News and information about CAN DO for the community, investors, volunteers and board members.
CAN DO and the City of Hazleton invite the community to celebrate ‘Hazleton for the Holidays’ during City Hall’s Annual Tree Lighting as well as the 30th Annual CAN DO Community Christmas. These festive and family-friendly events are part of the Hazleton Holiday Celebration, which will be held on Wednesday, December 6th, at City Hall Block – 40 N. Church Street from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
This year’s event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Mayor’s Office, CAN DO, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress (DHAP), Hazleton Parks and Recreation, and the Hazleton Public Library as part of the new 'Hazleton for the Holidays' campaign, a city-wide initiative to unite the community in festive celebration.
The evening’s primary event will feature the Mayor’s City Hall Tree Lighting, which begins at 5:00 pm. In addition, the Hazleton Library will have the Grinch on hand for family photo opportunities as well as light refreshments.
CAN DO’s Student Action Committee, in collaboration with the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress and the Hazleton Art League will hold its third annual CAN DO Community Park Tree Lighting ceremony on Friday, December 1, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the park located at the corner of N. Broad and Laurel Streets in Downtown Hazleton.
The event, which will take place during Downtown Hazleton’s Wassailfest and First Friday, marks the kickoff of the 'Hazleton for the Holidays' campaign, a city-wide initiative to unite the community in festive celebration. Open to the public, those in attendance can take their photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate bar maned by the CAN DO Student Action Committee, and enjoy performances by the Olde Towne Carolers.
During the month of November, CAN DO celebrated the completion of three major projects in the Greater Hazleton area – the ribbon cuttings for the Hazleton Area Arts & Humanities Academy, the long-awaited Route 424 Extension, and the Arcadia Cold Storage facility, each symbolizing growth and progress in the region.
CAN DO, Inc. recently appointed Ana Perez as its Economic Development Assistant. In this role, Perez is responsible for administering CAN DO’s Economic Development Department and its sub-organizational brands, such as the CAN BE Innovation Center. She will also assist in the execution of marketing campaigns and organizational events as well as organization and oversight of CAN DO’s Student Action Committee.
CAN DO’s Director of Economic Development, Jocelyn Sterenchock, said, “Ana will be a great asset to CAN DO. Her creativity, passion for education, and commitment to community perfectly align with our values as an organization. Her dynamic approach will be invaluable as we continue to drive economic growth and support our community's entrepreneurs and students.”
The CAN DO Student Action Committee recently concluded its 19th annual Operation: CAN DO drive with the delivery of dozens of donated items to the Freeland American Legion Post 473.
Operation: CAN DO, which kicked off in early October, is a joint effort between the Freeland American Legion Post 473 and CAN DO’s Student Action Committee to create care packages for military service members hailing from the Greater Hazleton area who are stationed away from home during the upcoming holiday season. These packages primarily consist of personal care products, food, and entertainment items that are collected and donated by members of the Greater Hazleton area community.
The CAN DO Student Action Committee, in collaboration with the Freeland American Legion Post 473, is excited to announce the commencement of the 19th annual Operation: CAN DO drive. This heartfelt campaign aims to create care packages for military service members hailing from the Greater Hazleton area who are stationed away from home during the upcoming holiday season.
The campaign, which runs throughout the month of October, officially began with the distribution of letters to the area’s local schools and businesses, requesting both goods and monetary contributions to assemble these care packages.
In a joint celebration held on September 27th, 2023, CAN DO and Johnson College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ‘Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center’. This celebration comes after the two institutions announced their partnership to bring a technical school to the Greater Hazleton Area earlier this year.
The ‘Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center’ ribbon cutting event, held on September 27th, showcased the expansive 20,000 sq. ft. facility – which was once home to the former McCann School of Business and Technology. Guests were invited to tour the new school, including classrooms, lab spaces, and the campus resource center that is open to all students. Capriotti’s Catering and Little Treats and Cakes by Janna catered the event with light lunch fare and desserts.
Dr. Katie Leonard, President and CEO of Johnson College, and Joseph Lettiere, President and CEO of CAN DO, were both present and spoke about how this partnership is a monumental achievement for the Greater Hazleton Area, its residences, and its businesses.
CAN DO celebrated its 16th annual Curb Appeal Awards on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Hazleton. This annual industry night honors tenants across CAN DO's four business and industrial parks for their dedication to beautifying their properties through meticulous landscaping and grounds maintenance.
Curb Appeal judges, Sherri Homanko, Pharm.D. and James Dino, made rounds in July to evaluate facilities on first impressions, landscaping & appeal, safety & cleanliness, and creativity.
This year, CAN DO Corporate Center tenant, Best Cigar Pub & Prices, was given the ‘Overall Winner’ award. For the curb appeal judges, the cigar lounge, bar, and restaurant stood out for its clean parking lot, beautiful facade, and attention to detail. In addition, Best Cigar Pub & Prices also received recognition on ‘The Lawn’ – a newly opened outdoor dining and event space that gives guests access to fire pits, lawn games, grilled food, and live music. ‘The Lawn’ and all of Best Cigar Pub & Prices’ landscaping was done by Steve’s Lawn Care & Landscaping. The cigar lounge’s Chief Administrative Officer, Katy Prussock, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
CAN DO is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Karen Martinez to the position of Accounting Specialist II and the hiring of Jessica Miller as Accounting Specialist I.
CAN DO continues to build a talented and dedicated team of different experiences and backgrounds in order to support its efforts in fostering economic development and community growth in the Greater Hazleton area. This summer, the CAN DO staff is joined by Ryan Tolan, a senior from the University of Scranton studying Business Administration and Finance.
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Ryan Tolan and I am from Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
What inspired you to study Finance at the University of Scranton?
All of my life I have been very good with numbers, and one day I thought to myself, “why not use this ability for something real?” So, I enrolled in some Finance classes after declaring my minor, and I really enjoyed them.