{"id":313865,"date":"2026-10-25T09:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T09:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/313865\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T09:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T09:12:08","slug":"john-augustine-recognized-for-economic-development-contributions-in-nepa-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/313865\/","title":{"rendered":"John Augustine recognized for economic development contributions in NEPA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Throughout nearly three decades in the economic development field, John Augustine discovered the entire region benefits when organizations and communities collaborate effectively.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Augustine \u2014 who has served as president and CEO of Penn\u2019s Northeast since April 2016 \u2014 recently received two statewide awards for his efforts.<\/p>\n

The PA Economic Development Association\u2019s Economic Developer of the Year Award recognizes an economic development professional\u2019s innovation, implementation and economic impact, while considering their leadership, length of service, contributions to their community and region, and special achievements, officials said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, City & State Pennsylvania\u2019s 50 Over 50 Award celebrates experienced leaders whose decades of work have helped shape Pennsylvania\u2019s communities, industries and quality of life, officials added.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting honored and nominated by your peers are heartfelt, memorable moments that kind of cap off years of hard work trying to do what\u2019s best for Northeastern Pennsylvania,\u201d Augustine said.<\/p>\n

Augustine takes pride in helping to bring thousands of jobs across the region \u2014 spanning Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne and Wyoming counties \u2014 as Penn\u2019s Northeast now covers nine counties, up from four, under his leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to show that we are Northeastern Pennsylvania,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are not individual cities, and a rising tide lifts all boats when we work together. Just because there is a building in Hazleton doesn\u2019t mean that somebody from Scranton isn\u2019t able to benefit from it. We\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an amazing natural resource, an amazing asset; however, it was just outside our region,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re not drilling a well in downtown Scranton. As a region, we got together and said, \u2018How can we benefit from this amazing industry and life-altering opportunity that\u2019s happening not necessarily right in our backyard, but next door?\u2019 I think it got people to think more on a regional scale. Over the years, we\u2019ve learned to work collectively for the betterment of our area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, praised Augustine\u2019s persistence and dedication when communicating with companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does a really incredible job making sure he\u2019s connected,\u201d Durkin said. \u201cI\u2019m a great believer that relationships are fundamental building blocks for successful economic development. It\u2019s about being out there and rattling the cage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim Cummings, vice president of marketing for Wilkes-Barre-based Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, lauded Augustine\u2019s commitment to the whole area.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn 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,\u201d he said. \u201cNortheastern 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cReal 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\u2019re deciding where to locate their businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners\u2019 northeast division, has worked with Augustine for more than 25 years, dating back to the early days of the internet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were part of the team that started one of the first internet companies in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Collegerecruiting.com,\u201d Okrepkie said. \u201cAt that time, he fully understood SEO and internet marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okrepkie also stressed Augustine treats each area fairly and equally when marketing the region to outside firms.<\/p>\n

\u201cPenn\u2019s Northeast is trying to attract opportunities for all of Northeastern Pennsylvania \u2014 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,\u201d he said. \u201cThe majority of our business parks are full at this point as a result of the collaborative effort Penn\u2019s Northeast has been part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the economic development landscape continues to evolve, Augustine described the data center\/AI world as the \u201cFourth Industrial Revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first was coal, the second was garment and manufacturing, the third was warehouse and distribution, and now we\u2019re in the fourth, which is AI, robotics and data centers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Augustine stated his experience and expertise helps Penn\u2019s Northeast serve as an \u201ceasy button\u201d for companies looking to learn about properties in the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on years of doing economic development, it becomes less about the data and more about the personal relationships you build,\u201d he said. \u201cWorking 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\u2019m going to do my best to help bring their project to Northeastern PA.\u201d<\/p>\n

From his time working with the Marcellus Shale Coalition to the Chamber and Penn\u2019s Northeast, Augustine always stayed true to his values and principles, and made the region his home.<\/p>\n

\u201cHorizontal drilling was a new technology and my role was about educating the public and presenting facts,\u201d the Mountain Top resident said. \u201cSomething I live by is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one is entitled to their own facts. I\u2019ve always tried to present facts. Whether somebody likes them or not, that\u2019s completely up to them. I always respect other people\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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