Published in the Times Leader, by Bill O'Boyle

May 30, 2014

Benco Dental in Pittston and Sallie Mae in Wilkes-Barre were two of 50 companies recognized Friday by Gov. Tom Corbett at the 2014 Governor’s ImPAct Awards.

The awards went to outstanding Pennsylvania companies and entrepreneurs for creating jobs, developing ideas, reaching new markets and making positive contributions in local communities.

“Today, we honor the men and women who spend countless hours providing the leadership and care that it takes to run a successful and growing business,” Corbett said. “This recognition goes beyond the contributions made to Pennsylvania’s diverse and vibrant economy. Today, we celebrate Pennsylvanians who embody the American dream by taking risks, working hard and achieving success.”

Benco Dental received a Community Impact Award for the Northeast Region, and Sallie Mae received a Jobs First Award.

Benco Dental was honored for reducing the company’s impact on the environment by reducing trash waste by 50 percent and the company also implemented strict recycling practices and operates fuel-efficient fleets. Last year, the company initiated more than 400 associate-submitted ideas for improving the workplace and the community.

In the past two years, Sallie Mae added 250 full-time jobs to its workforce and plans to add another 250 full-time positions by the end of 2015. By that time, the company will employ nearly 1,300 people, making it the largest Sallie Mae workforce in Wilkes-Barre to date.

In addition to Benco and Sallie Mae, three other regional companies were recognized at the luncheon in Hershey: Net Drive, Scranton, received the Entrepreneur Impact Award; Vigon International Inc., East Stroudsburg, won the Export Impact Award, and Kevins® Worldwide, Scranton, received the Small Business Impact Award.

The awards recognized companies from throughout the state in five categories: Jobs First, Community Impact, Small Business Impact, Entrepreneurial Impact and Export Impact. The winners were chosen by an independent judging panel selected by the state’s partners, Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA) and Journal Multimedia.

Several Luzerne County companies were finalists for the awards. They are:

• Community Impact, Diamond Manufacturing Co., Wyoming; Harrold’s Pharmacy, Inc., Wilkes-Barre.

• Entrepreneur Impact, Greenway Solutions, Inc., Wilkes-Barre; Outsourcing USA, Dallas.

• Export Impact, Scent-Sations, Inc., Wilkes-Barre.

• Jobs First, RAD MFG., Nescopeck.

• Small Business Impact, Cornell Storefront Systems, Wilkes-Barre.

Nominations for each award were provided by the state’s regional economic development partners – the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) network. All 10 PREP regions were eligible to submit up to five nominations per category. A total of 247 nominations were received.

More than 600 business leaders and economic development partners throughout the state attended last year’s inaugural awards in Hershey and attendance topped more than 700 this year.

(Bill O'Boyle, " Local businesses receive awards from Gov. Corbett," Times Leader, 5/30/14)