We’re teaming up with community partners all over Northeastern Pennsylvania to bring you a closer look at what makes our amazing counties, cities, towns and villages so unique. Keep your eye on this space for regular contributions from local organizations, visitors’ bureaus, tourism boards, chambers and so much more.
Annual Conference Brings Together NEPA’s Future Leaders
Our area’s emerging leaders came together for the Annual Young Professionals Conference on Wednesday, March 20th at Wilkes-Barre’s THINK Center, and heard some incredible speakers throughout the day that tied into this year’s event theme of “Fuel & Fulfill!”
Each year, this daylong conference is aimed at developing our area’s talented young professionals, with speakers and panelists composed primarily of young professionals from area businesses. After kicking off the event the night prior with an opening mixer sponsored by McCarthy Tire Service, attendees spent the day with insightful keynotes and session hosts, attended engaging panel discussions, and shared valuable insights.
Attendees also got to network with young professionals across the Valley at our breakfast bar with coffee provided by Abide Coffeehouse, as well as at lunch at one of our fantastic local downtown restaurants, which was sponsored by Posture Interactive. The event also featured a headshot room, sponsored by Valentin Studios, and attendees were given a swag item, sponsored by Snyder & Clemente.
Our session speakers and panelists for the day included:
- Chelsea Zimmerman, Visionary of Lingua, and Product Training Manager of Lingraphica
- Victoria Vespico, Founder & Executive Director, Sustainability Starts With You
- Tricia Richards-Service, PhD, Founder and Owner of I Need A Speaker
- Demetri Patitsas, Chief Servant Leader, The Greek Shack
- Enrico Bartolini, Owner, Enrico Bartolini
- Kristopher D. Vanesko, Partner, blu door FINANCIAL
- Maryann Velez, Founder, President, & CEO, UNA, A Nonprofit Corporation
- Maegan Zielinski, Director of Operations, Grassroots Development, NEPA’rogi, TrueSense Marketing
- Jacob Kelley, Founder & CEO, Mx. Kelley Queer Education
- Sheina Mackey, CEO, Power & Success Incorporated
- Taryn Talacka, Communications Specialist, Archer Education
- Rich Perry, Owner, Richard A. Perry Coaching & Consulting
- Anthony Melf, Business Development Manager, Coal Creative
- Tina Welch, Founder & Principal Consultant, Welch Performance Consulting
These sessions were sponsored by Community Bank and the Scranton Area Community Foundation, and our panel session was sponsored by Building Blocks Learning Center.
Keynote Address: Ryan Evans
Our day concluded with our electrifying keynote speaker session: Architecting Redemption: Positive Thinking in Negative Spaces, presented by Ryan Evans, Internal Communications Manager at SEKISUI KYDEX and Northwestern University Graduate School of Communication and the Inspiration Award Recipient at the Chamber’s Regional 2023 Young Professionals Awards. The keynote session was sponsored by UGI Utilities, Inc.
Get to know Ryan!
Ryan Evans is a Luzerne County native hailing from Bear Creek Township. As a child, Ryan saw firsthand the effects of alcohol and substance abuse and was no stranger to domestic abuse in the household. Throughout his youth, Ryan struggled to come to terms with his upbringing and the abuse he witnessed and turned to substance abuse himself as a coping mechanism for his subsequent depression. After graduating from now-defunct James M. Coughlin High School in 2011, Ryan continued on to Kutztown University where depression and substance abuse followed him. At the age of 21, Ryan dropped out of college and enlisted in a last-ditch effort to gain some sense of direction in his life. He attended Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL, and attended follow-on training at the Center for Information Dominance Unit Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. Ryan ultimately reported to Commander, Submarine Group 7 in Yokosuka, Japan from 2015 to 2018, where he worked as a Broadcast Communications Control Authority Chief of the Watch, Special Intelligence Communications Watchfloor Supervisor, and an Information Warfare Specialist.
Upon being honorably discharged from the Navy, Ryan returned home and enrolled at Luzerne County Community College where he got involved on campus and within the administration, serving as Student Representative to the Board of Directors and getting involved with his peers and fellow veterans. In 2021, Ryan graduated with an Associate degree in Journalism & Media Writing and was named Outstanding Graduate for his contributions on campus and in the community, particularly in bringing awareness to veterans’ mental health issues. Ryan transferred to Wilkes University to finish his bachelor’s degree and became a first-generation college graduate last May, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus on multimedia platforms. It was during this time Ryan also worked as a reporter for the Times Leader newspaper. Prior to finishing his undergrad, Ryan was accepted to Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Communication where he is actively pursuing his master’s degree. His research involves ethical practices pertaining to automation and artificial intelligence in strategic communications.
Ryan was a featured speaker at the 2023 Wilkes University Founder’s Gala and guest on Bill Corcoran’s On The Stacks podcast. Ryan’s public speaking endeavors center on overcoming trauma, addictions, adversity, and the power of a positive mental attitude, as well as combatting impostor syndrome, anxiety, depression, competing only with the person in the mirror, and breaking stigmas surrounding mental health. Ryan is also a member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center’s “Dream Team” which visits learning institutions to promote careers in manufacturing.
To stay connected with any upcoming Chamber events like this one, visit the calendar at https://business.wyomingvalleychamber.org/chambercalendar!
