Welcome
Donna Sedor, CCE, ABC, IOM
Vice President
Greater Wilkes-Barre
Chamber of Commerce

Invocation
Rev. John Ryan, CSC, Ph.D.
President, King’s College

Remarks
Mike Bean
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Phil Johnson
M&T Bank

The Social Media
Investing in Technology Accelerators

Chamber, Click… Connect!
Wico Van Genderen
President & CEO
Greater Wilkes-Barre
Chamber of Business & Industry

The Past State - The Red Ocean
• We Have Confronted the Liabilities and Disengaged from the Old
Business Model
• MAKE the LEAP – Re-Think, Re- Brand, Re-Model and BELIEVE

9
Driving the BUS - The CHAMBER is back ONLINE
• A COALITION
the right people on the bus, the right
people in the right seats
• WHERE TO DRIVE IT
the Vision and Action Plan
– Definable, measureable, actionable and
sustainable
• UNDERSTAND & ALIGN
– WHO (Business/Academia/Community)
– WHY (Current/End State) /How (KPIs)
– WHAT (Scope)

10
Driving the BUS - The CHAMBER is back ONLINE
• THE VALUE PROPOSITIONS
Create a Business Model that is Unique
and Sustainable.
– Allows first mover opportunities
– Has a strong ROI
– Provides an enterprise vision
– Has high switching costs / Competition
Irrelevant
• USE Technology as an
Accelerator/Enabler
• EXECUTE with a CULTURE of
DISCIPLINE
• BELIEVE and BE PROUD

Driving the Value Propositions
• Adjacent Energy Play
can attract business and
job creation
• Convergence of
Interstates allows
effective/efficient
supply chain model

Driving the Value Propositions
• Diverse base of Commerce
in EDs/MEDs, Defense,
Manufacturing,
Distribution
• Tourism destination point
with Natural
Recreation/World Class
Entertainment

Driving the Value Propositions
• Solid eCommerce &
Technology infrastructure
in place on Main Street
• Strong Academic Capital
w/ 17k students in the
County and 8k in W-B City
• Downtown Residency
Growth can spur
downtown small business
resurgence

Driving the Value Propositions
Any one of these can be
capitalized for a positive
return to our Community

Driving the Plan
• The Context and Play is a
“NEPA JOURNEY”
• Map & Link the
VALUE PROPOSITIONS
• Example: ACADEMIC CAPITAL
– COLLEGE VALLEY / COLLEGE TOWN
– INNOVATION / ENTREPRENEURIAL
– BLOCK BY BLOCK / ZONE BY ZONE
– BEGINNING WITH CONVERGENCE
• PUBLIC SQUARE & MAIN STREET
• FRANKLIN ST. & THE RIVER COMMON
– EDUCATION CURRICULUM/SKILLS to WORKFORCE MAPPING
– BUILD THE COALITION AND EXECUTE

Driving the Plan
Showcase Success Stories.

Execute on the Blocking & Tackling
• Business Development (small to large)
• Entrepreneurial Development
• Grant , Zoning , Credit Coordination
• Coalition of Business, Academia and
the Public Sector
• Find the Diamond / Drive the
Infrastructure
• Technology Accelerators

Poverty - Confront what lurks beneath
• CHILDHOOD POVERTY
– Under the age of 5, one in three (33%) live in
poverty
– Rising stats from 14.7% (2000) to 29.6% today
– 11,535 kids are being raised in poverty
– 7.4% (9.3%) unemployment (5.7% /7.7%) state
/(6.1%/7.5%) national //$24kvs27k per capita inc
• POVERTY to POSSIBILITY
– Targeted Scope / Targeted Program
– Grass root family and community ownership
– Partnerships – Schools/public/private sectors
– Align to the Education Capital
– Training for young families and extended families
– Mentoring / Walking the Beat /Visibility
– CALL TO ACTION – Support / Donate / Sponsor
– INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP
• UNITED WAY – Poverty to Possibility
• CEO, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Junior
Achievement, Big Brothers/Big Sisters

BELIEVE and EXECUTE
• WAKE UP THE BEAR – Get Involved /
ENGAGE / This is your COMMUNITY
• DRIVE THE COALITION of the
PASSIONATE – TRUST / COMMIT/
TAKE ACTION
• LEVERAGE the VALUE PROPOSITIONS
• USE TECHNOLOGY as an
ACCELERATOR & EXECUTE
• BELIEVE AND BE PROUD of WHERE
YOU ARE FROM

Economic
Engine
World
Class
Potential
Passion
Create the
Blue Ocean
Find the
Diamond

Invest in Technology Accelerators
On YouTube.com/WBChamber

Small Business of the Year Award
Sponsored by PNC Bank

Distinguished Citizen Award
John C. Metz & Family
Sponsored by Luzerne Bank