Allied Services
Allyson Simpson, Lackawanna County program manager, behavioral health division of Allied, was elected to the Pennsylvania Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services board of directors and began her three-year term in January. Ms. Simpson became a certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner for Allied in 2001 and then earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice from King's College in 2003. She is a member of Scranton Crisis Intervention Team and has been the Behavioral Health Crisis Prevention Institute training instructor for all staff since 2011. Ms. Simpson lives in Scranton with her daughter, Kaitlyn.
Back Mountain Food Pantry
Skip Sensbach, artist-in-residence at Misericordia University, was presented with a certificate of appreciation for supporting a program that benefits families in need in the region by representatives of the Back Mountain Food Pantry. He is a member of the university Empty Bowls committee, which presented a check for $2,760.25 to the Back Mountain Food Pantry in November.
Geisinger
Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., chairman, orthopedic surgery, was the keynote speaker for the conference on the Value of Play, held at Clemson University, S.C. He was the keynote speaker during the event's first evening session and he addressed "Strategic Action for Good Health - Uniting Communities Around Play."
King's College
Ayesha Ray, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, published her first book, "The Soldier and the State in India," with SAGE Publications India. The book illustrates the changing nature of civil-military relations in India since the country's independence and addresses the role of nuclear strategy, the nature of India's political system and the nation's counterinsurgency policy as decisive factors in influencing the relationship between the country's political leadership and the military. Dr. Ray earned her doctorate in political science from the University of Texas at Austin and complete her doctoral fieldwork in India. She received a master's degree in international relations and a Master of Philosophy in disarmament studies from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
ManorCare, Hampton House
Nurse supervisor Rosanne Hoffman, L.P.N., was recognized for 30 years of service. Ms. Hoffman is from Glen Lyon and has a husband, Jim, and two sons, Jimmy and David.
Marywood University
Sophie Till, assistant professor of violin, will present a symposium at St. John's College in Cambridge, U.K., on March 23 and 24. The symposium focuses on the "Taubman Approach"- a musical technique for piano players to "prevent and cure fatigue, pain and other playing-related injuries." The symposium marks one of the opening events in the new Divinity School at St. John's College and the first formal presentation of this work in the United Kingdom.
McDonald's
Mykela Ackley was named one of McDonald's outstanding restaurant managers. She is the general manager in New Milford.
Misericordia University
M. Hunter Manasco, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P., assistant professor of speech-language pathology, has had the textbook and video combination "Introduction to Neurogenic Communication Disorders'' published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. "Introduction to Neurogenic Communication Disorders" introduces students to common adult communication disorders and associated neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. The Jones & Bartlett Learning textbook is the third written by Dr. Manasco. Dr. Manasco specializes in treating children with autism and other neurological disorders. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in speech-language pathology from the University of Montevallo in Alabama, as well as a Ph.D. from the University of South Alabama. His areas of specialization include neuroanatomy, aphasia, motor speech disorders, dysphagia, traumatic brain injury, dementia and autism.
Todd Hastings, M.S., R.N., assistant professor and director of the part-time evening nursing program, will make the oral presentation "Best Practices for Treatment of Co-Occuring Disorders: Nursing Response to a Vulnerable Population" at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Pennsylvania Chapter State Conference at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown in March. Mr. Hastings collaborated on the research and will present it along with Barbara Buxton, Ph.D., C.N.S., University of Scranton; Diane Haleem, Ph.D., R.N., Marywood University, and Patricia Hannon, Ph.D., C.N.S., East Stroudsburg University. The focus of the presentation is on the best ways to treat patients who have mental illness and substance abuse problems simultaneously, and also how to intervene on their behalf. Mr. Hastings earned an associate degree in nursing from Luzerne County Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in nutrition science from Rutgers University. He received his Master of Science in nutrition from Penn State University and his Master of Science in nursing from Wilkes University. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in nursing education from the University of Phoenix.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Robyn Ryan has been promoted to vice president of marketing, overseeing advertising, public relations, marketing and revenue maximization. Ms. Ryan will develop marketing strategies and tactics as they relate to database marketing, player development, Player's Club, special events and bus sales. She a;sp will establish guidelines for hiring, training and coaching staff, developing policy and procedure manuals and guidelines for daily operating procedures, and interfacing with departments to ensure marketing programs are designed and implemented with ease of execution, profitability and customer service as the most important factors. She has a bachelor in economics from Hollins College in Virginia.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dr. Jonathan Dougherty, Penn State alumnus, campus advisory board member and director of the corporate knowledge center for James G. Davis Construction Corp. in Rockville, Md., recently visited the campus for an interactive presentation titled "Networking with Pracitioners: Kickin' Butt & Takin' Business Cards."
Pinnacle Commercial Realty Group
Mike Detter has formed a new company, Pinnacle Commercial Realty Group. He is a partner and its president. The firm provides professional commercial real estate services including landlord/owner representation, tenant representation, property management and advisory services to clients in Northeast Pennsylvania as well as nationally through its affiliates. The group has opened an office at the Waterfront Professional Park in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Detter earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Penn State University.
Realty Network Group
Blaga Slaveykova-Paroby has joined the network of Realtors at Realty Network Group. Ms. Slaveykova-Paroby is working toward a Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Baruch College and a master's degree in global affairs from New York University. In addition to her real estate pursuits, Ms. Slaveykova-Paroby also models. She recently opened the "Project Runway" finale during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Her husband grew up in Scranton.
Regional Hospital of Scranton
Three employees have been honored as top employees of 2012: Mary Ann O'Malley, food service; Clinical Manager of the Year Elaine Walker, director of cardiopulmonary rehab, diagnostic services and the vascular lab; and Non-Clinical Manager of the Year David Mattei, director of plant operations.
Ms. O'Malley has worked at the hospital since 1978 and serves in the food service department's starter position on the food line, where trays are set for patients. Ms. O'Malley and her husband, Edward, live in Scranton. They are the parents of Matthew, Edward and Christopher; and grandparents to three granddaughters.
Mr. Mattei has been an employee for more than 30 years. Mr. Mattei began his career in the hospital laundry while he was earning his biomedical engineering degree at Johnson College. Mr. Mattei and his wife, Lisa, live in Bear Creek. He is the father of David, Nathan and Taylor.
Ms. Walker has been an employee for more than 37 years. She is the hospital's representative in the community as an American Heart Association board member. Ms. Walker is a graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and earned her master's degree from Marywood University. Ms. Walker and her husband, Larry, live in Dalton. They have three children, Vanessa, Vincent and Aaron; and a grandson, Gary Weaver.
SUBMIT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE items to business@ timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.