Johnson College Now Enrolling in Continuing Education Welding Courses

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program is enrolling students in its Fundamentals of Welding and Intermediate Welding courses at the Scranton campus. The Fundamentals course will begin on May 16, 2024, and can be taken on its own or followed by any one Intermediate course including Shielded Metal Arc (Stick), Gas Metal Arc (MIG), or Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG).

The Fundamentals of Welding course teaches the basics of major welding processes. Students learn equipment set-up as well as basic techniques and safety for oxy-fuel welding and cutting, Stick, TIG, and MIG welding. Additional lectures are given on basic metallurgy, welding codes, nondestructive examination, and welding symbols. Intermediate courses build upon specific welding processes, working towards plate certification to a common welding code.

The fundamentals course fee is $1,870 and includes a PPE kit. Intermediate course fees are $2,750 and include certification testing fees. The courses can be bundled for a reduced cost of $4,251.

For information about using GI benefits for Fundamentals and Intermediate welding courses, email nmelgarejo@johnson.edu.

To learn more about these programs or enroll call 570-702-8979 or email continuinged@johnson.edu. To register for the course, visit johnson.edu/continuing-ed/welding/.

UNC’s Project Hope Summer Day Camp Return for 2024

United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) Project Hope at Camp Kelly is excited to provide a traditional summer day camp once again for children living in Scranton. Campers are provided transportation to and from the camp located in the beautiful countryside of Tunkhannock, PA and experience arts and crafts, sports, and a variety of other fun and educational activities. They will be served breakfast, lunch, and a nutritious snack before returning home the duration of camp from July 1to July 26.  

Registration for UNC’s Project Hope is required, and opens on May 1, 2024, online at www.uncnepa.org/projecthope.

Johnson College to Host Event for Architectural Drafting & Design Technology

Johnson College is hosting a Closer Look event for its two-year Architectural Drafting & Design Technology program on May 1, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. on its Scranton campus. Prospective students can explore the College’s Architectural Drafting & Design Technology laboratory inside the new Ideal Saldi Hall while learning more about the program, career opportunities, and the enrollment process.

Johnson College’s two-year Architectural Drafting & Design Technology Associates Degree program prepares students as entry-level technicians in computer-assisted drafting (CAD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for residential and commercial construction. Instruction and hands-on learning include all phases of building design drafting, print reading, cost estimating, specifications writing, and sustainability concepts.

For more information or to register, visit Johnson.edu/closerlook or contact the College’s Enrollment department at (570) 702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

NEPIRC Announces Manufacturing Day Event Keynote Speaker

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) announces its upcoming Manufacturing Day Best Practices Summit & Expo, scheduled for Friday, October 4 at Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino & Convention Center, Wilkes-Barre. This annual event celebrates the vibrant manufacturing industry in our region and provides valuable insights and networking opportunities for businesses and professionals.

This year, NEPIRC welcomes Chris Czarnik as the event’s keynote speaker. Czarnik is a renowned author, coach, trainer and subject matter expert on talent recruiting, engagement and retention in today’s dynamic manufacturing environment. With diverse career experience, including roles as a former military officer, human resource manager, career services manager and job search advisor, Czarnik brings unparalleled expertise to the table.

Over the past two decades, Czarnik has dedicated his career to understanding why individuals join and depart organizations. His insights have empowered thousands of job seekers to identify organizations and roles that align with their aspirations and values. His acclaimed book, “Winning the War for Talent,” has become a cornerstone resource for over 3,500 organizations nationwide.

“We are thrilled to have Chris Czarnik as our keynote speaker for this year’s Manufacturing Day event,” said Eric Esoda, NEPIRC’s president & CEO. “His wealth of experience and profound insights into talent recruitment and retention will undoubtedly provide immense value to attendees, helping them navigate the evolving landscape of workforce management.”

Manufacturing Day serves as an essential platform for businesses to connect, learn and collaborate. In addition to Czarnik’s keynote address, the event will feature interactive sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities to foster growth and innovation within the manufacturing sector.

NEPIRC is actively seeking business sponsors to support this significant event. By becoming a sponsor, organizations will gain exposure to a diverse audience of industry professionals and decision-makers while demonstrating their commitment to driving manufacturing excellence in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Manufacturing Day sponsorships are open to all businesses and organizations – not just manufacturers. Sponsors include businesses that assist and support manufacturers or would like to acquire manufacturing sector clients, colleges with advanced manufacturing or robotics programs, economic development organizations, etc.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for Manufacturing Day, visit www.NEPIRC.com or contact Chelsey Coslett, manager of marketing & stakeholder engagement, at Chelsey@NEPIRC.com.

Scranton Area Community Foundation Awards $2,000 Grant to Leadership Lackawanna

Leadership Lackawanna, an affiliate organization to The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and a local nonprofit organization dedicated to community leadership and professional development, announces the support from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for its Welcome Scranton! program. In correlation with the Foundation’s Spring Grants cycle, Leadership Lackawanna received a $2,000 Community Needs Grant.

The grant funds will be directly used in the support and delivery of Welcome Scranton!, a 2 ½ day program designed to give participants a quick, but thorough, understanding of Scranton and Lackawanna County, along with a revitalized sense of putting leadership into action. enrollment is open to everyone, from newcomers to area natives, from entry-level employees to executives.

“Participating in Welcome Scranton gave me an insider look at so many unique places in and around Scranton. I learned more in 2 and a half days than in the 7 years I’ve lived here, and I connected with some wonderful people along the way! We’re so grateful that thanks to this grant, we’ll be able to continue to offer this one-of-a-kind program.”

The benefits of the program encompass exploring our area’s hidden gems, enhancing your network of personal and professional connections, hearing inspirational stories from our business community, and gaining exposure to local leaders, issues and service and leadership opportunities.

Applications are now being accepted for Welcome Scranton! which begins May 23rd. Interested parties should apply online at www.LeadershipLackawanna.com by May 2.

Northeast Title & Tag and Office of Senator Marty Flynn Present Annual Peeling Plate Rally

Northeast Title & Tag, in collaboration with the Office of Senator Marty Flynn, is thrilled to announce the Peeling Plate Rally, a community-driven initiative aimed at streamlining the replacement process for illegible, peeling license plates. This proactive endeavor seeks to facilitate the completion of necessary paperwork with greater efficiency and eliminate the need for mailing forms to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportaion (PennDOT). New Replacement License Plates will be issued on-site instantly during the event for Free.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 13th
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Northeast Title & Tag Office, Keyser Oak Shopping Center,
1726 N Keyser Ave, Scranton, PA 18508

In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police, an officer will be available on-site to inspect peeling plates and provide the necessary certification on forms, affirming the plates’ illegibility. Attendees seeking plate replacement will receive the required forms during the event.
Additional Participant Requirements:

  • Copy of valid vehicle registration card and Driver’s License/Photo ID
  • Presence of both owners if two individuals are listed as vehicle owners.
  • For vehicles registered under a company’s name, an authorization letter permitting the present individual to sign on behalf of the company is required, along with the aforementioned documentation.
  • Upon collection and verification of all necessary information, Northeast Title & Tag will expedite the paperwork processing and issue new plates instantly on-site during the event.
  • During the Peeling Plate Rally, Northeast Title & Tag is waiving all service fees associated with this transaction. It is important to note that PennDOT will replace the plates free of charge, resulting in no cost to customers.
  • For further information, please contact:
    compliance@neItle.org 570-895-1000 Ext. 2001

The University of Scranton Hosts “Scranton’s Story” Spring Exhibition

Over the past two years, The University of Scranton and Scranton community has explored themes of history, belonging, and identity through Scranton’s Story: Our Nation’s Story, a series of humanities-based programs that culminated in an oral history initiative called “Scranton Stories.” First launched in fall 2023, this exhibition showcases portraits taken by photographer Byron Maldonado and personal statements and interview links from 33 community members to give voice to a broad array of Scranton experiences and connect them to our national story. 

At the public reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet members of the Scranton Stories team and oral history interviewees and discuss the project.

For more information and to view all 25 Scranton Stories video interviews, visit www.scranton.edu/stories and via YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsV7qLR2tZL78bScN3YbLnMRazF083yw.

The exhibition is free during library hours. For more information contact Michael Knies at 570-941-6341 or Michael.knies@scranton.edu. For April 4th event information, visit this page or RSVP here.

NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Education Guide Promotes Advanced Manufacturing Curriculums

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) recently launched The Northeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Education Guide, a publication that promotes the abundance of certificate and degree programs available locally to students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing. The guide complements the work being done by NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program.

The Manufacturing Education Guide will be distributed to high school students through NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team presentations in classrooms and at career fairs, as well as digitally through NEPIRC’s social media channels and website. 

“We developed this guide to reinforce our message to high school students that so many of the everyday products they and their families use and have in their homes are manufactured right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. The guide is expected to reach thousands of students and their parents this school year, connecting students with great manufacturing career opportunities while promoting high-quality, affordable education from these institutions,” said Eric Joseph Esoda, NEPIRC’s president and CEO.

One of the colleges that participated in the guidebook is Lackawanna College, whose Continuing Education Department has been engaged with manufacturers from throughout the region for many years.  

“We are always looking for ways to promote advanced manufacturing programs to teachers and students. NEPIRC partners with more than one thousand manufacturers in the region. By partnering with NEPIRC on the guide and other initiatives, we are in essence partnering with those thousand-plus manufacturers,” said Bill Schoen, director of continuing education at Lackawanna College.

Currently, the guide includes information for manufacturing career programs offered by Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, and The Pennsylvania College of Technology and invites additional institutions to participate by promoting their advanced manufacturing programs.

The guide also contains a list of 70 area manufacturers that offer tuition reimbursement to their employees and a direct link to NEPIRC’s Job Board featuring approximately 100 local manufacturers who are immediately hiring for various positions.

Susan Spry, associate vice president of academic affairs at Luzerne County Community College, immediately saw the value in participating in the guide.

“We’ve been a longtime partner with NEPIRC on multiple initiatives. We think The Manufacturing Education Guide and the Dream Team program are so impactful. The ambassadors speak with students, parents and teachers about the very high-tech activities they do in their work, inspiring students to consider careers in manufacturing, starting with programs of study like the ones we offer that prepare students for the manufacturing jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Spry.

More details regarding NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Education Guide, and the Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program can be found on the NEPIRC Dream Team website, www.NEPIRCDreamTeam.com, or by emailing Dream Team Project Coordinator Jenelle Osborne, Jenelle@NEPIRC.com.   

Comcast Business Retail Tech Trends for 2024 and Beyond Report

AI, VR, IoT and other technologies are reshaping and transforming retail. From balancing security with convenience, to hyper-personalizing experiences and smart inventory management, the store of the future merges brick-and-mortar with e-commerce. Comcast Business recently released its 2024 Retail Technology Trends Report, which is designed to help retailers understand the technologies that are redefining the industry. Explore the full report to learn more about how technology is reshaping retail to adapt to changing consumer habits here.