NEPA Alliance to hold annual dinner

POCONO MANOR — The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance will hold its annual dinner on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Pocono Manor.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Brandon Igdalsky, President and CEO of Pocono Raceway. Grandson of Pocono Raceway founders Dr. Joseph and Dr. Rose Mattioli, he was named President of Pocono Raceway in 2007.

Igdalsky has worked and observed every aspect of the operation of Pocono Raceway since he was 13 years old. He started off in the sanitation department and worked in the facilities sewer plant before making the rounds to all other departments within the organization. Over the course of the years his duties included maintenance, track services, operations, concessions, sales and marketing.

In 2008, he spearheaded a move that made Pocono Raceway the largest solar-powered sports facility in the world. The three megawatt Pocono Raceway Solar Farm, consisting of 39,960 American made ground-mount photovoltaic cells on 25 acres of Raceway property, was commissioned in 2010 and has become the primary electric energy source for the Raceway.

Igdalsky serves on multiple boards including Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau Executive Board, Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department Commission, PA Tourism Partnership, Green Sports Alliance, Rail Riders Advisory Board, as well as a member of the YPO, and serves on their Family Business Network Executive Board.

A reception will be held at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Kalahari Resorts is an African-themed waterpark and convention center with an indoor waterpark.

NEPA members receive one complimentary ticket. Additional tickets range from $55 to $75. To make a reservation or for more information call 570-655-5581 or visit nepa-alliance.org.

The NEPA Alliance, a regional community and economic development agency, serves seven counties including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. Alliance services include business financing, government contracting assistance, international trade assistance, non profit assistance, transportation planning, research and information, and local government services.