Monroe County has all the resources that a business needs to succeed. With a large population of nearly 170,000, we’re one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. Our workers also have a strong educational foundation provided by East Stroudsburg University and Northampton Community College. If your employees are moving from elsewhere, you’ll also find that we’re close enough to major metros such as NYC and Philadelphia.
Our county also features a number of economically (and visually) attractive areas to situate your new office. The Pocono Mountain Economic Development Corporation operates a list of industrial parks where well-established businesses can locate new branches. Startups, on the other hand, may be interested in East Stroudsburg University’s Business Accelerator. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates co-working space, dedicated desks and small offices for those looking to disrupt their industries.
Lastly, you may wish to look at what’s known as a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ). These are special areas of the county where new businesses may obtain special tax advantages for starting up. To obtain more information about these and other areas, contact Pocono Mountain KIZ Coordinator, Keith Modzelewski at 570-422-7905!
Our Goal
- Drive Economic Development
- Attract New Businesses
- Create Life-Sustaining Jobs
Our Team
Keith Modzelewski
Keith Modzelewski is the Director of Entrepreneurship at East Stroudsburg University who guides startup companies in developing and growing their businesses. Keith has over 10 years of experience in sales, marketing and operations in a wide variety of fields, ranging from retail to IT and cyber security. During his time at East Stroudsburg University, he has expanded the Business Accelerator program from eight companies to 20, and has helped over 30 companies leverage funding from the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) in Monroe County, PA. In addition to this, he serves as the co-chair on the 2030 Monroe County Strategic Doing Committee, which hopes to support high growth companies in transitioning their operations to North Eastern Pennsylvania. During his 2012 fellowship with the Kaufman Foundation, Keith engaged with leading scholars, policy leaders, innovative researchers and high-impact business founders to learn strategies to successfully launch new businesses. Additionally, he is the co-founder of two of his own businesses: Voltaic Coatings, which worked to transition a newly patented technology to the consumer electronic market, and Captured Concepts, a photography and design studio. Keith earned his Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurship and marketing and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Delaware.
Valerie Case
Valerie Case is the Vice President of Operations for the Pocono Chamber of Commerce. Valerie has over 15 years of experience in human services, receiving certifications in numerous methodologies including, Life Space Crisis Intervention, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Sanctuary model. Valerie was a head trainer for the Sanctuary model at KidsPeace National Hospitals and Residential Centers. During her time with Resources for Human Development, Valerie opened three homes for dually diagnosed individuals, developing programs for those individuals to function in a community environment. Valerie also co-facilitated the Clinical Certificate Program, for employees of RHD, a nine-month training program for direct service professionals. Additionally, during her time with RHD, Valerie participated in a national focus group for best practices in crisis intervention, as well as being highly involved with the training of staff in new modalities. In her transition from mental health, Valerie started with the chamber of commerce, assisting with the resurgence of this important networking modem in the community. She has assisted with rebranding the organization and asserting its importance in the Pocono community. She serves as the co-chair on the 2030 Monroe County Strategic Doing Business Development Committee. Valerie earned her Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services from Chestnut Hill College and a double Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from Moravian College.
Leigh Fennie
Leigh Fennie’s career with The University of Scranton SBDC started in 2015. As a business consultant, Leigh covers Monroe and Wayne counties and parts of Lackawanna County. She attended the University of Scranton and received a BS is International Business with a concentration in Asian Studies and a minor in finance as well as an MBA in Marketing. She also recently became a Certified Business Advisor through GrowthWheel International, to better aid her clients.
Leigh began her career at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s small business affiliate, MetroAction Inc., as a Small Business Services Coordinator. She was responsible for providing micro-loans to small businesses throughout northeast Pennsylvania. During her time at MetroAction, Leigh assisted start-up and existing small businesses understand the loan process and worked hand-in-hand with loan applicants and borrowers to provide the support needed to grow their businesses.
Outside of the SBDC, Leigh serves on the board of directors of the Lackawanna County Blind Association and the planning committee for the association’s biggest annual fundraiser, Helen Keller Day. She is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Lackawanna. Leigh also a member of the Scranton Area Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy program. She was recently named one of the Northeast PA Business Journal’s 2019 Top 25 Women in Business
Leigh covers outreach in Monroe, Wayne & Lackawanna Counties for the SBDC.