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Pictured on photo: Left to right: Gary Yacubeck, Secretary, Llewellyn Dryfoos, III, Vice Chair, Atty. Elizabeth Maguschak, Vice Chair, Atty. George Hludzik, Chair, Donna Palermo, President, Lonnie Polli, Treasurer; Back Row: Allen Wagner, Marianne Pindar, Carla Hill, and Amilcar Arroyo, new board members. Missing from photo: Dominic Yannuzzi, Vice Chair, Angeline Yenchko, Vice Chair, Eugene Tannler, James Edwards, and Alexander Sloot, new board members.

Atty. George R. Hludzik, has been elected to serve as the 2008/2009 Chairman of the Board of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Gary C. Danish as the Chamber's Chief volunteer, who will now serve as Immediate Past Chairman. Hludzik was officially elected to the post at a special Chamber Board meeting held on Monday, April 14th. Donna Palermo, was re-elected as President.

The election takes effect on May 1st. Hludzik becomes the 53rd volunteer to lead the member business organization. Atty. Hludzik has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2000, serving as a board member from 2000-2003, vice chair of community affairs from 2003 to 2004, and vice chair of transportation from 2004-April of 2008. Through his membership on the Chamber Board of Directors, Atty. Hludzik has served on various other committees as well.

Chamber President Donna Palermo states, “We are extremely fortunate to have someone such as George to lead our organization during the next year. He has been very instrumental in assisting the Chamber since joining the board in 2000. He has proven to be a very valuable asset to not only the Chamber, but the entire community as well”.

Joining Atty. Hludzik and President Donna Palermo, are new board members and officers who will begin their terms May 1st.

Atty. Elizabeth Maguschak was elected vice chair. She will join officers Llewellyn Dryfoos, III, (Dryfoos Insurance Agency Inc.) Vice Chair, Angeline Yenchko, (M&T Bank) Vice Chair, Dominic Yannuzzi, (Alfred Benesch Co.) Vice Chair, Gary Yacubeck, (Panorama) Secretary, and Lonnie Polli (Earley-Polli Agency), Treasurer.

Elected to three year terms on the Board of Directors were James Edwards, Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Eugene Tannler, The Hershey Company, Amilcar Arroyo, El Mensajero, Lex Sloot, Printmark Industries, Allen Wagner, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Marianne Pindar, Lackawanna College, filling an unexpired term, and Carla Hill, filling an unexpired term.

Other prominent business men and women currently serving on the Chamber board are: Elizabeth Bernstein, Century 21 Bernstein Real Estate, Don Elko, Covenant Abstract Inc., Barry Jais, WYLN, Terrance Malloy, First National Bank, Jerome Panisak, Cardiology Associates of Greater Hazleton, P.C., Kevin Salaway, Penn State Hazleton, and Dr. William Shergalis, MMI Preparatory School.

Atty. Hludzik and new board members and officers will assume their duties at the Chamber’s 116th Annual Dinner and Executive Business Exposition on Thursday, May 15th at the Best Western Genetti Inn and Suites. Reservations for the dinner are due by May 2nd.

For additional reservation information, please call the Chamber office at 455-1509.