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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The general manager of Mohegan Sun Arena was named Young Professional of the Year on Thursday by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.</p><p>Since he started at the arena four years ago, Brian Sipe, 34, has overseen $4.5 million of construction work, including the long-awaited paving of the parking lot; installation of acoustical panels; the placing of a brand-new ice rink; and the addition of a private club bar.</p><p>During Sipe&#8217;s tenure, the arena has also recorded its fastest sell-out with a Blake Shelton concert; gone worldwide on television with back-to-back, sold-out WWE events; and hosted one of the final Ringling Bros. and Barnum &amp; Bailey Circus shows.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m very honored,&#8221; Sipe said after he accepted the award.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s truly been an honor and a privilege to be in this market.&#8221;</p><p>Sipe thanked his wife, family, the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority and his staff at the arena for their support.</p><p>&#8220;Without them, I would not be up here,&#8221; Sipe noted.</p><p>Sipe ended by congratulating the rest of the Young Professional of the Year nominees &#8212; there were 17 in total &#8212; for their work and dedication to the area.</p><p>&#8220;Obviously, Wilkes-Barre has amazing things happening because there are 16 other people here who are doing great things in the community.&#8221;</p><p>Wico van Genderen, president and CEO of the Chamber, said Sipe prevailed in &#8220;such a close vote.&#8221;</p><p><strong>&#8216;Future is bright&#8217;</strong></p><p>The Chamber started the Young Professional Awards, now in their second year, as a way to highlight young talent in the Wyoming Valley.</p><p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s wonderful that the Chamber does this,&#8221; said Sara Peperno, president and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind.</p><p>Peperno won the Young Professional of the Year Award last year, and was back this year to co-host the event with Will Beekman, executive director of the F.M. Kirby Center.</p><p>&#8220;(The awards) highlight the amazing young talent in this community,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Beekman echoed Peperno&#8217;s remarks.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a sign that the future is bright,&#8221; Beekman said. &#8220;To see so many young professionals not only nominated, but coming out to support the nominees makes you feel good about the future of our communities.&#8221;</p><p>The Chamber&#8217;s van Genderen said his group started the awards as a way to both invest in young people and honor talented workers.</p><p>&#8220;We want to keep our young people engaged and focused and know they have a bright future in the valley,&#8221; he said.</p><p>&#8220;Every single one of those nominees was awesome,&#8221; van Genderen added.</p><p>Before announcing the Young Professional of the Year, the Chamber awarded Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies with the Young Professional Development Award for its GUARD Start initiative. The program works with local colleges and universities to get students involved with the company after graduation.</p><p>The Times Leader was the media sponsor for the event.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce intern Lena Williams, 21, of Dallas, has a drink during cocktail hour before the Young Professional of the Year Award ceremony at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre. 9/14/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals10-5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce intern Lena Williams, 21, of Dallas, has a drink during cocktail hour before the Young Professional of the Year Award ceremony at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre. 9/14/17. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals6-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wico van Genderen, president and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, speaks during the Young Professional Awards on Thursday at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre. Sitting behind him are award nominees. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals6-5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wico van Genderen, president and CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, speaks during the Young Professional Awards on Thursday at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre. Sitting behind him are award nominees. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals2-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sara Peperno, of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind, and Will Beekman, of the F.M. Kirby Center, watch as Jackie Kendzor accepts the Young Professional Development Award on Thursday on behalf of GUARD Insurance Companies. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals2-5.jpg</photo2><caption2>Sara Peperno, of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind, and Will Beekman, of the F.M. Kirby Center, watch as Jackie Kendzor accepts the Young Professional Development Award on Thursday on behalf of GUARD Insurance Companies. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals4-1-1-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Times Leader Media Group Publisher Mike Murray, left, and Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce CEO Wico van Genderen enjoy the awards ceremony.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals4-1-1-5.jpg</photo3><caption3>Times Leader Media Group Publisher Mike Murray, left, and Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce CEO Wico van Genderen enjoy the awards ceremony.</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals8-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brian Sipe, general manager at the Mohegan Sun Arena, gives a speech after accepting the Young Professional of the Year award at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_YoungProfessionals8-5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Brian Sipe, general manager at the Mohegan Sun Arena, gives a speech after accepting the Young Professional of the Year award at the Think Center in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Mohegan Sun Arena GM wins top award</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Brigid Edmunds</p><p>bedmunds@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Brigid Edmunds at 570-991-6113 or on Twitter @brigidedmunds</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mohegan Sun Arena GM Brian Sipe named Young Professional of the Year