Judging for CAN DO’s 16th annual Curb Appeal Awards to take place in July
The Curb Appeal Awards are presented each fall to tenants across CAN DO's four business and industrial parks who dedicate time and attention to beautifying their properties through landscaping and grounds maintenance.
Curb Appeal judges, Sherri Homanko, Pharm.D and James Dino, will be circulating the parks to evaluate facilities throughout July. In addition to being judged on first impressions, landscaping & appeal, and safety & cleanliness, industries will also be evaluated on creativity, a category that was introduced in 2022.
CAN DO holds Annual Dinner, celebrates a year of achievements and partnerships
CAN DO, Greater Hazleton's leading economic development organization, hosted its highly anticipated Annual Dinner event on Tuesday, June 13th, at Capriotti's Palazzo in McAdoo Industrial Park – located in Banks Township. The evening was one of celebration, networking, and recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations that have contributed to the remarkable success of the Greater Hazleton community throughout the year.
This year’s dinner focused on fostering connections and networking opportunities rather than a traditional sit-down-styled event. Attendees were encouraged to leisurely explore the venue, eat at their own discretion, and connect with other guests. Students from the Hazleton Area Jazz Ensemble provided musical entertainment for the evening followed by a concise year-in-review program presented at the end of the night.
Greater Hazleton CAN DO Mourns the Passing of W. Kevin O’Donnell
W. Kevin O’Donnell has been synonymous with CAN DO for almost 50 years. His passion and commitment to the organization was unwavering as he dedicated his life to serving the community and making a difference in the lives of so many. Notably, Kevin’s mastery of economic development was unmatched as Kevin was highly respected throughout economic development circles, not just in Hazleton or Northeastern Pennsylvania, but across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a whole.
Kevin’s tenure with CAN DO spanned for more than four and a half decades. He joined the organization as the second hired employee in 1973 – serving as the Assistant Director - under then Executive Director Joseph Yenchko. During his initial year with the organization, Kevin led the development of the area’s first synthetic fuels plant, the CAN DO Coal Gasification Facility, in 1974. In 1984, Kevin was promoted to the position of Executive Director, a title that in 1995 was changed to President & CEO, until his retirement in 2020. Kevin was one of the incorporators of the CAN DO Community Foundation, and the driving force behind the formation of the CAN BE (Community Association for New Business Entrepreneurship) Innovation Center – which encourages entrepreneurship through the launch of new businesses within the Greater Hazleton Area.