About | Penn's Northeast

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.

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.

OUR STAFF

John L. Augustine III

President/CEO

John is the President/CEO of Penn's Northeast. With over 25 years of experience in economic development, John has worked with local and national firms, elected officials, business leaders, and community leaders in various capacities. His areas of expertise include 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, where he managed marketing for available real estate within their five business parks and oversaw the development and growth of the Innovation Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

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 served as an adjunct professor at Penn State, King's College, and Luzerne County Community College. John's experience and expertise in economic development and community outreach make him an invaluable asset to Penn's Northeast.

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

Rachel Antosh Hawk

Marketing Director

Rachel is the Marketing Director at Penn's Northeast, bringing almost 20 years of experience in graphic design and digital marketing. She holds a degree in Computer Graphics Specialization from Luzerne County Community College.

Rachel began her career as a graphic designer at Rhino Media Advertising Agency and later advanced to a team leader role in the production department at The Times Leader. Before joining Penn's Northeast, she served as the Art Director at Positive Results Marketing, where she managed both the graphic design and marketing departments, collaborating with local and national clients on various print and web design projects.

She has earned an Economic Development certificate from Penn State University and an Advanced Leadership certificate from Leadership Wilkes-Barre. Additionally, Rachel is Google Digital Marketing Certified and serves on the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association's Young Professionals Committee.

Rachel’s extensive background in design and marketing highlights her ability to apply innovative solutions that enhance brand and design excellence. Her passion for art and wealth of experience make her a valuable asset to Penn's Northeast.

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