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‘Celebrating Progress’
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
February 19, 2016
Carbondale Chamber salutes local entrepreneurs by Christopher Cornell ADVANTAGE EDITOR
Up and down the Lackawanna Valley, progress is happening. Businesses are opening or expanding, and opportunities are growing too. Once a year, the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce commemorates just some of this growth with its annual “Celebrating Progress” dinner and awards ceremony. The 11th edition was held recently and speakers included Bill Fontana, executive director of the PA Downtown Center, Michael Haas, landscape architect for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authorities Carbondale River Walk and Brian Ebersole, senior vice president of Mission Delivery at the Wright Center. Guests were serenaded by classical guitarist Jay Stevensky. Chamber executive director Laure E. Carlo and board president Mark Burrel presented the 2016 Member Recognition Award to Gregg Betti of Capra Collina Winery, Justin Taylor of Lapera-Taylor Development, John and Ken Marino of Northeast Inspection Consultants and Elizabeth Turner of Olyphant Self Storage. “Each of these individual businesses have made great strides in expanding their businesses in 2015,” Carlo said. “This is a great time to reflect on the community investment and progress we’ve made in 2015 and look forward to the great work we will do in 2016.” Here’s a brief look at each award winner: Gregg Betti, Capra Colina Winery: Kevin and Patricia Betti opened the doors of Capra Colina Winery in July, 2004. The original shop in Jessup focused on catering to local wine makers and selling miscellaneous items needed to make wine. In 2011 Greg and Tim Betti took over the winery. The focus of the winery began to shift
From left: Gregg Betti (Capra Collina Winery), Mayor Justin Taylor (Lapera-Taylor Development), Laure E. Carlo, (executive director of the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, John Marino (NEIC), Elizabeth Turner (Olyphant Self Storage) and Ken Marino (NEIC)
from catering to local wine makers to production and sale of wine. In January, 2015 Capra Colina began the process to purchase a 5,800-square-foot facility located on the Scranton-Carbondale Highway. The building was divided into three units, two commercial units and the third being the new home of Capra Colina, which they just opened recently. Justin Taylor, Lapera-Taylor Development LLC: Taylor formed his corporation in honor of his grandparents Marie and Sam Lapera. Lapera-Taylor Development is a real-estate firm owned by Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor, which focuses on mixed-use and commercial development in downtown settings. Mayor Taylor recently acquired the former NBT bank which will become the home of the Anthracite Center. Current plans for the Anthracite Center are special events, catering hall and cigar bar with a roof top terrace. John and Ken Marino, Northeast Inspec-
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tion Consultants: When Pennsylvania adopted building codes in 2004, John and Ken decided to go into the inspection business. In 2008, they created Northeast Inspection Consultants (NEIC). The company has grown to 30 municipalities and five cities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They have purchased a 5,000-square-foot commercial multi-use building which includes their current office, residential apartments, and their newest adventure, the Marilake Winery on Main St. in Childs, which is slated to open in the fall of 2016. Elizabeth Turner, Olyphant Self Storage: Olyphant Self Storage was established in 2006 with 200 storage units and outdoor parking spaces. In 2014 Elizabeth Turner came on board as the Facility Manager. The facility grew to near 100 percent occupancy. It was apparent at that point that to meet the needs of the community they would expand. In June, 2015 an additional 50-storage-unit building opened. 1313 Wyoming Ave., Exeter
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