Wayne County's WEDCO to explore innovation at dinner event slated for May 18
Innovation from different ages and perspectives will be explored at WEDCO’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Dinner.
Executive director Mary Beth Wood stated, “We chose the theme ― High Tech, Big Hearts ― to acknowledge innovation, creativity, and the use of technology in Wayne County, where we have an enviable quality of life and wonderful, generous communities."
Event speakers
The guest speakers are Zach Jones, Wayne County Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, Ken Okrepkie, Regional Manager, Ben Franklin Technology Partners NEP, and David Suhosky, President/CEO of Kitty Hawk Technologies.
Okrepkie works extensively with business startups and technology investments throughout the region and in Wayne County. Okrepkie serves as the Regional Manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners NEP where he oversees investments in a portfolio of more than 40 companies in northeastern PA. For 22 years, he has supported early-stage technology companies and connected manufacturing firms to college and university resources. He’s recognized as the 2017 Pennsylvania Technology Acceleration Leader of the Year by Accelerate PA. He has two daughters, Em and Grace. He lives with his wife Dr. Kimberly Pavlick in Scott Township.
Jones works with innovative processes within the agriculture industry. Jones is Wayne County’s first Sustainable Agriculture Specialist. He is a 5th generation farmer at the Robinson Family Farm in South Canaan. The Robinson Family Farm is a diversified vegetable and beef operation. Zach is also the nutrient management specialist at the Wayne Conservation District. He is a member of the Wayne Pike Farm Bureau and the Young Ag Professionals of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He has a key role in the proposed development of a new Agriculture Innovation Center in Wayne County.
Suhosky is the founder and President/CEO of Kitty Hawk Technologies, a small engineering firm based in Honesdale. Kitty Hawk provides innovative programmatic and engineering solutions to a range of partners that include the Missile Defense Agency, US Navy, NASA, and other commercial enterprises. The son of Col. and Mrs. Robert J. Suhosky of Honesdale, he founded Kitty Hawk 10 years ago and has lead Kitty Hawk from a single employee to a current staff of 45 professionals with an annual revenue of over $5 million. Suhosky and Kitty Hawk have been recognized as the 2018 Innovator of the Year by WEDCO, as a certified Great Place to Work workplace, and are winners of the Department of Labor “Hire Vets” Gold Medallion Award for the last five years in a row.
Student innovators too
In addition, Wallenpaupack Area School District, Wayne Highlands School District, and Western Wayne School District will exhibits that showcase innovative activity by their students and teachers. Musical entertainment will be provided by a group of young musicians during the networking reception.
“We are excited to have youth participation as well this year.” said Director Wood. “Our school districts do an exceptional job of igniting the curiosity and creativity of their students.”
Major event sponsors are: Bold Gold Media Group, Grimm Construction, JHA Companies, Kitty Hawk Technologies, Lake Region IGA, Morgan Stanley, NBT Bank, Pioneer Construction, PPL Electric Utilities, Reilly Associates, Rutledge Excavating, The Dime Bank, The Honesdale National Bank, Wayne Bank, UGI Utilities, Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, and Woodland Design Associates.
If you go
When: 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 18
Where: Bryn Mawr Conference Center, 593 Bryn Mawr Rd, Honesdale
Reservations are required and seating is limited. The cost is $100 per person; tables of eight are available at a discount. Contact WEDCO at 570-253-5334 or Kim@WayneEconomic.com for reservations.
WEDCO is a non-profit corporation comprised of businesses that partners with state, county, and municipal governments to work towards the economic advancement of Wayne County and the region. More information is available at WayneEconomic.com
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne County's WEDCO explores innovation, creativity at dinner event
