Leadership Northeast to Hold 45th Annual Dinner and Graduation

Leadership Northeast announced that Cassandra Coleman of America250PA will be awarded the 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award at the 45th annual dinner and graduation at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

“We are sincerely honored to celebrate the fantastic accomplishments of the Class of 2026, and the incredible contributions of Cassandra Coleman of America250PA,” said said Jessica Cronauer, executive director of Leadership Northeast. “Cassandra has been a dedicated servant leader to the Northeast Pennsylvania community for many years.”

The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) appointed Cassandra Coleman as executive director for the America250PA initiative in September 2019.

“I’m humbled to be recognized as a distinguished leader by an organization that played a crucial role in my journey,” Coleman said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to come back and share what I’ve learned in communities across the Commonwealth.”

Prior to her appointment, Cassandra served as special advisor to former Gov. Tom Wolf and director of his northeast and central offices. In this role, she was responsible for intergovernmental and constituency services on behalf of the Governor in 28 counties. In 2014, Coleman founded and served as president of Coleman and Associates, a company engaged in charitable, private, and political creation of fundraising networks and community and political event planning.

Coleman serves on the Board of Directors for her alum, King’s College, where she chairs their Red and Gold Gala Committee; Leadership Northeast; Children’s Service Center; and Junior League of Wilkes Barre.

Leadership Northeast will graduate 48 members of the Class of 2026, whose year-longcommunity impact project contributions include expanding the West Pittston dog park; installing a hydration station and creating reusable welcome kits at Volunteers in Medicine; revitalizing the SPCA of Luzerne County’s pet cemetery; upgrading the computer area at Ruth’s Place; renovating and upgrading the laundry room at Clem-Mar House’s new halfway house for women; revitalizing the children and teen rooms at the Domestic Violence Service Center; and providing backpacks filled with necessities to children at CASA of Wyoming Valley.

Boasting an alumni base of over 3,000 servant leaders, Leadership Northeast was founded in 1981 as a community leadership development organization. A nonprofit organization, LNE is dedicated to developing informed and committed leaders from all segments of the community who will serve, strengthen and improve Northeastern Pennsylvania. For information, call 570-270-5323 or visit www.leadershipnortheast.org.