Mary Ann O’Brien, Marywood University

Brian T. Kelly, CPA Associates

Thomas Burke, C.P.A., joined the firm as a senior manager. Mr. Burke will join Brad Murray, C.P.A., and Maureen Kelly, C.P.A., in the firm’s Honesdale office in the Murray Company Building on Main Street. Mr. Burke has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, covering a broad range of services and clients.

Chamber of the Northern Poconos

The chamber awarded both Jim Firmstone and John Kiesendahl 2014 Business Person of the Year honors. It also awarded Jim Shook the 2014 Community Achievement Award.

Mr. Firmstone serves as president of Firmstone/Lakewood Fuels, headquartered in Honesdale and Lakewood. He is a past vice president of Honesdale Borough Council and past president of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Firmstone and his wife, Shirley, live in Seelyville. They have three children, Lisa of Seelyville; Ron and wife, Karen, of Waymart; and Steven and his wife, Michelle, also of Waymart.

Mr. Kiesendahl serves as president and CEO of Woodloch Resort Properties. He serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Dime Bank and as president of the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau. Mr. Kiesendahl also serves as vice president of the Wallenpaupack Area School District Board of Education, and has for more than 28 years. Mr. Kiesendahl’s wife, Patti, oversees the Woodloch Gift Shops and the decorating around the resort. Together they have seven children, five of whom remain active within the organization.

Mr. Shook and his family own and operate businesses in Hawley and the Lake Region, including Lake Region IGA Supermarket and Shooky’s Distributor. He also serves as founder and president of the Lake Region Community Dock Foundation. Mr. Shook organizes several fundraising events each year to provide funding to local non-profit organizations and to local families in need. Mr. Shook and his wife, Rebecca, have three daughters. Carly and Aleah are at home, while Allison is a sophomore at Bloomsburg University.

Classic Properties

Melissa Lavelle joined the Clarks Summit office. Raised in Dunmore and a graduate of Dunmore High School and Penn State University, Ms. Lavelle earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, and minored in Spanish and international business. She recently completed her real estate education through Penn State.

Sarah Mecca joined the Kingston office. A graduate of Pittston Area High School and Pennsylvania Real Estate Academy, Mrs. Mecca previously worked for Bank of America and Wells Fargo. She resides in West Wyoming with her husband and children.

Cat Ozovek joined the Clarks Summit office. A Penn State graduate and a longtime resident of Northeast Pennsylvania, Ms. Ozovek earned her real estate license after attending the Pennsylvania Real Estate Academy in Kingston.

Sara Pape joined the Kingston office. Ms. Pape grew up in Larksville, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Millersville University and a master’s degree from Wilkes University. She also completed professional development courses from King’s College and Misericordia University. Ms. Pape completed her real estate courses from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Academy in July 2012.

Commonwealth Health

Bradley Guarneri, a behavioral specialist consultant at First Hospital, Kingston, completed intensive training in Harrisburg that focused on working with childhood sexual offenders. A resident of West Wyoming, Mr. Guarneri’s completion of the recent course allows him to specialize in the area of sexual offenders who are children. Upon completion of two years of work in that area, Mr. Guarneri will be eligible to seek clinical certification as a childhood sexual offender treatment specialist. He graduated from King’s College in 2003, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology, and earned the Grace C. Brooks Award for Excellence in Psychology. Mr. Guarneri earned a master’s degree in community counseling at the University of Scranton.

Pardeep Bansal, M.D., and Gregory Enders, M.D., Ph.D., joined the Commonwealth Health Physician Network and Physicians Health Alliance for the practice of gastroenterology. Both serve on the medical staffs at Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton, and will have an office at Regional Hospital of Scranton, 743 Jefferson Ave., Suite 107.

Dr. Bansal, who is fluent in English, Hindi, Russian, Ukrainian and Punjabi, graduated from Lugansk Medical Institute, Ukraine. Dr. Bansal returns to the Scranton area, where he began his training. He recently served as an associate staff member of gastroenterology at Northwest Ohio Gastroenterology Associates.

Dr. Enders graduated from Harvard before earning a Ph.D. and medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He recently practiced at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Janene M. Holter, senior supervisory special agent of the state attorney general’s office, presented a lecture on cyber bullying and Internet safety to a group of nearly 100 community professionals at the Thomas P. Saxton Pavilion, Edwardsville. The lecture served as part of the Professional Education Series sponsored by First Hospital, Kingston.

Dime Bank

Victoria J. Johannes, of the bank’s Damascus office, completed course work at the 2014 Pennsylvania Bankers Association Advanced School of Banking July 20-25 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, State College. Mrs. Johannes now works as an assistant branch manager in of the Damascus branch. A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, she resides in Honesdale with her husband, Pat, and three children, Mychaela, Nicholas and Kiersten.

First National Community Bank

The bank added Michael J. Bibak, senior vice President, senior credit administrator; Norita P. Miko, assistant vice president, deposit operations manager; and Keehna Murphy, credit analyst, banking officer.

Mr. Bibak will oversee the asset recovery and credit analysis departments. Mr. Bibak comes to the bank with extensive experience in the banking industry, having served in various leadership roles at local financial institutions. Mr. Bibak earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Scranton, and graduated from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association Leadership Program. He lives in Archbald with his wife, Erica.

Mrs. Miko will oversee daily operations of deposit related accounts. Mrs. Miko has 30 years of branch and operational experience. Before joining the bank, she served as the vice president and training and deposit operations officer for Luzerne Bank. Mrs. Miko graduated from Bishop O’Reilly High School, and attended Luzerne County Community College. Mrs. Miko also completed certificate programs through the American Institute of Banking, National Institute of Financial Education and Penn State University. She lives in Forty Fort with her husband, Bernard, and son, Christopher.

Mrs. Keehna will provide credit analysis for commercial lending. Before joining the bank, Mrs. Keehna served as a credit analyst at Community Bank, N.A. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration, financial planning, from Marywood University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Keehna lives in Clarks Green with her husband, Mark, and daughter, Ella.

Geisinger Health System

Steven Sluck, D.O., formerly from Tunkhannock, returned to the area to join Geisinger-Mount Pleasant, 531 Mount Pleasant Drive, as a family medicine physician. Dr. Sluck has training to care for patients of all ages. Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Sluck earned his medical degree in 2009 from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed a family medicine residency in 2012 at Crozer Keystone, Springfield. Before joining Geisinger, Dr. Sluck worked as a family physician at Community Health Clinic Ole, and treated minor emergencies at Napa Valley Emergency Medicine Group, both in Napa, Calif.

Marywood University

The university hired 21 faculty members for the 2014-15 academic year.

Justus Hallam, Ph.D., serves as a clinical assistant professor in the health and physical education department. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Hallam taught at Iowa State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and his Ph.D. in kinesiology and immunobiology from Iowa State University.

Cheryl Burke, M.S.N., serves as a clinical instructor in the nursing department. Ms. Burke’s areas of research include health care quality and safety and the use of simulation in nursing education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing and Master of Science in nursing from the University of Scranton.

Mary Ann O’Brien, R.N., M.S.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.E., serves as a clinical instructor in the nursing department. Ms. O’Brien’s research interests include intraprofessional simulation and developing strategies to increase the proportion of B.S.N. educated nurses in the workforce. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Misericordia University and her Master of Science in nursing from Drexel University.

Judith Williams, Ph.D., serves as an assistant professor in the nursing department. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Williams worked as the lead faculty and coordinator for the practical nursing program at Northampton Community College. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Kutztown University, her Master of Science in nursing from Grand Canyon University, her Master of Science in health education from East Stroudsburg University and her doctoral degree in human development from Marywood University.

Erin O’Hora, D.H.Sc., serves as an instructor in the nutrition and dietetics department. Ms. O’Hora has worked as an adjunct faculty member at both Marywood University and the University of Scranton since 2009. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics and her Master of Science in nutrition and exercise from Marywood University and her doctorate in health science from Nova Southeastern University.

Justine Samanas, M.P.A.S., PA-C, serves as a clinical assistant professor in the physician assistant department. Before joining Marywood, Ms. Samanas served as an assistant clinical professor in the physician assistant department at King’s College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in medical studies, with a minor in biology and health care administration, and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from King’s College.

Patricia Weldon, Ph.D., serves as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and Administrative Studies. Dr. Weldon’s research interests include psychological trauma, crisis intervention, post-traumatic growth, individual and community resilience and cultural issues related to how people understand and place meaning on traumatic events. She earned her doctorate at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare, her Master of Social Work from Boston College and her Bachelor of Arts from Boston University.

Jan Rodgers, K.C.S.W., B.C.D., M.L.I.S., serves as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and Administrative Studies. Before joining Marywood, Ms. Rodgers taught at Monmouth University in the undergraduate and graduate social work programs. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and her Master of Library and Information Science from Dominican University.

Brian Loughlin, M.ARCH, serves as an associate professor in the School of Architecture. Before joining Marywood, Mr. Loughlin served as chief architect at the Jersey City Housing Authority, and taught at both Columbia University and at the New Jersey School of Architecture. He earned his Master of Architecture from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture.

Gabe Fuentes, M.ARCH, served as a per-annum member of the architecture faculty last spring, and joins Marywood as a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor in the School of Architecture. Before joining Marywood, Mr. Fuentes taught at Miami-Dade College, Florida International University, the New York Institute of Technology and New Jersey School of Architecture. He earned his Master of Architecture and a graduate certificate in architectural history, theory and criticism from Florida International University and a Master of Science in architecture and urban design from Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

Robert Petrie, M.ARCH, is a visiting assistant professor of practice in the School of Architecture. Mr. Petrie has practiced architecture for 16 years, working mainly in Washington D.C., Maryland and Syracuse, N.Y. He earned his Master of Architecture from Cornell University, where he earned the Richmond Harold Shreve Award in Architectural Design for his graduate thesis.

Zaixin Lu, Ph.D., assistant professor, joined the mathematics faculty as a tenure-track assistant professor of mathematics and computer science. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Lu worked in the National Science Foundation Center for Research on Complex Networks at Texas Southern University. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in computer science and technology from Yanshan University, his Master of Science in computer science from the University of Texas-Pan American and his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Texas at Dallas. Theodore Nunez, Ph.D., teaching assistant professor, joined the religious studies department. Before joining Maywood, Dr. Nunez served as the Catherine of Siena ethics teaching fellow at Villanova University, and taught at Middlebury College, St. Joseph’s University and Georgian Court University, before launching a successful career as an applied ethicist with Kaplan EduNeering, with LRN in New York and with Wells Consulting. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wake Forest University and his Ph.D. in religion and culture from the Catholic University of America.

Mary Ann Smith, M.A., began teaching as an adjunct instructor in the science department in fall 2009, and joins Marywood as a full-time instructor. Ms. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in the environment sciences and her Master of Arts in biochemistry from the University of Scranton. She also completed a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, and is in the process of completing a Master of Arts in theology.

Jonathan Christiansen, M.A., began teaching last year as an adjunct instructor in the social sciences department at Marywood, and joins the university as a full-time instructor. Before joining Marywood, Mr. Christiansen taught at the Independent University of Bangladesh. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Colorado and his Master of Arts in sociology from Boston University.

Adam Shprintzen, Ph.D., assistant professor, joined the social sciences department as a tenure-track assistant professor of history. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Shprintzen taught introductory and advanced undergraduate courses in American history at Chicago, as well as courses at Kendall College and Hunter College, the City University of New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from Manhattanville College, his Master of Arts in history from Hunter College, the City University of New York, and his Ph.D. in American history, with a minor in public history, from Loyola University, Chicago.

Kerimcan Ozcan, Ph.D., will join the Marywood faculty in January as a tenure-track assistant professor of marketing in the School of Business and Global Innovation. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Ozcan taught marketing management, marketing research and marketing strategy at the University of Michigan and at the International University of Japan. He earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul, his Master of Science in management from Georgia Institute of Technology, his Master of Arts in applied economics and his Ph.D. in marketing, both from the University of Michigan.

Richard Joseph Behun, Ph.D., assistant professor, joined the department of psychology and counseling. Dr. Behun has extensive experience in various K-12 and higher education settings. Dr. Behun served as a professional school counselor and principal, as well as his most recent position as an assistant professor at Penn State University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the California University of Pennsylvania, his Master of Science in law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, his Master of Science in education and school counseling and his Master of Science in education in school administration from Duquesne University. Dr. Behun also earned his Doctoral of Philosophy in counselor education and supervision from Duquesne University.

Lauren Burrows, Ph.D., assistant professor, joined the department of communication sciences and disorders. Dr. Burrows’ primary research area of expertise focuses on bilingual phonology and development and assessment of language ability in English language learners. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication sciences and her Master of Arts in speech-language pathology from Temple University. Dr. Burrows earned her Ph.D. degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Memphis.

Renae Courtney, Psy.D., clinical assistant professor and director of the Psychological Services Center, joined the department of psychology and counseling. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Courtney served as a program director of the Master of Arts program in clinical psychology at the School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Salisbury University, her Master of Arts in human sciences from Hood College Graduate School and her Psy.D. from the School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute, Springfield, Mo.

Joshua Dobias, Ph.D., assistant professor, joined the psychology and counseling department. Before joining Marywood, Dr. Dobias served as an instructor in the department of psychology at Rutgers University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in both psychology and philosophy from Northern Michigan University, a Master of Arts in psychology and an M.S.T. in college teaching from the University of New Hampshire. He also earned his Ph.D. in philosophy in visual perception from the University of New Hampshire.

Metz Culinary Management

Tony Mohseninia and Todd Baker earned promotions from general manager to district manager.

Mr. Mohseninia will oversee corporate and healthcare dining accounts in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. He previously served as a general manager for the company, and has more than 14 years of experience working in the foodservice industry for a variety of restaurants and healthcare providers. Mr. Mohseninia resides in Cuyohoga Falls, Ohio.

Mr. Baker will oversee eight independent school and higher education accounts within Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont. He also previously served as a general manger with the company, and has 10 years of experience in the higher education foodservice industry, having worked for both St. Joseph’s and Temple universitites. Mr. Baker lives in Marlton, N.J.

Misericordia University

James Siberski, M.S., C.M.C., CRmT, assistant professor and coordinator of the Gerontology Education Center for Professional Development at the university, will make the presentation, “Long-Distance Care,” and participate in the panel discussion, “A Prescription for Relationship-Based Care,” at the Alzheimer’s Association Northeast Region Greater Pennsylvania Chapter Fall Educational Conference, “Relationship-Based Care,” at the Woodlands Inn, Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Mr. Siberski earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wilkes University and his master’s degree in human service administration from Misericordia University. An affiliate member of the American Geriatric Psychiatry Association, Mr. Siberski has published work in multiple publications, including the Journal of Psychological Nursing, presented numerous lectures and consulted on issues in geriatric, psychiatric and intellectual disability populations.

The university also celebrated Mercy Week 2014 and its 90th Anniversary by honoring staff and faculty for service during the 35th Annual Awards Dinner at Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall.

Honoree for 40 years of service: Joan (J.J.) Jones, Shavertown.

Honorees for 35 years of service: Joseph Rogan, Eynon; Stevan L. Davies, Dallas; and Charles Lajeunesse, Dallas.

Honorees for 30 years of service: Elaine Halesey, Hanover Twp.; Joseph Mack, Plymouth; and Jane Dessoye, Pittston.

Honorees for 25 years of service: Brian Benedetti, Wilkes-Barre; Glenn Bozinski, Kingston Twp.; Fred Croop, Tunkhannock; and Sr. Patricia Lapczynski, RSM, Dallas.

Honorees for 20 years of service: Jerry Bradford, Shavertown; Dawn Evans, Hanover Twp.; Ronald Hromisin, Dallas; Sharon Hudak, Forty Fort; George Hunter, Mountaintop; Jennifer Luksa, Luzerne; Annmarie Narcum, Dallas; Brenda Pavill, Shavertown; Ronald Pecukonis, West Wyoming; Judith Weintraub, Harveys Lake; and Georgia Young, Exeter.

Honorees for 15 years of service: Amy Caruso, Kingston; Grace Fisher, Dallas; Susan Helwig, Catawissa; Tammy Kline, Dallas; Barbara McCraith, Dallas; Jo Anna Naylor, Shavertown; and George Young, Exeter.

Honorees for 10 years of service: James Clarke, Hanover Twp.; Jill Dillon, Mountaintop; Michelle Donato, Plains; Brian Herron, Luzerne; Emma Mulhern, Wilkes-Barre; Alicia Nordstrom, Drums; Dona Posatko-Jenkins, Dallas; Bernadette Rushmer, Shavertown; Angelo Scaffido, Swoyersville; Mark Van Etten, Dallas; and Trevor Woodruff, Dunmore.

Honorees for five years of service: Courtney Burgess-Michak, Shavertown; Angela Evans, Noxen; Jacob Garner, Kingston; Jessica Garner, Kingston; Michelle Hawkins, Bear Creek Twp.; James Hedglin, Dallas; Matthew Hornak, Dallas; Evelyn Neunteufel, Dallas; Jennifer Probst, Dallas; Joseph Redington, Scranton; Sameera Redkar, Clarks Summit; Bruce Riley, Tunkhannock; Kathleen Scaler Scott, Flemington, N.J.; Christine Seybert, Dallas; Kathleen Sheikh, Mountaintop; Alyson Wilson, Harveys Lake; Scott Woolnough, Larksville; and Anne Zaborny, Drums.

Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Brian Sipe became the new SMG general manager of the arena on Oct. 8.

Penn State Worthington

Patricia Hinchey, Ed.D., professor of education at the university, will serve on a team of educators key to a pilot project intended to honor schools that took research-based steps to improve education, especially for students disadvantaged by poverty. The project seeks to honor schools in New York and Colorado, with plans to launch the project on a national basis in the future. Dr. Hinchey will conduct site visits in New York.

Wilkes University

Kimberly Metka Welch, PharmD, ‘07, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Wilkes, and Stephanie Smith Cooney, PharmD, ‘04, president of Gatti Pharmacy in Indiana, both alumnae of the university, earned Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association’s “The 10 Under 10” award, which recognizes the top 10 Pennsylvania pharmacists practicing for fewer than 10 years.

Ms. Welch completed a post-graduate year one residency at York Hospital after graduation. She also instructs pharmacy students in internal medicine at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Wilkes-Barre.

Ms. Cooney served as the 2014 White Coat guest speaker at Wilkes University on Sept. 14.

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