Scranton SBDC Recognized with Pennsylvania Awards
Pictured, first row, from left: Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean, Kania School of Management; Lisa Hall Zielinski, director of Scranton’s SBDC; and Scranton SBDC Business Consultants Zakiyyah Smith and Gretchen Kukuchka. Second row: Scranton SBDC Business Consultants Keith Yurgosky and Leigh Fennie; Elizabeth Geeza, program coordinator; Patrick Keehan, SBDC business consultant; and Katelyn McManamon, special projects coordinator. Third row: representing the Pennsylvania SBDC: Brian Kelly, associate state director; Tiffany Thompson, director of administration; and Ernie Post, Ph.D., state director. Fourth row representing the Pennsylvania SBDC: Juliet Njoroge, budget/grant analyst; and Francene Dudziec, director of marketing. Not pictured: Winifred McGee, Scranton SBDC business consultant.The University of Scranton’s Small Business Development Center was recognized by the Pennsylvania SBDC’s statewide network of 15 centers and its lead office with five awards for excellence, including the Gold Center Performance Award, which recognizes the center’s overall performance for 2022. Scranton’s SBDC met or exceeded all of its programming goals in 2022, placing it in the top three percent of the centers in Pennsylvania.
The awards, presented at the PASBDC Growth Conference in Erie in June, recognize centers for their contributions to the network’s mission of helping the state’s small businesses start, grow and prosper. The annual awards recognize the recipients’ impact on local economic growth, job creation and support of Pennsylvania’s newest and growing entrepreneurs.
Scranton’s SBDC, housed in the University’s Kania School of Management, also received the Student Project of the Year Award for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center. The award recognizes a student team for their collaborative efforts in helping their center achieve strategic initiatives. At the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center, student interns and SBDC staff offer business start-up information, guidance and encouragement to lower income women, those experiencing a life transition or those trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Their services include individual, confidential consulting and programs such as Coffee and Confidence, a one-hour inspiration session, and StartUP, a six-week series that walks participants through the process of starting a business.
In 2022, 11 students interned for the SBDC’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center. Students were: Caelan Boyle ’24, an international studies major from Havertown; Niamh Boyle’ 23, an international business major from Havertown; Nicole Freeman’ 23, a biology major from New Tripoli and participant in the University’s Undergraduate Honors Program; Lea Grant ’23, an occupational therapy major from Rocky Hill, Connecticut; Erin Hahn ’23, a finance and accounting double major from Flourtown; Xianshu (Iris) Hu ’23, finance major from Fresh Meadows, New York; Molly Lennon ’22, a biology major from Levittown, New York; Jordyn Lieber ’23, a business administration major from Edison, New Jersey, and participant in the University’s Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program; Jennifer Rossiter, a finance major from Jenkinstown and participant in the University’s Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program Business Honors Program and its Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program; Kimberly Stossel ’22, ’G23, a marketing major and MBA graduate from East Stroudsburg; and Gabrielle Hart Timoteo ‘23, occupational therapy major from Collegeville.
Scranton SBDC Business Consultant Gretchen Kukuchka received the State Star award for outstanding performance and client satisfaction. The State Star Award, the highest accolade achievable by a member of the PASBDC team, recognizes extraordinary performers who have made strong contributions to their state network. Only one State Star is awarded by the Network each year.
Kukuchka joined the Scranton SBDC in 2002 and serves clients in the Bradford Tioga and Lackawanna counties. She also coordinates the successful Small Business Internship Initiative, which provides internship opportunities at small businesses for students attending a participating college in NEPA. She has presented on this initiative at national conferences. Kukuchka earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and University and her master’s degree from The University of Scranton.
Scranton SBDC Business Consultant, Winifred McGee, received the Service Award for the Eastern region. The award recognizes service to the entire Pennsylvania SBDC network.
McGee’s areas of expertise include agri-business and food enterprise start-up and expansion; shared kitchen incubator management; enterprise feasibility studies, business planning and financial analysis; and grant application coaching for agricultural and food enterprises. She joined the Scranton SBDC team in 2019 after having previously worked as a business consultant at the Penn State Small Business Development Center at Penn State Harrisburg, and for 30 years in Penn State Cooperative Extension, providing information and education for home based, food and farm business. McGee earned her bachelor’s degree from Grove City College and her master’s degree from the University of West Florida.
Scranton SBDC Special Projects Coordinator Katelyn McManamon received the Team Spirit Award, which recognizes one network professional for their collaborative attitude in helping the network achieve strategic initiatives.
McManamon joined the Scranton SBDC team in 2020. In her role, she identifies and engage participants and coordinate projects within the SBDC’s eight-county service area. McManamon earned her bachelor’s degree from Millersville University and her MBA from The University of Scranton.
Lisa Hall Zielinski serves as director of the SBDC at The University of Scranton, which serves small business clients in Bradford, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
