30-03-2025
Workforce groups collaborate to improve area's economic outlook
From introducing students and educators to business leaders, to providing firms with funding to grow and excel, to highlighting job opportunities, several local organizations work together to improve the job picture in the region.
Through Skills in Scranton, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce's workforce program, chamber officials partnered with Discover NEPA to produce short resource videos focused on in-demand occupations — including nursing, engineering, carpentry, welding, logistics and truck driving.
'We've identified specific jobs and tried to personalize that so students and other job seekers can see and learn what jobs are available and what jobs are emerging,' said Bob Durkin, president and CEO of the chamber. 'It's important for us as a community to come together around the workforce issue. We need to strengthen the collaborative opportunities among the organizations.'
The chamber's Educator in the Workplace program connects business and industry leaders with local school districts, the career and technical center, and the local intermediate unit. Officials guide educators through their business environment, highlighting vital skills needed, knowledge of the structure of the organization as well as the profile of the workplace, such as employment opportunities, educational background, salary ranges, training needs and ongoing professional development. The program exposes educators to careers facing workforce shortages and challenges facing the industry. Topics of discussion include the impact of technology, diversity in the workplace, employee benefits and work ethic.
The Hanover Twp.- based Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center launched its Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team initiative two years ago to enlighten high school and college students about job opportunities in the manufacturing field. Dream Team ambassadors representing more than 20 regional manufacturing companies share their career journeys with students during in-school presentations and Career Day events.
Through the program, ambassadors have interacted with more than 21,000 students from many schools throughout NEPIRC'S 11-county footprint — from Scranton to Forest City and Hazleton to Hawley, said Chelsey Coslett-Traver, manager of marketing and stakeholder engagement for NEPIRC.
The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce's Luzerne Learns to Work program exposes high school juniors and seniors to potential careers through free access to LinkedIn Learning video courses, Metrix Learning video courses, Luzerne County Library courses, workforce and career development tools, and work-based learning experiences with local companies.
Jocelyn Sterenchock, director of economic development for the Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization (CANDO), added the organization also puts a big emphasis on educating the younger population about quality jobs in the area.
'We're trying to expose as many students as possible to careers in manufacturing and industry,' she said. 'The Hazleton Area School District is an amazing feeder and pipeline to those industries — we just have to work on our retention of those students.'
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Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners' northeast division, poses for a photograph in his office at the Scranton Enterprise Center in Scranton Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The inside of the Scranton Enterprise Center Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners' northeast division, poses for a photograph in his office at the Scranton Enterprise Center in Scranton Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Ben Franklin Technology Partners invests in early-stage technology companies, funds innovation in established manufacturers, and supports clients with in-house experts and a network of technical and business resources.
Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin's northeast division, credits the interconnectedness of many local workforce groups for the success of area firms.
'The economic development organizations are collaborating better now than they ever have before, in a variety of different ways,' Okrepkie said. 'There is a nice network of early-stage technology companies and the business incubators supporting that entrepreneurial ecosystem. Collectively, the chambers (Scranton, Wyoming Valley, Pittston and Hazleton) have seen an opportunity to come together from a legislative perspective and identify the priorities of northeastern Pennsylvania, instead of the priorities for any one entity. I serve on SLIBCO's board, the CAN DO board, the Wyoming Valley chamber's board of directors, and it's commonplace for the CEOs of these organizations to communicate with one another on strategically how we're positioning northeastern Pennsylvania and how we can work together for the betterment of creating jobs and attracting business.'
