Maternal and Family Health Services
Lake Ryan Gemzik, Maternal and Family Health Services (SUBMITTED)
Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, Maternal and Family Health Services (SUBMITTED)
Erica Acosta, Maternal and Family Health Services (SUBMITTED)
Rebecca Prociak, Maternal and Family Health Services (SUBMITTED)
Betsy McGrath Ardizoni, Maternal and Family Health Services (SUBMITTED)
The organization announced its newly elected board officers and welcomed new members to its board of directors. These dedicated leaders bring diverse professional expertise and a shared commitment to strengthening families, advancing health equity and improving outcomes across the region. They are: Lake Ryan Gemzik, chair; Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, vice chair; Erica Acosta, secretary; and Rebecca Prociak, CPA, treasurer.
Gemzik serves as president and chief executive officer of Building Blocks Learning Center. With more than 18 years of experience in early childhood education, Gemzik is deeply committed to making quality child care accessible to all families. He brings extensive expertise in nonprofit leadership, financial oversight and systems building, with a career dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.
Bonilla-Rodriguez is a published author and nationally recognized leader in diversity-focused leadership development. With experience spanning the nonprofit, private and government sectors, she brings a strong background in Spanish, social work, organizational communications and executive leadership. She is an active board member and advocate for social justice initiatives, is a commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs and resides in Pennsylvania.
Acosta is the director for diversity initiatives at Wilkes University, where she supports undergraduate students and leads campus-wide efforts focused on belonging and engagement. Acosta is an engaged community leader in Wilkes-Barre and serves on several boards.
Prociak is a senior audit associate at Baker Tilly, where she specializes in not-for-profit and local higher education audits. She brings strong financial expertise and a passion for supporting organizations that make a meaningful impact throughout the region.
MFHS also welcomes the following new members to its board of directors: Heather Buck, director of human resources, Johnson College; Dr. Jamian Ryan, DO, FAAP, physician, Geisinger Pediatrics; Patrick McDonough, LCSW, owner, McDonough Counseling & Coaching; Katherine Silfa, MSW, EFI program manager; Wendi Holena, vice president/chief financial officer, NEPA Alliance; and Dara Soljaga, Ph.D., associate dean of education, King’s College.
In addition, Betsy McGrath Ardizoni has been promoted to senior director of brand and development. In this expanded role, Ardizoni will join the MFHS executive leadership team, further strengthening the organization’s strategic leadership and mission-driven impact.
In addition to continuing to lead MFHS’s fundraising and donor development efforts, Ardizoni will now assume overarching responsibility for all external communications and branding. She will provide strategic leadership and direction across marketing, media relations and community engagement.
In a relatively short time, Ardizoni has driven tangible results for MFHS through effective management of digital media and marketing, the cultivation of new donors, board members and community partners, and the enhancement of fundraising initiatives. Her strategic, mission-centered branded messaging has strengthened and expanded relationships with media, legislative and advocacy partners, elevating the organization’s visibility and impact throughout the region.
Ardizoni has more than 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she has excelled in development, community relations and marketing roles. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University and a certificate in executive event leadership from Temple University.
Naval Submarine League
Devin Steigerwalt, Naval Submarine League (SUBMITTED)
The organization announced that Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control systems machinist Devin Steigerwalt is the recipient of an NSL Workforce Stars Award. The annual award recognizes trades personnel who have been identified and selected as exemplary contributors to the industrial infrastructure or construction, maintenance or repair of U.S. submarines.
The league presents this award to recognize outstanding workers in a positive way and to encourage them to act as role models for future potential trades personnel. By providing national recognition of the awardees and their contributions, the league’s goal is to encourage young people to consider a career path in the trades and thereby help our country rebuild its industrial base.
As a machinist at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Systems, Steigerwalt quickly progressed through the machinist ranks to become a setup machinist, excelling at every level. During his time as a weldment machinist and setup machinist, he was the lead machinist on a team that transitioned two Virgina Class rod control cabinet weldments and one Columbia Class rod control cabinet weldment to a new, technologically advanced four-axis horizontal machining center. As a setup machinist, he took on leadership roles, devoting a significant amount of time developing the skills of other machinists in weldment machining methodology as well as teaching entry-level machinists the basics of efficient setups and part verification.
NET Credit Union
Sean Thorpe, NET Credit Union (SUBMITTED)
Jean Seifert, NET Credit Union (SUBMITTED)
Allison Moyer, NET Credit Union (SUBMITTED)
Sean Thorpe has been promoted to director of branch operations.
A graduate of Penn State University with over 15 years of experience in financial services, focusing on lending, Thorpe has been an integral part of the credit union team since joining as a loan officer in September 2016.
In his new role, Thorpe will be overseeing all branches and facilities as well as helping to move branch teams forward as the organization continues to evolve into a more modern frontline experience.
Jean Seifert has been promoted to Scranton branch manager.
Seifert has served as a key member of the team for nearly 29 years. She has excelled at training new employees while overseeing all facets of the teller line, and has demonstrated relationship building skills with both employees and members.
Allison Moyer has been promoted to Scranton assistant branch manager.
Moyer is a 2014 graduate of Misericordia University with a degree in accounting. She comes from a consumer finance background of almost 10 years.