Chamber Staff Member, Emily Pettinato, Completes National Fellowship for Talent Development The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce congratulates Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist, who has been recognized among 18 chamber professionals nationwide for successfully completing the 2025–2026 Fellowship for Talent Development through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation. The six-month fellowship equips chamber leaders with tools to address workforce challenges and strengthen regional talent pipelines. Participants gain a deeper understanding of their regional talent ecosystem and develop actionable solutions to support economic growth. “We are proud to recognize this exceptional group of chamber leaders for completing the Fellowship for Talent Development,” said ACCE President & CEO, Sheree Anne Kelly. “Through their work, they have moved beyond learning to action, developing strategies that address workforce challenges, strengthen regional talent pipelines, and drive long-term economic prosperity in their communities.” As part of the program, Pettinato developed a regional action plan focused on tackling critical workforce issues. Fellowship projects emphasized strengthening talent pipelines through improved systems alignment, increasing employer engagement, and building skills-based career pathways. “This experience gave me a stronger understanding of our community by developing a regional action plan focused on identifying workforce gaps and opportunities,” said Pettinato. “It also helped inspire new ideas to expand workforce programming and strengthen connections between businesses and education partners.” “As part of the Fellowship with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Emily has demonstrated strong leadership in turning workforce development strategy into action,” stated Amy Luyster, vice president, business and workforce development for The Chamber. “Her work directly advances The Scranton Plan 3.0 initiative by strengthening the alignment between employers, education partners, and workforce partners. This recognition reflects her commitment to building a more connected, skills-driven talent pipeline that supports long-term regional growth and opportunity.”
Emily Pettinato Selected for ACCE Fellowship for Talent Development The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Emily Pettinato, workforce development specialist, has been selected for the 2025–2026 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Fellowship for Talent Development, a prestigious six-month program that empowers chamber professionals to strengthen their communities’ workforce pipelines. The fellowship, hosted by ACCE, brings together chamber leaders from across the country to address pressing workforce challenges. Over the six months, fellows engage in monthly webinars, participate in an in-person convening, and collaborate with national peers to design a regional action plan. The program blends national best practices with local strategies to help chambers connect businesses, educators, and job seekers, ensuring long-term economic growth. Emily Pettinato expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity: “The 2025–2026 ACCE Fellowship for Talent Development will provide strategies to strengthen The Chamber’s work in connecting businesses, educators, and job seekers while supporting talent pipeline development.” As part of her role, Pettinato develops and manages workforce development initiatives that strengthen business education partnerships and promote career pathway awareness. She leads key programs such as Educator in the Workplace, Career Pathways Resources, the annual Workforce Summit, and the Small Business Internship Fund, which connect educators, employers, and students to enhance career readiness and regional talent pipeline development. Amy Luyster, vice president of business and workforce development, emphasized the significance of Pettinato’s selection: “Being selected for the Fellowship is a recognition of Emily’s leadership and commitment to workforce development. The skills and insights she gains will directly enhance Skills in Scranton programming and our work to support employers, strengthen partnerships, and prepare students and job seekers for long-term success in our region.” The ACCE Fellowship for Talent Development is a nationally recognized initiative that equips chamber professionals with innovative approaches to workforce development. More details about the program can be found on ACCE’s website: ACCE Fellowship for Talent Development
Local leader elected to industry board Robert F. Durkin elected to board of directors for Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Robert F. Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, has been elected to serve on the board of directors for ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, an Alexandria, Va.-based association of over 9,000 professionals who work for and with more than 1,300 chambers of commerce. Members of ACCE’s board of directors represent more than 50 organizations, including many of the world’s largest and most influential regional chambers of commerce. “We are pleased to welcome Bob Durkin to the ACCE Board of Directors,” said Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE president & CEO. “Durkin’s expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to optimize our industry’s opportunities and leverage the ever-growing momentum for innovation, catalytic leadership, and economic vitality within our communities.” Durkin has served as president of The Chamber since 2013. In his role as president, Durkin oversees planning, finances, staffing, and programming of The Chamber and its affiliate organizations: Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises (LIFE), Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO), IGNITE, The Scranton Plan, MetroAction, Leadership Lackawanna, and Skills in Scranton. Durkin served as president of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute; founding executive director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority; vice president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce ( 1988–1993); and has worked in various capacities in the nonprofit and regional government arenas. Durkin is a graduate of Penn State University and has undertaken advanced studies at the Institute for Public Administration at Penn State University and completed studies at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Delaware. He is a member of the ACCE Major Cities Roundtable, Penn State Scranton Advisory Board, the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development Advisory Board, board member and Treasurer of the Regional Foundation LLC.; board member of the Neighborhood Development Trust, Board member of The Arc of NEPA, and is active in regional Challenger (Special Needs) sports.. The mission of ACCE is to support and develop chamber professionals to lead businesses and their communities. ACCE identifies and analyzes trends affecting communities, shares best practices, and develops benchmarking studies, in addition to providing other tools to help chamber leaders manage and improve operations at their organization and achieve the highest impact in their communities. About ACCE Established in 1914, ACCE is an association of over 9,000 chamber professionals from 1,300 chambers of commerce throughout the United States, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas and a host of international markets. The combined membership of ACCE chambers is close to one million businesses. Chamber leaders look to ACCE for best practices, networks, and new ideas that will help them advance the interests of their communities. ACCE recommends successful programs and strategies, and identifies trends, partners, and business models that show promise. For more information, visit www.ACCE.org. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s business, economy, leadership, workforce, and quality of life by offering programs and services that attract, sustain, and grow businesses and jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information about The Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.
Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute Offers Virtual Training Program Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI), in partnership with the Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence (ACCE), is offering an online training program for professionals — and family members — who care for people with autism spectrum disorder. The program provides training in evidence-based interventions developed to improve the quality and consistency of services for people with autism and their families. Topics include applied behavior analysis, or the study of how behavior works, which, when paired with therapy, can increase communication skills, focus and social skills. The program also covers speech and language evaluation, genetic testing and transitional, vocational and housing options for people with autism. “We’re thrilled to offer a substantial training program about evidence-based practices to those in our region who work to support people with autism spectrum disorder and their families,” said Barbara Haas-Givler, Geisinger ADMI’s director of education and behavioral outreach. “While the program targets professionals, parents and caregivers are also welcome to take advantage of the curriculum. The webinars can be viewed at your own pace and cover a wide range of topics.” To receive a certificate of completion, participants must register and view five core webinars, complete a brief post-webinar quiz, view and attest to reading consensus documents for each of the core areas, and view four additional webinars. The Professional Training Program was developed in collaboration with ACCE partners from Misericordia University, University of Scranton, Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, and Friendship House. Funding support for the program was provided by the AllOne Foundation. To register or for more information, visit alloneforautism.org/professional-training/ptp-overview.html.
