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.”
Beyond Dunder Mifflin: The Electric City Documentary This fan-made documentary explores the unique and unexpected impact of the popular TV show The Office on the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Moving beyond the fictional world of Dunder Mifflin, the film delves into the real-life connection between The Office and Scranton, uncovering the city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and the myriad ways in which the show has shaped its identity. Almost 20 years since the pilot aired on March 24, 2005, The Office has transformed Scranton from a “Coal Town to a Cool Town.” Viewers will hear from notable figures such as Tim Holmes, Michele Dempsey, Mari Potis, Mayor Paige Cognetti, and many more. Additionally, some of your favorite characters from the show, including Andy Buckley and Angela Kinsey, will make appearances in the documentary. Our documentary will be free to the public on March 28 via YouTube and Facebook. There are discussions about airing it on a local TV station in the Scranton area, with hopes of eventually having it available on Peacock. Our story is about 54 mins to an hour long. Credits: Director, Producer: Brandon Soto Director of Photography and Assistant Director: DeAngelo Dixon Production Assistants: Brian Schnieders, Madison Whitford, and Cody Exley
Episode Twenty-Six: All Things Chamber is Back at State Street in Clarks Summit Don’t Miss the Update Chamber Open House is Friday, September 6. We LOVE our members and want to show our appreciation for your support throughout the year. Join us as we come together with fellow members and enjoy a variety of lunch specialties from member businesses! We will be tenting our entire front parking lot and driveway to create comfortable space. Meet our Board or Directors, staff and network with fellow members. Swing by and let us thank you! Skills in Scranton’s Educator in the Workplace connects K-12 educators, administration, superintendents, school board members, and school counselors to businesses and industry leaders. Enrollment closes September 26. Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Twenty-Five: All Things Chamber is at Lynn Sandy’s Bakery Don’t Miss the Update Are you a small business owner or aspiring business owner that identifies as: Minority, Women, LGBT, Disabled person, or Veteran owned? Unlock new opportunities for your business by becoming certified as a diverse business. Gain visibility and connect with major institutions while promoting diversity in commerce. Join us this summer to kickstart your journey towards certification with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Join us for this FREE networking –MEMBER ONLY– informational event. The afternoon will begin with a round-table introduction of all attendees and then offer a highlighted overview of Chamber programs and services delivered in a unique and informational format. Lunch will be served and networking will be encouraged. Seating is very limited, maximum two representatives per company please. Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Twenty-Four: All Things Chamber at The Honesdale National Bank Don’t Miss the Update Do you have an exciting offer, discount or deal you’d like to extend to fellow members? Let us know and we’ll pass it along to the 1,500+ Chamber members and their 70k+ employees! Want to offer 20% off a service, 10% off their first order, give them a free consultation? Tell us more and we’ll tell everyone! Submit your Bonus Benefit by July 26th! Chamber Day presents a great opportunity for you and your employees to enjoy discounted admission to Montage Mountain Waterpark. Members can purchase $15 tickets which includes all water attractions ($10.99-$14.99 savings off regular one-day admission ticket) Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Twenty-Three: All Things Chamber in Clarks Summit Don’t Miss the Update Do you have an exciting offer, discount or deal you’d like to extend to fellow members? Let us know and we’ll pass it along to the 1,500+ Chamber members and their 70k+ employees! Want to offer 20% off a service, 10% off their first order, give them a free consultation? Tell us more and we’ll tell everyone! Submit your Bonus Benefit by July 26th! Chamber Day presents a great opportunity for you and your employees to enjoy discounted admission to Montage Mountain Waterpark. Members can purchase $15 tickets which includes all water attractions ($10.99-$14.99 savings off regular one-day admission ticket) Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Twenty-Two: All Things Chamber is at The Green Ridge Club Don’t Miss the Update Do you have an exciting offer, discount or deal you’d like to extend to fellow members? Let us know and we’ll pass it along to the 1,500+ Chamber members and their 70k+ employees! Want to offer 20% off a service, 10% off their first order, give them a free consultation? Tell us more and we’ll tell everyone! Submit your Bonus Benefit by July 26th! Chamber Day presents a great opportunity for you and your employees to enjoy discounted admission to Montage Mountain Waterpark. Members can purchase $15 tickets which includes all water attractions ($10.99-$14.99 savings off regular one-day admission ticket) Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Twenty-One: All Things Chamber is at Scranton Counseling Don’t Miss the Update Do you have an exciting offer, discount or deal you’d like to extend to fellow members? Let us know and we’ll pass it along to the 1,500+ Chamber members and their 70k+ employees! Want to offer 20% off a service, 10% off their first order, give them a free consultation? Tell us more and we’ll tell everyone! Submit your Bonus Benefit by July 26th! Chamber Day presents a great opportunity for you and your employees to enjoy discounted admission to Montage Mountain Waterpark. Members can purchase $15 tickets which includes all water attractions ($10.99-$14.99 savings off regular one-day admission ticket) Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Nineteen: All Things Chamber is “on the road!” Don’t Miss the Update Host the Chamber to film an “All Things Chamber” episode this summer. Contact Ryan Buchanan to schedule your business film date. Contact Ryan at rbuchanan@scrantonchamber.com. Momentum Magazine is expanding! Submit a to be included as a Fresh Face feature (for members who joined less than a year), the Small Business Spotlight (members who joined two years or longer), or the “Ask the Expert” column, an opportunity for members to talk about their area of expertise. Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS
Episode Seventeen: All Things Chamber Don’t Miss the Update The Chamber’s annual membership officially ends on Thursday, May 30. If you know of a business that is not a member of The Chamber, have them head over to www.JoinTheScrantonChamber.com to learn how they can save up to 30% off their first year. Did You Know? As part of your online portal, you can see the number of referrals to your business from The Chamber. Head over to ScrantonChamber.com, and on the top bar, click “Member Login”. Once you are logged in, click on “Additional Resources” and then “Referal Report.” Upcoming Chamber Events EVENT PAGE MEMBER BENEFITS