Pittston, Luzerne County, PA -
Penn's Northeast welcomed investors, partners, and regional leaders to its Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Meeting, held at the River Grille in Plains, to celebrate another successful year of economic development and recognize the organization's accomplishments and leadership.
The following Officers will serve during the FY 2026-2027 fiscal year:
- Chairman: Tommy Grimes, Calex ISCS
- Vice Chairman: Mike Narcavage, PPL Electric Utilities
- Secretary & Treasurer: Andy Reilly, Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority
Committee leadership includes:
- Marketing Co-Chair: Kelly O'Brien, Luzerne County Community College
- Marketing Co-Chair: Ronda Beemer, Penntex Construction
- Finance Chair: John Carmody, Wayne Bank
- Personnel Chair: Phil Amend, HR by Onesource
- Nominating Chair: Bill Scranton, The Scranton Family
A special moment of the evening honored Kelly O'Brien for her outstanding leadership and dedication during her three-year tenure as Chairwoman of Penn's Northeast. In a symbolic "passing of the torch," O'Brien handed an actual ceremonial torch to incoming Chairman Tommy Grimes, representing the transition of leadership and the organization's continued commitment to advancing Northeastern Pennsylvania's economic future.
Keeping with the lighthearted spirit of the event, Grimes was also presented with a Chairman's Survival Kit—a humorous collection of essentials to help him navigate the year ahead as chairman, drawing laughs from attendees while celebrating the beginning of his term.
The meeting highlighted another year of strategic marketing, business recruitment, and regional collaboration that continues to position Northeastern Pennsylvania as one of the nation's premier locations for business investment and expansion.
Penn's Northeast also shared accomplishments from its FY 2025-2026 Annual Report, including a 34% increase in website visitors, 41% growth in Google Search impressions, and a 10% increase in Google Search clicks, expanding the region's visibility among site selectors and business decision-makers.
The organization's weekly NEPA News newsletter continued to perform exceptionally well, achieving above-average open and click rates, while social media efforts generated more than 250,000 impressions across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Other highlights included the launch of Penn's Northeast's free Artificial Intelligence Guide, designed to help small businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations responsibly adopt AI technologies.
"Penn's Northeast continues to build on the strong partnerships that have made our region a nationally recognized destination for business investment," said Chairman Tommy Grimes. "The dedication of our investors, volunteers, and staff has helped strengthen our regional economy, and we look forward to continuing that momentum in the year ahead."
Penn's Northeast remains committed to attracting new investment, supporting existing employers, strengthening the regional workforce, and promoting the many advantages that make Northeastern Pennsylvania an outstanding place to live, work, and do business.ve, work, and do business.
