Business Track 2019

Mike has been an entrepreneur for the last 13 years of his career.  He is a business executive delivering unparalleled operating results in the design, development, construction, manufacturing of complex technologies for domestic start-up’s and private equity companies.  Mike is recognized for propelling businesses through organizational transition, construction, financial and performance turnarounds utilizing change management skills and process improvement expertise necessary to drive profitability and productivity gains in a collaborative way.   He has demonstrated leadership in conceptualization, team assemblage, product rationalization and delivery of complex projects.

Currently, Mike operates a private company, Production Systems Automation (PSA), which he purchased in 2016 with a small group of investors.  PSA is a system integrator of robotic solutions, drive systems, controls and custom machine building. He serves as both Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer. Mike is a graduate of Drexel University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with over 25 years in the development, construction and operations of commercial and industrial projects.  Mike is experienced in the development, design, installation and start-up of small to large scale commercial and industrial projects. His experience includes over $4 billion of construction and operational management including large-scale (+$2 billion) construction of commercial and industrial projects. Mike possesses the ability to manage projects from the conceptual phases through project implementation and completion. Mike’s strong understanding of both financial and business assets and limitations help him to find ways to innovate utilizing a company’s current strengths to produce company success. 

SciSwift LLC takes a scientific approach to solving problems through using advanced technology to integrate ideas and concepts into real world products, inventions, and innovative devices.  The company solves the complex problems of big data, project management, defense industry related problems, and similar endeavours, through the use of smart machines, machine learning, advanced computer aided design algorithms, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

Rob is the Chief Executive Officer of Kuharchik Construction Inc. headquartered in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Kuharchik is a third-generation family business specializing in highway electrical construction including Traffic Signals, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Decorative Streetscape Restoration, and Highway Lighting. Incorporated in 1972, Kuharchik Construction Inc. is a union contractor that employs over 100 people throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with satellite locations in Philadelphia, State College, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Bellefonte, and Allentown. Rob is honored to continue to carry on his family’s legacy and is constantly looking to broaden the company’s capabilities. Their mission includes serving their clients with the utmost level of expertise while continuing the company’s philanthropic mission of serving the local organizations within the community.

Rob is an active member of his community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center, Forty Fort Cemetery Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, IBEW 163 Joint Apprentice Training Committee Trustee, IBEW 163 Health Wellness & Annuity Trustee, Exeter Proud, Luzerne County Industrial Development Authority, Junior Achievement of NEPA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge Advisory Board where served as the 2016 and 2017 Bowl for Kids’ Sake corporate chairperson.

In 2020 Rob will serve as the co-chair of tecBRIDGE’s Business Plan Competition supporting local entrepreneurs and startup companies hailing from Northeastern PA. Rob is a 2016 Graduate of Leadership Wilkes-Barre and is active in many local charitable endeavors such as the SPCA of Luzerne County where he also serves on the board of directors and Jr. Leadership Wilkes- Barre Advisory Council. In 2018 Rob was recognized by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal in its 20 Under 40 series identifying emerging leaders in business.

Jared is King’s College alumni that has been with Benco Dental for seven years. Jared lives in Mountain Top. Ask him about his passion for coaching baseball.

Don Savner is an iOS and .NET developer with a background in sales and marketing.  Don uses this unique combination and customer first approach to drive sales in Benco’s e-commerce platform.

Jeff Pyros has been Managing Partner of the PYROS Financial Group since 1991.  PYROS Financial is an umbrella company for small business venture capital investments, general business consulting and business plan development, as well as advising on state and federal tax credit strategies.  The company has made a number of varied investments to date, ranging from IndependentWrestling.tv (on-demand and live-streaming of independent pro wrestling) to 2CGs Technology (developer of a building leak-detection system) to art galleries to sewage treatment facilities.  

Jeff has also been the general manager of 65 Public Square Associates since 1992, in charge of all aspects of building operations from tenant acquisition to lease negotiation to supervising the recent $3MM renovation of the 14-story landmark.  As part of the renovation, he spearheaded the conversion of 18,000SF of office space into 17 luxury apartments, the first such conversion in Wilkes-Barre.

Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Kevin has over 26+ years of experience in Broadcast, Digital Design/Media, Social Media, Advertising, Marketing, UI, UX, IAR, VR, MR, IR, Interactive Media and Educational Media.

Kevin started his digital media career as a Paintbox Artist for Creative Services at the NBC O&O WCAU NBC 10 in Philadelphia. He gained valuable knowledge in design, form and function while working on station looks, news looks, program packages, digital content for on-air and on-line for both national and international productions. Soon after Kevin co-founded, Anarchy Digital LLC a digital content creation company that specialized in creating pilot reality series, marketing materials and production sizzle reels for broadcast networks. In 2001, he began teaching multimedia at Luzerne County Community College in the Communication Arts Department and later became the department coordinator. He continued to expand his experience by working with several advertising and digital media firms. During this time he partnered with Rhino Media and produced the documentaries “The Battle of Wyoming” and “A Century of Excellence – The Pennsylvania State Police” along with many interactive projects.

Kevin quickly made a name for himself in the industry as an expert in new and emerging technologies moving up the corporate ladder as an award winning Creative Director, Executive Production Director, Editor, Animator and Interactive Content Producer creating engaging digital content, positioning companies, products and services for maximum ROI and building consumer engagement with every project he completed.

He returned to Broadcast Media as Director of On-Air Promotions then promoted to Creative Director working on a wide range of documentaries, series programming and national projects. He was an integral part of the team working with large media clients and international companies producing a wide range of engaging and interactive experiences, sizzle reels, television pilots, reality series development/pitch packages, web series, custom graphics and animation(s), graphic design, online development.

Through his years of working in network/broadcast and private media industries Kevin honed his creative skills and developed a love for the craft of immersive digital content and educational interactive experiences. Throughout his career Kevin has had the unique opportunity to work with and learn from the best artists and multi-media content producers in the industry expanding his knowledge in creating captivating and compelling content across all mediums and platforms.

Kevin has developed a keen eye for creating multifaceted immersive experiences and producing award winning engaging digital content. He founded Oglii Interactive in 2010 to create interactive experiences for a variety of organizations and companies. In 2017, he decided to pivot Oglii Interactive with a mission, to create extremely rich interactive content that raises awareness, fuels engagement and enhances education. He founded VizVibe LLC a transmedia storytelling company that specializes in the technique of telling a multi faceted story across multiple platforms and formats using AR, VR and IR. VizVibe LLC creates content to enhance the overall visitor experience for museums, tourism, education and events.

Let’s create something amazing!

Mandy Heard is an Administrator at Verde Mantis, LLC. Her role as administrator ranges from day to day operations, vendor and inventory management, to promoting the Mantis at schools and events. 

Her expertise originates from over sixteen years of experience as an educator. Beginning her career as a traditional brick and mortar teacher Mandy leapt into cyber school education and was a pioneer in virtual cyber school education for over a decade. 

In pursuit of a new creative adventure Mandy has begun her next career in the area of 3D printer manufacturing. Her goal aligns with Verde Mantis’s mission, “to help professionals and students embrace their creativity through manufacturing.” A strong believer that you must have a combination of courage and creativity to pursue your happiness and success, Mandy applies that philosophy to her professional and personal life. Mandy uses her professional and personal experiences and knowledge in helping to develop, promote, and bring to life the Mantis 3D printer. 

A native of Berks County, Mandy attended and graduated from East Stroudsburg University with Bachelors degrees in Early and Elementary Education. She currently resides in Northampton County. When she isn’t tinkering with the Mantis she can be found traveling, running, or spending time with her husband and two teenaged daughters.

Mike Atchie is the Managing Director of Project Outreach for The Williams Companies. Inc., where he works to ensure communication and engagement between the company and the communities in which Williams builds and operates natural gas infrastructure. Mike is involved in efforts to inform public officials, landowners, business leaders and other stakeholders, across Williams’ domestic footprint, regarding the transmission of natural gas to meet domestic energy needs.

Prior to joining Williams, Mike worked as a Public Affairs Specialist for Chesapeake Energy. Mike also served as the Director of Planning, Housing and Community Development for the City of Binghamton, New York. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Binghamton University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from LeMoyne College. Mike lives in Binghamton, New York with his wife and two children. He serves on multiple local boards and committees and actively coaches youth sports.

Road Scholar Transport was founded in 1988 by Jim and Debra Barrett and has grown into a large asset based carrier serving the Truckload, LTL, and specialty service needs of businesses in the northeast and mid-Atlantic US.  Over the last 20+ years, the business has grown from one owner operator to a fleet of over 125 tractors, 450 trailers and 100 refrigerated units. The company has a mission to service the risk adverse customer in the next day market while making it brand synonymous with security, safety, and technology as it is with on time transportation.

The Procter & Gamble community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide and serves approximately 4.6 billion people around the world with its brands. P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®.

P&G’s Mehoopany plant is located in Wyoming County; Pampers, Luvs, Charmin and Bounty brands are manufactured there.