Settlers Hospitality Raises over $5,000 for Foundation Settlers Hospitality hosted their annual Chili and Wing Cookoff at Silver Birches in March. The event drew over 300 people and raised more than $5,000 for the Settlers Cares Foundation. Over 20 of the best chefs from local restaurants, schools, and organizations, as well as talented home cooks, dished out their best wing and chili recipes to be named tops in each category. Event goers sampled all the entries and voted for the People’s Choice Award. Ticket sales, along with a 50/50 raffle, netted $5,118 for the Settlers Cares Foundation. The newly formed non-profit provides short-term, emergency support to Settlers Hospitality employees and affiliates experiencing hardship. “This was our first fundraising endeavor and it’s incredibly gratifying that the community came out and showed such amazing support,” states Janna Genzlinger, Settlers Cares Foundation Executive Director. “We’re honored and humbled by the success of the event, which will enable us to assist our co-workers and affiliate employees in their darkest hour.” The Foundation provides tax-free grants to eligible workers in need due to an unexpected life event such as natural disaster, illness or death. Upcoming fundraisers benefitting Settlers Cares Foundation include a Tent Sale on May 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Settlers Inn featuring upcycled goods. A gala is also slated for November and a concert in December. For more information, visit SettlersCares.org
Crystal Windows Unveils New Recruiting Videos National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently created a series of recruiting videos featuring employees discussing their experiences working at the company. These interviews include longtime and newly hired employees working in production, sales, administration, and logistics at Crystal locations across the country and at subsidiary Gateway Extrusions in Union, MO. At a time when manufacturers face hiring challenges, Crystal has revamped and improved many of its recruiting strategies, employment benefits offered, and employee communications. The new recruiting videos are part of this effort, which is showing positive results. “In addition to competitive salaries and benefits, Crystal offers employees opportunities for career development at every stage, from their first day,” said Isabella Leung, HR Manager. “Most of our supervisors and managers have been promoted from within the company because of the experience and knowledge gained on the job, and they are recognized throughout the industry as experts and leaders.” The employee experience themed recruiting videos, 23 in all, are posted on a rotating schedule on Crystal’s social media platforms, corporate website, and company YouTube channel. They are also a featured highlight at business expos, career fairs, and on campus recruiting events Crystal attends in the metro New York, northeast Pennsylvania, St. Louis, MO, and Riverside, CA regions where Crystal and subsidiary factories are located. “Besides being great for outside career fairs, Crystal’s recruiting videos are an effective tool for our current employees to share with family and friends who may be interested in joining the Crystal family,” said Leung. “Our employees speak from the heart about the satisfaction they find working at Crystal. These are powerful testimonials.” A sample of Crystal recruiting videos can be seen at the company website, under the About Crystal/Careers tab at https://crystalwindows.com/careers. These and other employee interview videos were made in conjunction with updates to Crystal’s award-winning corporate video The Story of Us, seen on the website home page.
NeighborWorks Receives Contribution NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) recently accepted a contribution from The Dime Bank (Dime), in the amount of $10,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP).The contribution will support the Scranton Beautiful Blocks Program for 2023. Beautiful Blocks, which is jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks and the City of Scranton, provides matching grants of up to $1,000 to each member of a group of at least five Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process.“As a community bank, The Dime Bank is proud to partner with NeighborWorks and contribute to their efforts of revitalizing neighborhoods and building community connections. We are excited to be part of their Beautiful Blocks program that encourages team work among neighbors and invests in property improvement,” stated William Boyle, The Dime Bank Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.“We want to sincerely thank The Dime Bank for their generous contribution towards this year’s Beautiful Blocks program in Scranton,” said Jesse Ergott, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President & CEO. “We are grateful for their commitment to making a positive impact in our community and beyond.”
DIMECO, INC. Declares Cash Dividend On March 23, 2023, The Board of Directors of Dimeco, Inc. (OTCQX: DIMC) declared a dividend of $.38 per share for the first quarter of 2023, which represents a dividend yield of 4.05% based on the closing stock price of $37.50. The dividend is payable on April 27, 2023, to shareholders of record on April 6, 2023. This dividend is an increase of $0.02 per share, or 5.56% over the dividend declared for the same period 2022. President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Bochnovich, stated, “Our shareholders’ investment is the foundation for the sustained growth of Dimeco, Inc. The increased dividend is our way to show that we value their continued support and commitment.”
Johnson College Announces New Associate Degree Students can now enroll in Johnson College’s new two-year Aviation Technology associate degree program scheduled to begin with the Fall 2023 semester. The Aviation Technology program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventative maintenance, and necessary safety application in aviation technology. Through a partnership with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, students will complete air frame and power plant instruction in a lab located at the airport, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This opportunity will provide students with a very unique and hands-on learning experience in industry. The program will provide students with the knowledge and skills outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Mechanics Airman Certification Standard (ACS) in preparation for the FAA licensure exam for general, airframe, and powerplant knowledge. “The aviation technology industry expects rapid-paced growth within the next decade,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, Johnson College’s President and CEO. “Johnson College is prepared to meet that demand by offering our students hands-on experience and training on campus and at in-field labs, giving them an advantage to succeed in this in-demand industry. Students within this program will be prepared for careers in the aviation technology industry as aircraft mechanics, airframe mechanics, aviation technicians, aircraft specialists, and similar roles. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the aviation technology field has a 6% growth potential through 2031. Graduates have the opportunity to earn a median annual income of up to $65,550. “We’re excited to have this new partnership with Johnson College”, said Carl R. Beardsley, Jr., AVP Executive Director. “This new degree program will greatly benefit the aviation industry, and we support Johnson College in its efforts to meet the demand in these fields in the world of aviation.” Johnson College has received a three-year Advanced Technological Education grant for $307,706 from the National Science Foundation to support the Aviation Technology program. For more information about or to enroll in this program, please contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.
WVIA’s Employee Accepted into Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy Vicki Austin, Senior Director of Grants and Education at WVIA, has been accepted into the Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy will bring leaders from across NEPA together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects relating to workforce development. Through this acceptance, Vicki will become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, joining Fellows from fourteen (14) previous Academies in eleven cities in the US and Canada. “I’m looking forward to contributing my time, in collaboration with other leaders, to the growth of our local workforce ecosystem,” said Vicki Austin. “This gives each of us the opportunity to jointly respond to a regional need while strengthening partnerships across communities.” The Academy provides a forum for local leaders to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems-based challenges and create shared solutions for economic opportunity for all. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs. To learn more about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy, please visit https://safdn.org.
Keystone Mission uses Grant Funds In June 2022, Keystone Mission received an $18,500 grant through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Spring 2022 Community Needs grant cycle. The funds were used for the operation of the Scranton Innovation Center for Homeless & Poverty and for expanding programmings such as the Go Green Team and Pathfinders Program.
Moses Taylor Foundation Welcomes Program Officer Lisa Savero-Mooney has joined Moses Taylor Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, as its Program Officer. In this role, she will direct and oversee Moses Taylor Foundation’s community needs responsive grantmaking portfolio within the Foundation’s 11-county service area. Grantmaking priority areas under Savero-Mooney’s direction will include primary healthcare, mental health and behavioral health, dental care and oral health, healthcare workforce, and human services. Savero-Mooney will also provide support as needed to the Foundation’s capacity building, supporting school-based health, and reducing older adult isolation initiatives. Savero-Mooney built her career in the nonprofit, health, and human services sectors. Most recently, she served as Scranton Primary Health Care Center’s Compliance Director, lending her expertise to mission-focused quality and continuous improvement initiatives. Before joining Scranton Primary, Savero-Mooney spent nine years at United Way of Lackawanna & Wayne Counties, establishing strong professional relationships with community partners and the regional community. As United Way of Lackawanna & Wayne Counties’ Director of Education, Savero-Mooney was directly responsible for every aspect of the organization’s education work, including its Success By 6 community-wide initiative and the development of robust collaboratives and campaigns. “As a native of Northeastern PA, Lisa is deeply committed to this community. Her career has focused on strengthening and enhancing the quality of life for all, particularly the most underserved. We are thrilled to welcome Lisa to Moses Taylor Foundation, and I’m excited for her to continue expanding her professional impact as part of our team,” said Danielle Breslin, President and CEO of Moses Taylor Foundation. Savero-Mooney holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services Administration from the University of Scranton. She assumed her responsibilities at Moses Taylor Foundation on March 20, 2023.
Lackawanna College’s President Recognized Lackawanna College’s President and Chief Innovation Officer, Jill Murray, Ph.D., ranked 37 in City & State Pennsylvania’s 2023 Higher Education Power 100. Dr. Murray became Lackawanna College’s first female president, previously serving as its executive vice president from 2012 to 2020. Under her leadership, Lackawanna College was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company Magazine for its Level Up program, which compresses the bachelor’s degree timeline. Dr. Murray’s professional training initiatives include the Center for Technology Innovation, offering STEM degree programs such as Robotics & Integrated Technologies, Cybersecurity, Electric Vehicle & Advanced Automotive Technologies and corporate training coming fall 2023. She also collaborated with Dallas Shaw to bring Blitzen to the Scranton area, a holiday pop-up bar in the on-campus student-run restaurant that provided culinary students with real-world experience. “We are so proud to have Jill be recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s educational leaders,” Chairperson of the Lackawanna College Board of Trustees, Joyce Van Schooneveld said. “Jill has helped grow Lackawanna College into a great place to receive an education and having her be recognized for her hard work is inspiring.” The City & State’s Higher Education Power 100 recognizes Pennsylvania’s most influential academic leaders focusing on making a difference on and off campus. Through their experience and innovative programs, the leaders recognized in this list demonstrate why Pennsylvania continues to be a national focal point in higher education. Dr. Murray ranked with other local leaders in our area including Reverend Joseph Marina of the University of Scranton, Reverend Thomas Looney of Kings College, Dr. Jonathan Green of Susquehanna University and Sister Mary Persico of Marywood University.
Wayne Bank Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend James O. Donnelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwood Financial Corp (NASDAQ Global Market – NWFL) and its subsidiary Wayne Bank, announced that the Board of Directors has declared a $0.29 per share quarterly cash dividend payable May 1, 2023, to shareholders of record as of April 14, 2023. The $0.29 per share represents an increase of 3.6% over the cash dividend declared in the first quarter of 2022. Mr. Donnelly commented, “The Board is extremely pleased to provide our shareholders with this quarterly cash dividend. It reflects the Company’s financial strength and strong capital position which has contributed to our solid performance.” Norwood Financial Corp, through its subsidiary, Wayne Bank operates fourteen offices in Northeastern Pennsylvania and fifteen offices in Delaware, Sullivan, Ontario, Otsego and Yates Counties, New York. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had total assets of $2.047 billion, loans outstanding of $1.474 billion, total deposits of $1.728 billion and total stockholders’ equity of $167.1 million. The Company’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “NWFL”. Forward-Looking Statements. The foregoing material may contain forward-looking statements. We caution that such statements may be subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, and therefore readers should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to pay or increase cash dividends in the future, the continued financial strength, solid performance and strong capital position of the Company, changes in federal and state laws, changes in the absolute and relative levels of interest rates, the risks and uncertainty posed by, and the effect and impact of, the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the Company’s results of operation and financial condition, the ability to control costs and expenses, demand for real estate, costs associated with cybercrime, general economic conditions and the effectiveness of governmental responses thereto. Norwood Financial Corp does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
