Area photographer Joseph Pecora was honored by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and CAN BE with the 2015 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

CAN DO Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship James Kelshaw presented the award during the 15th annual Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Awards Luncheon.

“CAN BE is honored to sponsor this award and continue our commitment to help aspiring entrepreneurs start new businesses in Greater Hazleton,” Kelshaw said. CAN BE, the Community Association for New Business Entrepreneurship, operates a business incubator facility in the Valmont Industrial Park that provides leased space at affordable rates and a program that helps to nurture new businesses through the difficult start-up years. The program offers resident consultation and management assistance, access to financing opportunities, networking with other start-up companies experiencing similar early stage problems and access to technical support services. Clients share office services, office equipment and conference room space, which are all included in the modest lease rates.

Pecora is the owner of J. Pecora Photography and is currently in his third year of business. His long term goal is to work with people all around the world through a project called Photo Positive. This is an interactive gallery where people write a positive or empowering message on their body and the portraits are hung in a gallery. He believes that traveling with this project will help create a more empowered global community.

Pecora has received several awards at competitive events and has also had the opportunity to photograph the Nigerian UN Ambassador of Arts while covering his attendance at the Governors Awards. He is a board member of the Hazleton Art League and helps with art shows and community events throughout the year. In addition, he hosts his photo positive at local events as a way to help empower and strengthen our community.