Energy Task Force
Mission
To convene community resources to strategically plan and promote the sustainable economic development of regional natural gas resources across business, education, political and community stakeholders.
Strategic Priorities
Convene and Facilitate Conduct meetings with stakeholders from the natural gas industry as needed for information sharing, issue identification, policy implications, consensus, and research outcomes.
- Roundtable– Industry leaders, MSC representatives and The Institute’s Energy Task Force. Discuss opportunities, issues, and expectations
- Business Expo , Supply Chain and Education events – Coordinate or find regional partners to conduct events as needed based on feedback from the roundtable.
Research
Prepare a regional strategic economic development plan to harness the economic opportunity generated by the natural gas industry for the benefit of businesses in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Prepare other research as needed.
Energy Task Force Research
Visit The Institute’s You Tube Channel for short videos on our energy research.
Task Force Members
Don Brominski, Business Development Director, UGI Utilities, Co-Chair- Alana Roberts, Regional Public Affairs Director, PPL Electric Utilities, Co-Chair
- Jose DeLos Rios, Public Relations & Environmental Compliance Manager, Proctor & Gamble
- Eric Esoda, President & CEO, NEPIRC
- Nick Makuta, Business Financing Specialist, Hazleton CANDO
- John Slater, ESG Specialist, The Wright Center
- Laura Spadaro, VP of Primary Care and Public Health Policy, The Wright Center
- Jim Sullivan, Ph.D., Dean, Professional Studies, Marywood University
- Wendy Yankelitis, Vice President of Operations, Marywood University
Sarah, a former Institute intern, joined The Institute in April 2021 as a Research Assistant. She started her new role as a Research Analyst in January 2024. 
Jill Avery-Stoss joined The Institute in June 2018 to fill the newly-created role of Research, Data, Intern & Administrative Coordinator. She assists with the collection and management of data for purposes of ethical and efficient analysis. She visits partner campuses to market The Institute’s internship opportunities, and participates in event-planning logistical activities as well. In 2021, Jill was promoted to Director of Operations to reflect the diversity in her job description and the additional marketing and communication functions she successfully mastered in 2020. In 2022, Jill was named Chief Operating Officer after expanding into both research and administrative management functions. Jill is taking on project management, fundraising, and other executive leadership functions of the organization.
Ooms is responsible for all facets of research, organizational strategy, and management. Ooms is an active principal investigator in all Institute research. Ooms has been nationally recognized as a leader in regional economic development. She turned that skill into a research institute to help other regions develop and prosper. Her strategic skills have allowed The Institute to expand its services to the private and non-profit sectors for research and analysis in community health needs assessments, strategic planning, market and feasibility studies, and economic impact analysis.