Business Buzz, Feb. 21, 2016

Feb. 21--Business pays it forward

Liberty Tax office in Dallas is spearheading a charity drive in memory of Nicky Sorbelli, 10-year-old son of Jamie and Wayne Sorbelli, owners of Wayne's World, a music store in Dallas and Key West, Florida. Nicky had been fighting T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma since his diagnosis in May and died on Wednesday. For every new customer that comes in to the Liberty Tax Dallas location and mentions the code: NICKY2016, Liberty Tax will donate $25 to the Sorbelli family to help with expenses.

Wealth advisers open office: Jacobi Wealth Advisors announced the opening of new offices at 66 East Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Jacobi Wealth Advisors, an independent firm, delivers customized financial planning, retirement planning and independent investment management to families, business owners and corporations. The Tunkhannock location represents the firm's third in Pennsylvania. Rodman C. Azar, a senior partner with the firm since 2011, will lead the Tunkhannock office.

Physician group joins Geisinger: Anesthesiological Group of Northeast Pennsylvania, a Scranton-based physician group composed of pain management and anesthesia specialists, joined Geisinger Health System. The pain management and anesthesiology group will continue to treat patients at Geisinger-Community Medical Center's pain management clinic. AGNEP physicians are now Geisinger physicians and are employed at GCMC.

Business wins meat competition: The Alpine Inc., Honesdale, won international recognition at the "DFV-AAMP Quality Competition for Sausage and Ham," held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The competition was the first event of its kind held in the United States. IFFA is the leading international trade fair for processing, packaging and sales in the meat industry. The Alpine Inc. will be awarded with three Gold Medals: Krainerwurst, Bratwurst and Braunschweiger Liverwurst; one Silver Medal: Pork and Beef Frankfurters; and one Bronze Medal: Weisswurst.

Bank donates to fund: First National Community Bank announced an $85,400 donation to the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation through the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program.

Business to reduce footprint: Mohegan Sun Pocono will install a combined heat and power system, which will provide a reliable energy-efficient source for heating and electric power and reduce Mohegan Sun Pocono's primary energy consumption. Installation of the CHP system by Reading-based UGI HVAC Enterprises, Inc. is anticipated to begin in March and be operational by the fall.

Bank makes donation: Fidelity Bank donated $20,000 through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program to support WVIA's Educational Services, which provides educational television programming to its member schools, by delivering high- quality curriculum-based programming.

Banks donates to NEIU: First National Community Bank announced a $2,000 donation to the NEIU 19 Creative Opportunities Regarding Education Foundation, through the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program. The donation will help the foundation create and enhance educational opportunities for educators and students in the 20 school districts served by the NEIU.

Accelerated degree programs finalized: East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Northampton Community College signed an agreement that finalized a new partnership that will fast track the completion of bachelor's degree programs in business administration and provide a Bachelor of Science in nursing completion program option on NCC's Bethlehem campus.

Travel company recognized: Sundance Vacations, a travel company offering vacations at savings over retail prices, announced that after implementing a new speech recognition/data mining software, they improved their customer satisfaction scores by 30 percent from 2014 to 2015, and were welcomed to the Stevie Awards as finalists in two categories, Best Use of Technology in Customer Service and Innovation in Customer Service.

Gas station sold: KW Commercial, the Daniel Perich Group closed on the sale of the largest privately owned gas station in Monroe County. Quick Stop Sunoco, located at 4998 Milford Road, East Stroudsburg, is an eight pump/16- hose gas station with a 5,000-square-foot convenience store.

Hospital adds new therapy: Wayne Memorial Hospital's Rehabilitation Services Department announced it is now offering LSVT LOUD therapy for Parkinson's patients, a complement to its' LSVT BIG therapy program introduced three years ago. Heather Ceccarelli, MS, CCC-SLP, speech therapist, is now certified in LOUD, a voice program designed to help Parkinson's patients communicate more fully and confidently. LSVT BIG, offered by Wayne Memorial Physical Therapist Sarah Serkosky, DPT, offers clinically supported techniques, designed in this case primarily to improve movement.

Nominations now being accepted: A statewide award program will recognize top young physicians in Pennsylvania while encouraging those under 40 to make a name for themselves in Pennsylvania and practice for life in the commonwealth. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Medical Society, nominations for the Physician 40 Under 40 are now being accepted at www.pamedsoc.org/Physician40U40. Nominations will be accepted online from state and county medical societies, peers and patients. A committee has been created to review all nominations.

Business honored: ENX Magazine announced that Edwards Business Systems, an office technology, solutions and services provider, has been named one of the country's Elite Dealers for 2015. Presented annually, the award is given to the top office equipment dealers in the U.S. Edwards Business Systems and its sister company, Virginia Business Systems, have been named an Elite Dealer for the last 16 years.

University expands study abroad: Misericordia University signed additional affiliation agreements with seven institutions to expand its study abroad and away programs for students beginning in the summer. Agreements are with the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota; American University Paris, France; Centre International d/Etudes Francaises (International Center for French Studies) at the Catholic University of Angers, France; Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program and Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University, both in Berlin, Germany; Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy; and the Council on International Educational Exchange, a study abroad service provider based in Portland, Maine.

Business recognized: Local sign and visual graphics provider FASTSIGNS of Scranton was named one of the top centers out of more than 600 locations worldwide at the 2016 FASTSIGNS International Convention, held in Orlando, Florida. The business received the Pinnacle Club Award, which is given to the centers ranked 26 to 125 in the U.S. and Canada for sales volume between Oct. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2015.

Business holds grand reopening: Allied Services' Dickson City Rehab Center held its grand reopening at 235 Main Ave., Dickson City, on Feb. 16. The Dickson City Rehab Center was closed during 2015 due to water damage. During the closure, patients were served at a temporary site on Allied Services' Scranton campus.

List business events for free: The Wayne County Commissioners in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Advisory Committee invites tourism-related businesses to submit information, including events and activities for site promotion on www.visitwaynecounty.com. This service is free, and assists in acquainting visitors and residents with Wayne County lodging, attractions, dining, shopping and recreation. Email [email protected] with the request to be registered.

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