Core

Leadership Lackawanna Core Program

In Leadership Lackawanna’s 10-month Core Program, participants gain leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills, as well as an enhanced understanding of the issues relevant to the Greater Scranton region, through monthly sessions. Areas of focus can include community development, economic development, government, health care, law, education, quality of life, sustainability, history and media, with sessions featuring widely recognized specialists. Members of the class also devote a large portion of their time to develop and implement community projects, hence enhancing their leadership abilities, fostering teamwork and benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Leadership’s Core Program accepts applications from candidates who live or work in Lackawanna County. Partial tuition scholarships are available on a limited basis.

Welcome to the Core Program Class of 2026-2027!

Emily Arcaro, NeighborWorks NEPA
Nicole Ash, Aramark/University of Scranton
Alyssa Bartoli, Fidelity Bank
Rik Bhattacharyya, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co.
Jonathan Brady, Fidelity Bank
Melissa Calachino, The Wright Center for Community Health
Dylan Cawley, Geisinger
Nicole Cesarini, Children's Advocacy Center of NEPA
Camille Dantone, Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art
Sean Dempsey, Alliance Wealth Advisors
Samantha Donahue, The Arc of NEPA
Brittany Dougherty, Penn State Scranton
Laura Dunn, Merrill Lynch
Angelina Elders, NBT Bank
Elizabeth Ephault, The Wright Center for Community Health
Kevin Farrell, Marywood University
Morgan Farrell, Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Kyle Frable, Benco Dental
Lauretta Graham, The Wright Center for Community Health
Claire Guarneri, People Security Bank and Trust (PSBT)
Natasha Hazzouri, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education
Kristen Hoover, Maximus
Teresa Kalinay, Montage Mountain Resorts
Fletcher Kanas, Barry Callebaut
Curt Kromko, Prudential
Kim Lazuka, Greater Scranton YMCA
Kristen McGoff, Peoples Security Bank and Trust Co
Todd Monahan, Stone House Investment Management
Elisheva-Lydia MR, United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA
Rich Mullen, Posture Interactive
Nicole Piccoletti, Outreach Center for Community Resources
Theodor Radu, The Honesdale National Bank
Monica Reich, Penn East Federal Credit Union
Alondra Vazquez Rivera, Wells Fargo
Lewis Schweppenheiser, Penn East Federal Credit Union
Nicholas Sherman, Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center
Kelly Siekierka, Plaskolite
Jeff Snyder, Allied Services
Anthony Walaitis, Plaskolite

2026 Core Program Graduates Recognized at Celebration of Leadership

The 2026 Celebration of Leadership honored participants in Leadership Lackawanna’s 10-month Core Program on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The event was held at Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, and included business networking, an end-of-year review and video, and raffles, along with the presentation of certificates to graduates.

Graduates of the program were recognized for their commitment throughout 10 months of leadership development, learning, and participation in one of four class projects. A highlight of the program, class projects in collaboration with Countryside Conservancy, Friendship House, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeast Pennsylvania, and the Greater Scranton YMCA were commended during the ceremony.

Working with Countryside Conservancy, members of the Core class assisted in renovating part of the conservancy’s outdoor space by building a new bridge, clearing vegetation, installing signage, and creating a picnic area. Another group partnered with Friendship House to renovate a classroom within the Autism Center, repainting and redesigning the space to create a more welcoming environment. Core participants also collaborated with United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania to modernize the organization’s Angel’s Attic facility, which provides food and clothing to neighbors in need. In partnership with the Greater Scranton YMCA, members of the class also helped launch the “Foundations for the Future Project,” an initiative focused on improving the YMCA’s recreational and learning spaces. Read more about the 2026 Core Program Class Projects

Leadership Lackawanna extends thanks to the sponsors of the 2026 Core Program including designBLD, Penn East Federal Credit Union, PPL Electric, Quandel Construction, Maximus Foundation, Geisinger, Times Shamrock Communications, PNC Bank, Center City Print, Friendship House, Golden Technologies. Leadership Lackawanna also recognizes the graduates of its 2026 Core Program for their commitment throughout the 10-month leadership experience. The 2026 Core Program graduates include:

Amanda Friday – Peoples Security Bank
Amanda Lyn Brown – Penn East Federal Credit Union
Anthony Salva, LCSW – Integrative Mind and Body Services
Brittani Pulse – Nunzi’s Advertising
Christopher M. Pahoski – Benco Dental
Courtney Rittenhouse – Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA
Daneece A. Jones – Greater Scranton YMCA
Deanna Smith – AAA North Penn
Diana Latsko – Maximus Federal Services
Douglas A. Hein – Scranton Counseling Center
Eric Eiden – Lackawanna College
Haley Houck – Fidelity Bank
Jason Carpenter – designBLD
John Conte lll – The Honesdale National Bank
John P Joyce – Lackawanna County
Jose Santiago de los Rios – Tuxedo by Sarno
Joshua Cole Howells – Allied Services
Julianna Cardillo – Penn State University (Scranton)
Linda Beck – United Neighborhood Centers
Madison Theobald – Penn East Federal Credit Union
Maria Day – Penn State University (Scranton)
Mateo Arroyopabon – Procter & Gamble
Matt Coolbaugh – Quandel Construction Group LLC
Pete Gentile – City of Scranton
Sarah Bauman – Montage Mountain Resorts
Walter Kosak – Plaskolite