Tobyhanna Army Depot, Cadet Projects Lead To Real-World Improvements Tobyhanna Army Depot has successfully renewed its certifications through the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), reaffirming its leadership in protecting military equipment and ensuring mission readiness across the joint force. The certifications were renewed following an external audit conducted on June 16 and recognize the depot’s excellence in three key areas: QP1 for field coating applications, QP3 for shop coating applications, and AS3-ITO for training courses and facilities. Tobyhanna remains one of only 500 organizations worldwide—and the only government agency—to hold all three certifications. The achievement adds to the depot’s long history of industry leadership. Tobyhanna was the first organization within the Department of War to earn the ISO 45001 safety certification and continues to maintain nationally recognized certifications for its environmental and quality management systems. During the audit, AMPP auditor Mike Damiano reviewed technical documentation, observed work areas, and met with personnel throughout the organization. He praised the depot’s extensive documentation, standardized procedures, and commitment to quality, noting that its well-developed systems improve efficiency and support long-term operational success. Damiano also commended the professionalism and expertise of the depot’s leadership and workforce, highlighting their strong understanding of industry requirements and dedication to quality workmanship. In addition, he recognized the exceptional lighting throughout the work areas, citing its positive impact on employee safety and productivity. According to the depot’s Quality Management Directorate, the audit provided valuable feedback that will help strengthen an already robust quality management system. The next AMPP surveillance audit is scheduled for the summer of 2027.
SWB RailRiders, CHAMP’S Home Run Readers Log Over 3.5 Million Minutes The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are thrilled to announce the results of CHAMP’s Home Run Readers, a new 2026 program presented by Red Robin. Over the course of March, 4,784 students participated in CHAMP’S Home Run Readers, amassing a total of 3,537,740 minutes read. “You cannot be impressed enough by the effort of these local readers,” stated Shawn Reilly, the RailRiders’ Team President & General Manager. “A three-week program with a variety of benchmarks set the goal. These readers took the time to put in the work, and the result was unbelievable. Truly impressive!” Students were tasked with at-home reading from March 2 through 22. This included school curriculum books, self-chosen books, and both digital and print materials. Minutes could also include time for a parent or guardian to read aloud to the student, encouraging family literacy. All students who participated received a certificate. Students who logged 400 to 800 minutes also earned two free tickets to a game on June 9 or 10. Participants who read 800 to 1,300 minutes earned four free tickets to one of those games. Students who read 1,300 or more minutes also earned a free t-shirt and the opportunity to join their fellow readers on-field for a simultaneous first pitch, which had students lined up around PNC Field on both nights, upwards of 250-plus readers per night throwing to their parent or guardian. Elena Bartron was the top overall reader, recording 13,097 minutes read. She received an autographed baseball and threw a ceremonial first pitch on June 10. Tunkhannock Area Intermediate Center logged the most student participation of any area school. “The RailRiders reading incentive program was a huge hit!” said Jaime LaChase, who served as the program coordinator for Tunkhannock Area Intermediate Center. “Our students were engaged in reading and worked hard to accomplish the goals set by the RailRiders’ team. It was such a great way to get our students reading!Our school had 313 of 750 students participate and read well over 300,000 minutes. We look forward to doing this program again next year.”
SWB RailRiders, Cosmic Baseball Adds A Third PNC Field Game To September Tour Stop The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Cosmic Baseball are thrilled to announce a third night for the immersive, neon-lit baseball experience! Due to popular demand, the Cosmic Chili Peppers and Glow Mojis will now play at PNC Field from September 10 through 12. Tickets for the initial date, September 12, sold out in four hours, prompting additional nights. Fans can once again enter the Cosmic Ticket Lottery for a chance to purchase tickets. Fans can watch the Cosmic Baseball Tour at PNC Field by entering the ticket lottery and selecting “Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders” on the dropdown menu. Fans who entered the lottery will be selected at random to purchase their tickets. Those selected will receive a designated time slot to purchase tickets via an email from Cosmic Baseball. RailRiders season ticket members will be given priority seating opportunities. As seen on The Today Show, ABC News, Sports Illustrated, MLB Network, and many more, Cosmic Baseball is flipping America’s favorite pastime on its head with an electrifying, black light twist. Fans can watch two professional Cosmic teams: The Cosmic Chili Peppers and The Glow Mojis take the field under black light in a jaw-dropping spectacle. The show is part baseball, part neon-fueled party, and 100% unforgettable. Neon uniforms, UV-reactive baseballs, and electrifying entertainment make Cosmic Baseball a must-see event. Fans can stay up to date with news regarding the PNC Field tour stop by following @gochilipeppers and @goglowmojis on Instagram or by visiting https://chilipeppersbaseball.com. For more information on the RailRiders 2026 season and promotional nights, call (570) 969-BALL or visitswbrailriders.com.
Allied Services Vocational Programs Offer Employment Opportunities Allied Services continues to empower individuals with disabilities through its Vocational Services Division, which provides specialized training and employment opportunities designed to help participants achieve greater independence and long-term career success. Since 1959, Allied Services has helped individuals develop workplace skills through vocational training, supported employment, community employment, and janitorial training programs. Participants receive hands-on instruction, earn competitive wages, and build the skills needed to secure and maintain meaningful employment in a variety of industries. The organization also partners with businesses throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania to connect employers with a trained and reliable workforce while creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Through these partnerships, participants gain valuable job experience, increased confidence, and greater independence. Individuals interested in learning more about Allied Services’ vocational and employment programs, including available workshops and training opportunities, are encouraged to visit Vocational Services Program Information or contact Allied Services for additional information.
NEPIRC Announces Leadership Appointments And Promotions NEPIRC, a not-for-profit technical assistance firm serving manufacturers across an 11-county region, has named Marla Hager Evans as its new President and CEO. Hager Evans formally assumed her responsibilities in December 2025 after spending the past decade with the organization. She joined NEPIRC in 2016 as the Business Advisor for northern Luzerne County and has since taken on expanded leadership responsibilities in business development, strategic sales and marketing initiatives, and organizational growth. As President and CEO, she will continue overseeing and coaching NEPIRC’s Business Advisor team while guiding the organization through its next phase of transformation and long-term sustainability. NEPIRC also announced the promotion of Leo Gilroy to Senior Director of Training and Consulting Services. Gilroy brings more than 40 years of experience in the manufacturing and Department of Defense sectors, with expertise spanning engineering, product and business development, marketing, and sales. Throughout his career, he has helped more than 3,500 professionals strengthen leadership and project management skills through relationship building, emotional intelligence, and performance coaching. Additionally, Charles Wallinger joined NEPIRC as Controller in December 2025. Wallinger brings more than 35 years of experience in finance and accounting within governmental, grant-funded, and nonprofit organizations. His background includes working closely with boards of directors and executive leadership teams to strengthen financial management and organizational accountability. “Leo and Charles are both seasoned, experienced leaders who have already brought so much value to our organization,” said Hager Evans. “They are aligned with NEPIRC’s mission and are in tune with the evolving needs of our clients, funders, and partners. We are thrilled to recognize Leo with this well-deserved promotion and look forward to the positive impact Charles will make on NEPIRC in the months and years ahead.”
Junior Achievement Of Northeastern Pennsylvania To Host Celebration Happy Hour Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania had a successful year, impacting more than 13,000 students throughout the region. To celebrate another outstanding year of service and achievement, JA will host a Happy Hour Celebration on Thursday, June 4, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Jonathan’s Deck Bar. The cost to attend is $20 with pre-registration or $25 at the door. The evening will feature live music, appetizers, a cash bar, door prizes, raffles, and networking opportunities. Guests are encouraged to attend and celebrate JA’s continued impact on students across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Geisinger Doctor Named EMS Physician Of The Year Geisinger’s Chris Berry, M.D., has been named the 2026 EMS Physician ofthe Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency HealthServices Council, an independent advisory committee to EMS agencies across the state. Dr. Berry has been a physician in Geisinger Medical Center’s emergency room since 2024 andis the associate medical director for Geisinger EMS. He personally responds to emergenciesusing the Geisinger Physician Response Vehicle, working alongside EMS crews when not in theemergency room, and is the medical director for multiple central Pennsylvania EMS agenciesand fire departments. “I’m deeply grateful to receive this award from a community that means so much to me,” saidDr. Berry. “EMS professionals provide lifesaving care and are a cornerstone of our community,and it’s a real honor to be recognized by my colleagues in this way.” The EMS Physician of the Year award is chosen through peer nomination and an EMS votingcommittee. After reviewing nominations from across the state, the committee makes their finalchoice based on the nominee’s contributions to the delivery of EMS, clinical leadership andmentorship of EMS providers. Mark Bertollo, emergency medicine services coordinator and award nominator, says, “Chris isvery good at what he does and is very involved — he does trainings and education, he will workwith EMS on his day off and he often invites hospital residents to join him to further theireducation.” Dr. Berry was honored at a ceremony at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville on May 5 and willalso be recognized at the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg during EMS Week,May 17 to 23. This year’s award is in honor of Deno Gualtieri, D.O., a Pennsylvania EMS physician, agencymedical director and emergency department director who passed away earlier this year.
University Of Scranton Nonprofit Leadership Program Accepting Applications For The 2026-27 Term The University of Scranton is accepting applications for Cohort 6 of its Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program (NLCP), which will run from January 2027 through January 2028. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2026. Applications can be submitted by visiting the Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center (NCAC) website at nepa-alliance.org/nlcp/. The NLCP, housed in the Kania School of Management, is designed to be broad-based, hands-on and practitioner-focused to help high-potential nonprofit leaders tackle the pressing leadership challenges in organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Since the program’s inception in 2016, 87 nonprofit professionals from 65 regional organizations have graduated from the program. Cohort 5 included 19 community leaders who completed the program. The NLCP has created a network of high-performing individuals serving at nonprofit institutions, in addition to building an informal regional network of mentors and coaches for emerging nonprofit leaders. Douglas Boyle, DBA’88, CPA, CMA, Accounting Department chair and founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program, noted the program fulfills a critical need in the region. “The NLCP creates an ecosystem for new and emerging leaders to collaborate on solving an organizational challenge and strengthening their leadership skills,” Dr. Boyle said. “The cohort-based approach assures that by building strong relationships, each participant gains a network of peers with specialized skills that they can gain insights from long after graduation. The program assists the organizations with succession planning, nurtures future collaborations with the nonprofit sector and most importantly yields strong and resilient leaders.” Sessions are led in-person by Kania School of Management faculty and peer group coaches with deep expertise in nonprofit management and practical leadership tools. The program includes work towards specific organizational and personal goals, peer group work, mentorship, and academic leadership components. For additional information, visit the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program webpage or contact one of the NLCP co-directors: Kurt Bauman at kbauman@nepa-alliance.org; Jesse Ergott at jesse.ergott@scranton.edu.
Lackawanna County launches Broadband Internet Survey and Speed Test Lackawanna County is taking steps to ensure that all residents and businesses in the county can connect to high-speed and reliable internet. This initiative is part of the Lackawanna County Broadband Assessment Plan study, which is being conducted by the engineering firm HRG. The study is a multi-faceted project that will collect data and feedback over the course of several months to identify broadband service needs and focus future efforts on expanding internet service. A final study and report will outline the findings and proposed next steps with the long-term goal of ensuring reliable high-speed internet is available to everyone in the county. As part of this effort, Lackawanna County is pleased to announce the launch of the Broadband Internet Survey and Speed Test, which will be administered by HRG. Participation in the survey is crucial to gain a better understanding of the user’s experience with internet service. All residents and businesses play a key part in the survey, as the data collected helps bridge the gap in broadband coverage and informs the county of potential broadband service needs. What do residents and businesses need to do? Take the survey from your home or business using a wired or Wi-Fi connection that services your home or business. It’s important not to use your mobile phone data plan, as that will not measure your home broadband speed. At the end of the survey, a speed test will gather results on connectivity speeds. Once the speed test and survey are complete, simply click submit. Starting on Monday, April 13, the survey and speed test will be available online at https://hrggis.github.io/LackawannaBroadband/ and also on the county website at www.lackawannacounty.org Residents without internet access, or anyone unable to complete the online survey, can download a printable version from the county website or pick up a copy at their local library or municipal building. The survey will take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete and will be open through July 13, 2026. For questions or comments, or to request a hardcopy by mail or email, contact internetsurvey@lackawannacounty.org.
Marywood University To Host Third Annual Veterans And Community Partners Wellness Summit The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center Veterans & Community Partners, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and the Scranton Vet Center are presenting the Third Annual Veterans and Community Partners Wellness Summit at Marywood University on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at Nazareth Student Center. This free, one-day conference will provide opportunities for continuing education and networking for healthcare professionals, community leaders, veterans, family members, and nonprofit organizations working directly with veterans in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Participants will connect, learn, and recharge through interactive wellness breakout sessions, supportive talks, and valuable networking opportunities. A light breakfast and a lunch will be provided.
