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One S. Church Street, Suite 200, Hazleton, PA 18201      
570.455.1508   570.454.7787    

 

CAN DO News

News and information about CAN DO for the community, investors, volunteers and board members.

Dessen-00405-400pxOn behalf of the CAN DO staff, past leaders and our volunteer board members, we all graciously honor Dr. Dessen and his lasting legacy of contributions to Greater Hazleton, both as a caring doctor and an astute business professional.

Dr. Dessen was the driving force behind CAN DO's creation in the 1950s, believing in this area and its residents at a time when Hazleton's economy was in severe decline and the unemployment rate stood at nearly 23 percent. As president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, he noted the decline of the coal industry and came up with the idea – and name – for CAN DO when others said, "It can't be done." He chaired three fund drives that raised more than $2 million to establish CAN DO as the economic development organization serving the people of Greater Hazleton.

Since our founding in 1956, thousands of jobs have been created for men and women in the Hazleton area. CAN DO has developed Valmont Industrial Park, Humboldt Industrial Park (where more than 7,000 people are employed today), McAdoo Industrial Park, the CAN DO Corporate Center and Humboldt Station. Without Dr. Dessen and his vision, none of this would have been possible.

When it comes to Dr. Dessen, "thank you" can never say enough. We will miss his vision, drive and determination tremendously.

Kevin O'Donnell
President
CAN DO, Inc.

 

For the fourth consecutive year, CAN DO, Greater Hazleton’s economic development agency, presented its Curb Appeal Awards to industrial park tenants who have beautified and maintained the visual appeal of their properties.

CAN DO Curb Appeal Award winners include, front row, from left: Ryan Horvath, United States Cold Storage; Anthony Parrell, IMR Limited; Meghan Ball, JPC Equestrian; Karen Buckley, First Quality Nonwovens; Carla Hill Thaler, Residence Inn by Marriott; Kim Segilia, 5th Gear; and Lee Glassberg, High Mountain Hardware. Back row: Gary Danish, co-chair, Curb Appeal Awards; Charles Burkhardt, CAN DO Community Relations Committee; Kevin O’Donnell, president, CAN DO; Lonnie Polli, co-chair, Curb Appeal Awards; and Nancy Stasko, director of administration, CAN DO. Missing from photo: Representatives from Service Electric Cablevision, Inc. and Bemis Company, Inc.The awards were presented to companies in Humboldt, Humboldt North, McAdoo and Valmont industrial parks and the CAN DO Corporate Center during an industry mixer held Wednesday at Residence Inn by Marriott in Humboldt Station.

A New York company that was founded in 1997 out of the trunk of a car and has grown to be one of the top 10 online cigar retailers in the nation is moving its operations to the CAN DO Corporate Center in Drums.

Nancy R. StaskoCAN DO Director of Administration Nancy R. Stasko has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, sponsored by Berger Family Dealerships.

The Award, presented each year to a Hazleton Area businesswoman “for outstanding professional achievement,” will be presented at the 119th Annual Meeting of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. The dinner meeting will take place on Thursday, May 19th at the Genetti Best Western Inn & Suite Hall of Presidents.

CAN-DO-VCC-mixer-webCAN DO and the Valley Country Club co-sponsored an industry mixer at the country club Wednesday.

Leaders from various companies throughout Greater Hazleton attended, mingling with fellow business representatives. The event was chaired by Charlie Burkhardt, CAN DO Community Relations Committee chairman.

CAN-DO-Marine-webA local Marine who recently returned from an overseas tour visited Freeland Elementary/Middle School Friday morning to speak to the students who helped collect items for a care package through CAN DO and the Freeland American Legion.

Marine 1st Lt. Jeff Broyan received a care package through “Operation: CAN DO,” a drive organized by CAN DO’s Student Action Committee and coordinated through the Freeland American Legion to provide entertainment, personal hygiene and food items to servicemen and women serving abroad. Freeland Elementary/Middle School’s Builders Club is among the groups across Greater Hazleton that collects items for the troops.

CAN DO has announced that Capriotti’s is constructing a new banquet hall at the entrance to McAdoo Industrial Park.

The new facility will be called Capriotti’s Palazzo. The 10,000-square-foot catering hall will seat up to 375 people.

ABF-Venturefest-WEBBusinessmen and women at a conference in the United Kingdom recently learned more about Greater Hazleton and its advantages as a business location from one of the newest companies to locate within the CAN DO Corporate Center.

A company in the Humboldt Industrial Park is crediting its employees’ dedication to safety in the workplace as the primary reason it recently received a prestigious national labor safety designation.Simmons-web

Simmons Manufacturing Co.’s Humboldt plant has earned the “star” worksite designation from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The star designation is the highest honor in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

small-business-financing-webCAN DO, Inc., Greater Hazleton’s economic development agency, has partnered with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry to offer small business financing programs in Luzerne County.

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