web1_TTL040319Serhan1.jpg

1957 Wilkes-Barre murder remains unsolved 62 years later

web1_base.jpg

Local roundup: Holy Redeemer baseball tops Hanover Area

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8211; Over 30 area college students with a mind for marketing gathered at the THINK Center on Saturday to come up with innovative direct mail marketing solutions for two community organizations.</p><p>The all-day event opened with presentations from the Luzerne County Visitor&#8217;s Bureau and Penn&#8217;s Northeast, creatively providing students with information about the nature of their organizations and their marketing needs.</p><p>Participating were King&#8217;s College, Wilkes University, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Scranton University, Luzerne County Community College, Keystone College, Central Penn College and Binghamton University.</p><p>The students were put into groups to develop effective marketing solutions for both organizations that combined time-proven concepts with technology.</p><p>Debbie Gless, representing the United States Postal Service, said that in an age where people are often overwhelmed with technology, thousands of emails sit in inboxes unread while a simple piece of mail often gets the most attention from potential customers.</p><p>Direct mailings, she said, don&#8217;t exclude technology, but can direct people to a website, an app, a Facebook page or a specific item for sale.</p><p>Direct mailings can also incorporate textures and colors which provide information about and enthusiasm for a product or service that a computer screen cannot, she said.</p><p>&#8220;For example, a simple and cost effective postcard often ends up on someone&#8217;s refrigerator door reminding them of a phone number, an address or an upcoming event,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Eduard Turner, a freshman from Misericordia, said he was part of a group that designed a postcard for the Visitor&#8217;s Bureau, one with a twist.</p><p>&#8220;It was round,&#8221; said Turner. &#8220;We felt that it would really stand out.&#8221;</p><p>The group also designed a pamphlet that included a detachable sticker, which Turner said would draw the attention of families with children, a target market for tourism advertising.</p><p>Joseph Boylan, executive director of the Think Center/Wilkes-Barre Connect, said the event provided a chance to bring together industry leaders with students to engage in problem solving and develop professional relationships.</p><p>The event is consistent with the Think Center&#8217;s continuing efforts to attract business to the Wilkes-Barre area through innovative efforts, networking support and assistance with marketing strategies.</p><p>Theodore Wampole, executive director of the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau, said the event brought a fresh set of eyes to the organization&#8217;s recent re-branding.</p><p>Wampole said the ultimate goal of any direct mailing is to invite area resident to the organization&#8217;s website and Facebook page to gain understanding about the many exciting and interesting places to go and things to do in Luzerne County.</p><p>Wampole said data shows that what residents know and what they do in their free time ultimately translates into what tourists and visitors want to do when they come to the area.</p><p>Including students in the process, he said, provided fresh ideas which with to work.</p><p>John Augustine, CEO at Penn&#8217;s Northeast, a business geared to attracting quality employers to the area, lauded the THINK Center for its forward-thinking approach and willingness to think out of the box.</p><p>Augustine said he was looking forward to using the ideas that the students came up with in future projects.</p><p>He looks forward to continuing business growth in the area, which he said has been on an upward climb for the last several years, with an increase in average starting salaries and in the number of businesses moving to the area.</p><p>Organizer Julie Anixter, from Maga Design, said the event reflected integrated innovation, commitment to the community and economic development.</p><p>&#8220;This is rare and wonderful,&#8221; she said as she looked out at students working. &#8220;They should be doing this all over the country.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Student winners</strong></p><p>&#8226; Luzerne County Visitors Bureau winners: Paige Hepner, Wilkes University; Nick Insinga, Luzerne County Community College; Gaetano Buosante, Misericordia University.</p><p>&#8226; Penn&#8217;s Northeast winners: Johanna Koch, Wilkes University; Dennis Kennedy, King&#8217;s College; Eugene Gibbons, King&#8217;s College.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think2_faa-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gaetamo Buonsante of Misericordia University works on a marketing project with other members of his team Saturday at the THINK Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think2_faa-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gaetamo Buonsante of Misericordia University works on a marketing project with other members of his team Saturday at the THINK Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Visit Luzerne County Executive Director Ted Wampole, center, works with college students Samantha Lisk, Edward Turner, Jayme DeMedio and Kerri Carbough on a marketing project Saturday at the THINK Center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think1_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Visit Luzerne County Executive Director Ted Wampole, center, works with college students Samantha Lisk, Edward Turner, Jayme DeMedio and Kerri Carbough on a marketing project Saturday at the THINK Center. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tom Zorc and Ryan Newill work on a marketing project at the THINK Center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think3_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Tom Zorc and Ryan Newill work on a marketing project at the THINK Center. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">College students Dennis Kennedy, Eugene Gibbons and Johanna Koch work on a marketing project. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think4_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>College students Dennis Kennedy, Eugene Gibbons and Johanna Koch work on a marketing project. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">College students, broken up into teams, are seen at the THINK Center on Saturday working on innovative direct mail marketing solutions for two community organizations. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_think5_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>College students, broken up into teams, are seen at the THINK Center on Saturday working on innovative direct mail marketing solutions for two community organizations. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>

Collegians gather at THINK Center for marketing challenge