Keynote Speakers Announced for EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the keynote speakers for this year’s EMPOWER, The Leadership Experience, presented by Geisinger. The annual conference is a full-day event dedicated to elevating leadership, strengthening organizations, and driving meaningful impact across the region.

Opening the conference as the Breakfast Keynote Speaker, sponsored by Peoples Security Bank & Trust, is Dr. Katie P. Desiderio, assistant vice president and professor at Moravian University and founder of Proximal Development.

Dr. Desiderio is an organizational learning and leadership scholar, executive coach, and national best-selling author of The Beekeeper and The Stargazer. With more than two decades of experience in leadership development and change management, she equips leaders with practical strategies to unlock measurable and sustainable growth at every level of an organization.

Serving as the Lunch Keynote Speaker, sponsored by PNC Bank, is Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist with The New York Times and best-selling author. Kantor’s reporting has uncovered critical issues surrounding power, law, gender, technology, and culture, work that has led to meaningful change across industries and institutions. She and her colleagues were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their groundbreaking investigation into decades of alleged abuse by Harvey Weinstein, reporting that sparked a global reckoning and reshaped standards worldwide. In April 2026, Kantor will release her newest book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work, offering inspired wisdom and practical strategies to help individuals at every stage of their careers advance and reimagine their professional paths.

Beyond its keynote presentations, EMPOWER will feature an impressive lineup of regional breakout and panel speakers representing diverse industries and leadership journeys. Attendees can expect a dynamic agenda designed to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and provide actionable insights for today’s evolving workplace.

EMPOWER continues to serve as a cornerstone leadership event for the greater Scranton region, bringing together executives, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and community stakeholders for a day of connection and growth. To view the full speaker roster, explore the conference agenda, and register, visit the conference website.

The Chamber AcceleratesAction by Celebrating International Women’s Day and Presents the ATHENA Award

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted more than 200 attendees at its annual International Women’s Day Celebration, sponsored by The Honesdale National Bank, and presented the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award to Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, FACP, FAAP, the president and chief executive officer of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education.

Marianne Gilmartin, vice chair/chair-elect, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Robert Durkin, president, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Donna Barbetti, Michael A. Barbetti LLC CPA; Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, FACP, FAAP, president and chief executive officer, The Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Education; Mari Potis, director of membership and events, The Greater   Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Deb Kolsovsky, executive vice president and regional director, PNC Bank.

The ATHENA Award, sponsored locally by Michael A. Barbetti LLC Certified Public Accountants, honors an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. Dr. Thomas-Hemak embodies these characteristics wholeheartedly.

Dr. Thomas-Hemak joined The Wright Center in 2001, became president in 2007, and CEO in 2012. Concurrent with her responsibilities as an executive, Dr. Thomas-Hemak is also quintuple board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition, and she remains a healer at heart.

Kate Bryant, president and chief executive officer, The Honesdale National Bank; Elizabeth Nagy, vice president, director of marketing, sales, and online banking, The Honesdale National Bank; Katie Desiderio, Ph.D., MBA, principal partner in learning, Proximal Development, LLC; Marianne Gilmartin, vice chir/chair-elect, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Mari Potis, director of membership and events, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Katie Desiderio provided the keynote address. Dr. Desiderio is a tenured professor of management at Moravian University and the principal partner of Proximal Development, LLC. 

In Dr. Desiderio’s keynote, she inspired the audience to define their stories in six words by going on a journey of exploring who they are and who around them helps them achieve that dream version of themselves.

“Today, as we gather to celebrate International Women’s Day, we honor the strength, resilience, and contributions of women who shape our community,” said Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “The presentation of the Athena Award is a testament to the exceptional leaders who inspire us all to dream bigger, reach higher, and break barriers. It is an honor to recognize these remarkable women, whose achievements remind us that the power of leadership knows no bounds.”