Officers elected Tuesday at CAN DO’s Annual Dinner Meeting are, first row, from left: W. Kevin O’Donnell, president; and E. Thomas Sandrock, chairman of the board of directors. Back row: Robert Judd, vice chairman of internal operations; John J. Spevak, vice chairman of sales and marketing; Lonnie Polli, secretary; and Paul Malone, vice chairman of facilities management. Missing from photo is Llewellyn F. Dryfoos III, treasurer.

(Hazleton, PA – June 10, 2008) – CAN DO, Inc., Greater Hazleton’s economic development organization, celebrated another year of successes during its 52nd annual dinner meeting Tuesday at Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton.
Before the dinner, the organization’s board of directors met to discuss the highlights of the last fiscal year, including the creation of 1,781 jobs, and to elect officers and at-large board members.

Officers approved for 2008 included: Edgar L. Dessen, M.D., chairman emeritus; E. Thomas Sandrock, chairman of the board of directors; W. Kevin O’Donnell, president; Robert Judd, vice chairman of internal operations; John J. Spevak, vice chairman of sales and marketing; Paul Malone, vice chairman of facilities management; Llewellyn F. Dryfoos III, treasurer; Lonnie Polli, secretary; Nancy R. Stasko, assistant secretary; Patricia Gendler, CPA, assistant secretary; and Bernadette J. DeBias, assistant secretary.

James Edwards, William Genetti and Mary Malone were elected as at-large members of the executive committee.

Those elected to the CAN DO board of directors as at-large members were George Andrews; Frederick Barletta; Paul Brenner; Charles Burkhardt; Anthony J. Dixon, Esq.; James Edwards; Peter J. Fagan, Esq.; Eugene F. Gallagher; William Genetti; Frank George; George F. Hayden; Martha Herron; Daniel Jorgensen; Robert Judd; John Madden, Ph.D.; Mary R. Malone; Paul Malone; David McCarthy; Rick Morelli; W. Kevin O’Donnell; Jan Pasdon; Lonnie Polli; E. Thomas Sandrock; Alexander Sloot; John J. Spevak; Arthur A. Tarone; Matt Turowski, Esq.; Joseph S. Ulichny, DC; and Pat Ward.

CAN DO’s Board of Directors also consists of members of organizations who have been involved with CAN DO since its very beginning. Educational and municipal representatives, along with students, also serve on the board as non-voting members. The board is made up of nearly 100 volunteers.

“Two years into my term as CAN DO’s board chairman, I continue to be amazed by the progress we’re making. So many volunteers come together to build on the foundation laid by Dr. Edgar L. Dessen more than 50 years ago,” Sandrock said.

“CAN DO had yet another exciting fiscal year in 2008. The progress we’ve made is evident with a drive through our industrial parks and the CAN DO Corporate Center. In Humboldt North, for example, development is occurring at a rapid pace as many well-known national and international companies lay down roots here in Greater Hazleton,” he said.

CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell noted that the projects begun during the past fiscal year will create or retain an estimated 1,781 jobs in Greater Hazleton when completed. Additionally, up to 800 seasonal jobs will be created.

“These jobs come from companies that saw the value of bringing their operations to Hazleton, especially considering our talented workforce and excellent location,” he said.

This summer will bring about a flurry of activity in CAN DO’s parks with the launch of several new projects.

Online retailer Amazon.com will open its fulfillment center in Humboldt Industrial Park in July. The center, located in a speculative building constructed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, will employ 1,100 people, as well as 800 people seasonally.

AutoZone will start operations at its 600,000-square-foot distribution center this summer, employing 250 people and then up to 400 people when the center is fully operational.

U.S. Cold Storage will also begin operations soon in Humboldt North. The distribution center, featuring 4.7 million cubic feet of storage space for frozen food, will open this month.

Also expected to open this month is the Residence Inn by Marriott in Humboldt Station, CAN DO’s first commercial land development project. The 92-room hotel will be an asset to those traveling Interstate 81, as well as those doing business in the Humboldt parks.

Joining Residence Inn in Humboldt Station is Turkey Hill, which will open its gas station and convenience store at the end of the summer.

Other projects under way include the construction of new facilities for Archer Daniels Midland and Vita-Line products; development of 372 acres of mine-scarred land into useable acreage known as Humboldt Northwest; the completion of a major upgrade to CAN DO’s wastewater treatment plant; and the continued success of the CAN BE business incubator program in assisting entrepreneurs in launching businesses.

During dinner, which followed the business meeting and a cocktail hour, guests saw a video reviewing CAN DO’s many projects throughout its industrial parks and corporate center during the past fiscal year.

Following the video, CAN DO Chairman E. Thomas Sandrock and Charles Burkhardt, Community Relations Committee chairman and Student Action Subcommittee advisor, recognized the graduating students of the CAN DO Student Action Subcommittee, which is involved in developing and planning events such as CAN DO Community Christmas and “Operation: CAN DO.”

“Our students are more than willing to get involved in serving their community. I’m proud to say that some of the finest students in the area are members of the CAN DO Student Action Subcommittee,” Burkhardt said.

Gary Lamont, president of the CAN DO Community Foundation, then honored the students who completed the Edgar L. Dessen Community Service Award program. Designated Dessen Scholar Graduates, the students were awarded certificates acknowledging their completion of the program.

The awards are granted to community-minded area high school students entering their junior year. Recipients are awarded a scholarship to the Junior Leadership of Hazleton program through the Community Foundation.

This year’s Dessen Scholar Graduates are Veronica Jacober, Hazleton Area High School, daughter of Marta and the late Sam Jacober, Sugarloaf; Kelly Medico, Weatherly Area High School, daughter of James and Patricia Medico, Weatherly; Lauren Paulshock, Bishop Hafey/Hazleton Area High School, daughter of Gary and Jean Paulshock, Freeland; Mitchell Sauers, MMI Preparatory School, son of Mark and Lisa Finkelstein, Sugarloaf, and Kevin Sauers, Lewisburg; and Carol Vinatieri, Immanuel Christian School, daughter of Ted and Genean Vinatieri, Hazleton.

Lamont then presented the Edgar L. Dessen Community Service Awards for the students who will be funded to attend Junior Leadership during the 2008-2009 school year. This year’s award recipients are Nicole Caccese, Weatherly Area High School, daughter of Bob and Colleen Caccese, Weatherly; Sarah Careyva, MMI Preparatory School, daughter of Edward and Jill Careyva, Ringtown; Allison Diehl, daughter of Gerald and Suzanne Diehl, Drums; Sarah Murray, Immanuel Christian School, daughter of John and Kathleen Murray, Hazleton; and Theresa Patten, Marian Catholic High School, daughter of Donald and Mary Patten, Sugarloaf.
“The Edgar L. Dessen Community Service Awards were established to honor Dr. Dessen for his vision, leadership, determination and dedication to community service in founding CAN DO. Each year, we recognize students who embody these same characteristics,” Lamont said.

Video sponsors for the CAN DO Dinner Meeting were Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services and PPL Electric Utilities. Other dinner sponsors were Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP; Sordoni; Slusser Brothers; Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.; Equilibrium Equities; Northeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association; Borton Lawson; Alfred Benesch and Clough Harbour.