Economist Nicholas Bloom To Deliver Henry George Lecture at University of Scranton Nicholas Bloom, Ph.D., the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, will deliver The University of Scranton’s 40th Henry George Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. Dr. Bloom’s lecture, “How Working from Home Reshaped America,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public. Dr. Bloom is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading economists studying productivity, management practices, technological change, remote work and innovation. His research has transformed the understanding of how management quality influences firm performance and economic growth. It has provided influential evidence on the effects of hybrid and remote work on organizations and employees. His work has been widely cited by policymakers, business leaders and researchers around the world. Dr. Bloom earned his Ph.D. in Economics from University College London and joined Stanford University’s Department of Economics after faculty appointments at the London School of Economics and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He is a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a fellow of the Econometric Society and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has appeared in many of the profession’s leading journals, including the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economic Studies and Management Science. He has received numerous honors for his research contributions and is widely recognized for pioneering large-scale studies examining management practices across countries, as well as the economics of working from home. Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by The University of Scranton’s Department of Economics, Finance and International Business and the University’s chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international honor society in economics. Previous Henry George lecturers include 13 Nobel Prize winners in Economics: Philippe Aghion (2025), Daron Acemoglu (2024), David Card (2021) Paul Romer (2018), Robert Shiller (2013), Tom Sargent (2011), Peter Diamond (2010), Paul Krugman (2008), Joseph Stiglitz (2001), George Akerlof (2001), Amartya Sen (1998), Robert Lucas (1995) and Robert Solow (1987). The lecture series is named in honor of 19th-century American economist and social reformer Henry George and is supported financially through a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute. For more information about the Henry George Lecture, call 570-941-4209 or email pamela.turbessi@scranton.edu.
TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty Launches Fourth Cohort to Accelerate Entrepreneurship in the County TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty, an initiative powered by Lackawanna County, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber’s entrepreneurship division IGNITE, has officially opened its fourth cohort to idea-stage, start-up, for-profit technology businesses. This 10-week business boot camp is designed to jump-start entrepreneurship in Lackawanna County by equipping local tech-based entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and training needed to advance their ventures. Participants will receive in-depth instruction in business modeling, customer discovery, financial planning, and investor readiness. At the conclusion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to compete for a reimbursable $10,000 grant to offset select start-up costs. The participants in the fourth cohort are: MillionMinds by Norman Zin Notea by Alexandria Small Optimust Intelligence by Luis Vazquez Stello by Jake Howells Sweeney Education Innovations by Dr. Terry Sweeney TechA11y by Brian Jagger VoiceBridge by Jonathan Lau Zach James Music (Zack Sprowls) “The partnership between Lackawanna County and Ben Franklin Technology Partners continues to be a powerful engine for innovation and entrepreneurship in our region,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber. “At The Chamber, our mission is to attract, sustain, and grow businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania—and the TechCelerator cohort does exactly that. By equipping emerging tech entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and funding they need, we’re laying the groundwork for the next generation of business success stories right here at home.” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan: “With all the discussions about artificial intelligence and Lackawanna County being a potential site of data centers to sustain it, it’s important to remember that nothing can replace entrepreneurship in building the county’s, and the region’s economies. Lackawanna County is happy to participate in the innovative TechCelerator program, which supports that crucial entrepreneurship, gives prospective business leaders insight into growth and sustainability amid constant change, and helps to keep some our best talent home. Here’s to another successful year.” The TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty program has already helped launch multiple new ventures in the region, providing a proven framework for early-stage tech entrepreneurs to test ideas, build networks, and access resources that drive business success. At the conclusion of the program, participants and their businesses will give a formal presentation on the progress of their business.
