About the Luzerne/Schuylkill
Workforce Investment Board
Vision
Luzerne/Schuylkill Counties have a world-class competitive workforce.
Mission
To ensure a demand-driven, world-class workforce system aligned with economic development and education.
The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (L/S WIB, Inc.) is a private non-profit corporation that serves Workforce Investment Area # NE075, which combines both Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties into a Workforce Investment Area as designed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to implement programs established by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act of 2014 (WIOA) and any and all successor legislation.
The L/S WIB, Inc. engages business, industry, education, economic development and community organizations to participate with the public workforce system to identify workforce challenges and develop strategies and solutions to address those challenges. The vision of the L/S WIB, Inc. for workforce development in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties is contained in the following mission statement:
“To ensure a demand-driven world-class workforce system aligned with economic development and education.”
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
– Target those clusters with sustainable growth industries in the region as the primary workforce focus.
– Establish the Luzerne/Schuylkill WIB, Inc. as the regional leader for aligning labor supply and demand.
– Align education and workforce development.
– Integrate global, national and regional socio-economic trends into the L/S WIB, Inc.’s strategic initiatives.
– Maximize resource effectiveness at the federal, state and local levels.
BOARD CHAIRPERSON
Karen A. Kenderdine
Vice President, First National Bank
Karen A. Kenderdine has more than 30 years of experience in the field of trusts and estates. She is a graduate of the National Trust School and the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association Central Atlantic School of Trust at Bucknell University, the Cannon Financial Institute Advanced Administration of Estates and Trust, and attended the Philadelphia Institute for Paralegal Training for Federal Estate and Gift Tax Law. Ms. Kenderdine’s responsibilities include the management of trust clients’ financial, investment and personal needs, as well as, the design and implementation of their estate and gift plans. Ms. Kenderdine serves on the following Boards: Avenues (founded as UCP in 1952) (Treasurer), Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce (Treasurer, Executive Committee), Schuylkill Economic Development Corp (SEDCO) (Treasurer, Executive Committee), Downtown Shenandoah Inc. (Vice President), Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (Chairperson), Schuylkill United Way and the Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance Inc. (SEAPA) (Treasurer). She is also a member of the Pottsville Business Association (Treasurer). Some of her achievements include receiving the Distinguished Woman Award from the Girl Scouts and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year Award.
BOARD VICE CHAIRPERSON
Mary R. Malone, Vice Chairperson
President
Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce
Mary R. Malone is the President of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce since May of 2014. She is a high-energy, results focused professional, with over 25 years of corporate and non-profit experience. She has held diverse positions with senior level responsibilities that maximized her expertise as a project manager, facilitator, grant writer and strategic “change agent” across organizations. Mary’s unique combinations of business experience and organizational management skills have benefited companies in realizing significant results with funding, processes and people.
Ms. Malone has served in senior management positions and achieved a financial and marketing turnaround for a key community organization. She has also utilized her skills for community groups including Hazleton Rotary, Sports Booster Clubs for Hazleton Area high school, her church and POWER.
Malone received a Masters in Organizational Management from Misercordia University and a Bachelor of Science degree from York College in Business Administration. Her academic focus has been a combination of both finance and human resources. She is a recipient of the nationally recognized Athena Award for proficiency in business and community service. Malone is currently is a member of a Luzerne Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board and advisory council for Minsi Trails Boy Scouts Council and NEPA Circle 200 Executive Women’s Regional Collaborative. She resides in Hazleton with her husband Sean and daughters Megan and Emily.
Click here to view all L/S WIB Board Members