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Sunday, March 09, 2003 Page: 2D
HIRINGS/
PROMOTIONS
Energy Technologies: Scott Harford has been named manager of the Drums
company’s testing, adjusting and balancing services.
Harford earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Manhattan
College, Riverdale, N.Y. He is a professional licensed engineer in
Pennsylvania and is a certified energy manager through the Association of
Energy Engineers.
He has 20 years experience in the energy field and previously was a power
engineer with PPL, a project manager for PPL Energy Plus and a senior engineer
in the testing division of PPL Generation.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre: The university has announced four appointments:
Ted Ritsick, Forty Fort, has been named educational sales representative
in the Center for Quality Continuing Education and Training.
Previously he was a campaign contractor for the United Way and a
partnership specialist and team leader for the U.S. Department of Commerce.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from King’s College and is
pursuing a master’s degree in communication arts at Marywood University.
Lisa Lunderman, Lehman, has been named program administrator in the Center
for Quality Continuing Education and Training.
Previously, she was director of career development for a proprietary school
and office manager for a dental practice in Austin, Texas.
She expects to complete a bachelor’s degree in human resource management in
2004.
Patricia Staskiel, Plains Township, has been named counselor and grants
coordinator in the department of Student Support Services.
Staskiel has served as an academic counselor for three years.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from
King’s College and a master’s degree in education from Wilkes University.
Lynda Goldstein, Wilkes-Barre, has been appointed assistant director of
academic affairs. She is an associate professor of English and program head
for Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rutgers University, a
master’s degree in literature with a certificate in the teaching of writing
from Temple University and a doctorate in English from Temple.
Southern Union: Mark J. DeCesaris has been named executive vice president
and chief technology officer.
DeCesaris has served Southern Union as an information systems consultant
since 1997. He will join the company April 1.
Currently, he is president and chief operating officer of Penn Software and
Technology Services, a member company of the Penn Millers Group.
DeCesaris is a graduate of King’s College, where he earned degrees in
Information Systems and Accounting. A certified public accountant, he is a
resident of Wyoming.
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin: The firm has announced two
hirings in its Scranton office:
Samuel A. Falcone Jr. has joined the firm’s Casualty Department.
Falcone received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh
and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Maria A. Hall has joined the firm as an associate. She will concentrate her
practice in defending insurance coverage and bad faith litigation matters.
She is a graduate of the Catholic University of America and the Columbus
School of Law.
She served as a judicial clerk for the Maryland Circuit Court for Prince
George County and the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Previously, she was an associate attorney with the firm of Lenahan &
Dempsey.
College Misericordia: Joan Nolan of Stroudsburg has been named assistant
professor and clinical director of the college’s Speech-Language Pathology
Department.
Nolan has 25 years clinical experience, and previously was director and
administrator of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Pocono Medical
Center in East Stroudsburg.
A doctoral candidate in communication sciences at Nova Southeastern
University in Florida, she holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Nolan is licensed in Pennsylvania as a speech-language pathologist and
holds state certification as a speech correctionist and a reading specialist.
Princeton Insurance Co.: William J. McDonough, formerly of the Wyoming
Valley, was named president and chief executive officer of the West Windsor,
N.J.-based company.
Princeton provides professional liability insurance and related products
for hospitals and physicians and small business worker compensation.
McDonough joined Princeton Insurance in May 2002. He lead the company’s
decision to reduce insurance coverage outside New Jersey.
A graduate of Temple University, he was chief operating officer for Medical
Mutual Insurance Co. of Maine and regional vice president with PHICO Group.
RAG American Coal Holding: Former Wyoming Valley resident James J. Bryja
has been named senior vice president, Eastern Operations. He heads RAG’s coal
mining operations in the Eastern U.S., including Pennsylvania and West
Virginia.
Bryja, a 22-year veteran of the coal industry, has been an employee of
RAG’s Pennsylvania Business Unit since 1996 and president of RAG’s
Pennsylvania Services Corp. since October 2001. He will be based in Baltimore.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from Penn State
University and a master of business administration degree from West Virginia
University.
PNC Bank: M. Linda Donovan, Clarks Summit, has been promoted to director of
trust and planning.
Donovan is a vice president in the wealth management group based in the
Scranton administrative office.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Norbert College,
Wisconsin. She also is a graduate of the Central Atlantic School of Trust and
the National Graduate Trust School.
A PNC Bank employee since 1979, she has more than 20 years experience in
the wealth management area.
M&B Inn Partners: D.J. Meagher has been named vice president with
responsibility for the hotel division, which includes Host Inn & Residential
Suites in Wilkes-Barre, the Holiday Inn/T.G.I. Friday’s complexes in
Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport and the Ramada Inn Conference Center in
Pittsburgh.
Previously, he was senior area director for Six Continent Hotels.
He is a Gibson resident.
T.G.I. Friday’s: Andy Sweitzer has been promoted to general manager of the
Wilkes-Barre restaurant.
Previously, he was general manager of the Quakertown restaurant. He also
held the positions of manager of Chili’s Bar and Grill and Romano’s Macaroni
Grill restaurants.
He graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in hotel
restaurant and institutional management.
He is a Bushkill resident.
Merrill Lynch: Former Wyoming Valley resident Peter M. Butera has been
named resident manager of the Reading office in Wyomissing.
Butera is a graduate of the University of Scranton, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in accounting.
He has been with Merrill Lynch for 16 years.
TheFerretStore.com: Elizabeth Masich has been named vice president of
marketing.
Previously, she was director of event marketing and corporate partnerships
for Entercom Pocono Northeast.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Kutztown
University.
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center: Dr. Mark R. Katlic has been
appointed director of the Division of Surgery at Geisinger Clinic in
Wilkes-Barre.
A graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Katlic completed residencies in general surgery and
cardiothoracic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He has practiced in the Wilkes-Barre area since 1984.
Pottstown Medical Specialists: Dr. Stacey L. Fitch, Dallas, has joined the
practice, where she will be responsible for establishing a division of
rheumatology.
She has completed a clinical rheumatology Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson
University, Philadelphia.
Fitch is a graduate of Wilkes University, where she earned a bachelor’s
degree in biology. She received a doctor of osteopathy degree from the
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
She accepted a position with Pottstown Medical Specialists and will be the
first rheumatologist in the group and responsible for establishing the
division of rheumatology for the practice.
RETIREMENT
Visiting Nurse Association: Administrator Mary Ann Keirans has retired
after 33 years as a member of the agency staff.
She was honored by 200 friends, colleagues and co-workers at the Waterfront
Banquet and Convention Center.
Keirans helped guide VNA’s expansion and its affiliation in 1994 with the
Wyoming Valley Health Care System.
Ann Russin, a registered nurse, has been named administrator.
Luzerne County Transit Authority: Driver Roy Bertocci, a member of Local
Amalgamated Transit Union 164-Wilkes-Barre, has retired after 28 years of LCTA
employment.
He joined the authority in 1974 in the maintenance department, and
transferred to a driver’s position.
He is a West Wyoming resident.
AWARDS/
HONORS
Genetti Hotel & Conference Center: Executive Chef Bruno Campisano has
received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Federation of Professional
Chefs of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a chapter of the American Chef’s
Association.
Campisano of Wilkes-Barre is past president of the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Chef’s Association. He has received several awards, including
awards for his ice sculpture art.
A native southern Italy, he immigrated to the United States at the age of
14. He joined the Genetti hotel staff in February 1965 as a temporary
employee, but has stayed for 37 years.
Mercy Health Partners: Maura Lavelle Osborne, clinical manager of Pharmacy
Services, Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, and employed by Cardinal Health, has
received the All-Star Award from Cardinal Pharmacy Management.
The annual award is presented to a clinical manager who has shown
excellence in his or her respective facility.
Osborne received a bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy & Science.
She is a Mount Cobb resident.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Advertising Club: The “Best of Show” winner in
the club’s 2002 Addy Awards competition was “Wholesale Promotions Logo” by
Mojave Creative.
“Judge’s Choice” awards went to Mojave Creative for “Zodiac Printing
2003 Monthly Calendar,” Idea Works Marketing and Design for “Flavours
Catering Guide,” and KiwiStudios’ for “University of Scranton Regional
Map.”
Other awards were presented to Mojave Creative, Lavelle Murray, Ideaworks
Marketing & Design, Precision Design, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lamar
Advertising, Tree Design Studio, the Times Leader and Entercom Pocono
Northeast.
Certificate of Excellence winners were Mojave Creative, KiwiStudios,
Lavelle Murray, Mark Golaszewski, Ideaworks Marketing & Design, Lamar
Advertising, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Resort Marketing Partners, Tree Design
Studio, Phase One Marketing & Design, Scranton Chamber, AIM Advertising,
WVIA-TV, and Rebel Media Image Group.
Greater Hazleton Health Alliance: The Hazleton hospital organization was
one of 13 hospitals honored with a 2003 Achievement Award by the Hospital &
Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
The alliance was honored for its “Our Heart is in Healthcare” brand
identity campaign.
State Correctional Institution at Dallas: Six employees have been honored
for longtime service:
20 years: Joseph Figlerski, Thomas Ohl, Anthony Digiosa and Robert
Swicklik.
30 years: Charles Liem and Marshall Taylor.
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Coggin: Attorney James E. Pocius, a
shareholder of the firm’s Scranton office, has been recognized by Professional
Education Systems Institute for dedication to excellence in continuing
professional education.
He will speak this month at a Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar.
J.D. Insurance: The Hazleton insurance agency has been awarded Inner Circle
honors for 2002 by Mutual Benefit Group, a property and casualty insurance
company based in Huntingdon.
This is the third time that John V. Diana, president, and his staff have
qualified for the award.
Sassy Shears: Betty Lynn Kempinsky, owner of the Kingston firm, has been
named to the 2003-2004 National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and
Professionals.
She is a graduate of Empire Beauty School, where she earned a teacher’s
license. She also has received training through several industry programs.
Kempinsky has 28 years experience. She opened Sassy Shears in 1989.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry: Robert D. Richardson
has been elected chairman of the chamber’s Industrial Fund board.
A graduate of Dickinson College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking
at Rutgers University, Richardson of Dallas is area executive officer for
First Union National Bank/Wachovia Bank.
Choice One Federal Credit Union: John Kebles Sr., president and chief
executive officer, has been re-elected to the board of directors of the
Pennsylvania Credit Union League.
He has been a board member since 1995.
CERTIFICATION
Offset Paperback Manufacturers: The Dallas firm has been certified
compliant with the International Organization for Standardization 9001:2000
standard.
The standard requires the company to verify that internal and external
quality objectives are measurable and visible at relevant stages of the
production and manufacturing process. The standard also requires that the
objectives are key to the organization’s overall focus.
Since Oct. 14, 1997, Offset Paperbacks Quality Management System has been
in compliance with and certified to the ISO 9002:1994 standard.
ACCREDITATION
The Wyoming Valley Health Care System/University of Scranton School of
Nurse Anesthesia: The graduate level anesthesiology program has been
re-accredited for 10 years by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia
Educational Programs.
INTERNSHIP
Barry Isett & Associates: Jesse J. Evans of Larksville, a student at
Lincoln Technical Institute in Allentown, is an intern with the Trexlertown
firm.
He is working in the company’s architectural drafting design and CAD
technology program.
SEMINAR
Hanger Prothetics & Orthotics: Joe “Pocono Joe” Ksiaskiewicz attended the
week-long Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Education Fair in Reno, Nev.
He is a certified prosthetist and orthotist.
CERTIFICATION
Associated OB/GYN Specialists: Dr. Louis J. Freedman, M.D. has bee
re-certified for 2003 by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The
certification was made under the board’s voluntary program for those who
received lifetime certification in earlier years.
A graduate of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., Freedman earned a
degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.