we see the present and the future.

There is a vital need for preemptive planning and staking out the various options that should be in place in the event of serious weaknesses which cause the situations to occur.

The flood of 1972, called Tropical Storm Agnes, is one such component to affect the region in a dramatic way. The flood of 2011 which impacted West Pittston and some other communities, is a another such example.

The many recessions which have externally affected the region provided more examples of the need to plan accordingly since more such events are likely to occur. The opportunity to begin to store ideas and action which can be utilized as new dilemmas occur throughout the region would be an excellent source of support and preemptive, organized arrangements which can be quickly made available as responses to the overall definition of problem solving that is essential to the ability of the region to meet problems which show up, both those that are internal and those that hit the region from the outside.

Koppel’s book of 279 pages should be read by many leaders in the region since it talks about electrical grids, blackouts that can last for months, the lack of planning at the national level if one or more of the three electric power grids are attacked. This region should begin to examine ways to respond to this difficult situation if such a negative event actually occurred. However, there are other ways the region should take preemptive steps to avoid entanglements that could be disruptive to our economic, environmental, social and other topics. Here are a few ways to begin to take appropriate steps.

■ There is a need to update the regional plan periodically so that new events can be taken into account as they occur. This is a role that the NEPA Alliance (formerly Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania) can play.

A collaborative approach would make sense with other agencies such as the Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center and many others being involved.

By pre-planning, it would not only be preemptive but allow a look at creativity and innovation techniques to be responsive to a better future and quality of life for the one million plus citizens who call this region as home.

■ The environmental sensitivity that has always been a more recent trend in the region could benefit from a regional plan approach, using the excellent work of the Northeast office of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and the many other roles being played by other groups such as the land conservancies, land trusts, watershed associations and others. The fall meeting of the various environmental entities in the region would be a great way to enhance how this could be a meaningful step in the region’s environmental history.

■ The social theme so vital to regional life has resulted in many older and newer human service organizations to grow in response to great needs, especially since the region has had a history of difficult times and many low income families. In fact, there should be a social action plan created at the regional level, an idea suggested 20 years ago, but never accomplished. If this were to occur, the entity driving the idea could serve as an advocate for advancing human services even beyond current levels.

■ The cultural level of activity in the region is significant. Economic and community development can benefit from more at districts being formed, more support being provided for the arts, all counties having established cultural departments such as that found in Lackawanna County, and much more.

In the 1970s, there was a regional arts council and it may be time to seriously consider reigniting this concept, hold more seminars on the arts as was done by WVIA two years ago, and utilize the arts in

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FEBRUARY 2019

particular field, and perhaps the region could be the a way that has not been discovered regionally. That could be accomplished by bringing together the arts example for accomplishing health sector planning.

■ One other action would be looking at the organizations and discussing the capability of an advocacy organization being formed outstanding colleges and universities in to serve as the regional focus for the the region and encouraging quality and “There are ... future. quantity use of the faculty, students ways the region and administrative talents collectively ■ In the health care field, there should take are many organizations that exist, that exist to focus on the major prioriand health probably is the number ties that face the region. This idea has preemptive one employer and income factor been proposed in the past and could steps to avoid in regional life. There is a need to be advanced again as a measure to entanglements think through the extent to which the utilize existing entities in a slightly that could be health sector will advance in the next different way. disruptive to ten to twenty years, and how the These ideas, together with creating region should plan accordingly. a regional leadership program, using our economic, There were entities in regional the outstanding community leadership environmental, history such as the NEPA Business social and other programs which now exist in each health group and the Health Systems county to take up the gauntlet of topics.”

Agency, there is value in thinking preemptive planning would go a long about redirecting this approach in way toward meeting the futuristic 21st century terms in a regional sense. Again, preneeds of a region capable of accomplishing almost emptive planning would seem to be essential in this anything in the years and generations ahead.

LOCAL

Bank unveils Smart Banking Solution Center

Photo courtesy of Wayne Bank

Wayne Bank recently launched a Smart Banking Solution Center at its Central Scranton Community Office on Adams Avenue in downtown Scranton. The Smart Banking Solution Center was designed to introduce customers to the wide array of electronic and mobile banking services offered by the bank. The centerpiece is an interactive, state-of-the-art, floor-standing touchscreen that customers can use to access detailed information and video tutorials. From left: Elaine Reuthe, Central Scranton Community Office manager; Eli T. Tomlinson, senior vice president, information security officer; Lewis J. Critelli, president and chief executive officer; Robert J. Mancuso, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Kristen E. Lancia, marketing associate, and Joseph A. Castrogiovanni, senior vice president, Pennsylvania retail banking market manager.

Each month, the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal and NEPIRC, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, recognize one of our region’s outstanding manufacturers. These companies represent today’s advanced, high-tech manufacturing economy and provide good-paying jobs by producing products used across the nation and throughout the world every day.

ON Semicon uctor: Power For Today and Tomorrow

If you play video games, watch television, have power tools in your workshop, own a cell phone or drive a car, chances are you rely on at least one high-tech product made in northeastern Pennsylvania every day. ON Semiconductor, a 280-employee stateof-the-art fabrication facility in Mountain Top, is one of the world’s leading producers of semiconductors for the automotive, electronics and communications industries. “Just about anywhere power is converted, an ON Semiconductor product is there,” according to Steve Willison, the company’s Human Resource and Social Responsibility Leader for Pennsylvania.

Since breaking ground as an RCA electronics plant in 1960, the facility now flying the ON Semiconductor banner has reinvented itself many times over. Today, the business boasts production cleanrooms which have air filtered to 100 times fewer airborne particles than a hospital operating room, impeccable product quality ratings, an extremely high employee retention rate and a team-based operating style aligned with the expectations and preferences of the next generation of associates. “We provide direction – but don’t give directions,” explained Heather Carreiro, ON Semiconductor’s General Manager. “We’ve adopted a self-directed work team model that depends on mutual respect, team involvement and professionalism,” she added.

The company’s recently-announced $51 million expansion will further modernize its 437,000 square foot facility and bring additional semiconductor fabrication equipment online.

“As long as we continue to attract a workforce that wants to thrive within a progressive company in an area that offers four seasons of outdoor enjoyment, a low cost of living and a short commute to major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Philadelphia, we’re confident we’ll continue to grow,” said Ms. Carreiro.

To secure its future workforce, ON Semiconductor is doing its part to upgrade the image of manufacturing.

Those approaches are working well for ON Semiconductor, oft f en referred to as “the Silicon Valley of northeastern PA”, as it realizes the advantages of a dedicated, energetic workforce that values the company’s employee benefits, staff recognition and professional development programs. Many associates have already progressed from Operator to Engineer positions through the company’s tuition reimbursement and educational support initaitives. Others are utilizing ON’s Career Pathway model to build their own unique future within the company.

The company supports NEPIRC’s “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests, engages in NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Day efforts, offers in-school “Tech Talks” and supports internship, job shadowing and STEM education efforts.

Between its production capabilities, skilled workforce, superior market position and excellent reputation, there’s no limit as to what ON Semiconductor’s Mountain Top facility will become in the future. Currently, the company is seeking ways to further penetrate the automobile, Internet of Things and cloud computing markets while expanding its dominance within existing supply chains. “We’ve not had a reduction in workforce in over a decade, and we’re now hiring for our future,” Ms. Carreiro said with excitement. The company currently has more than 20 positions open and expects to hire 70 new associates within the next year.

This feature is sponsored by...

We congratulate the leadership of ON Semiconductor for keeping it made in northeastern PA!

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EDUCATION

Peoples Security Bank supports local education During 2018, Peoples Security Bank & Trust donated more than one million dollars as part of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. The donations are administered through Commonwealth Charitable Management and are primarily used to award scholarships and grants to numerous schools, colleges and organizations within the bank’s primary market area.

During 2018, more than 650 scholarships were issued to 30 Pre-K and K-12 schools and career technology schools.

Grants were also awarded to nearly 30 organizations and school districts in order to support Educational Improvement Projects.

Peoples Security Bank also funds the program costs of the EverFi Financial Literacy Program that is currently offered to 20 local high schools.

FEATURE

Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, U of S team up on internship program

panies connect with students who need to fill credit The Small Business Development Center at requirements and give both the most value. the University of Scranton is already pretty good at The program has received 822 applications linking the right interns with the since it started, and facilitated 79 Participating small and growing businesses successful internships, SBDC schools that need them. director Lisa Hall Zielinski said.

■ Clarks Summit University Teaming up with the Greater Each one involves a lot of ■ Fortis Institute Scranton Chamber of Comtime and effort between the ■ Geisinger Commonwealth merce, the deal for both the SBDC, the company and the School of Medicine worker and company is getting a student, which explains why the ■ Johnson College ■ King’s College little sweeter. number of successful internships ■ Lackawanna College On Friday, chamber and completed isn’t higher, she said.

■ Luzerne County CommuniSBDC officials unveiled the new For many new or very small ty College Small Business Internship Fund, businesses, interns may be their ■ Misericordia University a program that will initially seek first employees. For the interns, ■ Marywood University ■ Penn State Scranton to subsidize 50 paid internships it may be their first job applica■ University of Scranton for students from a dozen area tion in their field of study, so ■ Wilkes University colleges and universities. the SBDC treats each one like a The SBDC created its Small formal hiring process. To particiBusiness Internship Initiative in 2013 to help compate, the small businesses have to pay their interns,

by Jon O’Connell

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which is a growing trend across the country as both parties look to squeeze more out of the experience.

“Early on we recognized there was a need — I’ve sort of been dreaming of this for the last five years or so — a need for a matching fund,” Hall Zielinski said.

The match works like this: An eligible business must be a chamber member in good standing and meet the small business specifications per the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Only for-profit companies can participate, and business owners have to agree to work with the chamber and SBDC throughout the program.

The intern must complete 100 hours of work at a rate of $10 an hour — so the student earns $1,000.

When the program ends, the business submits proof that the intern got paid, and the chamber reimburses $500, or half of the intern’s wages, from the fund.

“Quality, paid internships are a win-win for students and employers,” chamber President Bob

Durkin said in a statement. “The students gain valuable experience and learn about professional opportunities right here in our region, and our businesses benefit from the unique skills of talented young scholars who will be the foundation of our future workforce.”

The fund has $25,000, money raised during the chamber’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2018, for the first 50 interns. Chamber Vice President Amy Luyster said both organizations hope to replenish the fund and keep it going.

FEATURE FROM PAGE 1

He declared that the development of Alzheimer’s has progressed into a public health crisis.

Fortunately, the “volume” has been turned up on the situation, research dollars are rising, and the public seems more aware of the scenario often because they know personally of an Alzheimer’s victim.

“Part of the problem with Alzheimer’s is that people are simply living longer and thereby creating higher risk factors,” said Dr. Cornacchione.

“Diagnostic processes are also better, and can determine whether memory loss is just a normal part of aging or a situation that is creating functional impairment.”

He also has become concerned about the lack of a national dialogue concerning tough end-of-life decisions that many families face. Often, decisions about futile care come down to what a physician suggests, because most families dodge the conversation until absolutely necessary during the last few weeks of a patient’s life.

“When you add in probability of severe Medicare and Medicaid funding problems that are now deepening, we have a financial crisis ahead,” said Dr. Cornacchione.

The sheer numbers of people becoming elderly is not yet a crushing problem for most caregivers, according to Renee M. Hakim, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Scranton.

However, an ongoing need to deliver more care with fewer resources is being felt, but increases in care productivity and the existence of many government and community initiatives has so far helped large numbers of patients to be adequately served.

A quiet issue cited by Dr. Hakim involves whether patients seeking elder care are motivated for their situation to improve.

Science once believed age equals disability, but research has now proven this must not always be the case and linear physical and mental declines can often be deterred by challenging the patient.

HAKIM “The challenge presented to the patient must be of an appropriate level,” said Dr. Hakim. “Often, we will challenge and then motivate personally using the patient’s own interests.”

Isolation, depression, loss of career and adult children moving away all can rob a patient of motivation and add to a mental and physical

decline. The relationship with a primary care provider is also vital to fight patient depression.

Science is marching on with advancements to help rehab patients. Dr. Hakim mentioned the existence of computerized sensing devices that monitor a patient’s metrics and then automatically reports back to caregivers.

Amputation prosthetic and assist devices are now a reality, and may offer a new lease on life as robotics and mechanical exo-skeletons assist with walking. Treatment paths for stroke victims also are being modified with muscle training systems, and obesity is now understood to be both a mental health and physical disorder that may genuinely benefit from both bariatric surgery and interdisciplinary care.

“In the future we are going to see more and more emphasis on prevention,” said Dr. Hakim.

“Financial concerns about Medicare and Medicaid are also very real, and staff burnout from stress can be a problem.”

Making connections Dana Maida, D.P.T., faculty specialist for physical therapy at the University of Scranton, added that the biggest challenge facing her arena involves connecting patients with the available resources. Patient motivation after a caregiver connection is achieved is another issue.

“To motivate a patient, we might start with conversation that leads to something MAIDA meaningful in their life,” said Maida. “This might be a return of going to church, or being able to travel to visit grandchildren. Its all about making the connection.”

Community service has become an integral part of effective elder care. At Scranton’s Jewish Community Center (JCC), a group of University of Scranton students are administering a program of physical rehabilitation and prevention for seniors that targets flexibility, balance and coordination, with an emphasis on prevention.

Dr. Landram explained that the program touches 15 to 20 patients at any given time, and has helped with quality of life issues for more than 100 people since inception four years ago. Included within the program’s goals is treatment for the social isolation that plagues many seniors, as well as motivation to inspire for change.

“Advancing isolation can fuel fears about going

out at all, and can amplify a belief that an elder can’t truly afford the help they need,” said Dr. Landram.

“It’s also true that not every senior will regain the same degree of functionality, but during our four years we have witnessed a great deal of effectiveness with the patients.”

The scourge of senior social isolation is also being battled by the Moses Taylor Foundation. Christine Marcos, program officer, acknowledged that crippling MARCOS isolation is increasing within all age groups, but is particularly chronic among many seniors. This scenario then kindles measurable health problems such as hypertension and chronic disease.

LaTida Smith, Foundation CEO, commented that isolation often sneaks up on a person and then can impact health. From a metrics standpoint the reality of depression from isolation is hard to quantify, but the caregiver community has become aware of these interconnections.

The Foundation’s response to this scenario is a commitment and five-year plan to identify and develop a standardized tool to measure isolation. This will be accompanied by a navigation system to connect resources to potential patients and utiSMITH

lize NEPA’s rich supply of resources and volunteers.

“We are utilizing federal funding and from other sources and will involve 11 counties,” said Smith.

“We’re also very aware of the real possibility of problems with Medicare funding, and as a private organization we understand the community needs to pick up some of the burden for health care.”

Lighting a candle Amid all of the concern about mounting financial stress and elder care, a beacon of light is shining brightly courtesy of the Wright Center for Community Health. Sister Maureen Marion, a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Neuman Communities, is now serving as a life enhancement spiritual aide and visiting isolated patients identified by Wright Center physicians.

The effort is being financed with revenues from a New York source. For Sister Marion, her involvement can be traced to the needs of her ill mother who was identified MARION by the center as isolated.

“I deal with about 25 patients 65 and older who may live alone, with a family, or are in a nursing home,” said Sister Marion. “We talk about family, life experiences and whatever else comes up, and there’s no formal plan, although we end with a prayer. I compare this effort to lighting a candle within a dark church, and you never know what kind of a difference you will be making in someone’s life”

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EDUCATION

PHEAA loan plan benefits students, families and Pennsylvania’s economy

unsubsidized loan market with costs that add an additional 1 to 2 percent in interest. After that, the Decades ago, federal and state investment in higher education addressed the important concepts student has to borrow from a commercial lender at a substantially higher interest rate – often more of access and affordability for every student who dreamed of earning a college degree. Today, those than 10 percent. Some lenders are currently concepts may be more important than ever before. charging 14 percent, making this additional When we speak about limited access to higher borrowing look more like a credit card bill than an investment in an education. education, we are acknowledging that That is a major problem in need of a large number of prospective college a solution. students do not have a clear path to PHEAA has serviced federal loans a college degree even though they for many years. As such, Pennsylvania have the ability and drive to attain citizens have benefited from the one. Although there may be several profitability of that work to support common impediments to attaining the PHEAA grant program, which a degree, paying for college – or continues to work well and deserves affordability – is high on the list. Nearly BOTZMAN our continued enthusiastic support. all of the students at Misericordia Recently, PHEAA introduced another University, where I serve as president, concept that will decrease borrowing costs for require financial aid to be able to afford college. students in the Keystone state. I applaud the That is also the reality for most institutions of innovation and inspiration of our state officials higher education and students in every state. who have supported the new Forward Student Families planning for college first examine Loan Program to lower costs for borrowing after their own financial resources. Most do not institutional resources and parental help have been have enough to pay the entire tuition bill, so exhausted. they seek other sources, such as grant aid. The The Forward Student Loan Program will have borrower does not need to repay the federal Pell no fees. Approval will be rapid, as PHEAA will grant, the Pennsylvania State Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grant and institutional already know the students. Rates will be fixed scholarships (those awarded directly by the college and competitive, given the borrowing power of or university to the student). Thereby, federal, state state government. Students also will receive a .50 and donor sources are key elements to supporting percent rate reduction for completing a degree and a six-month grace period to begin payment after access and affordability for collegians. graduation.

Typically, however, the combination of family More students earning degrees makes resources and grant funds fail to cover the entire Pennsylvania increasingly competitive as a place cost of a college education. for growing businesses, joining 20 other states Students close this funding gap with loans. that have created plans to provide lower-cost Federal subsidized loans provide a resource that financing to college students. At the same time, helps to match the student’s need. Subsidized PHEAA continues to make a modest profit that can loans currently carry an interest rate of 5.05 support grants and loans for our students going percent. In the past, students could look toward forward. the federal Perkins Loan program for additional Creative thinking by state and federal support. Unfortunately, the federal government closed the Perkins Loan program, which depended government officials and related agencies to help address access and affordability will pay off for on a cost-sharing plan for both the college and our students and our state in improved degree federal government. In my view, Perkins was a attainment, economic growth and a happier valuable program and a misplaced judgment to citizenry. save money by taking it away from students and families with no other form of support.

Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., is president of Misericordia University in Dallas, the oldest fourOnce a student exhausts federal subsidized year institution of higher education in Luzerne loans, the student must enter the federal

PPL Electric Utilities makes EITC gift to F.M. Kirby Center

By Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D.

County.

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Photo courtesy of the F.M. Kirby Center

PPL Electric Utilities made a donation to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts as part of its Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) contribution. This gift will support the Kirby Center’s Young People’s Theater Series, which is a key focus in the venue’s Arts and Education program. The Young People’s Theater Series provides students in our community with national, touring productions that are both entertaining and educational, and that enrich the lives of our youth and underserved populations. This series is offered free of charge, and each performance comes with its own study guide that brings the lesson from the stage into the classroom. From left: Joell Yarmel, associate director of development, F.M. Kirby Center; Alana Roberts, regional affairs director, PPL Electric Utilities; Will Beekman, executive director, F.M. Kirby Center, and Lauren Pluskey McLain, director of development, F.M. Kirby Center.

FNCB Bank donates scholarship funds to Marywood University’s Momentum Program

Photo courtesy of FNCB Bank

FNCB Bank announced a $3,000 Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to Marywood University for the school’s Momentum Program. The program provides high school juniors and seniors with the opportunity to get a head start on college by enrolling in college level courses. Students can choose from a variety of courses, most often liberal arts courses, during the fall, spring, summer I and summer II semesters through high school graduation. Since 2010, FNCB has contributed more than $1,600,000 to local educational and scholarship organizations through the EITC initiative. From left: Patricia Rosetti, Marywood University leadership annual giving officer, and Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank president and CEO.

EDUCATION BRIEFS the University of Scranton makes national ranking The University of Scranton ranked in the top 10 percent of colleges in America for “overall quality” in a 2019 ranking by College Factual. Scranton ranked No. 161 in the national ranking of 1,779 schools.

College Factual also ranked Scranton in the top 10 percent in the nation in its ranking of “Best Religiously Affiliated” schools, placing Scranton at No. 16 in a list of 185 schools.

In other postings on the College Factual website, several Scranton programs ranked in the top 15 percent in the nation, including criminal justice, nursing, accounting, business administration, marketing and international business.

College Factual, in rankings EDKINS published online, considers retention and graduation rates, student loan default rates, overall average post- graduation earnings based on College Scorecard data, among other factors.

In other national rankings, U.S. News and World Report included Scranton in a national ranking of the “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” (No. 199) and ranked Scranton’s entrepreneurship program at No. 31, its finance program at No. 36 and its accounting program at No. 37 in the country. In the overall ranking for colleges, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 6 among the “Best Regional Universities in the North,” marking

the 25th consecutive year that Scranton ranked in the top 10 of its category. The Princeton Review also listed Scranton in its 2019 edition of “The Best 384 Colleges,” ranking Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Labs” (No. 16) and “Best Campus Food” (No. 15). lackawanna college, Bloomsburg University sign transfer agreement Lackawanna College and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania signed a transfer agreement that will provide a seamless program-to-program pathway for Lackawanna students to complete their Bachelor of Applied Science degree in technical leadership.

Under this new partnership, students in good academic standing who complete their associate degree at Lackawanna can transfer to Bloomsburg with junior (third-year) status. The bachelor’s degree in Technical Leadership aims to build on the expertise students have gained through their associate degree program to build working professionals ready to take charge of technical workgroups, project teams and service departments. misericordia University Athletics department to introduce esports as a varsity activity in fall The Misericordia University Athletics Department is introducing esports as a coed varsity activity beginning with the fall semester.

Esports involves teams competing head-to-head in multi-player games online through gaming broadcasters. Misericordia will be the fifth team in the Middle Atlantic Conference to add esports. This brings MU’s varsity offerings to 26.

“In an effort to provide our student population with diverse competitive opportunities, we look forward to the addition of esports,’’ said Chuck Edkins, director of athletics at Misericordia University. “We will begin an immediate search for our coach and begin the recruiting process for the fall semester.’’

Misericordia University will compete in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), the only association of varsity esports programs at colleges and universities in the United States, during the fall and spring semesters. NACE features more than 80 member schools and more than 1,500 student-athletes competing in collegiate video gaming. Misericordia’s 15-member team will participate in “Hearthstone,” “Rocket League” and “League of Legends” games.

“Hearthstone” is a competitive, collectible card game where players try to outwit and outsmart their opponents using cards that reflect monsters and magic spells. “Rocket League’’ is similar to “soccer with rocket-powered cars” and features one to four players per team. Set in an imaginative world, “League of Legends” gamers take the role of a powerful summoner, calling forth and controlling brave champions in battle.

In the coming months, the athletics department will build a dedicated esports gaming room on campus, featuring about 15 Xidax gaming computers. The campus community and fans will be able to watch spectatorfriendly competitive gaming between the colleges and universities on a Misericordia University-dedicated Twitch account that will be ready at the start of the fall semester in mid-August.

Twitch is a service that primarily focuses on broadcast-

ing esports games and streaming video games. In 2017, for example, viewers watched almost 6 billion hours of content on the service, according to Forbes.

For more information about esports at Misericordia University, contact Edkins at 570-674-6397 or cedkins@misericordia.edu.

Addiction concentration to begin in fall at lackawanna To combat the opioid epidemic, Lackawanna College will offer an addiction concentration as part of its bachelor’s degrees in human services and criminal justice, beginning in the fall 2019 semester.

“Both students and faculty expressed a need for an addiction concentration to address the growing crisis in northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Lackawanna College Social Science Division chair Nicole Bradigan. “This program will give emphasis to all forms of addiction, including substances, impulse control disorders and behavioral addictions.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,237 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2017. Pennsylvania had the third highest rates of death due to drug overdose in 2017 and was one of several states with statistically significant increases in drug overdose death rates from 2016 to 2017.

Lackawanna’s new concentration will be available to students possessing or pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

It will prepare students to work in the field of addictions, providing them with an academic understanding of substance use and related addictive disorders. The concentration will also focus on counseling, treatment and prevention for individuals and their families.

PERSONNEL FILE Allied ServiceS

Kevin E. Bowman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, assistant vice president of Pharmacy Services, recently met the requirements for a seven-year recertification as a board certified geriatric pharmacist awarded by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. Board certification through the BPS is recognized as the gold standard for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute BOWMAN at advanced practice levels.

Through rigorous standards, the BPS-certified pharmacist stands out as the most qualified to take on today’s expanding health care expectations and improve patient outcomes. He formerly served as pharmacy director in several acute care facilities as well as in a long-term care pharmacy.

Bowman resides in Wyoming.

Gary A. Beppler, PharmD, certified antibiotic stewardship pharmacist, consultant pharmacist, recently achieved certification in antibiotic stewardship through the Society of BEPPLER Infection Disease Pharmacists.

The Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate Program is an innovative and intensive practice-based activity for pharmacists focusing on the pharmacist’s role in the area of appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. Tuition was funded through

a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health with the goal of having a pharmacy consultant lead antibiotic stewardship programs in long-term care centers. He formerly served as a pharmacist at an area hospital. Beppler resides in Dickson City.

clASSic ProPertieS

Mike DiRamondo has joined the North Pocono office. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and is currently director of sales for Dragonboard USA. He recently completed his real estate courses online at Real Estate Express.

Christopher Selige has joined the Clarks Summit office. He grew up in the Abingtons and is entering his third year selling real estate in Northeast Pennsylvania. In FISHER addition to selling real estate, Selige currently does title research in the natural gas industry.

Kathlyn Fisher has joined the Clarks Summit office. She grew up in Tunkhannock and worked as an event sales coordinator for Stone Hedge Country Club for six years. Fisher completed her real estate courses at the CE Shop online site.

commonweAlth heAlth

Clark D. Gerhart, M.D., a Commonwealth Health Physician Network surgeon, has authored a chapter, “Robotic Single-Site Cholecystectomy,” for the Atlas of Robotic Surgery published by Cine-Med Inc. Gerhart is an expert in robotic-assisted surgery and is a general and bariatric surgeon. The Atlas of Robotic Surgery draws on the expertise of world-renowned

surgeons who have mastered robotic technology. The atlasstyle text includes color photos and drawings to illustrate the surgical instruction on robotic techniques for general surgery procedures.

Devin Carey, M.D., has joined the physician network and will practice family GERHART medicine in Shavertown. She completed a residency in family medicine at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, where she was named Intern of the Year in 2015. Carey is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She is on the medical staff of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and will see patients at the Commonwealth Health Shavertown Clinic, 176 N. Main St., Shavertown.

connor-helring ASSociAteS

CAREY Thomas Kelly, a producer at the company located in Scranton, recently earned the prestigious Certified WorkComp Advisor designation, conferred by the Institute of WorkComp Professionals. The Asheville, North Carolina-based organization trains insurance professionals to locate costly errors in workers’ compensation coverage. The certification training provided by the Institute is essential in reviewing Workers’ Compensation insurance reports.

Currently, there are more than 300 insurance agencies

nationwide that have staff members who have qualified for the Certified WorkComp Advisor designation.

dime BAnk

Each year the bank devotes an evening to applaud its staff who are celebrating a five-year incremental employment anniversary. The event is a fitting tribute to those who have achieved career milestones at Dime Bank. In 2018, the bank celebrated the career milestones of 31 employees. Many of them marked over 20, 30 and 35 years with the bank. Those who were feted at the dinner with years of tenure are: Eric Avery, Cathy Reimer, Margaret Farber, Arlyce Degnan, Tina Passiment, Paula Ralston Nenish, Rory McGhie, Joy Carey, Karla Eyler and Val O’Hare, five years: Joyce Locklin, Melissa Wilkins, Effie Slattery, Pattie DeGraw, James Gardas, Erin Kellogg, Jamie Hausler and Carmela Timmons, 10 years; Jenn Tagle, Audrey Summers, Melissa Black and Kathy Haser, 15 years: Pam Bunnell and Jerry Theobald, 20 years; Maureen Beilman, Nancy Haggarty, Heather Bidwell, Wayne Briggs, Bonnie Drake and Dena MacMullen, 30 years; and Jill George, 35 years.

diStASio & kowAlSki llc

Attorney Daniel Distasio, a partner in the Wilkes-Barre DISTASIO personal injury firm, has been selected by the National Trial Lawyers for inclusion in its Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. This honor is given to only Please see Personnel, Page 22

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PERSONNEL FILE

FROM PAGE 21 a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only, and is limited to the top 100 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and achieved outstanding results in their careers in either civil plaintiff or criminal defense law. With his selection, Distasio has shown that he exemplifies superior qualifications, leadership skills and trial results as a trial lawyer. The selection process for this elite honor is based on a multi-phase process, which includes peer nominations combined with third party research. The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country.

ESSA BANK & TRUST

The bank announced the recent addition of executives within its consumer lending and retail branch administration teams.

William L. Vitalos, senior vice president, director of consumer lending, joins with more than 30 years of managerial and consumer lending experience. He oversees the consumer and residential mortgage lending operations VITALOS at the bank, along with product development, pricing and vendor management. Vitalos has held leadership positions with BB&T and predecessor banks in consumer lending, branch administration and documentation areas. He will be located in the bank’s corporate headquarters in Stroudsburg.

James P. Ferry, vice president, retail sales manager, will oversee retail branch sales and service throughout the bank’s entire branch network. He has 20-plus years of management in retail banking. Most recently, Ferry was a retail and smallbusiness sales and service leader at BB&T where he was responsible for a 22-branch FERRY network in Lehigh and Berks counties.

FNCB BANK

R. Gregory Collins, a resident of Dallas, will be joining the bank as executive vice president, chief banking officer.

As chief banking officer, Collins will be responsible for the oversight of the bank’s commercial lending, retail lending and retail banking units. He joins the bank with more than 25 years of managerial experiCOLLINS ence in banking. Most recently he served as the area president of Wells Fargo Bank’s Northeast Pennsylvania region where he was responsible for the overall sales, service, financials and operations for 38 retail stores in nine counties.

GEISINGER

Collin Hair, M.D., has joined the medical staff as a pediatric ophthalmologist. He will see patients at the health system’s specialty clinic at 675 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, and Forty Fort clinic at 190 Welles St.,

GEISINGER NORTHEAST

HONESDALE NATIONAL BANK

HAIR

The American Heart Association, a voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, has named Dr. Anthony Aquilina as chair of the 2019 Northeast Pennsylvania Heart Ball. Aquilina currently serves as regional president of the health system, including Geisinger Community Medical Center, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Marworth Alcohol & Chemical Dependency Treatment Center in Northeast Pennsylvania He previously served as chief medical officer at Geisinger Community Medical Center, associate chief medical officer AQUILINA for Geisinger Northeast, medical director for health services, quality and performance for Geisinger Health Plan and regional medical director for Geisinger Health Plan. Aquilina is a board-certified family practitioner and geriatrician. He has been practicing primary care medicine in Northeast Pennsylvania with Geisinger Health System since 1993.

The annual Northeast Pennsylvania Heart Ball is set for March 30 at the Room at 900 in Forty Fort. The gala to raise funds for the American Heart Association include dinner, dancing, a silent and live auction and other activities. The event is sponsored locally by Geisinger, Wells Fargo, Vision Imaging, UGI, WNEPTV and Lamar Advertising. For information, including sponsorship and ticket packages, visit northeastpaheartball.heart.org.

GREATER SCRANTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Skills in Scranton, the workforce development affiliate of the chamber, has announced the addition of Lisa Ross to its team as education outreach coordinator for the Educator in the Workplace Initiative.

Ross will assist in outreach efforts to 10 local Lackawanna County public school districts, the Career Technology Center and the local intermediate unit. She will also provide Skills in Scranton staff with assistance in coordinating cohort agendas and support the implementation of a strategic community outreach plan.

Serving as a resource for local educators, Ross will promote the opportunity to participate in this industry immersion experience.

A resident of Dunmore, she recently retired after serving more than 35 years in education, where she held positions ROSS as a math specialist for third, fourth and fifth grades, as well as a learning support teacher for grades nine through 12. She also served as a representative for the Scran-

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ton Federation of Teachers.

Suite 122.

Fellowship trained in pediatric ophthalmology, Hair specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric eye conditions for patients from infancy to age 18. He also sees adult and pediatric patients for eye movement disorders.

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David E. Raven, president and chief executive officer at the bank, has been elected to serve a threeyear term on the 11-member board of the Pennsylvania Bankers Services Corp. The services corporation provides products and services to Pennsylvania Bankers Association members in the areas of compliance alliance, employee benefits, select vendor program and title insurance. Raven has more than 30 years of experience as a bank executive. He is a board member and past chairman of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, board member and past campaign chair of RAVEN the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, board member of the Great Valley Technology Alliance, board member and past chairman of the Professional Development Policy Committee of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, and board member and chair of the Retail Banking Executive Committee of the New York Bankers Association.

Vicky Bryant, a resident of Honesdale, was promoted to the position of assistant vice president. Bryant is the bank’s data processing manager. She joined in 1992 as a bookkeeping clerk. In 1997, she became BRYANT a data processing clerk and was promoted to data processing manager after three years.

During her career at the bank, she has attended bank training seminars and educational classes through Jack Henry University with certifications in Synergy, SL Teller, Silverlake and 4sight. She currently serves as the treasurer for the Jack Henry Mid Atlantic User Group.

HOURIGAN, KLUGER & QUINN PC

Attorney Christopher C. Quinn has joined the personal injury team. Quinn will be providing legal counsel to personal injury clients throughout Northeast Pennsylvania, specializing in product liability, medical malpractice and auto negligence. He will be based in the firm’s Kingston office at 600 Third Ave. He was selected as a national member of the Order of the Barristers and received the 2016 CourtCall Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy and the 2016 Shalom Moot Court Award. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Quinn served as law clerk to Lackawanna County Judge Terrence R. Nealon, where he conducted legal QUINN research, edited and evaluated the legal analyses in drafts of written opinions, prepared bench memoranda, and attended oral arguments, conferences and trials.

Previous to his experience with Nealon, he served as a law clerk at the law firm, where he conducted legal research regarding a variety of evidentiary and civil law issues, drafted internal memoranda, pleadings, motions and discovery requests.

KING’S COLLEGE

Wendy Hinton has been appointed director of advancement communications. In this newly created role, Hinton will be responsible for leading the communication efforts for the Institutional Advancement Division to increase constituent engagement and philanthropic support for the college.

Hinton previously served as the director of external relations and the director of programming and special events HINTON at Lackawanna College. She also has extensive experience as an arts administrator, having served as executive director of Scranton Community Concerts and worked for the Scranton Cultural Center, the F.M. Kirby Center, Manhattan Theatre Club and the New 42nd Street.

Hinton is a member of Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society in business, management and administration and is a 2013 graduate of the Leadership Lackawanna program.

MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY

Dr. E. Lee Felder Jr., Ed.D., CM, SPHR, SHRMSCP, ACG, a retired Air Force major and director of human resources at the university, was recently elected to the Northeast Pa. Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

SHRM is a local resource of excellence for networking, professional development and continued support in human resources. Earlier this year, the department of human resources at Marywood University was notified that its proposed proclamation to have a statewide “Human Resources FELDER Professionals Week,” was passed in the Pennsylvania House with a vote of 192-0. As a result, “HR Professionals Week” will take place annually in October. The proposal was presented by Felder to State Rep. Karen Boback, and was unanimously passed in the House on Oct. 16. Originally from Bryan, Texas, he is a veteran who served as an officer in the Air Force for 23 years.

MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY

Fred Croop, Ed.D., M.B.A., professor of business, was recently elected to a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations.

His term begins in January. PANO is a statewide organization that serves and advances the nonprofit sector through advocacy, collaboration, education and other services in order to improve the overall quality of life in Pennsylvania. Croop has been an advocate for all-volunteer, nonprofit organizations for many years. In 2015, the Department of Business at the university, under his direction, developed the Internal Controls CROOP and Federal Tax Exemption Basics for All-Volunteer Organizations Resource Manual. The manual is available via a free download online for all-volunteer organizations, Please see Personnel, Page 23

PERSONNEL FILE FROM PAGE 22 such as volunteer fire departments, youth recreation leagues, parent teacher organizations, and more. The complete manual is available at misericordia.edu/ nonprofitcontrols.

The Norman Mailer Society recently elected Forty Fort resident Matthew S. Hinton, M.A., M.F.A., assistant director of the Student Success Center and adjunct English faculty, to the 19-member executive board during the 16th Annual Norman Mailer Society Conference in Macon, Georgia.

An international academic organization founded in 2003 to celebrate the life and works of the American author, journalist and playwright, the Norman Mailer Society’s more than 300 members meet annually for three days for panel discussions, scholarly paper presentations and viewing of films.

Hinton, a playwright, poet, editor and educator, has been a member of the nonprofit organization for 10 years, presenting and reading at its meetings and conferences. Most recently, he presented, “Mailer Meets Vinyl: A Record Collector Secures Norman Mailer,’’ at the annual conference. Hinton also served as a researcher to author J. Michael Lennon in his work on the official biography of Mailer, titled “A Double Life.’’

Members of the university’s Interprofessional Committee recently made HINTON scholarly presentations at the Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century conference at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Professors Heather Fritz, DPT, assistant professor of physical therapy; Gina Capitano, MS, RT(R), assistant professor of medical imaging; Lori Charney, OTD, OTR/L, assistant professor and chairwoman of occupational therapy, and Rita Carey, MSN, RN, CNE, assistant professor of nursing, made a platform presentation on an interprofessional toileting activity.

The presentation highlighted faculty efforts to train students across multiple disciplines in the health sciences on how to properly toilet patients.

Laurie Brogan, DPT, CEEAA, GCS, assistant professor of physical therapy, and Capitano presented the interactive workshop, “ZOOM! Broadening Perspective through a Collaborative Team Approach.”

The Misericordia professors used the popular children’s book, “Zoom,” in order to have attendees work together and establish a team approach.

Interprofessional Committee members also attended the conference, including Susan McDonald, Ph.D., LSW, assistant professor and chairwoman, social work; Lynn Blazaskie, BSRT(R), clinical coordinator and instructor, medical imaging; Amanda Caleb, Ph.D., associate professor, English, and director, Medical and Health Humanities Program, and Maureen Rinehimer, PT, Ph.D., MS, MHS, assistant professor, physical therapy.

NEPA ALLIANCE

Deborah Langan, a resident of Dunmore, was promoted to the position of senior international business development program manager effective Nov. 1. She will assume these new duties from Michael Horvath, who retired on Nov. 26 after 29 years of service.

Langan’s responsibilities will be to provide exporting assistance to help businesses take full advantage of the global marketplace. She will be

assisting businesses already involved in exporting and those just starting out. The International Program is the first point of contact for export development assistance in NEPA’s seven-county service area (Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne). The program provides businesses with international market research to determine a market’s potential, a market entry strategy, counseling, export finance information, technical support, educational programs, assistance with certification and regulatory requirements, review of marketing materials, international trade activity information and other assistance.

Frank Migneco has returned to the alliance’s staff. A government procurement manager, he will be networking with clients and providing technical, marketing and informational MIGNECO assistance to businesses regarding government contracting opportunities.

In addition to helping these companies with their expansion or entry into contracting with federal, state and local governments, he will be assisting in the administration of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center program. Migneco resides in Carbon County. His background is in program design, planning, implementation, reporting, marketing and evaluation, in addition to having significant contract and procurement management experience.

PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES OF KINGSTON

Natalie Gilboy, CRNP, has joined a full-time position in the Pittston office. Gilboy provides a full spectrum of pediatric patient-centered medical home services, GILBOY including sick and well visits, physicals, referrals, screenings and education. A 10-year resident of Lackawanna County, she is an active member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

Pennsylvania Game Warden Mark Kropa, Greene Twp., Pike County, was recently promoted to conservation administration supervisor for the commission’s Northeast Region. Kropa was a graduate of the 27th class of game wardens from the Game Commission Ross Leffler School of Conservation in 2008. Upon graduation, he was assigned to southern Pike County as a district game warden. The Northeast Region conservation administration KROPA supervisor is responsible for the administration of the regional land acquisition program, supervision of dispatchers and coordination of agency professionals in administering a land leasing program of private landowners for public hunting purposes. He was previously employed as an emergency services

dispatcher for Kingston and as a dispatcher at the commission’s Northeast Region office in Dallas.

PERRY LAW FIRM

Mark Perry of the Scranton law firm recently spoke at the Litigation Counsel of America’s Renaissance Symposium at the Harvard Club in New York City. His topic was “Wrongful Death Damages in Obstetrical Cases.” The Litigation Counsel of America is an invitationonly trial honorary society established to reflect the new PERRY face of the American bar.

Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of 1 percent of American lawyers. Perry has more than 30 years of experience specializing in complex litigation, including health care, commercial, product liability and class action cases. The firm was established in 1998 and has offices in Scranton, Bethlehem and Corning, New York.

READING AND NORTHERN RAILROAD

Susan Ludwig was appointed vice president of customer service. She will oversee customer service managers, anthracite coal, forest products and general merchandise for more than 70 customers. Ludwig started at the railroad in October 2011 as a customer service manager.

She was promoted to director of customer service in 2013 and served as the primary account representative for plastics and chemicals. In June LUDWIG of 2016 Ludwig was promoted to AVP of customer service, in charge of the general merchandise customer service managers for all of the forest products and general merchandise accounts.

SCE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

Michael Wanta, P.E. has joined the group’s senior management team and has been appointed president. The company is an international remediation contractor based in Lake Ariel that employs more than 200 people throughout the United States through five offices.

Wanta is a seasoned corporate manager with a progressively advancing professional career in the environmental field, with a strong focus on WANTA construction and operating compliance. In his previous role, he has managed multiple business units and was the president/chief operating officer of Tetra Tech in Arlington, Virginia. He holds his professional engineering licenses in California and Arizona.

TIGUE LAW

The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys recognized the performance of attorney Stephanie L. Tigue as 2018 10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction. The third-party attorney rating organization publishes an annual list of the top 10 family law attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the “10 best” list must pass AIOFLA’s rigorous selection process, which is based on client

and/or peer nominations, thorough research, and AIOFLA’s independent evaluation. AIOFLA’s annual list was created to be used as a resource for clients during the attorney selection process.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

The University of Scranton has named Robert W. Davis Jr., Ed.D., as vice president for student life.

Functional areas and departments of the Student Life Division are Athletics, Campus Ministries, University Chaplain, University Police, the Center for Career Development, the Center for Health Education and Wellness, the Center for Student Engagement, the Counseling Center, the Cross Cultural Centers, Residence Life, Recreational and Club Sports, Student Conduct and Assessment, Student Health Services, Student Government, Dining Services and the University Bookstore.

Davis has served as chief of staff at Scranton since 2011. In that role, he also oversaw the university’s Department of Athletics and managed the essential administrative functions of the Office of the President. He joined the staff in 2006 and has served in several capacities, including as area coordinator and assistant director for housing operations in the Office of Residence Life; director of DAVIS the University’s historic Pride, Passion, Promise Campaign, which raised more than $129 million to support the University’s mission, endowment and development; and as interim vice president for development and alumni relations.

The university has appointed 22 new full-time faculty members: Gunjan Bansal of Dunmore was named a faculty specialist in the health administration/human resources department. She previously worked as a nursing home administrator and has taught as an online associate faculty member of Ashford University Online.

Anthony F. Carusotto, D.P.T., of Dallas was named an instructor in the physical therapy department.

Carusotto previously worked as a physical therapist specializing in both orthopedic and lymphatic therapy.

He has also been an adjunct instructor in kinesiology at the university and at Johnson College.

Bryan R. Crable, Ph.D., of Ellwood City was named assistant professor of biology. He previously worked as a research scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, and as a postdoctoral fellow at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Crable was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship by the Institute for International Education to conduct research at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands from 2010-2011. Crable is active in research with a program that focuses on the physiology of anaerobic bacteria. He is an author or co-author of 12 scholarly publications and, together with his collaborators, he has received nearly 500 citations.

Rita DiLeo, D.Sc., of Factoryville was named assistant professor in the health administration and human resources department. She has worked in the department as a faculty specialist and field coordinator since 2008. DiLeo is trained as a special procedures and interventional radiology technologist and is Please see Personnel, Page 24

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16:55 | BAUMEISTER

PERSONNEL FILE

FROM PAGE 23 a Certified Radiology Administrator and Balanced Scorecard Professional.

Christopher P. Gillett, Ph.D., was named assistant professor of history. His doctoral dissertation is titled “Catholicism and the Making of Revolutionary Ideologies in the British Atlantic, 1630-1673.”

Eleni Gousgounis, Ph.D., was named associate professor in the economics and finance department.

She previously taught finance for several years at

the Stevens Institute of Technology. She has also conducted research for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Andrew J. Gregorowicz of Jessup was named faculty specialist in the accounting department. He has worked for the university as a financial analyst since 2001 and has also served as an adjunct accounting instructor since 2005. Before that, he was the international controller for Harcourt Learning Direct, Scranton.

Christopher Haw, Ph.D., was named as assistant professor in the theology department. An author of two books, for more than 15 years he has served as an independently contracted lecturer at universities and seminaries around the United States.

Emily J. Hopkins, Ph.D., of Scranton was named assistant professor of psychology. Most recently, she was a post-doctoral fellow at Temple University for two years, and before that, at the University of Pennsylvania. She has published numerous articles in scholarly journals.

Hengameh Hosseini, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the health administration and human resources department. He comes to Scranton from the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, where he was an assistant professor of public health sciences.

Gail N. Kemp, Ph.D., of Scranton was named visiting assistant professor of psychology. She has been an adjunct instructor at the University and a teaching fellow at Boston University.

Cara A. Krieg, Ph.D., was named assistant professor of biology. She was previously a postdoctoral research associate and graduate researcher at Michigan State. She has published several articles in academic journals.

Aiala Levy, Ph.D., was named assistant professor of history. She was previously a visiting assistant professor. She has presented her research at conferences in Portugal, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina and throughout the United States.

Mohammad A. Maktoomi, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the physics and electrical engineering department. He comes to Scranton from the University of Calgary, Canada, where he was a postdoctoral scholar.

Amanda Sue Marcy of Clifford Twp. was named assistant professor of accounting. She was previously a faculty specialist in the department and worked prior as an accountant for Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. She is a certified public accountant in the state of Pennsylvania and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Accounting Association and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

John C. O’Bell of Scranton was appointed as a faculty specialist in the counseling and human services department. A licensed professional counselor, he is a former member of the Diocese of Scranton clergy. O’Bell has worked as a self-employed counselor for nearly a decade and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Scranton.

Nicholas Rodio, D.P.T., of Jessup was appointed as an instructor in the physical therapy department.

He comes to the University from ProCare Physical Therapy, where he worked as a staff physical therapist, program director and facility director for the past eight years.

Oleksandr (Alex) Rudniy, Ph.D., of Greentown was named assistant professor of computer science.

Rudniy was previously an assistant professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and completed research

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FEBRUARY 2019

with the National Science Foundation and National Security Agency.

Attorney Jason A. Shrive of Scranton was named assistant professor in the sociology, criminal justice and criminology department. Shrive was most recently the executive director and solicitor of the Scranton Sewer Authority, subsequent to serving as the Scranton city solicitor and deputy mayor of Scranton.

He maintains a private law practice, Shrive Law LLC, where he focuses primarily on criminal defense and family law. Before being appointed as an assistant professor, Shrive taught as an adjunct professor at the university from 2016 to 2018.

Billie R. Tadros, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the English and theater department. For the past year, she was a lecturer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has published poetry in numerous periodicals and anthologies.

Mary L. Troy, Ph.D., of Dunmore was named assistant professor in the counseling and human services department. She is a licensed professional counselor and previously worked in private practice with Resilience Counseling Associates. She also taught as an adjunct at the university for 18 years.

Ana Ugarte Fernandez, Ph.D., of Scranton, formerly of Spain, was named assistant professor in the world languages and cultures department. She previously taught at Duke University.

WAYNE BANK

The bank recently held a luncheon and awards presentation to recognize employees celebrating years of service milestones with the bank. Twenty-one employees were honored at the luncheon, which was held at the Honesdale Golf Club on Oct. 24.

Employees recognized for five years of service include: Michele Bailey, Andes community office manager; Karen Beissel, Wurtsboro community office manager; Kayla Dixon, indirect lending specialist; Denise Kern, Central Scranton assistant community office manager; Kristen Lancia, marketing associate; Darlene Mosher, Hawley community office teller; Brandi Rollison, electronic banking service rep; Frank Sislo, assistant vice president, consumer loan manager; and Kara Suchy, vice president, director of internal audit.

Honored for 10 years with the bank are: Maryanne Hiller, fraud and risk analyst specialist; Lynn Rollison, Waymart community office teller supervisor; and Cheryl Wilkerson, Tannersville community office manager.

Celebrating 15 years of service are: Cindy Johannes, deposit operations rep, and Amanda Miller, commercial loan documentation officer.

Twenty-year honorees include: Julie Kuen, vice president, retail operations and marketing manager; Annette Jurkowski, assistant BSA/compliance officer; and Gerry Moore, assistant vice president, Delaware County residential mortgage officer.

Bea Hendrickson, Walton community office teller, was honored for her 25 years of service, along with Kelly Teeple, executive administrative assistant specialist, and Jodi Wood, loan operations specialist, for their 30-year milestone with the bank.

WAYNE MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Miranda Swartwout recently took over as human resources manager for the health system in Honesdale. Swartwout will be responsible for overseeing HR functions for the multi-specialty medical group’s nearly 300 employees, including physicians, medical providers, office support and

administrative staff. Swartwout has a background in both human resources and career preparation/development. She most recently held the position of lead guidance counselor at Delaware Valley Job Corps, Adams and Associates in Callicoon, New York.

WAYNE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM

SWARTWOUT

The health system announced that attorney Christine Rechner is the new chairwoman of its LongTerm Care Board, which oversees Wayne Woodlands Manor. Rechner has been a Long-Term Care board member since 2014. She has practiced law out of the firm her father, Hugh Rechner, founded, since 2002.

She is also the editor of the Wayne County Legal Journal and chairwoman of the Wayne County Public Library.

Rechner will be up for re-election in two years, although her board tenure ends in 2023. Edward Howell is vice chairman of the Long-Term Care Board, Carol Mazza is secretary and Stanton Rush holds the office of treasurer. Other members include Jim Labar, Cathy Salak and Linda Harding Buchmann.

Her father is the first vice chairman of the Wayne Memorial Hospital/Health System board of trustees.

WVIA PUBLIC MEDIA

RECHNER

Producer/directors in the production division, VIA Studios Global in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre television market, have received two 2018 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented the awards Oct. 13 in Philadelphia.

Chief Operations Officer Ben Payavis II won a 2018 Mid Atlantic Emmy Award in the Director Live or Live to Tape category for the production of “Christmas at Susquehanna: The 50th Anniversary Candlelight Service.”

Recorded in December 2016, the program captured the voices of students, faculty, alumni and community members joined together on the campus of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove to celebrate 50 years of a cherished tradition. The program was produced by VIA Studios Global in partnership with Susquehanna University and distributed by American Public Television.

Producer/Director John Mikulak and Executive Producer Tom Currá were presented 2018 Mid Atlantic Emmy Awards in the Public/Current/Community Affairs category for production of a short-form documentary, “War Stories Vietnam: The Walls that Heal.”

The documentary was part of WVIA’s multiplatform content initiative spotlighting regional Vietnam veterans in conjunction with the release of the PBS Ken Burns documentary, “The Vietnam War.”

SUBMIT PERSONNEL FILE items to business@ timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

FOR THE RECORD DEEDS

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Mifflin Overlook Estates. Property Location: Mifflin Twp. Seller: Helen Home. Amount: $250,000.

Marr Residential Sales LLC. Property Location: Mifflin Twp. Seller: Helen Home. Amount: $320,000.

Austin Switzer. Property Location: Hemlock Twp. Seller: Members Choice Financial Credit Union. Amount: $325,000.

John C. Klingerman. Property Location: Montour Twp. Seller: Yvonne M. Katerman. Amount: $1,800,000.

Michael S. Snyder Sr. Property Location: Briarcreek Twp. Seller: Edward T. Capper. Sr. Amount: $354,000.

Jenna M. Foust. Property Location: Pine Twp. Seller: Daniel G. Houck. Amount: $339,000.

Karen Hudspeth. Property Location: Sugarloaf Twp. Seller: Daken L. Vanderbutg. Amount: $480,000.

Calument Enterprises LLC. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Seller: Commercial Stainless Inc. Amount: $2,468,400.

Russell’s & Kristy’s LLC. Property Location: Milville.

Seller: George A. Laubach. Amount: $775,000.

Aaron D. Young. Property Location: Mifflin Twp. Seller: Luther Diehl Jr. Amount: $300,000.

HACCP Assurance Service Inc. Property Location: South Centre Twp. Seller: Jake’s Place LP. Amount: $275,000.

John R. Hartman. Property Location: Scott Twp. Seller: Jeffrey A. Davis. Amount: $430,000.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY

Jean M. Gilbride. Property Location: Clifton Twp. Seller: Gerald Trapper. Amount: $262,000.

Santo P. Recchia. Property Location: Clifton Twp. Seller: Michael P. Duncklee. Amount: $310,000.

Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter Inc. Property Location: Dalton Boro. Seller: Robert Delessandri. Amount: $630,000.

Parth Apartment LLC. Property Location: Dickson City. Seller: Jackson Janice. Amount: $375,000.

OSJ Of Scranton LLC. Property Location: Dickson City. Seller: Tru Trust 2016. Amount: $2,000,000.

Trovatos Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Glenburn Twp. Seller: Carmelo Trovato C Co. Ptnr. Amount: $250,000.

Robert J. Trently Jr. Property Location: Glenburn Twp. Seller: Garvin S. Bixler Jr. Amount: $293,000.

Michael Ciuccoli. Property Location: Greenfield Twp. Seller: William F. Farber III. Amount: $380,000.

Diana P. Rendon. Property Location: Jefferson Twp. Seller: Thomas S. Flynn. Amount: $375,000.

Josaeph Ferrario. Property Location: Jefferson Twp. Seller: Thomas J. McDonald. Amount: $360,000.

R L R Investments LLC. Property Location: Jermyn Boro. Seller: Carrier Coal Enterprises. Amount: $2,200,000.

Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter Inc. Property Location: LaPlume Twp. Seller: Robert Dalessandri. Amount: $630,000.

Colleen Patricia Kuharchik. Property Location: Moosic Boro. Seller: Kenneth Powell. Amount: $300,000.

Quick N Easy Car Wash LLC. Property Location: Moosic Boro. Seller: USPG Portfolio Five LLC. Amount: $1,767,587.

William Worthington Scranton. Property Location: No. Abington Twp. Seller: Mary L Scranton Est. of Decd.

Amount: $390,244.

Heera Rasaily. Property Location: Old Forge Boro.

Seller: Rose M. Herman. Amount: $315,000.

Crown Scott Township Holdings LLC. Property Location: Scott Twp. Seller: Scott Plaza. Amount: $3,400,000.

81 Ventures LLC. Property Location: Scott Twp.

Seller: Pedmar Inc. Amount: $600,000.

Pharmacann Penn Plant LLC. Property Location: Scott Twp. Seller: Scranton Lacka. Industrial Bldg. Co. Amount: $925,000.

Gollhardt.Properties LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Jamlett Inc. Amount: $545,000.

Elizabeth M. Garcia. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Amil M. Minora. Amount: $260,000.

NSS Clam House LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Martin Fangio. Amount: $830,000.

338 Scranton Properties LLC. Property Location; Scranton City. Seller: Harriet G. Rosenstein Est. of Decd.

Amount: $435,000.

ETK JR Realty LP. Property Location: Scranton City.

Seller: Ronald Davis. Amount: $450,000 Martin Lynch Slaght. Property Location: Scranton City. Seller: Robert S. Nestrick. Amount: $268,000.

Kevin Black. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Richard A. Arcuri Sr. Amount: $280,000.

Summit Site Contractors Inc. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Seller: Flowserve US Inc. Amount: $865,000.

Greg Snyder. Property Location: Springbrook Twp. Seller: Michael Williamson. Amount: $300,000.

OHI Asset PA LP. Property Location: Taylor Boro.

Seller: 500 WH Street LLC. Amount: $13,220,000.

GHG Real Estate of SPA. Property Location: Throop Boro. Seller: Grasselli USA Inc. Amount: $815,000.

Michael P. Barrett. Property Location: Unknown.

Seller: George Stephen Collins Jr. Amount: $275,000.

Kevin J. Janeski. Property Location: Unknown.

Seller: Anthony M. Cutro. Amount: $323,000.

Kevin McLane. Property Location: Unknown. Seller: Kenneth Powell. Amount: $385,177.

Marion Knight. Property Location: Unknown. Seller: Kenneth Powell. Amount: $298,600.

Don Phillip Melia Jr. Property Location: Unknown.

Seller: Mark David Knox. Amount: $332,000.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Wilkes-Barre Area School District. Property Location: Plains Twp. Seller: Loree Associates. Amount: $4,140,000.

Michael A. Lombardo. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Seller: Robert Ottensman. Amount: $300,000.

Irene Terkowski.. Property Location: Plymouth Twp. Seller: Jen Ann Mack. Amount: $263,900.

Mahadev Real Estate LLC. Property Location: WilkesBarre. Seller: Mark A. Flaherty. Amount: $270,000.

Michael Lee Kovach. Property Location: West Pittston. Seller: Lawrence W. Harding. Amount: $289,000.

New Way Property Management LLC. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Devon Service LLC. Amount: $365,000.

John Ormando. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Seller: Lisa Barrett. Amount: $465,000.

Samuel C. Giunta. Property Location: Harveys Lake.

Seller: Stephen Hannon. Amount: $344,000.

Alejandro Rodriguez. Property Location: Butler Twp. Seller: Sand Springs Development Corporation. Amount: $356,310.

John D. Nardone. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: APEX Bank. Amount: $715,000.

David D. Domzalski. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Anthony F. Madden III. Amount: $367,500.

Stephen Koppelman. Property Location: Lehman Twp. Seller: Village at Greenbriar Inc. Amount: $310,000.

Jayme Burke. Property Location: Butler Twp. Seller: Dirk J. Saar. Amount: $276,000.

OHI Asset (PA)LP. Property Location: Kingston. Seller: 615 Wyoming Ave. LLC. Amount: $7,100,000.

Matthew Thomas Ogonosky. Property Location: Butler Twp. Seller: Petra Thomas. Amount: $1,599,900.

Best Evolution LLC. Property Location: Kingston.

Seller: Shire Real Estate Holdings LLC. Amount: $280,000.

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Company Inc. Property Location: Laflin. Seller: David C. Popple. Amount: $1,050,000.

Jeffrey D. Attick. Property Location: Conyngham.

Seller: Marlene H., Turnbach.. Amount: $250,000.

Edward Walinchus. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Patricia Rogers. Amount: $340,000.

Andrew Archut. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Seller: Salvatore Ferlisi. Amount: $311,000.

Maplewood Plaza Associates LLC. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Westminister Properties Inc. Amount: $825,000.

Frank M. Cunius Jr. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Seller: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $455,000.

Peaceful Spring Lodge LLC. Property Location: Union Twp. Seller: Edward Lech. Amount: $450,000.

FNCB Bank. Property Location: Wright Twp. Seller: Branch Banking & Trust Company. Amount: $550,000.

Brent Makarczyk. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Seller: William B. Hudson. Amount: $305,000.

620 Oak Ridge LLC. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Seller: Butler Enterprises Inc. Amount: $732,600.

Richard P. Eckman. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Seller: David R. Mariner. Amount: $780,000.

Duane E. Deivert. Property Location: Rice Twp. Seller: Brian A. Morra. Amount: $590,000.

Bonnie Lynn Kenewell. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Seller: Chad L. Kelley. Amount: $725,000.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB. Property Location Hazleton. Seller: Luzerne County Tax Claim Bureau.

Amount: $400,000.

Patrick W. Lehman. Property Location: Wright Twp. Seller: Samuel Desiderio. Amount: $400,000.

Rjstella Mineral Realty LLC. Property Location: Avoca. Seller: CDG. Rayjoe Management Inc. Amount: $375,000.

Thomas M. Romanowski. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Seller: Dorothy May Spencer. Amount: $250,000.

NP Hanover Loomis LLC. Property Location: Hanover Twp. Seller: Earth Conservancy. Amount: $2,750,000.

Courtney L. Petrosky. Property Location; Rice Twp. Seller: Dipak K. Mallik. Amount: $385,000.

MONROE COUNTY

Russell Perkins. Property Location: Tobyhanna.

Seller: Charles Smith. Amount: $347,500.

Wayne Douglas. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Seller: David Adrian. Amount: $765,072, William Roberts. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp.

Seller: Leland Junge. Amount: $380,100.

John Lyons. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Seller: Wydrinski Living Trust. Amount: $543,000.

William Harrington. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Seller: Arkady Chase. Amount: $520,000.

Olubanky LLC. Property Location: Stroudsburg.

Seller: Neil Goldman. Amount: $450,000 Charles Treator. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Seller: Thomas Divonas. Amount: $307,500 Timber Rise LLC. Property Location: Middle Smithfield. Seller: Alexander Halpern. Amount: $$690,000.

Robert Daley. Property Location: Polk Twp. Seller: JHJF Properties LLC. Amount: $375,000.

Ralph Fils-Aime. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Seller: DE&S Properties Inc. Amount: $327,720.

RCI Properties LLC. Property Location: Coolbaugh Twp. Seller: Perdue Foods LLC. Amount: $350,000.

Chenita Thompson-Brooks. Property Location: Pocono Twp. Seller: Parlay LLC. Amount: $369,900.

Kirt Gilmah. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Seller: Shibber Khan. Amount: $380,000.

Tyler Powell. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Seller: Eva Sheesley Est. Amount: $400,000.

Boliver Sandoval. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Seller: Michel Saouda. Amount: $375,000.

Florence Sanders. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Seller: LTS Homes LLC. Amount: $307,685.

Lawattee Best. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Seller: Glen Gatz. Amount: $391,250.

Akex Gibzakez. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Seller: Jonathan Fields. Amount: $385,000.

Jyoti Dham Dover LLC. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Seller: CPI Penn SPE One LLC. Amount: $556,887.

Alfred Busuego. Property Location; Chestnuthill Twp. Seller: Karl Mylow. Amount: $360,000.

Louis Vorgetts. Property Location. Hamilton Twp. Seller: Donald Yawnick. Amount: $340,200.

WG Properties LLC. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Seller: First Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $525,000.

Mowbein Kofol. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Seller: James Wilson. Amount: $899,000.

L&S Management LLC. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Seller: David Samad. Amount: $410,000.

Syed Rahman. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Seller: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. Amount: $329,964.

Please see Record, Page 26

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 25 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B25] | 02/07/19

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FOR THE RECORD FROM PAGE 25 Jessica Clark. Property Location: Eldred Twp. Seller: Marion O’Donnell. Amount: Amount: $369,000.

Legacy 301 North Ninth Street LLC. Property Location: Stroudsburg. Seller: Whitmire Holdings LP. Amount: $1,500,000.

PIKE COUNTY

Mark Strouse. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Seller: Warner Tschopp Sr. Amount: $700,000.

Pike Health Properties LLC. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Seller: Rivers Edge LP. Amount: $1,725,000.

Charles E. Merrill IV. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: Victor S. Kunitsky Jr. Amount: $292,000.

Kenneth W. Battiato. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: David English. Amount: $660,000.

David B. Viola. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: Robert I. Paine. Amount: $275,000.

Frank M. Scheets. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Seller: Jack Swedelson. Amount: $359,000.

Kayjen Realty LLC. Property Location: Greene Twp. Seller: Estate of Jack Pascale. Amount: $360,000.

Lawrence Leung. Property Location: Greene Twp. Seller: Andrew Donohue. Amount: $460,000.

Kenneth E. Graver. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Dieter Schmidt. Amount: $310,000.

Francis Roldan. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Massimo Bazzarelli. Amount: $250,000.

John Iacono. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Nicholas D’Andrea. Amount: $1,200,000.

John T. Raia Customhouse Brokers Inc. Property Location: Lackawaxen Twp. Seller: Daniel Bakerman.

Amount: $375,000.

Sula B. Jacobs. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Catherine Kuellmer. Amount: $405,000.

Frederick Cermak. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Jessica F. Longobardi. Amount: $292,000.

Jason Feese. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Shawn Russell. Amount: $345,000.

Leonard Spinazzola. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Seller: Randall Sandke. Amount: $448,050.

Olena Svchuk. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Lev Dvoyakin. Amount: $260,000.

Michael J. O’Leary. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Seller: Ireneusz J. Kolodziej. Amount: $275,000.

SCHULYKILL COUNTY

RKRLCV Ltd. Partnership. Property Location: North Manheim Twp. Seller: Richard Moyer. Amount: $400,000.

Richard Reed. Property Location: Orwigsburg. Seller: Martha Rich. Amount: $455,000.

WYOMING COUNTY

Christopher Pensak. Property Location: Lemon Twp. Seller: Reynold Lackey. Amount: $288,000.

Kenneth John Carlson. Property Location: Clinton Twp. Seller: William Anthony Mack. Amount: $206,383, Matthew Fritze. Property Location: Meshoppen Twp. Seller: Kenneth H. McMicken. Amount: $312,000.

MORTGAGES

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Dean G. Gordon. Property Location: Millville. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $1,000,000.

Brookside Acres Investments LLC. Property Location: Bloomsburg. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. $550,000.

Hock Bros. Holdings LLC. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $273,000.

Stephanie Decker. Property Location: Berwick.

Lender: Lexington National Insurance Corporation.

Amount: $2,000,000 Isaac S. Stolzlus. Property Location: Greenwood

Twp. Lender: AgChoice Farm Credit. Amount: $300,000.

Austin Switzer. Property Location: Hemlock Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $308.750.

Landmark Signature Homes LLC. Property Location: Hemlock Twp. Lender: Muncy Bank & Trust Company.

Amount: $1,300,000.

Michael S Snyder. Property Location: Briarcreek Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $354,900.

Karl Z. Hunsinger. Property Location; BriarcreekTwp. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $326,400.

Bradley Poust. Property Location: Pine Twp. Lender: Citizens & Northern Bank. Amount: $339,000.

Loren Hudspeth. Property Location: Sugarloaf Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $399,000.

Lynn R. Robbins. Property Location: Pine Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $337,500.

Lynn R. Robbins. Property Location: Pine Twp. Lender: Commissioner of Housing & Urban Development. Amount: $337,500.

Russell’& Kristy’s LLC. Property Location: Millville.

Lender: Jersey Shore State Bank. Amount: $765,000.

Pamela E. May. Property Location: Greenwood Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $371,746.

John R. Hartman. Property Location: Scott Twp. Lender: First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $387,000.

Central PA Petroleum LLC. Property Location: Catawissa. Lender: City National Bank of Florida. Amount: $2,800,000.

Kendall L. Hayman. Property Location: Locust Twp. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $400,000.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY

Edward J. Zindle. Property Location: Clifton Twp. Lender: First Keystone Community Bank. Amount: $302,400.

M & D Realty Group LLC. Property Location: Dalton Boro. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount:

26 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B26] | 02/07/19

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FEBRUARY 2019

$600,000.

OCCC GDP TA Dickson City LLC. Property Location: Dickson City. Lender: First Bank. Amount: $1,180,000.

R McGregor Companies Inc. Property Location: Dunmore Boro. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $1,150,000.

R. McGregor Companies Inc. Property Location; Dunmore Boro. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $460,000.

R. McGregor Companies Inc. Property Location: Dunmore Boro. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $1,750,000.

Dunmore Hospitality Group Inc. Property Location: Dunmore Boro. Lender: PS Bank. Amount: $2,300,000.

Robert J. Trently Jr. Property Location: Glenburn Twp. Lender: Stearns Lending LLC. Amount: $263,700.

Michael Ciuccoli. Property Location: Greenfield Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc. Bk. Amount: $361,000.

William Farber III. Property Location: Greenfield Twp. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $410,400.

John F. Janosky. Property Location: Greenfield Twp. Lender: NBT Bank. Amount: $308,600.

Dianna P. Rendon. Property Location: Jefferson Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Reg. Sys. Inc. Amount: $300,000.

Janet B. Incelli. Property Location: Jermyn Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep. & Disc. Bk. Amount: $285,000.

Joegil, LLC. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $1,100,000.

Quick n Easy Car Wash LLC. Property Location: Moosic Boro. Lender: First Savings Bank. Amount: $706,800.

Five J Realty LLC. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $1,100,000.

George D. Larock. Property Location: Moosic Boro.

Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $530,000.

Gerald S. Lefever. Property Location: Moscow Boro.

Lender: TD Bank. Amount: $325,000.

David Ka Pun Phang. Property Location: Newton Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount:

$474,300.

Heera Rasaily. Property Location; Old Forge Boro.

Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $299,250.

Mahant Swami Krupa Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Old Forge Boro. Amount: $960,000.

Crown Scott Township Holdings LLC. Property Location: Scott Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $2,720,000.

81 Ventures LLC. Property Location: Scott Twp. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $450,000.

Ayanna Santos. Property Location: Scranton City.

Lender: Wilmington Savings Fund Society. Amount: $522,000.

Jeffrey O’Malley. Property Location: Scranton City.

Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $271,900.

Gollhardt Properties LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender NBT Bank. Amount: $420,000.

SDO Fund II D32 LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Northeast Bank. Amount: $12,000,000.

Saroj Hotels Inc. Property Location: Scranton City.

Lender: PNC Bank. Amount $280,000.

NSS Clam House LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $425,000 NSS Clam House LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $340,000.

NSS Clam House LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: NEPA Alliance Business Finance Corp.

Amount: $350,000.

338 Scranton Properties LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: 326,250.

CMARQ LLC. Property LLC. Property Location: Scranton City. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $260,000.

321 Development LP. Property Location; Scranton City. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $2,450,000.

Kevin Black. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $252,000.

Lakewood Development Co. Inc. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fairway Cons. Disc. Co. Amount: $372,624.

Summit Site Contractors Inc. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $648,750.

Ryan Heins. Property Location: So. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $306,320.

Greg Snyder. Property Location: Springbrook Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $297,000.

Bart J. Sacco. Property Location: Throop Boro.

Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $1,637,000.

Peter Straw. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Quicken Loans. Amount: $293,697.

Eugene D. Lucas. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $415,000.

Eugene D. Lucas. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Fidelity Dep & Disc Bk. Amount: $415,000.

Kevin McLaine. Property Location: W. Abington Twp. Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $365918.

Don Phillip Melia. Property Location: Unknown.

Lender: Fidelity Dep Disc. Bk. Amount: $265,600.

ETK LTD. Property Location: Unknown. Lender: First National Bank of PA. Amount: $900,000.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Terrence W. Cassey. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $293,595.

John Ormando. Property Location: Kingston. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $372,000.

Please see Record, Page 27

FOR THE RECORD FROM PAGE 26 Alejandro Rodriguez. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $337,544.

Victoria Kochanski. Property Location: Nanticoke.

Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $351,000.

Millett Real Estate. Property Location: Wilkes Barre Twp. Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $7,000,000.

Jeffrey D Kenewell. Property Location: Wright Twp. Lender: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company.

Amount: $300,000.

Jaume Burke. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $271,687.

Passang Dolma. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank. Amount: $277,500.

Jeffrey Attick. Property Location: Conyngham.

Lender: Citizens Bank. Amount: $258,250.

Edward Walinchus. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Lender: First National Bank of Absecon. Amount: $272,000.

Ruth H. Sennett. Property Location: Harveys Lake.

Lender: Bank of America. Amount: $500,000.

Andrew Asrchut. Property Location: Black Creek Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank. Amount: $321,000.\ Robert P. Powell. Property Location: Conyngham.

Lender: Manufacturers & Traders Trust Company.

Amount: $400,000.

Lakewood Development Company. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Fairway Consumer Discount Company. Amount: $372,624.

Greater Hazleton Area New Development Organization Inc. Property Location: Hazle Twp. Lender: Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. $500,000.

Thomas R. Wysokinski. Property Location: Exeter.

Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company.

Amount: $320,000.

Christopher Galle. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Lender: Citizens Savings Bank. Amount: $273,000.

3s Company Investments LLC. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Company. Amount: $1,750,000.

Eric R. May. Property Location: Lehman. Lender: Luzerne Bank. Amount: $800,000.

Gallagher Development LLC. Property Location: Butler Twp. Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $400,000.

Elisabeth Marie Shovlin. Property Location: Dallas.

Lender: Landmark Community Bank. Amount: $318,670.

KCB LP. Property Location: Kingston. Lender: Luzerne Bank. Amount: $2,100,000.

Peaceful Spring Lodge LLC. Property Location: Union Twp. Lender: UNIVEST Bank & Trust Company $337,500.

Walter K. Balliet. Property Location: Black Creek Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $491,700.

Walter K. Balliet. Property Location: Black Creek Twp. Lender: Federal Housing Commissioner. Amount: $431,700.

John Ormando. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $372,000 Quad Three Group Inc. Property Location: Wilkes Barre. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $792,526.

Michael J. Crawford Jr. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $1,500,000.

Michael J. Crawford Jr. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Lender: Community Bank. Amount: $500,999.

Quad Three Group Inc. Property Location: WilkesBarre. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount:

$400,000.

Quad Three Group Inc. Property Location: Wilkes Barre. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $400,000.

William A. Alles. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $285,000.

William A. Alles. Property Location: Kingston Twp. Lender: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development.

Amount: $285,000.

Duane D. Deivert. Property Location: Rice Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $453,000.

Central Development Group LLC. Property Location: Wilkes Barre. Lender: Landmark Community Bank.

Amount: $4,000,000.

Bonnie Lynn Kenewell. Property Location: Dallas Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $375,000.

Joseph Delia. Property Location: Nuangola. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $424,000.

Brian Harashinski. Property Location: Jenkins Twp. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $264,000.

Patrick M. Lehman. Property Location: Wright Twp. Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $320,000.

Patrick M. Lehman. Property Location: Wilkes-Barre.

Lender: M&T Bank. Amount: $320,000.

Timothy Schechterly. Property Location: Lehman Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $336,300.

Courtney L. Petrosky. Property Location: Rice Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $365,750.

MONROE COUNTY

RJA Development Corp. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $750,000.

Wayne Douglas. Property Location; Chestnuthill Twp. Lender: First Keystone Community Bank. Amount: $656,000.

John Lyons. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Lender: Penn Community Bank. Amount: $350,000.

William Roberts. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank NA. Amount: $320,000.

Chad Witmer. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $462,000.

Anthony Nostro. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Lender: PNC Bank NA. Amount: $300,000.

Olubanky LLC. Property Location: Stroudsburg.

Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $360,000.

Duaba Nebdez, Property Location: Stroud Twp. Lender: Family First Funding LLC. Amount: $299,669.

Pocono Products Co. Inc. Property Location; Stroud Twp. Lender: City Northbridge Credit LLC. Amount: $24,000,000.

Robert Daley. Property Location: Polk Twp. Lender: Synergy One Lending Inc. Amount: $562,000.

Ralph Fits-Aime. Property Location: Stroud Twp. Lender: Reliant Home Funding Inc. Amount: $317,888.

Randy Page. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Lender: First Bank. Amount: $435,000.

Walter Lapidus. Property Location: Jackson Twp. Lender: Newtek Small Business Finance LLC. Amount: $1,212,000.

Chaste Abimana. Property Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank NA. Amount: $433,000.

Tyler Powell. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Lender: CrossCountry Mortgage Inc. Amount: $360,000.

365 Pocono Real Estate LLC. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank NA. Amount:

$1,000,000.

Social Bliss LP. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $375,000.

Alfred Busuego. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Lender: Wells Fargo Bank NA. Amount: $323,730.

Louis Vorgetts. Property Location: Hamilton Twp. Lender: Aberdeen Proving Good Federal Credit Union.

Amount: $323,190.

WG Properties LLC. Property Location: Chestnuthill Twp. Lender: William Grant. Amount: $535,000.

Christopher Kofol. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Lender: ESSA Bank & Trust. Amount: $719,200.

Historic Prop. Holdings LLC. Property Location: Coolbaugh Twp. Lender: Visio Financial Services Inc. Amount: $359,650.

L&S Management LLC. Property Location: Tobyhanna Twp. Lender: PNC Bank NA. Amount: $328,000.

Jessica Clark. Property Location: Eldred Twp. Lender: TIAA FSB. Amount: $350,550.

Legacy 301 North Ninth Street LLC. Property Location: Stroudsburg. Lender: Embassy Bank. Amount: $1,275,000.

Tyler Powell. Property Location: Barrett Twp. Lender: CrossCountry Mortgage Inc. Amount: $360,000.

LJ Homes LLC. Property Location: Stroudsburg.

Lender: First Keystone Community Bank. Amount: $311,250.

PIKE COUNTY

Charles E. Merrill IV. Property Location: Palmyra Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $262,800.

Charles Padula. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $400,000.

Lords Valley Holdings Inc. Property Location: Blooming Grove Twp. Lender: NBT Bank NA. Amount: $280,987.

Sula B. Jacobs. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $300,000.

Mark Strouse. Property Location: Westfall Twp. Lender: Warner H. Tschopp Sr. Amount: $700,000.

Edward M. Rose. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: One Reverse Mortgage LLC. Amount: $295,500.

Edward M. Rose. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: Commissioner of Housing & Urban Development. Amount: $295,500.

Vincent F. Lepore Jr. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $330,000.

Guy C. Sappah. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $271,000.

Maryann Narbutas. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: Live Well Financial Inc. Amount: $270,000.

Michael A. Dickerson. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Lender: Lakeland Bank. Amount: $250,000.

Jason Feese. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $345,000.

Gary Dennis. Property Location: Milford Twp. Lender: Wayne Bank. Amount: $400,000.

Timothy McCabe. Property Location: Delaware Twp. Lender: MERS. Amount: $291,626.

Mary E. Jorgenson. Property Location: Dingman Twp. Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $250,000.

Lori A. Young. Property Location; Palmyra Twp. Lender: NBT Bank Na. Amount: $368,900.

Old Lumberyard Shops LLC. Property Location: Milford Boro. Lender: Dime Bank. Amount: $1,000,000.

CJMJ LP. Property Location: Milford Boro. Lender: Honesdale National Bank. Amount: $700,000.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

RKRLCV Ltd. Partnership. Property Location: Union Twp. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $413,000.

Michael J. Rothermel. Property Location: Porter Twp. Lender: One Summit Real Estate LP. Amount: $1,000,000.

Shauna Herber. Property Location: Schuylkill Haven.

Lender: Ephrata National Bank. Amount: $334,000.

Frack & Broad LP. Property Location: Frackville.

Lender: Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. Amount: $2,760,821.

WYOMING COUNTY

Tunkhannock Hospital Company LLC. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank. Amount: $2,000,000,000.

Francis B. Strumski Jr. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $273,000.

Francis B. Strumski Jr. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: Housing & Urban Development. Amount: $273,000.

Christopher Pensak. Property Location: Lemon Twp. Lender: FNCB Bank. Amount: $259,200.

Anita Christine Deblasio. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Amount: $285,000.

Kintner Modular Homes Inc. Property Location: Tunkhannock Twp. Lender: PS Bank. Amount: $1,500,000.

Sarah J. Williams. Property Location: Falls Twp. Lender: Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank. Amount: $264,000.

Keystone Commons Development LLC. Property Location: Factoryville Boro. Lender: Wayne Bank.

Amount: $3,500,000.

Relocation Opportunities Wanted

Bring us any and all potential locations.

We will determine if we can develop or relocate to your site.

Pennsylvania Counties of Interest Include: • Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming

Types of Locations Wanted: • End Cap, In-Line, Drive-Thru, Free Standing PLEASE CONTACT Abbie Muto muto_a@sdepa.com Cheryl Green green_c@sdepa.com (610) 366-8120 • www.sdepa.com

Member of International Council of Shopping Centers

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2019 27 TS_CNG/NPBJ/PAGES [B27] | 02/08/19

11:52 | BAUMEISTER

True Performers know small changes add up to big savings.

As part of our True Performance program, we’re helping Dr. Rhoneise Barnett-Smith deliver higher quality of care for less.

Like when we alert her to better prescription alternatives that are easier for patients to take — and afford. Because of doctors like Rhoneise, to date, this program has avoided $260 million in hospital costs while helping countless patients save on quality care.*

There’s value in that.

See how True Performance is helping providers improve care through data and incentives. Download the ebook at HighmarkTruePerformer.com.

Rhoneise Barnett-Smith, M.D. United Medical Clinic True Performer

True Performance results:

11% fewer emergency room visits 16% fewer hospital admissions $260 million in costs avoided *Based on reduction in hospital costs for patients with True Performance doctors compared to those without from January 2017 to December 2017.

Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

28 NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS JOURNAL TS_CNG/ADVERTISING/AD_PAGES [ADB28] | 02/08/19

FEBRUARY 2019

17:05 | BAIRDATHLE