Wilkes-Barre Connect

On this episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Don Webster, Executive Director of tecBRIDGE, to talk about entrepreneurship and the powerful questions of“Why not us? Why not here? Why not now?”

tecBRIDGE, best known for its long-running business plan competitions, also organizes innovation conferences, summer internships, and other initiatives to support high school students and early-stage e...

Join us on this episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect podcast as host Dan Kimbrough sit with Kristin McCollum and Bill Andahazy of the Penn State Launchbox, part of the Invent Penn State program. While the Launchbox program can be found on many campuses, Bill and Kristin are primarily focused on the Hazleton Launchbox, where their focus is on lean start ups and customer discovery. They believe one of the first step to any venture is ...

In this episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect podcast, we hear from Larry Newman, the founding Executive Director of the Diamond City Partnership (DCP), Wilkes-Barre’s nonprofit downtown management organization, where he plans and leads Downtown Wilkes-Barre’s revitalization.

A trained architect, Larry has always been fascinated by the “built env...

In this episode of the Wilkes-Barre connect podcast we welcome back Pittston city Mayor, Michael Lombardo. We discuss upcoming plans for the city including improved sewer lines, a 500 seat theatre, new housing and more ways Pittston is finding ways to stand out on its own in Northeast PA. 

Mayor Lombardo also discusses the power of partnerships and focusing on getting the job done, not the politics around what needs to be done. He ...

In this live episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits with Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of PA 250. Coleman discusses the inception and mission of PA 250, established in 2018 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026. The initiative aims to engage all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Coleman highlights the Direct Effect Innovation Challenge, which has engaged 50,000 students across the st...

Join host Dan Kimbrough for as he sits down with Shay Jones-Vitale, founder of Tri-Path Synergy and our next participant in the Luzerne County TechCelerator program, as she shares her experience with the TechCelerator program and how it helped her shape Tri-Path Synergy.  

As a licensed Clinical Social Worker who is also a yoga and mindfulness practitioner. Shay was always interested in psychology and human behavior. Trying to make...

Join host Dan Kimbrough for an inspiring conversation James Monahan, founder of BedRez and our next participant in the Luzerne County TechCelerator program, as he shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery and entrepreneurship.

Hear how James’s personal struggles navigating the rehab system led him to create BedRez, a groundbreaking platform designed to help individuals and families quickly find available treatment beds...

Join host Dan Kimbrough for a conversation with Dorothy Lane, Director of the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center. Dorothy joined the SBDC in 1999 and has served as training coordinator, business consultant, and now leads the Center, ensuring entrepreneurs and small businesses across five Northeastern Pennsylvania counties have the support they need to succeed.  In this episode, Dorothy shares insights on starting ...

In this episode of The Wilkes-Barre Connect Podcast, we speak with Angel Diaz Jr., founder of Vital Health Enterprises and participant in the Luzerne County TechCelerator program. A U.S. military veteran and healthcare innovator, Angel is developing a real-time, wearable monitoring solution designed to streamline patient intake and optimize clinical workflows.

The Vital Band—his flagship device—continuously tracks key biometric ind...

On this episode of The Wilkes-Barre Connect Podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits down with TechCelerator participants Hunter Wesolowski and Nate Herman, the creators of Hunting Positivity—a social media and online positivity app designed to uplift and inspire.

We explore their journey through the TechCelerator program, the vision behind Hunting Positivity, and their mission to Spread Meaning in a world often filled with noise. Hear why...

Our host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Marytere and Brenda, two interns from the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, working through the Bonner program at Wilkes University. 

We discuss their expierence as interns overall, but also with such a high profile organization like a chamber. Both Brenda and Marytere share their experiences from being the first college bound family member to overcoming self doubt and putting yoursel...

In this episode, host Dan Kimbrough discusses the Luzerne Learns to Work program with Shanie Mohamed and Alex Piehl from the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. This innovative initiative aims to prepare high school students for successful careers in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The program provides students with a blend of soft and technical skills training, as well as direct connections to local emp...

In this episode, we sit down with Romilda Crocomo, the County Manager of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Romilda provides a fascinating inside look at the role of a county manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a large and diverse county with over 1,500 employees.

Romilda shares her unique career path, from practicing law in the private sector to becoming a public servant dedicated to delivering critical services to the cit...

In this episode of The Wilkes-Barre Connect Podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Julie Sidoni from WVIA to discuss the critical importance of media literacy in today's information landscape.

They explore the rapid changes in media consumption, the distinction between news and information, and the key differences between public and commercial media.

Julie shares insights from WVIA's listening tour, highlighting the diverse nee...

In this episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Drew Popish, the Northeast Regional Director for Governor Josh Shapiro. They discuss Drew's journey into politics and the importance of youth engagement and diverse representation in advocacy. Drew shares how he initially had no plans to enter politics, but felt compelled to get involved to ensure his voice and perspective were heard. He emphasiz...

In this episode of The Wilkes Barre Connect Podcast, host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Jake Kelley of Mx. Kelley Queer Education LLC to discuss identity, inclusivity and authentic diversity in the workplace. Jake emphasizes the importance of understanding identities beyond surface labels and acknowledging marginalized communities' experiences. They discuss the challenges of inclusivity in corporate settings and share personal stori...

On this episode of Wilkes-Barre Connect, we discuss the Young Professionals Council and its role in bringing together young leaders in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Former Chair Rachel Stark and current Chair Mollie Boyd share how the group provides opportunities for professional and personal growth while giving back through service. From conferences to fundraising events, learn how YPC fosters positivity and involvement in the commun...

On this episode of the Wilkes-Barre Connect Podcast, Jacqueline Escobar and our host Dan Kimbrough hold a discussion Connect Coference around barriers to Entrepreneurship and the challenges and opportunities for small business owners in our region. Business leaders like @ParkMultimedia's Dan Kimbrough share real stories of overcoming barriers like lack of funding and building community connections when they first started out. We al...