Dime Bank
Demonstrating its appreciation for employee loyalty, the bank hosts an annual dinner to honor those reaching five-year career milestones. The 2025 event shone a spotlight on 23 individuals, from 30 years of dedication to five years.
These anniversary celebrations are a cornerstone of the bank’s progressive culture, a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the loyalty and effort shown by its employees. It’s an opportunity to commemorate their achievements and unwavering commitment to the bank, officials said.
They are: Julene McGraw, 30 years of service; Suzanne Mansfield and Deborah Unflat, 25 years of service; Mary Carol Hanis, Bryan Rupp, Amy Burke, Tom Didato and Donna Vogel, 20 years of service; Chase Holl, Meghan Gibbons, Victoria DiGiuseppe and Jaimie Fiebiger, 15 years of service; Robert Karoscik, Tina Geer, Nancy Mead, Viktoria Beiter, Gary Schemel, Cheryl Holmquist, Michael Borick and Diane Christopher-Riefler, 10 years; and Kevin Urian, Randi Yonke and Nicholas Pomroy, five years of service.
Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Valencia P. Walker, Geisinger College of Health Science (SUBMITTED)
Michelle Schmude, Geisinger College of Health Science (SUBMITTED)
Valencia P. Walker, M.D., M.P.H., vice dean for health equity and inclusion, recently completed the prestigious Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) fellowship program based at the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
The ELAM leadership development program was specifically created for senior faculty with great potential to attain executive leadership positions within academic medicine. Acceptance into the ELAM fellowship is determined through an annual competitive and rigorous selection process.
To reflect the program’s goals, ELAM leaders are encouraged to: Act with integrity and authenticity, spread joy with your work, act with empathy and respect, listen to truly understand, work collaboratively and uplift others, stretch and challenge others positively, support, encourage and exude optimism, recognize and celebrate others’ strengths, and commit to lifelong learning.
ELAM fellows undertake an institutional action project meant to lead organizational change at their own institutions in areas such as education, professional development, research or quality improvement.
Michelle Schmude, Ed.D., M.B.A., vice provost for enrollment management and a professor of medical education, recently returned to the faculty of Harvard Macy Institute’s (HMI) Program for Educators in Health Professions, which she joined in 2018.
Based in Boston, the HMI Program for Educators in Health Professions is a professional development program designed to enhance the skills and expertise of health care professionals as educators. It aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively teach and lead in the evolving landscape of medical education.
Schmude has long been active in the HMI, helping to develop and share strategies for cultivating professionalism in medical students. A focus on professionalism is proven to protect future doctors from burnout and help them deliver compassionate care.
In her return to the Institute, Schmude will focus on serving in: Project Group, faculty co-lead and facilitator; Journal Club, faculty co-lead and facilitator; Microteaching Group, faculty co-lead and facilitator; HMI World Café: Ongoing professional advancement for mid-career and senior educators, faculty facilitator; and Scholar ePoster session, facilitator.
She will also co-present an elective session, Communication Styles: Examining Our Assumptions.
Marywood University
Alexander Dawoody, Marywood (SUBMITTED)
Faculty member Alexander Dawoody, Ph.D., director of the university’s Ph.D. Program in Strategic Leadership and Administrative Studies, recently published two new books, “The Quantum Metaphors” and “History of Iraq: From Inventing Civilization to the Modern Failed State.”
“The Quantum Metaphors” discusses the use of quantum and chaos theories as metaphors in the social sciences. It emphasizes intentionality, flux, uncertainty, emergence, relations, non-linearism, irrationality and process.
“History of Iraq: From Inventing Civilization to the Modern Failed State” examines the history and political trajectories in Iraq, from early Mesopotamia and the invention of civilization in cities such as Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Nineveh, to the creation of writing, astronomy, laws, scribes, administration, city-states and the early agrarian settled communities. The book also observes the impact of Islamic conquests, the golden era of the Abbasid Caliphate, the Mongol invasion and the negative impact of the Ottoman-Persian rifts on the population.
Both books can be found online and purchased on Amazon.
O’Connor Law
Michael O’Connor, O’Connor Law (SUBMITTED)
Mary Kathleen O’Connor, O’Connor Law (SUBMITTED)
Steven Yurkonis, O’Connor Law (SUBMITTED)
Three of the law firm’s attorneys have been named to Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for 2025.
Attorney Michael J. O’Connor has been selected to the Super Lawyers list and attorney Mary Kathleen O’Connor and attorney Steven Yurkonis have been selected as Rising Stars. Super Lawyers selects the top 5% of attorneys through a process of thorough research and peer review. The Rising Stars list is a special designation that recognizes attorneys who are under the age of 40 or have been practicing for less than 10 years. Selection to these lists is a prestigious designation and an honor for attorneys.
Michael O’Connor is the founder of the firm and has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for workers’ compensation each year since 2004. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County and Northumberland County bar associations. He has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout the years, including being named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association, selected to the Best Lawyers list since 2015, named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and receiving an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
This is Mary Kathleen O’Connor’s first time being selected to the Super Lawyers: Rising Stars list and she is recognized for excellence in handling Social Security disability cases. Mary Kathleen O’Connor is a member of the Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County and Northumberland County bar associations, as well as NOSSCR, a specialized bar association for disability advocates. She currently serves as a hearing committee member on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, appointed in 2024.
Attorney Steven Yurkonis is recognized for the first time on the Super Lawyers: Rising Stars list for excellence in workers’ compensation law. Yurkonis is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has been selected as a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney since 2021. He was previously selected to Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch list in 2022 and 2024 in the field of personal injury litigation.
The title of Super Lawyer is given to attorneys that are in the top 5% in each state. To receive this title, there is a multistep selection process. Super Lawyers states that the process includes nominations, independent research and peer evaluations to make the final decision.
The nominations are based on personal observation rather than a law firm’s reputation. The Super Lawyers team researches multiple factors, including experience, education and awards. Candidates are selected to the Super Lawyers list after peer evaluation. The Rising Stars selection process is the same as the Super Lawyers list, with the exception of requiring all attorneys to be under the age of 40 or in practice for less than 10 years.
Peoples Security Bank & Trust
Nina A. Bills, Peoples Security (SUBMITTED)
Nina A. Bills has been promoted to assistant vice president, branch manager of the Susquehanna office. In her new role, Bills will lead branch operations, coach and develop staff, and promote the bank’s mission and services throughout the local community.
Bills brings 25 years of experience at the bank, having joined the bank in March 2000. She has served in a variety of customer-focused roles, including teller, senior teller, customer service representative, senior personal banker and, most recently, relationship banker. Her depth of experience and commitment to delivering exceptional service make her well positioned to lead the Susquehanna branch, bank officials said.
In addition to her role as branch manager, she is also a member of PSBT’s Virtual Banking Team.
A native and current resident of Susquehanna, Bills is a graduate of Mountain View Jr./Sr. High School and Central Penn Business School, where she earned an associate degree in business management/finance. She also holds diplomas in bank operations and general banking from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association.