FCU employees adopt a family
Employees of P&G Mehoopany Employees Federal Credit Union participated in the "Adopt a Family" program through the Interfaith Friends organization. This year, the credit union "adopted" a family of six, including four children, mother and father. The family put together a wish list. The credit union employees were able to purchase everything on the wish list. The credit union also purchased a $100 grocery store gift card so that the family can have Christmas dinner.
Company ranked: Benco Dental is ranked ninth among the top 29 large employers in the state, according to the 13th annual Best Places to Work in PA awards program.
Bank donates to program: The Dime Bank donated $20,000 to Honesdale Communities that Care through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
Company presents gift: Frontier Communications recently presented Wyoming Seminary with a gift of $11,250 in support of the school's financial aid program. The gift was made possible through Frontier's participation in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.
Banks support TV: First National Community Bank will donate an Education Improvement Tax Credit to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association. The $2,900 donation will help WVIA-TV continue to provide educational programing for children in Northeast Pennsylvania. Pennstar Bank has also donated $5,000 through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to support WVIA's educational services.
Bank donates: First National Community Bank presented the Lackawanna College Environmental Institute with a donation of funds made available by the Education Improvement Tax Credit program. The bank also donated an Education Improvement Tax Credit to benefit the Greater Pittston YMCA's pre-kindergarten program.
Council meeting held: The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Council met at Genetti's in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The speaker for the November program was Fred Aebli, instructor at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus. The topic was "Can You Make Time - how to get more accomplished in the time you have." Members of the massage therapy class of McCann School of Business also attended the event.
PPL invests: PPL recently presented a $2,000 check to Workforce Wayne as an investment in its current-year community campaign.
Company supports: Waste Management made a $1,000 contribution to Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc. through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to support Junior Achievement's financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs.
Program receives gift: Pennsylvania American Water recently made a gift to Wilkes University through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. This gift will support innovative programming at Wilkes including Science in Motion, Women Empowered by Science and Adventures in Science.
Awards designated: Pocono Health Foundation and the Rotary Club of the Smithfields held their annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony, which awarded nonprofit agencies grants that will improve the lives of children in the community. This year, the tree-lighting funded eight organizations with a total of more than $7,000. The recipients are: Big Brothers & Big Sisters of the Bridge, Monroe County; Center of Vision Loss; Melon's Gift Inc.; Pocono Alliance; Pocono Area Transitional Housing; Pocono Family YMCA; Pocono Services for Families and Children; and Youth Infusion Inc.
Apps ranked: Citizens Bank's mobile banking apps for iPhone and Android have been named the "Best Integrated Apps" in the industry by Javelin Strategy & Research following its review of customer ratings in the Apple App Store and in Google Play.
Health club opens: VIVE Health and Fitness has joined the list of new businesses in the Wyoming Valley. Located at 500 Third Ave., Kingston, it opened at the end of October as a full-service fitness club occupying 25,000 square feet of space.
Bank presents donation: Pennstar Bank presented Lackawanna College with an $8,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit donation to assist the college's environmental and cultural education programs for youth and youth educators.
Assessments offered: Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center is currently offering no-cost office process assessments to manufacturers throughout Northeast and northern Pennsylvania as a way to help them identify ways to improve customer service, enhance office processes and maximize profitability. The assessments will be performed by Maureen Mulcahy, NEPIRC's project manager.
Certificate awarded: Geisinger LifeFlight has been awarded an air carrier certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration after an extensive two-year application and development process. The air carrier certificate will allow the health system to directly operate the aircrafts it leases and owns. In addition, GHS will directly employ its own pilots, mechanics and aviation support personnel.
Award recipient selected: Smart Blonde Creative has been selected as the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce December 2012 recipient of the Small Business Spotlight award. Smart Blonde Creative is a design firm that specializes in creating brochures, Web designs or whole branding campaigns for small businesses of any size budget.
Workshop offered: A workshop titled "Writing Books About Agriculture: Beyond the Barnyard," will be held for children's writers to hone their skills in writing and marketing articles and books about modern agriculture. The Highlights Foundation will hold the workshop from Jan. 24 to 27 near Honesdale.
Chamber hosts event: The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Council hosted a "Cavalcade of Commerce" event at Genetti's in Wilkes-Barre. The event featured a fashion and product showcase, display tables from area businesses and a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to Dress for Success of Luzerne County.
Healthy workplace recognized: Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry recognized local businesses for their successful workplace wellness programs. The 2012 Healthy Workplace of the Year Award went to RCN Telecom Services. Wilkes-Barre law firm Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn PC, received the 2012 Continuing Excellence Award.
College highlighted: Lackawanna College was highlighted as one of "15 Colleges Fighting World Hunger" by the website BestCollegesOnline.com. The college was recognized for recent initiatives that included an Earthbox Project and food drive.
Seminar hosted: The Scranton Plan in conjunction with PA Careerlink's Lackawanna County Business Services Team hosted a special presentation on innovation in the workplace titled "Innovation: It's Not Just About New Products!" at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center was the featured speaker.
Organization relocates: The Northeastern Pennsylvania Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has relocated its offices to the Connell Building at 125 N. Washington Ave., Suite 260, in Scranton.
Market donates: Customers and associates at Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets donated $751,029 during the annual "Candles for Kids" in-store campaign in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Nominations being accepted: The SBA's Philadelphia District office is seeking nominations for its annual Small Business Awards honoring Eastern Pennsylvania small business as well as business owners and assistance organizations. Nominations for the four national awards must be submitted to the SBA Philadelphia District Office no later than Jan. 3. Award nominations may be submitted directly to SBA's Philadelphia District office or via SBA's www.sba.gov. Nominations for the seven eastern Pennsylvania awards must be submitted no later than Feb. 15, and may also be submitted directly to SBA's Philadelphia District office. To obtain an awards nomination package, contact the SBA, Attn. Jennifer Pilcher, Small Business Awards Coordinator, 1150 First Ave., Suite 1001, King of Prussia, PA 19406, call 610-382-3084, or email jennifer.pilcher@sba.gov.
Meeting and tour hosted: The Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry hosted an ambassador's meeting and tour at the local Air Products facility.
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