Warehouse shelves

Penn's Northeast attracts
quality employers
to Northeastern PA


Who is Penn's Northeast?

Penn's Northeast (PNE) is the regional economic development agency for Northeastern Pennsylvania. We assist site selection consultants, real estate brokers, developers, and businesses seeking to expand or relocate to our 9-county region, which includes Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.

 
Penns NE

In other words...

We help introduce businesses to Northeastern Pennsylvania, a unique region with countless possibilities where economic growth and prosperity intersect with a wonderful quality of life!

 

About Us

Founded in 2002, Penn's Northeast was established by a coalition of private business leaders, utility companies, local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and governments to showcase and promote Northeastern Pennsylvania and its collective assets on a global scale.

Our primary goal is to attract quality employers to the region by serving as a comprehensive, one-stop resource for businesses seeking to expand or relocate.

Our mission is to promote Northeastern Pennsylvania by raising awareness, stimulating interest, and building relationships. We market the region to site selection consultants, real estate brokers, developers, and businesses, while serving as a liaison between local development partners, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and companies seeking new facilities.

As your initial point of contact, Penn's Northeast provides essential regional information, identifies available sites or buildings, offers demographic and workforce data, connects you with local economic development and workforce partners, and organizes site tours throughout the region.

 

Sign up for NEPA News!

Subscribe to our newsletter to read the latest news and updates on Northeastern Pennsylvania's economic growth!

 

OUR STAFF

John Augustine

John L. Augustine III

PRESIDENT/CEO

John is the President/CEO of Penn's Northeast. With over 25 years of experience in economic development, he has worked with local and national firms, elected officials, business leaders, and community leaders in various capacities. His expertise includes economic and community development, site selection, regional planning, technology implementation, capital fundraising, operations, and strategic planning.

Before joining Penn's Northeast, John served as the Community Outreach Manager for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the State's leading trade organization for responsible development in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. Prior to that, he was the Senior Economic Development Director for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry.

John serves on several boards, including the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Leadership Northeast, Fidelity Bank, The McGowan School of Business, and the PA State Police Camp Cadet. He has also been an adjunct professor at Penn State, King's College, and Luzerne County Community College.

John resides in Mountain Top with his wife Kristine, two children - Jack and Jill, and their dog, Louie.

Rachel Hawk

Rachel Hawk

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Rachel Hawk is the Marketing Director at Penn’s Northeast, where she supports business attraction and regional competitiveness through strategic marketing, branding, and digital communications. With more than 20 years of experience in design and marketing, she helps communicate Northeastern Pennsylvania’s advantages to businesses, site selectors, and economic development partners.

Rachel began her career in design after earning a degree in Computer Graphics from Luzerne County Community College, with a focus on digital media design. She held creative and leadership roles at Rhino Media, The Times Leader, and Positive Results Marketing, creating and overseeing design and marketing materials across print, digital, and social media channels.

Rachel has earned an Economic Development Certificate from Penn State University and an Advanced Leadership Certificate from Leadership Northeast. She is Google Digital Marketing Certified and serves on the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association’s Young Professionals Committee.

Rachel lives in Shavertown with her husband, Matthew; their son, Matthew Jr.; and their two dogs, Nova and Luna.

Invest in Northeastern PA!

For more information on the benefits of becoming a Penn's Northeast partner,

Contact Us Today!


 

Penn's Northeast Partners

Our partners are essential to advancing economic growth throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Through collaboration with businesses, community leaders, educational institutions, and regional organizations, we work together to promote the region, support business expansion, strengthen our workforce, and showcase why NEPA is a great place to live, work, and invest.

 

Sign up for NEPA News!

Subscribe to our newsletter to read the latest news and updates on Northeastern Pennsylvania's economic growth!

 

Penn's Northeast Board Members

Meet our Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2026–2027. Comprised of business and community leaders from across Northeastern Pennsylvania, our Board provides the insight, leadership, and strategic direction needed to strengthen our region’s economy, support businesses, and create new opportunities for growth.

Officers & Committee Chairs

Chairman of the Board

Tommy Grimes

Calex ISCS

Vice Chairman of the Board

Mike Narcavage

PPL Electric Utilities

Treasurer & Secretary of the Board

Andy Reilly

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority

Marketing Committee Co-Chair

Kelly O'Brien

Luzerne County Community College

Marketing Committee Co-Chair

Ronda Beemer

Penntex Construction

Finance Committee Chair

John Carmody

Wayne Bank

Personnel Committee Chair

Phil Amend

H.R. by OneSource

Nominating Committee Chair

Bill Scranton

Scranton Family Office

Board of Directors

Allison Dennison

UGI Utilities

Amy Luyster

The Scranton Plan

Brian Coyne

SER Commercial Real Estate

Dan Rickard

PA American Water

Don Brominski

UGI Utilities

Doug Barbacci

Calex ISCS

Frank Zukas

Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.

Griff Keefer

Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate

Jason Hunt

PPL Electric Utilities

Jeff Box

NEPA Alliance

Jenz Pilz

Davis Chant Real Estate

Jill Murray

Lackawanna College

Jim Hilsher

Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services

Jimmy Sabatino

Luzerne County Council Member

Joe Kluger

Hourigan Kluger & Quinn

Joe Lettiere

Greater Hazleton CAN DO

Justin Taylor

Wayne Economic Development Corp.

Ken Okrepkie

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA

Larry Newman

Diamond City Partnership

Lindsay Boylan

Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce

Matthew Sordoni

Sordoni Construction

Michelle Bisbing

Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corp.

Michael DiMare

Geisinger

Mike Sullivan

Pike County Economic Development Authority

Ryan Decker

Highmark BlueCross BlueShield

Tom Carlucci

Lackawanna County Office of Economic Development