Leadership Lackawanna Announces 2024–25 Core Program Class The Leadership Lackawanna Core Program Class of 2024–25 met on Thursday, September 12, for their first session, which included an orientation and an introduction to leadership basics held at PLASKOLITE in Scranton. Leadership Lackawanna strives to enhance emerging and established leaders’ skills, connections, and knowledge, strengthening our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Core Program Class participants: Amy Fotta, Marywood University Anne Cherundolo, Tobyhanna Army Depot Anne Marie Matles, Maximus Federal Services Belsy Gutierrez, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Brian Kasperowski, Nunzi’s Advertising Chrissy Grunza, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA Christa DeSanto, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Inc. Colleen Burns, NEPA Alliance Corey Walsh, Penn East Federal Credit Union Danelle McClanahan, Lackawanna College Jordan Fritz, Johnson College Danithza Farrell, FNCB Bank, a Division of Peoples Security Bank & Trust Daysi Carreto, The University of Scranton Eric Montella, Fidelity Bank Erin Nissley, The Wright Center for Community Health & Graduate Medical Education Holly Warren, Izzy’s Pizzeria Jackie Caraballo, SCHOTT North America, Inc. Jennifer Mylott, ESSA Bank & Trust Jennifer Nagy, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Jesse Tutino, Tobyhanna Army Depot Jessie Magnot, Commonwealth Charter Academy John Kasaczun, Tobyhanna Army Depot Jordan McAndrew, Montage Mountain Resorts Kaitlyn Charles, NBT Bank Kathiannie Tavera, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Kelly McLaud, Penn East Federal Credit Union Kyle Linko, CTCLC Lisa Valentine, The Honesdale National Bank Mallory Coyne, United Concordia Mariam Abugri, P&G Marla Gambucci, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Matthew Lukeski, Tobyhanna Army Depot Matthew Pelucacci, Tobyhanna Army Depot Meghan Pace, Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Pennsylvania Michael Kohut, Benco Dental Morgan Sewack, Penn State Scranton Paul Dumas, Times-Shamrock Communications Raelynn McCafferty, The Wright Center for Community Health Renee Stella, Greater Scranton YMCA Sidney Johnson, Tobyhanna Army Depot Tracey Scott, Tobyhanna Army Depot Zachary Boniello, Cornerstone Building Solutions Nicole A. Morristell, executive director, shares, “I’m excited for the adventures and opportunities that lie ahead. This year’s participants have accomplished great things in their past and I look forward to seeing how they will utilize the leadership skills they acquire over the next ten months.” In Leadership Lackawanna’s 10-month Core Program, participants gain direct and indirect leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills, as well as an enhanced understanding of the issues relevant to the Greater Scranton region, through monthly sessions. Areas of focus can include community development, economic development, government, health care, law, education, quality of life, sustainability, history and media, with sessions featuring widely recognized specialists. Members of the class also devote a large portion of their time to develop and implement community projects, hence enhancing their leadership abilities, fostering teamwork and benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Leadership Lackawanna’s Core Program accepts applications from candidates who live, work or play in Lackawanna County. ATTACHED PHOTO: FRONT Jackie Caraballo, SCHOTT North America, Inc.; Amy Fotta, Marywood University; Holly Warren, Izzy’s Pizzeria; Belsy Gutierrez, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; Jennifer Mylott, ESSA Bank & Trust; Lisa Valentine, The Honesdale National Bank; Renee Stella, Greater Scranton YMCA; Daysi Carreto, The University of Scranton; Anne Cherundolo, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Sidney Johnson, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Brian Kasperowski, Nunzi’s Advertising; Chrissy Grunza, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA; Danithza Farrell, FNCB Bank, a division of Peoples Security Bank & Trust; Raelynn McCafferty, The Wright Center for Community Health; Kelly McLaud, Penn East Federal Credit Union MIDDLE Morgan Sewack, Penn State Scranton; Meghan Pace, Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Pennsylvania; Colleen Burns, NEPA Alliance; Jessie Magnot, Commonwealth Charter Academy; Kathiannie Tavera, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania; Anne Marie Matles, Maximus Federal Services; Jennifer Nagy, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education; Corey Walsh, Penn East Federal Credit Union; John Kasaczun, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Marla Gambucci, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Christa DeSanto, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Inc.; Tracey Scott, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Kaitlyn Charles, NBT Bank BACK Danelle McClanahan, Lackawanna College; Jordan Fritz, Johnson College; Kyle Linko, CTCLC; Jordan McAndrew, Montage Mountain Resorts; Mallory Coyne, United Concordia; Erin Nissley, The Wright Center for Community Health & Graduate Medical Education; Zachary Boniello, Cornerstone Building Solutions; Eric Montella, Fidelity Bank; Paul Dumas, Times-Shamrock Communications; Jesse Tutino, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Michael Kohut, Benco Dental; Matthew Lukeski, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Mariam Abugri, P&G; Matthew Pelucacci, Tobyhanna Army Depot
Leadership Lackawanna Announces Core Program Class of 2023–24 The Leadership Lackawanna core program class of 2023–24 met on Thursday, September 14, 2023, for their first session, which included an orientation and an introduction to leadership basics. Leadership Lackawanna strives to enhance emerging and established leaders’ skills, connections, and knowledge, strengthening our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Core Program class: Cali Rose Nataloni, Nunzi’s Advertising Hannah Shurtleff, First National Bank Rachael Santoro, Goodwill Industries of NEPA Amber Trunzo, Catherine McAuley Center Kelli McCullough, The Wright Centers Rachel Brummet, The Honesdale National Bank Abbey Merker, Montage Mountain Resorts Isabelle Ceccoli, Scranton Area Community Foundation Michaela Martines, The Wright Centers April James, Allied Services Home Health Jenn Sosa, Penn East Federal Credit Union Kim Lazuka, Greater Scranton YMCA Chelsea Cadwalder, NBT Bank Emily Pettinato, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Dana Force, United Neighborhood Centers Tara Floyd, Tobyhanna Army Depot Jacob Torba, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter Megan Kolis, Condron Sweda Advertising Scott Burti, Tobyhanna Army Depot Stever Brown, LCBC Church Kristi Cleveland, Fidelity Bank Pam Fischer, Benco Dental Parker Dorsey, NeighborWorks NEPA Megan Benedict, Wells Fargo Thomas Swope, The AZEK Company Kaitlin Allard, Barry Callebaut Jason Pozniak, Nibbles & Bits Christoper Moshinskie, FNCB Bank Tara Jones, Lackawanna River Conservation Association Matthew Jones, Tobyhanna Army Depot Richard Peters, Alleima USA LLC Shaun Young, Tobyhanna Army Depot Stacy Cognetti, Lackawanna College Emily Glodzik, Penn State Scranton Nicole A. Morristell, executive director, shares, “I’m excited for the adventures and opportunities that lie ahead. This year’s participants have accomplished great things in their past and I look forward to seeing how they will utilize the leadership skills they acquire over the next ten months.” In Leadership Lackawanna’s 10-month Core Program, participants gain direct and indirect leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills, as well as an enhanced understanding of the issues relevant to the Greater Scranton region, through monthly sessions. Areas of focus can include community development, economic development, government, health care, law, education, quality of life, sustainability, history and media, with sessions featuring widely recognized specialists. Members of the class also devote a large portion of their time to develop and implement community projects, hence enhancing their leadership abilities, fostering teamwork and benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Leadership Lackawanna’s Core Program accepts applications from candidates who live, work or play in Lackawanna County. Front row, left to right Cali Rose Nataloni, Nunzi’s Advertising; Hannah Shurtleff, First National Bank; Rachel Santoro, Goodwill Industries of NEPA Amber Trunzo, Catherine McAuley Center Kelli McCullough, The Wright Center Rachel Brummett, The Honesdale National Bank Abbey Merker, Montage Mountain Resorts Isabella Ceccoli, Scranton Area Community Foundation Michaela Martines, The Wright Center April James, Allied Services Home Health Jenn Sosa, Penn East Federal Credit Union Second row, left to right Philip Zvirblis, NET Federal Credit Union Kim Lazuka, Greater Scranton YMCA Chelsea Cadwalder, NBT Bank Emily Pettinato, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Dana Force, United Neighborhood Centers Tara Floyd, Tobyhanna Army Depot Stacy Cognetti, Lackawanna College Emily Glodzik, Penn State Scranton Jacob Torba, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter Megan Kolis, Condron Sweda Advertising Scott Burti, Tobyhanna Army Depot Back row, left to right Steve Brown, LCBC Church; Kristi Cleveland, Fidelity Bank; Pam Fischer, Benco Dental; Parker Dorsey, NeighborWorks NEPA; Megan Benedict, Wells Fargo; Thomas Swope, The AZEK Company; Kaitlin Allard, Barry Callebaut; Jason Pozniak, Nibbles & Bits; Christopher Moshinskie, FNCB Bank; Tara Jones, Lackawanna River Conservation Association Matthew Jones, Tobyhanna Army Depot Richard Peters, Alleima USA LLC Absent from photo: Shaun Young, Tobyhanna Army Depot
The Wright Center News Read below to discover what Maria Kolcharno from the Wright Center says about The Healthy MOMS program. Maria Kolcharno, L.S.W., serves as director of addiction services for The Wright Center for Community Health. She supervises the daily operations of addiction-related services and grant-funded clinical operations, including the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence. It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been five years since The Wright Center and a number of other regional community organizations launched the Healthy MOMS program as a way to meet the needs of families affected by substance use disorder. “The Healthy MOMS – it stands for Maternal Opiate Medical Support – program was established in 2018 to help pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. Participants are offered blanket services that include medication-assisted treatment and addiction services, counseling, primary health care, OB-GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice, and numerous other forms of support. It’s all about providing mothers with the strong foundation they’ll need for them and their children to enjoy a happy, healthy life. Named after a program of the same name in Ohio, Healthy MOMS was initially introduced as a pilot program in two counties, with initial grant funding secured by the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Today, the program assists women in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of community partners representing Northeast Pennsylvania’s health care, legal, housing, and social service organizations, the program has proven to be nothing less than a resounding success. Over the past five years, we’ve touched the lives of more than 430 babies and mothers. I’m very proud of the number of people our program has been able to assist, but I know we must continue working hard to reach more people in need. As we know too well, even under the most idyllic circumstances, it takes a village to raise a child. Adding the complex struggles surrounding opioid addiction to the equation can make pregnancy an even tougher time. With that realization in mind, our team focuses on our clients’ health, financial, legal, and personal needs. The program provides medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health, case management, and social services, ideally engaging mom and baby all the way up until the child’s second birthday. The evidence suggests that mothers who join the program and participate in recovery services well before their delivery dates are less likely to give birth to babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome, a potentially painful and costly medical condition caused when a newborn withdraws from opioids or other drugs that the baby had been exposed to in the womb. While Healthy MOMS has served mothers as young as 14, the program mostly works with women in their 20s and 30s. Many of our moms have said the program gave them a stronger sense of optimism and an increased self-confidence, and several others have noted that it led them to wanting to obtain their GED and pursue their education even further. Obviously, the program depends on solid funding to carry out its mission, and thankfully we’ve been fueled by generous grant support from private, state, and federal entities, including the AllOne Foundation, Robert H. Spitz Foundation, Direct Relief, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. And, of course, our many community partners are hugely integral to our continued success. Five years in, we’ll keep that momentum going, continuing to build upon Healthy MOMS’ services and partnerships. It’s truly a privilege to be involved with a community program so worthwhile.” For more information on the Healthy MOMS program, call 570-955-7821 or visit www.healthymoms.org. Read below to discover what Maureen Litchman from the Wright Center says about healthy aging. Maureen Litchman, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician, is the medical director of The Wright Center Wilkes-Barre Practice, where she sees patients of all ages. Dr. Litchman also serves as associate program director of the Regional Family Medicine Residency Program at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “I walked into my kitchen. Mail strewn on the counter. There it was. An envelope posted from AARP addressed to me. It was 2005. Reality struck. I was old enough to be eligible for membership. The good news is there are lifestyle changes we can make to lead healthier lives and positively impact our longevity. Each of us can take a proactive approach in adjusting and supporting our changing bodies. This can be done gracefully by making healthier choices. I am happy to share with you some behaviors each of us older citizens can do to improve the quality and quantity of our lives. And if you’re not quite in an “older age group,” it’s never too early to start adopting some of these changes. Please consider sharing them with someone you love so they can start making some positive changes. Please allow me to promote September’s observance of Healthy Aging Month, whichbegan more than 30 years ago to encourage people to focus on their physical and mental health in a positive way. There are several ways each of us can live healthier lives. Many healthy practices are well within our reach with the right amount of motivation and encouragement. Engaging with others in your pursuit of better health creates supportive relationships. This increases your chances for success. Below are a few tips to consider. I suggest following one or two behaviors to start and incorporate additional changes every few weeks. Maintain a healthy diet: Increase your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and water. Alcohol may be consumed in moderation. Get up and move! Treat yourself to a walk and enjoy the scenery. If the weather is inclement, find an indoor site such as a local mall and get some steps in. Try increasing how long you walk over a few weeks with a goal of walking for 30 minutes, three days a week. Ways you can increase your activity include: park further away from your destination, use steps instead of an elevator, and walk into drive-in places such as a bank. See your doctor: Schedule regular preventive and primary care checkups with your primary care physician to reduce disease occurrence or to detect it early enough so treatment may be more effective. Get a good night’s sleep: Some adults may struggle to get adequate sleep. Your strive to goal would be to sleep seven to nine hours per night. This may increase your level of alertness and improve your mood and memory. Avoid using tobacco products to include smoking, vaping, and chewing: Please know there are several effective options to assist you in quitting. Have your primary care physician be a member of your team to help you battle this health challenge. Monitor your brain health: Our brains may change as we get older. The good news is, dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. We can improve brain health by performing activities which challenge our brains: crossword puzzles, Wordle, Sudokus, etc. Please notify your doctor if anything related to your memory or overall brain health has occurred. We at The Wright Center are trained to help you with your health challenges. We offer a full range of geriatric services that promote good health, prevent disease, treat afflictions, and manage disabilities. We firmly believe that our holistic, whole-person approach to treatment and care is especially beneficial to aging adults who may be categorized as frail or not being listened to by other doctors. We provide them with the tools to live a full and healthy life thanks to our specialized services, which include Alzheimer’s and dementia evaluation and testing; well visits with providers; ongoing care for chronic conditions; caregiver support; preventive care and health education; case management; and linkage to community resources and support services. That approach is paying big dividends, as evidenced by our geriatric program being recognizedby the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as an Age-Friendly Health System Partner forproviding a full spectrum of primary health and support services for our patients who are youngat heart. We’re all aging – but with a lot of personal effort and the assistance of our health care providers,we can age well and continue to enjoy our lives. Whether you refer to getting older as “the golden years” or “the silver tsunami,” let’s all strive to make them the best years of our lives because they are precious.”
Leadership Lackawanna Invites Regional Nonprofit Organizations to Submit Project LOIs The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce community leadership and professional development affiliate, Leadership Lackawanna, invites greater Scranton regional nonprofit organizations to submit a Service Project Letter of Intent (LOI) as the first step in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the 2023-24 Core class community service project. The Leadership Lackawanna organization will select multiple projects for the incoming class to work on throughout the program year (October 2023—June 2024). For nonprofit organizations and community groups, this invitation to submit an LOI presents an opportunity to use the services of a talented team of professionals. The group can help you with a project you have had in mind but lack the human resources to accomplish. At the same time, you can expose a group of established and emerging leaders to your organization’s mission and goals. This is a mutually beneficial experience for your agency and these emerging professionals. Projects must have a reasonable scope and budget and cannot include capital campaigns, rebranding/branding/marketing campaigns, or raising large sums of money. For more information on submitting a LOI to Leadership Lackawanna, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com. Questions may be directed to Leadership Lackawanna Executive Director Nicole Morristell at (570) 342–7711 or nmorristell@scrantonchamber.com. The deadline to submit a LOI is August 18, 2023. About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com. About Leadership LackawannaLeadership Lackawanna, an affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development. Leadership’s six programs: Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Leadership Collegiate, Core, Leadership Fundamentals 2.0, Executive, and Welcome Scranton!—enhance the skills, connections, and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them better to serve our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has created more than 2,500 community leaders. For more information, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com.
40 Years of Graduating Community Leaders in the Greater Scranton Region Leadership Lackawanna, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community leadership and professional development, an affiliate of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, recently graduated its 40th class at a “Celebration of Leadership” luncheon ceremony at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center. Over 375 people attended this milestone event which included the premier of a historical video that told the story of the organization’s history, the impact of Leadership Lackawanna community service projects, and an overview of the five projects completed by this year’s CORE program participants. A PowerPoint presentation covering achievements from this program year and the presentation of certificates to graduates was also a major highlight. The Celebration of Leadership was only possible due to the generous support of our sponsors: 25-8 StudiosAllied ServicesBenco DentalCenter City PrintCommunity Bank, NAFNCB BankGeisingerGertrude HawkHawk Family FoundationHighmark Blue Cross Blue ShieldHilton Scranton & Conference CenterIron Tree DataLackawanna CollegeLackawanna CountyMaximus FoundationNBT BankPenn East Federal Credit UnionPeople’s Security Bank & Trust CompanyPNC BankPPLScranton Area Community FoundationThe AZEk CompanyThe Honesdale National BankThe Wright CenterTimes Shamrock Communications Front row, left to right: Tressa Parker, Greater Scranton YMCA; Joy Hubshman, United Neighborhoods Centers of NEPA; Nicole Paolicelli, Penn State Scranton; Taylor Carito, Benco Dental; Alyssa McQuillan, NBT Bank; Jasu Acharya, Community Bank NA; Jennifer Aglialoro, Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA; Kristin Bender, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates; Alissa Weiss, The Honesdale National Bank; Karla Perks, Empower Retirement; Jessica Mislinski, Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA; Middle row: Alexandria Alliah Small, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; James Warren, Warren Construction; Kyle Peter Gattuso, PNC Bank; Kelley Laird, Fidelity Bank; Ariana Argust, Allied Services; Carmelo Rivera, El Coqui Construction LLC; Patrick J. Ruane, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Joel Perkins, Penn State Scranton; Brianna M. Larose, Procter & Gamble; Jennifer Thomas, FNCB Bank; Anthony P. Portanova, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Back row: Hannah Gaul, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Joseph Cholko, Sordoni Construction; Sarah E. Sorrells, Penn East Federal Credit Union; Thomas Chairge, Jr., Prudential Retirement; Rebecca Cerra, Lackawanna College; Theodore Kowalick, FNCB Bank; Gerard N. Walsh, The Azek Company – Vycom; Caleb Hicks, Northeast PA Youth for Christ; Paul DePrimo, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Zachary Morgart-Filipski, Hilton Scranton & Conference Center; Kristin Armstrong, NBT Bank; Absent from photo: Andrew Kirby, Montage Mountain Resorts and Paul J. Ballard, Ph.D., Marywood University About The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceThe Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by offering programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com. About Leadership Lackawanna Leadership Lackawanna is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development. Its six programs – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Leadership Collegiate, Core, Leadership Fundamentals 2.0, Executive, and Welcome Scranton! – enhance the skills, connections, and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them to better serve in our communities, workplaces, and organizations. Established in 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has created more than 2,500 community leaders. For more information, visit www.leadershiplackawanna.com.