Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates
Rita M. Fischer, associate broker, has joined as a saleswoman in the Bushkill office. Ms. Fischer attended and graduated from New York University. she moved to the Masthope Community in Lackawaxen, in 2009.
Thomas M. Maheady, P.E., was featured in the December issue of PE magazine, in an article entitled “PEPP Merit Award Winners Share Important Lessons.” In 2011, Mr. Maheady was awarded the Professional Engineers in Private Practice Merit Award for his significant contributions to PEPP and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Maheady is the Industrial and Energy Market Sector leader for Borton-Lawson. he works primarily from the Wilkes-Barre office.
Candace a. Behensky has been named retail branch manager for the bank’s Keystone Industrial Park office. she is a member of the Dunmore Rotary and the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of SCORE. Ms. Behensky is a graduate of SUNY Orange Community College, New York.
First National Bank of Pennsylvania
Deborah Yearing has been hired as branch manager of the bank’s Scranton office. she is a current member of Northeastern Pennsylvania Business 2 Business in Dunmore.
Susan Mondlak Fenske is the new solar specialist in the Energy Solutions Department. Ms. Mondlak Fenske has nearly 20 years experience in the technology and energy markets.
Geisinger Health system
Orthopedic trauma surgeon Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., F.a.C.S., has joined as chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Suk earned his law degree and master’s degree in public health from Boston University, Boston, Mass., and earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Ill. he completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. Dr. Suk was fellowship-trained in orthopedic traumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York City. he currently serves as the associate editor for orthopedic trauma for “The American Journal of Orthopedics” and is on the editorial review boards of “The Journal of Trauma Management and Outcomes,” “Military Medicine” and “Geriatric Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.”
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
Assistant Vice President of Communications Christina Hitchcock was recently recognized in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal as one of their Top 20 under 40. aside from her professional career, she spends time with her family and manages her own cooking blog, www.everydaytastes.com.
Leadership Wilkes-Barre
Patrick J. Solano is the recipient of the 2012 Community Leadership Award. During World War II, Mr. Solano completed 23 combat missions with the Eighth Air Force Heavy Bombardment Group. For his service, he was awarded the Group Presidential Citation, the Air Force Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the European Combat Theater Medal with two Bronze Stars. In his professional career, he has held numerous prestigious positions, including Senior Counselor to Governor Tom Ridge and Governor Mark Schweiker, as well as senior advisor to the Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Leader, Dominick Pilleggi. Mr. Solano resides in Pittston Twp. with his wife Marie. they are the parents of six daughters and have 11 grandchildren. Mr. Solano will be presented the 2012 Community Leadership Award during the Annual Leadership Wilkes-Barre Mid-Winter Cocktail Party which will be held on Feb. 3, at the Westmoreland Club. Reservations are $40 per person and may be made by contacting the Leadership Wilkes-Barre office at 823-2101, ext. 135.
Top honors were recently announced for the Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers for their outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism. Having just joined the fashion jewelry business, Kim Pugliese has earned this prestigious accomplishment in the first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia with other new advisors.
Misericordia University
Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D., medical director of the physician assistant program, was an honored invited lecturer and panelist of the Congress of the Polish Surgical Society in Lodz, Poland. Dr. Dudrick presented the paper, “Management of Fistulas of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract,” and served on a panel of surgeons discussing complex abdominal surgical problems. the Nanticoke native is chairman emeritus in the Department of Surgery and director emeritus of the Program in Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital, a Yale University affiliate, in Waterbury, Conn. he also holds an appointment as professor of surgery in the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Dudrick holds the Robert S. Anderson Endowed Chair, the first such academic position offered by Misericordia University.
Faculty advisers and graduate students in the speech-language pathology program made four research presentations at the recent Estill World Voice Symposium V in Rome, Italy. University student Nicholas Barone of Dallas and professors Cari Tellis, Ph.D., assistant professor; and Glen Tellis, Ph.D., chair and professor, presented “Acoustic and Aerodynamic Properties of True Vocal-Fold Body Cover Conditions,” which was also the subject of Mr. Barone’s master’s thesis work. Dr. Cari Tellis and Mr. Barone also collaborated on “Estill Figures and Qualities Inside Voice Therapy: a New Therapy approach.” Misericordia University students Katie Lawlor of Hillsdale, N.J.; Amanda Brown of New Columbia, and Mr. Barone collaborated with Dr. Cari Tellis on the research presentation, “Differences in Voice Measures in Cheerleaders Before and after Training for Belt Vocal Quality.” Drs. Glen and Cari Tellis and Mr. Barone and Ms. Lawlor also offered, “Changes in Vocal Intensity With and without Anchoring,” at the conference.
Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania
The foundation has elected eight innovative leaders to join its Board of Trustees: president, Marilyn D. Harris, M.S.N., R.N., NEA-BC, F.a.a.N., Retired Executive Director, Abington Memorial Hospital Home Care / Hospice; vice president, Paul E. Tarves, M.S.N., B.S.N., R.N., Evangelical Community Hospital; secretary, Patricia Sweeney, Ph.D, C.R.N.P., F.N.P., B.C., the School of Nursing at Penn State; treasurer, Dolores M. Zygmont, Ph.D, R.N., Temple University; member, Esther Brown, Ed.D, R.N., Th.B., Widener University School of Nursing; member, Beth Hogan-Quigley, M.S.N., R.N., C.R.N.P., University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; member, Judith Anne Zdziera, M.S.H.a., R.N.-B.C., Fort Washington; and member, Elizabeth Walls, M.S.N., M.B.a., R.N., Chester County Health Department
Pocono Medical Center
Desaki Japanese Restaurant in Swiftwater hosted an “Iron Chef” competition to benefit the new Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer at the medical center. the event featured five PMC surgeons tasked with creating high-end sushi rolls in front of a live audience and panel of “celebrity” judges. In the end, Nche Zama, M.D., Ph.D., director of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, won the popular vote and was crowned “Iron Chef.” the four other competitors were Charles K. Herman, M.D., director of plastic and reconstructive surgery; Vladimir Nikiforouk, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology; Patricia Riley, M.D., Breast Surgery; and Allister Williams, M.D., orthopedics and spine surgery. the event raised over $10,000 for the Hughes Cancer Center.
Regional Hospital of Scranton
Michael a. Mandarano, D.O., M.S., a graduate of Dunmore High School and a new member of the medical staff, has come home to practice internal medicine and pediatrics. Born and raised in Dunmore, Dr. Mandarano is the son of Dominick a. Mandarano and the late Rosa DePietro Mandarano. Dr. Mandarano is joining Horizon Medical Corp. Dr. Mandarano graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie. he completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the State University of New York University at Buffalo. Dr. Mandarano is a graduate of the University of Scranton where he received a Master of Science in biochemistry, and he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Marywood University.
Caressa Dempsey, Dunmore, was promoted to claims manager. Ms. Dempsey holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Millersville University. she is based in the company’s Scranton Data Center.
Holly Liss, Scranton, was promoted to Enrollment Operations manager. Ms. Liss is a graduate of West Scranton High School. she is based in the company’s National Operations Center, Dunmore.
Pat Czyzyk, Scranton, was promoted to manager of Workforce Management & Financial Reporting. Ms. Czyzyk holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Scranton. she is based in the company’s National Operations Center, Dunmore.
Bill Riiff has been named market manager for the company’s operations in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region. Mr. Riiff has an associate degree from Embry Riddle University. he, his wife Sandra and their three children are relocating to the Wilkes-Barre area.
William S. Lance has been promoted to executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of the bank and Norwood Financial Corp. Mr. Lance received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Scranton. Mr. Lance resides in Moscow with his wife, Mary, and their children, Bryan and Maura.
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