NEPIRC Event to Address AI, Medical Marijuana, and Talent Retention Will AI replace employees? How will medical marijuana impact the safety of a workforce? How do you attract and retain the most skilled and talented people at an organization? These are just a few of the questions that area manufacturing leaders will find the answers to at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center’s (NEPIRC) 2024 Manufacturing Day Best Practices Summit & Expo this year. The event takes place on Friday, Oct. 4 at Mohegan Pennsylvania Convention Center, Wilkes-Barre Twp. from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “Manufacturing Day is an opportunity for all area manufacturers, businesses that provide services to manufacturers and individuals who want to learn more about northeastern Pennsylvania’s growing manufacturing sector to gather together under one roof at the region’s most impactful manufacturing networking event,” said Chelsey Coslett-Traver, NEPIRC’s manager of marketing & stakeholder engagement. “We look forward to this year’s event being the largest in its history, both with the number of exhibitors and the number of attendees. We are very excited about all that we have planned for this year’s Manufacturing Day!” While this event is geared toward manufacturers and advocates of manufacturing, educators, students and curious community members are welcome to attend as there will be a great deal of valuable information shared. Registration, breakfast and networking take place from 7:30 to 8:50 a.m., followed by welcoming remarks Eric Joseph Esoda, NEPIRC president & CEO, and Chelsey Coslett Traver. Morning break-out sessions that take place from 9:30-10:15 a.m. include: “Refueling the Talent Pipeline: Sparking Careers in Manufacturing,” apanel discussion featuring ambassadors from NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team “Effectively Using the Power of AI in Manufacturing,” with Mark Morgis, NEPIRC continuous improvement specialist “Medical Marijuana and the Workplace: Navigating Safety Concerns and Policies,” with Brian Matyjevich, NEPIRC OSHA-authorized outreach trainer; Marni Sherrill, SHRM-CP, senior human resources business partner, Volumetric Building Companies “Navigating Environmental and Energy Excellence: An Overview of ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 in Manufacturing,” with Ray Kryeski, NEPIRC manufacturing and industrial engineering specialist, and “Unlocking Leadership Potential with Emotional Intelligence Coaching,” withLeo Gilroy, NEPIRC director of leadership and organizational development. After a break for networking, a panel discussion and breakout session will take place on: “Building High Performance Compensation Systems: How to Get Your Team Rowing in the Same Direction,” with Mike Pickreign, Tech 42, breakout session sponsor, and “Cybersecurity & CMMC Panel Discussion,” with moderator: Kara Smith, NEPA Alliance APEX Accelerator, panel discussion sponsor; and panelists: Marc Gonzalez, Site 2 and Zane Patalive, Real IT Care. Lunch will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. and feature keynote speaker Chris Czarnik, author of Winning the War for Talent. He will share knowledge from his 20 years of experience learning what attracts people to organizations and why they leave. Czarnik is an author, coach, trainer, and subject matter expert on talent recruiting, engagement and retention in today’s environment. His career includes experience as a former military officer, human resource manager, career services manager and job search advisor. After the lunch keynote, event attendees can continue connecting with other manufacturing professionals and visit the nearly 100 manufacturers and businesses that will have exhibit booths and product demonstrations Afternoon speakers Katie Desiderio, Ph.D. and Michael Frino, Ph.D. will present “Becoming a Be Keeper” at 2:10 p.m. The Wall Street Journal bestselling co-authors will discuss resiliency, grit, and determination in the workplace among constant change. Closing remarks Eric and Chelsey will follow. Tickets start at only $50 and can be purchased at www.NEPIRCMFGDAY.com. Tickets provide access to two morning breakout sessions of ticket holder’s choosing, the exhibitor hall, keynote presentation, afternoon breakout session and all meals and refreshments. NEPIRC would like to acknowledge top-level sponsors of this year’s event that include Gold Sponsor: Tech42, APEX Accelerator Sponsor: APEX Accelerator at NEPA Alliance, Student/Faculty Sponsor: Lackawanna College Continuing Education, Welcome Reception Sponsor: Scranton Printing Co., and Silver Sponsors: Ashley Machine & Tool, Mitsubishi Chemical Group and SIMONA. For a complete list of sponsors and partners, visit www.NEPIRCMFGDAY.com. For more information or to purchase tickets, email Chelsey Coslett-Traver, NEPIRC’s manager of marketing & stakeholder engagement, at Chelsey@NEPIRC.com or visit NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Day webpage at www.NEPIRCMFGDAY.com.
Geisinger’s Hispanic Group Hosts Event on Metabolic Dysfunction In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, Geisinger’s Hispanic Latino employee resource group, SALUD, has partnered with NASH kNOWledge to host an informational event titled “Metabolic Dysfunction (Fatty Liver Disease) and its Impact Within the Hispanic Community” on Monday, Oct. 7, from 4 to 5 p.m. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, affects about a third of the U.S. population, with the highest prevalence in the Hispanic community. While it’s often thought to be clinically symptomatic, fatty liver disease can impact quality of life and in some cases, lead to more serious liver diseases like cirrhosis. Awareness of the condition is important, especially for those at higher risk, because lifestyle changes and medical management can prevent progression to more severe liver disease and other chronic diseases. Featured speakers Alberto Unzueta, MD, hepatologist at Geisinger, and Maria Hernandez, Latino community outreach coordinator at NASH kNOWledge, will provide education about the condition and prevention. The event will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams and is free and open to the public. To join, visit go.geisinger.org/fattyliverdiseaseimpact.
Hospice of the Sacred Heart to Host Remembrance Walk Hundreds of walkers are expected to pause and remember their loved ones in a unique and special way at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Remembrance Walk. The walk will take place on Saturday, September 28th at McDade Park in Scranton. Registration begins at 8:30 am and the walk will kick off at 10 am. The Wright Center is the presenting sponsor. The one-mile walk around scenic McDade Park is wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly. The $25 registration fee ($30 after September 6th) includes lunch and a long-sleeve t-shirt with a customizable pin-on bib so participants can walk in memory of a loved one. Teams of five or more are $20 each and children 12 and under are free. There will be a DJ, basket raffle, children’s activities, a ceremonial bell ringing and ice cream courtesy of Fidelity Bank. Proceeds from the walk will help support Hospice of the Sacred Heart programs and services. The event will begin with an opening prayer by Rev. Thomas M. Muldowney, Pastor, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow and WNEP-TV anchor and reporter, Stacy Lange, will start the walk. Diane Baldi, Hospice of the Sacred Heart CEO, will be available for interviews. Those wishing to participate individually or as a team can register online at www.HospiceSacredHeart.org, by calling 570-706-2400 or at McDade Park the day of the walk.
The University of Scranton’s October Event Schedule Through Oct. 11 Art Exhibit: “The Lackawanna River and Watershed: History and Environment.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 2 5 p.m. Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities: “An American Icon in Puerto Rico: Barbie, Girlhood, and Colonialism at Play” presented by Emily Aguilo Perez. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Oct. 5 9 a.m. Empower Her: Political Pathways for Women, a non-partisan program to helping women in NEPA become more politically active hosted by The University of Scranton’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service. DeNaples Center. $15 fee. Reservations required. Call 570-941-6326 or email ceeps@scranton.edu. Oct. 8 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “The Power of Storytelling” presented by Jonathan Conyers, acclaimed author of the memoir “I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here.” Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 9 8:30 a.m. 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on DISABILITY “The Rehabilitation Act: Learning From Our Past, Knowing Our Present & Building Our Future.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Registration required. Free. Call 570-941-4308 or visit www.scranton.edu/disabilityconference. Oct. 9 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “General Recital” featuring student musicians from Performance Music. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Oct. 10 7:30 p.m. Ignatian Values in Action Lecture: “What We Remember Will Be Saved” presented by Stephanie Saldaña, author of “What We Remember Will Be Saved.” Byron Recreation Complex. Free. Call 570-941-7520 or email linda.walsh@scranton.edu. Oct. 18 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “There’s a Future in the Past: Leading a Repertory Orchestra/Band in the 21st Century” presented by Vince Giordano, Grammy-winner, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 18 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks!” Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Oct. 21-Nov. 22 Art Exhibit: “Hudson River and Delaware Valley: Selections from the Paul Biedlingmaier Jr. Collection.” Hope Horn Gallery, Hyland Hall. Free during gallery hours. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 21 5:30 p.m.Schemel Forum with the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities Collaborative Program. Myers Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Humanities and Civic Engagement Lecture: “What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World” presented by Sara Hendren, associate professor of art, design and architecture, Northeastern University. Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Free, courtesy of the Myers Fellowship. Reception follows. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 21 6:30 p.m. Scranton Stories: “Hispanic/Latinx Voices: Screening and Panel Discussion.” Main Auditorium, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 525 Pine Street, Scranton. Free. Call 570-941-4419 or email daysi.carreto@scranton.edu. Oct. 24 5 p.m. Ethics Across the Curriculum Speaker: “Beyond the 3Rs: How to Shift the Current Animal Research Paradigm” presented by Kathrin Herrmann. Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Free. Call 570-941-4700 or email sarah.kenehan@scranton.edu. Oct. 24 7:30 p.m. Henry George Lecture: “Global Production and Innovation Networks: Consequences for Trade and Industrial Policy” presented by Marc Melitz, Ph.D., the David L. Wells Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University. McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu. Oct. 25 11:30 a.m. Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Series: “Bridge Over Troubled Water: Harnessing the Power of Music, Art, and the Humanities for Better Health” presented by Olapeju Simoyan, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine. Rose Room, Brennan Hall. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Oct. 25 5 p.m. Art Gallery Lecture: “Hudson River and Delaware Valley: Selections from the Paul Biedlingmaier Jr. Collection.” Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall. Reception follows at the Hope Horn Gallery. Free. Call 570-941-4214 or email darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu. Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” presented by The University Players. Royal Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. Ticket prices vary. Call 570-941-4318 or email players@scranton.edu. Oct. 26 7:30 p.m. Performance Music: “In Concert: The University of Scranton Jazz Band” with guest soloist Alvin Atkinson, drums. Houlihan-McLean Center. Free. Call 570-941-7624 or email music@scranton.edu. Oct. 27 9 a.m. Open House for prospective students and their families. Various locations on campus. Registration required. Free. Call 888-SCRANTON or email admissions@scranton.edu. Schemel Courses: Wednesdays: Oct. 16, 23, 30 and Nov. 6, 13, 20 6 p.m. Schemel Forum Course: “From Caligari to Hitler: Cinema and Politics during the Weimar Republic 1918-1933” presented by Andrew LaZella, Ph.D., professor, department of philosophy, The University of Scranton. Room 305, Weinberg Memorial Library. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu.
Marywood University to Present Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill Show Dates Are October 3-6 The Marywood University Music, Theatre, and Dance department will present Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill as its major fall theatre production. Performances will run from Thursday, October 3, through Sunday, October 6. Mad Forest is an exciting and compelling play about the events prior to, during, and after the Romanian revolution in 1989 that overthrew the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. Please note that Mad Forest contains mature content and adult language and is not suitable for all audiences. Performances, which will be held at the Munley Theater in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, have showtimes from October 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. each evening and a matinee-only performance on October 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for non-Marywood students. Marywood students, faculty, staff, and IHM sisters are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance by credit card online at https://marywood.universitytickets.com or with cash at the door. For more information about Marywood University’s Music, Theatre, and Dance department, visit marywood.edu/mtd.
The University of Scranton to Host Conference on Disability The 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability focuses on access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence. Danté Q. Allen, the commissioner of the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will be the featured speaker at the 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability at The University of Scranton on Oct. 9. The day-long conference will feature nationally respected speakers addressing access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence. The 23rd Annual U.S. Conference on Disability at The University of Scranton, “The Rehabilitation Act: Learning From Our Past, Knowing Our Present, and Building Our Future,” will feature nationally respected speakers addressing access, advocacy and employment in the age of artificial intelligence, including Danté Q. Allen, the commissioner of the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Registration is required to attend the conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 9 and is offered free of charge. Also speaking at the conference will be Alison Levy, director of the Office of Technical and Information Services at the U.S. Access Board; Kathy West-Evans, director of business relations for the National Employment Team of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; John Evans, recently retired Vocational Rehabilitation program administrator for employee relations for the State of Washington Department Social Health Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Gary Karp disability awareness speaker, trainer, consultant and author of “Life On Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User,” among other notable speakers. The annual conference seeks to educate and enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Rehabilitation Act: Learning From Our Past, Knowing Our Present, and Building Our Future.” Commissioner Allen will speak at the opening session of the conference, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on campus. Allen oversees the Rehabilitation Services Administration that provides leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market. Born with Spina bifida, Allen is a fulltime wheelchair user, and a staunch proponent of disability rights and equity. He has been a champion in advocating for the awareness of the reduction of healthcare and financial disparities especially among people of color and people with disabilities. He serves as a board member for Resources for Independent Living, Sacramento, a nonprofit that supports the needs of people with disabilities to live as independently as possible. Levy will speak at 10:15 a.m. As a person with disabilities, and with over 30 years of experience in the disability profession, Levy has worked toward improving workplace attitudes and accessibility, and in providing equal opportunity in the post-secondary, public and private sectors. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Access Board, where she serves, is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. The agency also provides technical assistance and training on requirements and on accessible design. Kathy West-Evans and John Evans will speak together at the session beginning at 1:30 p.m. West-Evans plays a leadership role with the National Employment Team, a cross-state team of vocational rehabilitation business specialists working through a dual customer approach to develop strategies with business (private, public, and non-profit) to employ and retain the talents of individuals with disabilities across the company or organization. She is a past chair of the Veterans Advisory Council on Rehabilitation and a former commissioner on the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. She is a frequent speaker and has co-authored articles focused on working with business to employ the talents of individuals with disabilities. Born with profound congenital deafness, Evans spent 31 years of public service in the fields of vocational rehabilitation; labor relations; human resource development; disability integration; and the employment of people with disabilities in the workplace. The closing session, which begins at 3 p.m., will feature Karp, whose spinal cord was injured from falling from a tree when he was 18 years old. The author of four books, Karp’s early career was in computer graphics and he later established an ergonomics consultancy. In 2007, he was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame as a disability educator. He was sponsored by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center to speak at rehabilitation centers and to college students across the United States. Most recently, Karp has been an emergency manager and trainer, and currently serves as a reservist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through which he was deployed to multiple disasters to help people with disabilities access recovery resources and assistance. The Conference on Disability will open at 8:30 a.m. with remarks from University of Scranton President Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J.; Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D.,Dean of the University’s Leahy College of Health Sciences; and Edward R. and Patricia Leahy, honorary conference co-chairs, followed by remarks by Allen. Kathy Stefanelli, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling and human services at The University of Scranton, will also speak at the conference, during the 11:30 a.m. session, and Renée Hakim, Ph.D., professor chair and program director of physical therapy at the University, will discuss “Advances in Rehabilitation Technology to Improve Human Mobility.” A noon luncheon will include an award ceremony and tribute to the late Ralph N. Pacinelli, Ed.D., a lifelong leader in vocational rehabilitation. The conference, which is presented by the University’s Leahy College of Health Sciences and the Edward R. Leahy Jr. Endowment, is free of charge and open to the general public. However, registration is required. Continuing education credits are also offered for some sessions. More detailed information and registration can be found on the disAbility Conference website. For additional questions, contact conference co-chairs Rebecca Dalgin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the University’s Department of Counseling and Human Services, at Rebecca.dalgin@scranton.edu or Lori Bruch, Ed.D, associate professor and faculty fellow, Office of the Provost, at lori.bruch@scranton.edu.
Mohegan Pennsylvania to Host Contestant Search for “The Price is Right” The Price is Right Contestant Search Comes to Mohegan Pennsylvania Mohegan Pennsylvania is hosting a special contestant search for renowned CBS game show, The Price is Right! on Wednesday, October 9th, at 11:00am – 2:00pm at the Keystone Grand Ballroom On Wednesday, October 9th, guests at Mohegan Pennsylvania will get the chance to tell producers why they should be selected to be on one of the most beloved game shows in the country. Two lucky semi-finalists will be selected and travel to Los Angeles. The winner will be called to “Come on Down!” and play the game on national television! The Price is Right Contestant Search is open to guests ages 18 and older. All participants must be 18 years of age at the time of the application and a legal resident of the United States who currently resides in the states/Washington D.C. at the time of the application. Parking at Mohegan Pennsylvania for guests under 21 years of age is located at the hotel lobby entrance in Lot B or Lot C. All auditions are recorded and provided to The Price is Right producers for consideration. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress! Solid colors appear best on TV, so all participants should wear what they would wear on the show. The first 400 guests to register will be guaranteed an audition. Guests can visit pahomepage.com/price-is-right for full details and required forms. This event at Mohegan Pennsylvania is in partnership with WBRE channel 28.
Child Hunger Outreach Program Hosts Pasta Dinner Fundraiser CHOP Out Hunger will host a special Pasta Dinner Fundraiser. For $15, you can enjoy a meal prepared by Pettinato’s Restaurant, including pasta with a meatball, salad, bread & butter, and dessert. Convenient and ready to enjoy at your leisure! But that’s not all—each meal purchased provides a meal to a child in need. All proceeds from this event will go directly towards funding CHOP Out Hunger’s vital programs that support children, seniors, and families facing food insecurity in our community. Get your tickets today and make a real difference!
Marywood Features New Art Exhibit “Expand: Concepts of Space in the Maslow Collection” exhibit runs through October 18th. The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art is currently featuring an art exhibit, “Expand Concepts of Space in the Maslow Collection,” which will run through October 18. In partnership with the School of Architecture’s Foundation Design course, this exhibition invites the viewer to explore the question, “What is space in artmaking?” Featuring a diverse selection of artists working primarily in abstraction, the exhibition examines how space is defined through techniques such as shaping, screening, layering, wrapping, and twisting. These works challenge and blur the boundaries between the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional, and encourage a deeper investigation into the nature of spatial perception itself. Featured artists include: Jurgen Albrecht, Alice Aycock, Robert Cumming, Aaron Fink, Peter Halley, Clint Jukkala, Denny Moers, Ad Reinhardt, Joel Shapiro, Anthony Sorce, Frank Stella, Ryan Ward, and Terry Winters. For more information on Marywood art galleries, visit marywood.edu/galleries.