Regional Manufacturers Experience Dynamic Growth; Rebound Quickly with NEPIRC Assistance The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) closed out its most recent fiscal year on June 30, 2021, with reports of dynamic growth and much faster than expected COVID-19 recovery among its manufacturing clients over the past year. Throughout the past 12 months, NEPIRC assisted more than 400 manufacturers across northeastern, the northern tier and central Pennsylvania in responding to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuilding their businesses. Of those companies, more than 100 received expanded services tailored to their unique circumstances and challenges. Citing client-reported data gathered through multiple independent sources and subsequently verified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, NEPIRC’s President and CEO, Eric Joseph Esoda, announced that those companies recorded $150.5 million in additional revenue over the past year as a result of NEPIRC’s assistance while also attributing $17.2 million in savings due to increased efficiency and productivity. Despite worldwide economic challenges throughout the latter half of 2020 and first six months of 2021, NEPIRC’s clients invested more than $22.1 million in expanding or modernizing their regional manufacturing facilities and were able to create and retain 2,045 good-paying area manufacturing jobs. “The outstanding impacts that manufacturers are reporting from their engagements with NEPIRC are indicative of the industrial sector’s potential to drive our Commonwealth, and even our country, out of the economic uncertainties that the COVID-19 pandemic left in its wake,” said Mr. Esoda. “We’ve consistently held that our industrial sector is Pennsylvania’s best bet for real, consistent and sustainable economic recovery and expansion and, in fact, fuels growth in other sectors that rely upon manufacturing activity. These results prove that our manufacturers are roaring back to life and will once again drive our Commonwealth forward,” he added. According to aggregate client data within NEPIRC’s year-end reports, 60% of the manufacturers NEPIRC assisted throughout the pandemic reported the avoidance of layoffs as a direct result of the advisement they received. A nearly equal number of clients (58%) credited NEPIRC with enabling them to retain customer relationships and sales that would have otherwise been lost by working with them to meet production requirements or find alternative suppliers when primary supply chains were disrupted by COVID-19. A full 40% of NEPIRC clients reported increased sales amidst the pandemic thanks to NEPIRC’s assistance in attracting new customers or pivoting into new markets – and over 30% of the companies that utilized NEPIRC’s services over the past 12 months created new manufacturing jobs within the region. Across the nation, NEPIRC ended its fiscal year as one of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s top-performing Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliates, particularly with respect to the number of companies it served throughout the pandemic and the levels of jobs its clients created and retained over the past year.
Geisinger Launches Nursing Scholars Program for Employees Nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and play critical roles in caring for patients. Now, Geisinger employees interested in a nursing career will have an easier path. By launching a new career development program, Geisinger will provide financial, educational and wellness support to its employees pursuing a career in nursing. The Geisinger’s Nursing Scholars Program eases the financial burden of nursing school and is open to any employee who’s worked with Geisinger for a year or more and isn’t already a registered nurse (RN) or provider. The program awards $40,000 in financial support with a 5-year work commitment as an inpatient nurse. The goal is to support 175 scholars per year by offering rolling admissions to the program. While supporting employee career and professional goals, the program will also mitigate a shortage of nurses across the organization and beyond. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation needs 1.1 million new RNs by 2022 to avoid a nursing shortage. “There is a recruitment gap of approximately 300 registered nurses per year across the Geisinger system,” said Janet Tomcavage, chief nursing executive at Geisinger. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections, registered nursing is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2029. The RN workforce is expected to grow from 3 million in 2019 to 3.3 million in 2029, an increase of 7%. Community members across our footprint can join the Geisinger workforce and take advantage of this wonderful career advancement opportunity.” The program serves as an entry point into the healthcare profession for high school students and for anyone considering a career in nursing. Community members who are not Geisinger employees can apply for available positions within Geisinger and qualify for the program after only one year of employment. “We are aware that many of our employees are keen to pursue a nursing career but need additional support from us in achieving their dreams. This comprehensive nursing scholars’ program is designed to provide financial, educational and well-being support for Geisinger employees who would like to become registered nurses,” added Tomcavage. Geisinger will support the employee scholars in preparation to go back to school to set them up for success. Guidance in choosing a school and type of degree is available via an internal website and personal counseling. Those who wish to attend prep classes may do so through internally offered classes designed by Geisinger experts. Basic math, navigating online classes and work-life balance are some of the courses offered. While employees are in school, support via study groups, mentoring from Geisinger nurses and professional development opportunities will be available at Geisinger. “Studying while working is a huge undertaking and we understand that employees will need more than just financial support. We want to be able to support our employees’ well-being and provide them with help that they might need when preparing to go back to school. Geisinger’s Nursing Scholars Program is designed to motivate and support employees in achieving their best at work and at school,” said Rebecca Stoudt, associate dean of nursing student education at Geisinger. Geisinger partners with various nursing schools across its footprint, and has created easy access to healthcare for many Pennsylvania communities. The Geisinger Career Center, a recruitment and career services hub, offers community members and Geisinger employees the chance to make a difference through available job opportunities in the health system. Beyond the physical career center, located at 529 Mill St. in Danville, anyone interested can make virtual or phone consultations to learn about Geisinger careers. Candidates can speak with a Geisinger representative about open positions, and current Geisinger employees can learn more about professional development resources and events. Open positions at Geisinger are also listed at jobs.geisinger.org. To find out more about the career center or to make an appointment, call 877-564-6447 or email GeisingerCareers@geisinger.edu.
HNB Supports Wayne County Public Library with EITC Donation The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $20,000 of their approved allotment to the missions of the Wayne County Public Library. The funds, donated by HNB, will support students with e-resources and virtual programming within the seven-library system including the following local libraries: Bethany, Hamlin, Hawley, Newfoundland, Northern Wayne, Pleasant Mount, and the WCPL (Honesdale). Along with the e-resources, equipment will be purchased to provide virtual programming for those who cannot get to the library. Some resources include free online tutoring, online SAT/ACT classes, free access to the Get a Five program for those in Advanced Placement classes, hundreds of tutorials and videos, Learning Express Library, Teen Health & Wellness, Prenda Coding, and STEM Online Resources. HNB President & CEO David Raven stated, “We are privileged to have the opportunity to provide local support to organizations like the Wayne County Public Library with funds through the EITC program.” He continued, “We are glad to see this contribution go towards program upgrades along with advancement of technology and resources.” Tracy Schwarz, Wayne County Public Library Director, mentioned, “The Libraries are working hard to provide programming, equipment, and education to support student learning in creative new ways.” She said, “In Addition, we continue to purchase STEM materials, computers, equipment, and other collection materials to further the excitement and education of Wayne County’s students.”
Providence Engineering Executive Vice President, Mark Ritchie, P.E., Retires After 37 years in the A/E/C industry, trusted and admired Professional Engineer, Mark Ritchie is retiring as Executive Vice President of Providence Engineering. Mark has been around the A/E/C industry all his life. His father and grandfather both worked as bricklayers, so from an early age, Mark knew he wanted to be a part of the construction industry. But he also knew he did not like the strenuous physical work in the heat of the summer and cold of winter, so he decided to attend Penn State University and become an engineer. After graduating in 1984, Mark’s career took him to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and finally, Central Pennsylvania where he started his own engineering firm in 2000. Based in Carlisle, Ritchie Engineering provided structural design services for thousands of projects throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic region. In January 2017, Ritchie Engineering merged with Providence, and thus, Providence Engineering opened our sixth office in Pennsylvania. Mark would go on to help open and lead the establishment of Providence’s seventh office in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Mark’s retirement plans include playing more golf with his wife Lisa, spending time with his family, which now includes three grandsons, and remaining an active member of his church and the Carlisle community. Congratulations Mark!
Gunn-Mowery, LLC Hires Amanda Krotzer, Allie MacGregor and Iris Statler We are pleased to welcome Amanda Krotzer, Allie MacGregor and Iris Statler to Gunn-Mowery, LLC. Amanda joins the Gunn-Mowery team as a Personal Lines Agent. In her role as a Personal Lines Agent she reviews applications, prepares quotes, and evaluates risks for our clients in order to best meet their coverage needs. She graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in art education. She began her career in insurance in 2011 when she worked as a part-time office assistant. Later, in 2013 Amanda obtained her Property and Casualty license, CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative, and her CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor). Learn more about Amanda Krotzer by visiting her Meet the Team page on our website. Allie joins the Gunn-Mowery team as a Commercial Account Administrator. Her role as Commercial Account Administrator consists of commercial auto changes, issuing insurance certificates, processing policies and endorsements, working with carriers and more. Allie received her Bachelor’s from Penn State Harrisburg and her Master’s from Lock Haven University. While completing her Master’s, she worked full-time at Consumers Insurance Agency as a Licensed Agent. Learn more about Allie MacGregor by visiting her Meet the Team page on our website. Iris joins the Gunn-Mowery team as our Accounting Administrator. In her role, Iris processes direct bill commissions, cash receipts, vendor and carrier payments, as well as assist our Accounting Department using our Agency Management System. Iris has an extensive background in accounting, including her role as a Senior Financial Analyst at IBM. She also recently served as a Board Member and Treasurer for the Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Association. Iris is a graduate of the University of Maryland where she earned her B.A. in Finance. Learn more about Iris Statler by visiting her Meet the Team page on our website.
The Prescription Center Opens Second Location The Prescription Center, located on 310 Adams Ave. in Scranton, opened a second location on July 6. Visit them at 329 Cherry Street, Scranton located inside the new Scranton Counseling Center. Transferring your prescriptions to the Prescription Center is easy. Just call 570-209-9900 or reach them on Facebook. Free Same Day DeliveryMonthly Refill Requests Done for YouFree Weekly or Monthly Pill PackagingSpanish Speaking Translators
The Wright Center and NYU Langone Dental Medicine to Introduce Scranton Dental Residency Program The Wright Center for Community Health is pleased to announce it will welcome its first dental resident in July 2021 as part of a new affiliation with New York University (NYU) Langone Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Programs, the largest dental residency program in the country. NYU Langone Dental Medicine was designed to educate residents in primary dental care for vulnerable patients and underserved areas while providing culturally competent health care to socially and economically-disadvantaged residents in the region. The Wright Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike with a growing network of practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties, provides safety-net primary care services, including dental care, to people of all ages regardless of insured status or ability to pay. “This new program will build on our ongoing efforts to address persistent health disparities and difficulties in accessing oral health care for at-risk patients in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Meaghan Ruddy, Ph.D., The Wright Center’s Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “It is our plan that program graduates will also receive advanced knowledge, skills and experiences to best serve children and adults who need these services the most.” The lack of fluoridated water in Northeast Pennsylvania, coupled with poor nutrition and lack of education on the importance of oral health, has resulted in a critical need for dental care access for disadvantaged communities. Lackawanna County is also designated by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Health Professional Shortage Area, meaning it suffers from a critical shortage of dentists, primary care physicians and mental health providers. “During the pandemic, even with the successful launch of telehealth services for our dental patients, many people put their oral health on hold,” explained Kimberly McGoff, Manager of Dental Operations for The Wright Center. “As more people are getting vaccinated and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, we’ve seen an overwhelming rise in requests for dental appointments — an increase of more than 30% since January alone. In order to meet the higher demand, our dentists and staff are coming in on their days off to help meet the region’s needs.” In response, The Wright Center is also actively recruiting two more full-time dental providers, with a new dentist set to join the care team in August. Additionally, The Wright Center’s new mobile medical unit, Driving Better Health, is equipped with two full dental operatories and will offer pop-up dental clinics in both rural and urban settings throughout a seven-county Northeast Pennsylvania service area. By training tomorrow’s doctors today in community-immersed clinical learning environments that serve diverse and medically underserved populations, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is creating the health workforce pipeline America needs while addressing the country’s growing primary care provider shortage. Research shows that more than 90% of graduates who trained in Teaching Health Centers, like The Wright Center, remain in primary care practice, and more than 75% plan to work in underserved communities. The dental residency is the newest addition to The Wright Center’s robust physician learner programming, which also includes internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry residencies as well as gastroenterology, geriatric and cardiovascular disease fellowships. The Wright Center is the nation’s largest Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education consortium, with close to 250 physician learners gaining hands-on training throughout Northeast Pennsylvania and in partnering sites in Washington state, Arizona, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
HNB Supports Abington Community Library with EITC Donation The Honesdale National Bank was once again authorized to make approved contributions under the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. HNB designated $3,000 of their approved allotment to the Abington Community Library. The funds, donated by HNB, will support K-12 educational opportunities. HNB President & CEO, David Raven, stated, “Access to public libraries is important throughout the education of children and young adults.” He said, “We are excited to continue to serve our area by supporting this organization and contributing to their funding.” Sandy Longo, Abington Community Library Executive Director, said, “This year has challenged everyone to find a new normal as we all continue to cope with the ongoing healthcare crisis. The Library is no exception. I am proud to share programming staff devised ways to continue engaging our K – 12 service population during this time through virtual learning platforms and kits!” The Abington Community Library is part of the Lackawanna County Library System. The Library is located at 1200 West Grove Street in Clarks Summit, PA.
Misericordia University Club Sends Thank-You Cards to Healthcare Workers A group of local university students recently expressed their gratitude to healthcare workers at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre for their work during the pandemic. Members of the Sign Language Club at Misericordia University recently organized a service project to make thank-you cards for the nurses and doctors at the two hospitals. The project, organized by club president, Jenna-Leigh Marrone, sent more than 70 thank you cards to hospital staff members. Marrone created a template for the card and asked the club members to add their own words of appreciation to the hospital staff. “The club members were excited to write cards to give back in some way to the healthcare workers. The other officers of the club and I were amazed at how many cards we received,” Marrone saide. “We all felt that words and cards do not reflect to all the caring and selfless work that the hospital staff has been doing, but it was something we wanted to do to remind them that we are appreciative and forever grateful for them.” The Misercordia Sign Language Club was created two years ago by Marrone, a speech-language pathology major at the school, whose older sister is deaf. The club has 110 members from all different majors but with the majority in nursing and education. Marrone, club member Julianna Simunek and club treasurer Faith Foster recently delivered the cards along with thank-you balloons. “This was a way to thank the hospital staff for making our community a safer and healthier place,” Marrone added.
