History
Leadership Lackawanna (LL) was founded on June 22, 1982, by private and public sector officials, several community leaders including Governor and Mrs. William Scranton, and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania and serving the best interests of Lackawanna County and its citizens, Leadership Lackawanna is a 501(c)(3) charitable, nonprofit organization in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to community leadership and professional development. Its six programs - Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Core, Executive, Leadership Collegiate, Leadership Fundamentals, and Welcome Scranton! - enhance the skills, connections, and knowledge of emerging and established leaders, enabling them to better serve in our communities, workplaces, and organizations. All program curriculum follows the format and standards of all other community leadership programs throughout the United States. Since its inception, Leadership Lackawanna has graduated more than 2,400 community leaders.
Our Values
• Leadership. We believe that the potential for leadership resides within everyone and that it can grow if continuously nurtured.
• Community. We build strong communities by developing and connecting leaders committed to the common good.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We respect, appreciate and engage the unique perspectives and contributions of all members of our community.
• Personal and Professional Growth. We are committed to helping participants, alumni, volunteers and staff discover and develop their full potential.
• Empowerment. We inspire leaders to develop other leaders.
Staff
executive director
Nicole Morristell
Nicole became the director of Leadership Lackawanna in 2008. She comes to Leadership Lackawanna from the local Girl Scout organization where she served in several positions over the years. She is a 1998 graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and a 2002 graduate of Elizabethtown College. She is a board member of the Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) and Supporters of Camp Archbald. Nikki is also involved with Tunkhannock Primary Center PTO, Tunkhannock Youth Soccer, LCBC Church Kids Ministry and Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA.
Program Coordinator
Jennifer Strzelec
Jennifer serves as the Program Coordinator for the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today and Leadership Collegiate programs, and Alumni Relations Coordinator. Her position includes recruitment, marketing, evaluations, alumni engagement, and administrative support. Before this position, she served as a preschool aide at Bright Beginnings Preschool in Mt. Cobb and at the YMCA in King George, Virginia. She also served 9 years in the United States Army as an avionics mechanic and was stationed in Korea, Texas, Hawaii, and Virginia. She earned her MBA at West Chester University.
Workforce and leadership assistant
Mary McDermott
Mary originally started with The Chamber as an intern two years ago with our IGNITE program. She has returned to fulfill this new role which supports the operations of The Chamber, development for Leadership Lackawanna and Skills in Scranton and various administrative duties. Mary is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in business marketing. She previously worked as an enrollment specialist at Lackawanna College.
Board of Directors, 2023
Officers
Eugene Munley, Empower—Chair
Danielle Weinschenk—Vice Chair
Marie Beggin, Penn East Federal Credit Union—Treasurer
Elizabeth Rightor-Roberts, Jackrabbit Design—Secretary
Directors
Angela Mariotti, PNC Bank
Steve Matthews, Noble BioMaterials
Jessica Meoni, The Honedale National Bank
Kevin Morgan, Montage Mountain Resorts
Todd Pousley, NeighborWorks NEPA
Dharti Ray, Penn State Scranton
Susan Reilly, Family Business Alliance
Lauren Rusen, Benco Dental
Anthony Rusnak, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Jill Valentini, Fidelity Bank
Jennifer Azarowicz, The AZEK Company
Kenrick Brewster, Brewsters Safety Training
Christine Carroll, Golden Technologies
Thomas Chairge, Prudential
Terry Deitz, Times Shamrock
Tiffany Ferguson, Goodwill Industries of NEPA
Kirsten Fordahl, Geisinger
Candy Frye, L.R. Costanzo Co.
Kara Gow, NBT Bank
Autumn Granza, Project Management Institute
Christopher Howe, Commonwealth Health/Regional Hospital Scranton
Tracy Hunt, Allied Services
Leon John, Jr., Lead On Team, LLC
Dragan Jokic, Fidelity Bank