Throughout nearly three decades in the economic development field, John Augustine discovered the entire region benefits when organizations and communities collaborate effectively.
From roles launching internet companies and business incubators to marketing the region to tech giants like Amazon, Augustine continually strives to advocate for Northeast Pennsylvania.
Augustine — who has served as president and CEO of Penn’s Northeast since April 2016 — recently received two statewide awards for his efforts.
The PA Economic Development Association’s Economic Developer of the Year Award recognizes an economic development professional’s innovation, implementation and economic impact, while considering their leadership, length of service, contributions to their community and region, and special achievements, officials said.
Meanwhile, City & State Pennsylvania’s 50 Over 50 Award celebrates experienced leaders whose decades of work have helped shape Pennsylvania’s communities, industries and quality of life, officials added.
“Getting honored and nominated by your peers are heartfelt, memorable moments that kind of cap off years of hard work trying to do what’s best for Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Augustine said.
Augustine takes pride in helping to bring thousands of jobs across the region — spanning Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne and Wyoming counties — as Penn’s Northeast now covers nine counties, up from four, under his leadership.
“We’ve been able to show that we are Northeastern Pennsylvania,” he said. “We are not individual cities, and a rising tide lifts all boats when we work together. Just because there is a building in Hazleton doesn’t mean that somebody from Scranton isn’t able to benefit from it. We’re trying to market the collective assets of Northeastern PA and then when they focus in on an individual area, we let the best community win that project.”
While working for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry, Augustine led the creation of the Innovation Center at Wilkes-Barre, a business and technology incubator, one of the biggest highlights of his career.
“I was still young, I had just come out of the dot-com world, and being able to take that experience and actually help other businesses get started and be successful was pretty awesome,” he said. “I was there, on the ground floor, recruiting the companies and working with the board of advisers to help them grow. Pepperjam was a huge success.”
After developing the Innovation Center, Augustine took a job as the community outreach manager for the Marcellus Shale Coalition. He believes discussions about natural gas helped spark more conversations spanning borders.
“This was an amazing natural resource, an amazing asset; however, it was just outside our region,” he said. “We’re not drilling a well in downtown Scranton. As a region, we got together and said, ‘How can we benefit from this amazing industry and life-altering opportunity that’s happening not necessarily right in our backyard, but next door?’ I think it got people to think more on a regional scale. Over the years, we’ve learned to work collectively for the betterment of our area.”
Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, praised Augustine’s persistence and dedication when communicating with companies.
“He does a really incredible job making sure he’s connected,” Durkin said. “I’m a great believer that relationships are fundamental building blocks for successful economic development. It’s about being out there and rattling the cage.”
Jim Cummings, vice president of marketing for Wilkes-Barre-based Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, lauded Augustine’s commitment to the whole area.
“John understands what it takes to win deals and bring jobs to the area, and he does everything with the region in its entirety in mind,” he said. “Northeastern Pennsylvania has become far more credible as a premier economic development location over the last 10 years. John has helped elevate the image of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which in turn has helped us reach new heights.
“Real estate, especially industrial and office real estate, is very much a people business. You need to be able to relate to people, communicate effectively with them, and convince them this region is the place where they need to be. John excels at putting the right brand on Northeastern Pennsylvania so companies will give us serious consideration when they’re deciding where to locate their businesses.”
Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ northeast division, has worked with Augustine for more than 25 years, dating back to the early days of the internet.
“We were part of the team that started one of the first internet companies in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Collegerecruiting.com,” Okrepkie said. “At that time, he fully understood SEO and internet marketing.”
Okrepkie also stressed Augustine treats each area fairly and equally when marketing the region to outside firms.
“Penn’s Northeast is trying to attract opportunities for all of Northeastern Pennsylvania — not just Hazleton, not just Scranton, not just Wilkes-Barre, not just Wayne County, but literally identifying opportunities that can be presented to all the economic development organizations to find the right place for an organization to come to NEPA,” he said. “The majority of our business parks are full at this point as a result of the collaborative effort Penn’s Northeast has been part of.”
As the economic development landscape continues to evolve, Augustine described the data center/AI world as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
“The first was coal, the second was garment and manufacturing, the third was warehouse and distribution, and now we’re in the fourth, which is AI, robotics and data centers,” he said.
Augustine stated his experience and expertise helps Penn’s Northeast serve as an “easy button” for companies looking to learn about properties in the region.
“Based on years of doing economic development, it becomes less about the data and more about the personal relationships you build,” he said. “Working with so many of these folks over the years, they can pick up the phone at any time, get me on my cell, and get an honest answer to their questions of what they might need. They know I’m going to do my best to help bring their project to Northeastern PA.”
From his time working with the Marcellus Shale Coalition to the Chamber and Penn’s Northeast, Augustine always stayed true to his values and principles, and made the region his home.
“Horizontal drilling was a new technology and my role was about educating the public and presenting facts,” the Mountain Top resident said. “Something I live by is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to their own facts. I’ve always tried to present facts. Whether somebody likes them or not, that’s completely up to them. I always respect other people’s opinions, but facts are facts. Part of my job over the years has been to present those facts and try to grow the economy of Northeastern PA.
“My heart has always been in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where I wanted a great place for my kids to live, work and play. I wanted to help create family-sustaining wages and bring in good companies.”
Augustine (Courtesy Penn’s Northeast)