Banking Members 1st Federal Credit Union welcomed Zak Tyminski as its new Chief Commercial Lending Officer. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Tyminski plays a key role in advancing the organization’s commercial lending strategy, supporting ongoing growth, and building a strong foundation for long-term success. A Central Pennsylvania native, Tyminski joins Members 1st from LINKBANK, where he served as Regional President overseeing the Central Pennsylvania market. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles at Fulton, M&T and Truist, developing high-performing teams grounded in trust, accountability and results. Tyminski shares Members 1st’s commitment to creating opportunities for both people and businesses to thrive, bringing a leadership approach centered on collaboration, growth and community impact. As part of this continued growth, Members 1st is also excited to announce Joe Beck will transition into a newly created role as Chief Relationship Officer, designed to support the credit union’s expanding footprint and strengthen business development efforts. Beck previously led the organization’s commercial lending area, where he built a strong, high-performing team, and he will continue to serve as a key representative of the Leadership Team as he helps drive relationship growth and market expansion. “We are thrilled to welcome Zak to the Members 1st FaM1ly,” said Michael Wilson, President & CEO of Members 1st. “As we continue to grow, his deep lending expertise and thoughtful perspective will help us strengthen how we support local businesses and stay focused on what matters most, our members. This next chapter also creates an exciting opportunity for Joe to deepen relationships and help us grow in new ways, building on the strong foundation he has already created.” Higher Education Lackawanna College has officially received final approval from the U.S. Department of Education for its merger with Peirce College, concluding a two-year integration process between the two Pennsylvania institutions. With the merger complete, Lackawanna is now the largest open-enrollment, private, undergraduate nonprofit institution in Pennsylvania, with an expanded geographic and programmatic presence to serve over 8,000 students annually in eleven locations and online. Peirce College is now Lackawanna College – Philadelphia Center, and its legacy continues through Lackawanna’s Peirce School of Online Education for all students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs who complete their courses 100 percent online. “This is a tremendous milestone in the history of Lackawanna College, and I’m excited for the new opportunities and pathways this creates for our students,” said Dr. Jill A. Murray, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Lackawanna College. “For more than a century, Peirce College has stood as a model of access, innovation, and unwavering commitment to student success. Lackawanna College is honored to carry forward the mission, spirit, and values that defined Peirce College as we move forward together.” Alongside the merger, Lackawanna College has completed several growth milestones, including the openings of three skilled trade centers across central and western Pennsylvania, the groundbreaking for the College’s new Center for Technology Innovation, and the College’s invitation to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), an NCAA Division II conference. Founded in 1894, Lackawanna College is the largest private, non-profit, open-enrollment institution in Pennsylvania, dedicated to delivering high-quality education and empowering individuals in their pursuit of personal growth and community enrichment. The College offers over 60 academic programs, including bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and continuing education and professional certificates. In addition, Lackawanna College is committed to workforce development, educating and preparing workers for advancement in fields such as healthcare, finance, technology, and the trades. Energy Woodland Biomass Innovations, Inc. (Woodland BIO) and Shipley Energy recently announced a strategic partnership to produce and distribute gasoline made from Pennsylvania wood waste, bringing a low-carbon fuel alternative to gas-powered vehicles. The companies have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a commercial term sheet outlining a five-year offtake agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Shipley Energy intends to purchase and distribute up to 100 percent of the available gasoline output from Woodland BIO’s planned manufacturing facility in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The fuel will meet standard road specifications, making it chemically identical to conventional gasoline and fully compatible with existing vehicles and fueling infrastructure. The partnership anchors a localized circular economy by utilizing regional forest residues and sawmill byproducts from Tioga and surrounding counties to produce transportation fuel. This process provides a critical, profitable outlet for low-grade wood, which helps foresters manage sustainable woodlands. At full capacity, the initial facility is modeled to process 1,000 tons per day of woodchips to produce 42,000 gallons per day of low-carbon gasoline, while generating biochar and renewable electricity as valuable co-products. “We are incredibly excited to partner with a historic, Pennsylvania-based energy leader like Shipley Energy because it means we can keep our entire circular supply chain, and the economic benefits it generates, completely within the Commonwealth,” said Luca Pandolfi, Founder and CEO of Woodland BIO. “This collaboration connects rural foresters in Tioga County directly to Pennsylvania drivers, keeping energy dollars local and supporting family-sustaining jobs from the forest to the fuel pump. It proves that we do not need to look outside our state’s borders to build a sustainable, low-carbon future.” “We are excited to collaborate with Woodland BIO on this innovative energy solution,” said Matt Sommer, President of Shipley Energy. “Providing our customers with access to high-quality, locally produced renewable fuels aligns with our commitment to energy diversification and sustainability.” The Tioga County facility represents the first commercial-scale deployment of Woodland BIO’s integrated gasification and gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. Once this initial facility is proven, the modular design is highly scalable and can be replicated in other rural, forested communities across Pennsylvania. The initial facility is projected to create up to 100 direct, full-time jobs, along with complementary positions in logging, hauling, and maintenance.