On Thursday, October 6th, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, alongside our regional chamber partners, hosted the first regional Young Professional Awards, presented by Coal Creative. Nearly 300 attendees gathered at PNC Field, where we presented eighteen awards to young professionals and organizations in our region in a wide variety of categories. An annual event, the Young Professionals Awards recognizes amazing rising stars helping to move our region forward.

Let’s Meet Our 2022 Category Finalists!

Cultural Ambassador of the Year

Sponsored by the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts and Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Josh Hamilton, Customer Implementation Specialist, Software & IT Solutions for Benco Dental
Jess Meoni, Web and Graphics Designer at The Honesdale National Bank
Dan Pittman, Owner and Artistic Director for Act Out Theatre Group

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion of the Year

Sponsored by Janney Montgomery Scott

Erica Acosta, Director of Diversity Initiatives at Wilkes University
Jacob Kelley, Director of Workplace Culture for Community Action Association of Pennsylvania
Daryl Lewis, Managing Director/Owner of Diversity Angel LLC

Educator of the Year

Allison Ritsick, Director of Education and Programs & Regional Director for Building Blocks Learning Center
Chris Sedon, Computer Science Teacher at Abington Heights High School
Gabriella Tolerico, Elementary Music Teacher for the Carbondale Area School District

Hero of the Year

Sponsored by Perfect Storm Renovations, LLC

Lloyd Burton, 911 Telecommunicator for Wyoming County
Chris Hallock, Scranton PD Training Sergeant
Kyle Shumosic, City of Pittston Police Chief

Intern of the Year

Sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies

Frank Kocis III, Web & Design Intern at Coal Creative
Jillian Mirro, Communications Intern at Keystone Mission
Scott Stout, Associate Engineer at AZEK

Influencer of the Year

Sponsored by UGI Utilities, Inc.

Anthony Bartoli, Claims Manager at AssuredPartners of NEPA
Shelby Monk, Marketing and Event Coordinator for the Diamond City Partnership
Maegan Zielinski, Chief Operating Officer at Grassroots Development, LLC

Small Business Owner of the Year

Sponsored by FNCB Bank

Eli Foss, Owner of Eli’s Towing and Recovery
Samantha Patterson, Owner of Motion Yoga and Integrative Wellness Studio
Paul Williams & Jerome Sulkoski, Co-Owners of Perfect Storm Renovations, LLC

STEAM Professional of the Year

Sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities

Samantha Bucher, Content Director at Coal Creative
Gladysh Felix, Head of Scientific Thinking at DIFEX Consulting Engineers
Mateusz Wosik, Assistant Professor of Biology and Program Director of Clinical Laboratory Science at Misericordia University

Trailblazer of the Year

Sponsored by MCR Productions

Jimel Calliste, President of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP
Emilia McCormick, Director of Operations of the United Sports Academy
Holly Yorkonis, Community Revitalization Coordinator for United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA

Voluntary Leader of the Year

Sponsored by the United Way of Wyoming Valley and The Luzerne Foundation

Emily Courtois, Community Affairs Manager/Social Media Coordinator at Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services
Lindsey Riddell, Assistant Director of The Office of Mission, Ministry and Service at Misericordia University
Katrina Wallace, Premium Auditor for Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies

Young Professional Development Award

Sponsored by UGI Utilities, Inc.

ConfiDANCE Studios 
Posture Interactive, LTD 
Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, Inc. 

Young Professional Women’s Leadership Award by Athena ® International

Sponsored by Riggs Asset Management Co.

Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA
Tara Siegel, Vice President of Marketing for Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, Inc.
Nina Zanon, Executive Director at Wyoming Valley Children’s Association

And The Winners Are…

Our award recipients, who were announced live on stage at this year’s event included:

Intern of the Year – Scott Stout, Associate Engineer at AZEK

Educator of the Year – Chris Sedon, Computer Science Teacher at Abington Heights High School

Trailblazer of the Year – Holly Yorkonis, Community Revitalization Coordinator for United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA

Small Business Owner of the Year – Paul Williams & Jerome Sulkoski, Co-Owners of Perfect Storm Renovations, LLC

STEAM Professional of the Year – Samantha Bucher, Content Director at Coal Creative

Cultural Ambassador of the Year – Jess Meoni, Web and Graphics Designer at The Honesdale National Bank

Voluntary Leader of the Year – Emily Courtois, Community Affairs Manager/Social Media Coordinator at Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services

Hero of the Year – Lloyd Burton, 911 Telecommunicator for Wyoming County; Chris Hallock, Scranton PD Training Sergeant; & Kyle Shumosic, City of Pittston Police Chief

Women’s Leadership Award – Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion of the Year – Erica Acosta, Director of Diversity Initiatives at Wilkes University

NEPA Influencer of the Year – Shelby Monk, Marketing and Event Coordinator for the Diamond City Partnership

Young Professional Development Award – ConfiDANCE Studios, Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, Inc., & Posture Interactive

2022 Young Professional Leadership Award – Anthony Melf, 2021-2022 Young Professionals Council Chair

2022 Inspiration Award – Jimel Calliste, President of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP

We want to congratulate all of this year’s finalists and category winners and thank them for their continued work in our community!

The Chamber’s Young Professionals Council is always looking for new volunteers and leaders to help plan amazing events and programs like the Young Professionals Awards for our community. If you are interested in finding out more, click here!