Lackawanna County Economic Development Director Kristin Magnotta is leaving county government for a job with Comcast, capping a nearly two-year tenure with the county and creating a director-level vacancy for commissioners to fill.
Commissioner Bill Gaughan and then-Commissioner Matt McGloin announced Magnotta’s appointment to the economic development post in late February 2024, shortly after taking office as the county’s new Democratic majority commissioners earlier that year and dismissing former economic development Director Brenda Sacco.
Magnotta had previously served as a longtime staffer for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, first as his northeast regional director and later as state outreach director, as well as economic development and strategic marketing specialist for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, among other experience.
Kristin Magnotta (Courtesy of Lackawanna County)
She informed commissioners of her pending exit for the Comcast position prior to Christmas, she said Wednesday, noting Friday will be her last day in the county role and that county Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers will serve as interim economic development director until commissioners choose her successor.
“There’s already a lot of interest, so that’s a good sign,” Magnotta said. “This department is a really well-oiled machine. Everyone that works in this department has been here for a long time and is very capable, so even when I came in … nothing stopped moving.”
Magnotta will serve as Comcast’s senior manager of government and community affairs in the state’s northeast region, she said.
County officials recently advertised the job opening, with the posting and job description available online at lackawannacounty.org.
Efforts to reach Commissioners Thom Welby, Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak were not immediately successful.
Check back for updates.