Here you'll find past events hosted by the LaunchBox and its partners. For upcoming programs, visit our events page.

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Speaker Series

From Building the U.S. Power Grid to Building a Tech Startup with Michele Heyward (Presented in English)
Friday, June 17

Many civil engineers dream of building or designing momentous buildings, bridges or other structures. Michele Heyward was once one of those civil engineers. She spent years managing the construction of the U.S. power grid. In this talk, Michele shared tips about tech entrepreneurship. 

This event was presented in partnership with the Abington LaunchBox and Berks LaunchBox.

Genealogy with Gerald Castellanos
Friday, March 18

Gerald Castellanos is a genealogical geneticist who launched his own business in which he will offer genetic genealogy research services. He shared how he began his business and the rise of genealogy in tracking down family histories and solving crimes.

This event was held in partnership with Emprender Latino, Inc., and El Informe radio show.

Creciemiento personal para emprendedores con Yessicca Fargas
Friday, Feb. 18

Personal and professional growth and how to achieve it were the topics discussed with coach and professional development consultant Yessicca Fargas. This event was created by the Hazleton LaunchBox and presented in association with Abington LaunchBox and Berks LaunchBox.

The Case for Diversifying Local Business Communities with Dan Kimbrough 
Monday, Feb. 14

Multimedia and content creation company owner, educator, and podcast host Dan Kimbrough led a virtual discussion on the positive impact that can be made in local communities by diversifying businesses.

Kimbrough is the longtime owner and president of Park Multimedia. He's also had over a decade of experience teaching media production, content creation, intercultural communications and more. Kimbrough serves on various local boards and councils, including the American Cancer Society NYPENN region, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce.

How to Turn Your Profession into a Business Success Story with Keila Neris
Friday, Jan. 21 

Keila Neris is a civil engineer who is using social media to create content that promotes quality control in projects. In addition to free online classes, Neris also provides support and training through her YouTube channel. In this webinar, she helped participants pinpoint how to improve their business or business idea by identifying the factors that could turn it into a success.

Setting Goals with Hanglet Tejada
Friday, Dec. 17, 2021

Participants heard insight about how to set clear goals to organize themselves for the start of a new year. Hanglet Tejeda, owner of a consulting firm that specializes in development and leadership, joined the Hazleton LaunchBox to discuss the benefits of setting attainable goals that can improve your life.

The Creative Mindset of an Art-preneur with Oscar González
Friday, Nov. 19, 2021

Model, fashion blogger, and healthcare industry professional Oscar González joined us to break down how a creative mindset can lead to success in entrepreneurship and in one's personal life. González has been featured in commercials and magazines. He's also CEO of Oscar Modeling and Acting Coaching modeling school.

From Engineer to Entrepreneurial Engineer, Entrepreneurship is also for Professionals, with Luis Duque
Friday, Oct. 15, 2021

Luis Duque is an engineer, volunteer and podcaster who has recently worked on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Central 70 viaduct in Denver, Colorado. 

In 2020, Duque was recognized as one of 10 "New Faces of Civil Engineering" by the American Society of Civil Engineers. He volunteers his time with several organizations and activities, including Engineering Without Borders and the Structural Engineering Institute, and is active in helping mentor other young engineers. He also produces "Engineering our Future," a podcast featuring guests from around the globe sharing their knowledge on engineering, professional development, productivity and more.

The Science of How to Learn Languages Quickly, with Rickelvis Valerio
Friday, Sept. 17, 2021

Rickelvis Valerio brings more than 10 years of teaching languages and has become a specialist in those who have difficultly learning languages. His book, Nueronal Empowerment: the Science of Learning Languages Quickly, was a best seller on Amazon. He has also served as a corporate trainer for companies like Whirlpool and Hewlett-Packard.

The World of Musician Entrepreneurs with Yasser Tejada
Friday, Aug. 20, 2021

Jazz musician, producer and composer Yasser Tejada shared his experiences touring and collaborating with a variety of artists. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Yasser graduated from the Berklee College of Music and embarked in tours in both the Dominican Republic and the U.S. 

His debut album 'Mezclansa' (2009) was dubbed one of the “100 essential recordings of Dominican music” by the Nation’s Association of Art Writers (Acroarte) and his second album Kijombo (2019) has recently received six awards from Dominican Republic's inaugural Indie awards 'Premios Indie,' including Best Album.

From radio host to women's empowerment, with Jennifer Peguero
Friday, July 16, 2021

Jennifer Peguero visited us to share her professional journey and how she was able to break barriers. Peguero explained why she is now on a mission to empower other women through entrepreneurship with her organization, La Incubadora RD. 

Skills of an entrepreneur to improve health, a survival story: with Nelson Rodriguez
Friday, June 25, 2021

Penn State Hazleton alumnus Nelson Rodriguez shared his frightening battle with an autoimmune disease and how he gained the courage to fight the disease and seek treatment to improve his health.

Rodriguez explained how he used skills like money management, budgeting, and persistence to get financial support for his treatment. He also revealed details about a new company he is forming to help others in similar situations live a better life.

How to transform a passion into a product, with Cory Dahlia Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo
Friday, June 18, 2021

Entrepreneurs (and sisters) Cory Dahlia Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo shared how they founded DN Organics, a health and beauty company meant to inspire confidence in women. The company's mission encourages women to take control of their health through natural, clean and affordable products. Cory and Nicol are also Penn State alumnae.

Francisco Garcia, owner of smallest distillery in U.S.
Friday, June 11, 2021

Francisco Garcia is owner and founder of Strivers' Row, a grain to grass distillery in Philadelphia. At just 200 square feet, it is one of the smallest commercial distilleries in the U.S., according to Garcia. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Garcia followed his passion and opened the distillery following careers in consulting and politics. 

During this webinar, Garcia discussed his experiences founding Strivers' Row, challenges associated with operating in such a small space, and share his plans for what's next. It is presented in partnership with the Abington LaunchBox and Berks LaunchBox.

The Importance of Image in Entrepreneurship, with Rhodie Lamour
Friday, May 21, 2021

Rhodie Lamour, an author and image consultant specializing in highlighting the authenticity of her clients' style, talked about her expertise in creating personal branding for entrepreneurship. After years in the corporate world as a telecommunications engineer, in 2018 she moved to Montreal, Canada, where she founded Rhodie Lamour, Inc. She is graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology at State University of New York and is an active member of the International Association of Image Consultants.

Hanglet Tejeda
Friday, Dec. 18, 2020

Ensure your business grows not just in numbers but in influence. Participants discovered how to amplify what they can achieve from Hanglet Tejeda, owner of a consulting firm that specializes in development and leadership. Hanglet also discussed support of small businesses and how to strengthen relationships with other merchants.

Mario Moreno, Azucena and Viviana
Friday, Nov. 20, 2020

How do you create a message in a way that sticks in the mind of your customer? Mario Moreno and his family, operators of Pura Cultura, explained how. The family's business promotes the culture of Mesoamerica through indigenous inspired fashion. Each member of the family are either immigrants or the first generation born in the U.S. 

Scaling your business worldwide, with Miguel Caballero
Friday, Oct. 23, 2020

Participants heard tips from Miguel Caballero, a serial entrepreneur with 18 years of experience building tech companies in the infrastructure, educational technology and blockchain ecosystems. This webinar was cohosted by the Penn State Abington LaunchBox.

Florimar Suárez 
Friday, April 16, 2020

One of the keys to building your business depends on the talent you surround yourself with. In this installment of the LaunchBox's monthly Speaker Series, Florimar Sanchez helped participants identify the qualities that make a strong work team. 

 

Startup Week

Startup: Food-preneurs (presented in Spanish)
Monday, April 4

The women founders behind various Hazleton-area restaurants and eateries gathered to discuss how they launched their businesses, how these businesses are being sustained, and challenges faced as the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the restaurant industry nationwide.

Partners: Emprender Latino, Inc., Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State, Abington LaunchBox powered by Penn State, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox powered by Penn State, and Harrisburg LaunchBox powered by Penn State. 

Startup: Sports (presented in Spanish)
Tuesday, April 5

Noelia Monteroa and Julio Fernandez are fans of performance, baseball, and culture, and through these areas they founded the Latin Fusion Baseball Academy to help the youth of the Reading region. The pair discussed their nonprofit, how it came to be, and challenges and successes along the way.

Feasibility, Structure, Licensing and Registration
Tuesday, April 6

Have you dreamed of being your own boss for many years but don't know where to start? Do you wonder, how do I turn my good idea into a successful business, what is the feasibility of my business idea, what kind of forms and licenses do I need, or where is the best place to open my business? Lucy Singer, business consultant with the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, helped participants learn the basics of starting and successfully operating their own business.

Partners: Wilkes University Small Business Development Center

Why is Customer Discovery Important to Startups?
Wednesday, April 6

Customer discovery allows us to test our hypotheses by using interviews with potential customers. Lori Reno, Penn State Hazleton assistant teaching professor of business, explained how customer discovery helps determine how well the product meets customer needs, which will create a sustainable business model.

The Advantage of Women and Diversity in Tech Startups
Thursday, April 7

Precision Software Innovations discussed women in technology and the advantage of diversity in the workplace, with a special focus on the technology industry.

Employees Kate Lavelle-Myrtaj and Selina Andiappan provided a brief history of women in technology with a focus on the advantages they bring to the industry and discuss how having a diverse staff provides many benefits to a business and its customers. They also discussed how a company can take steps to be intentionally more diverse.

Partners: Precision Software Innovations

Startup: Inventors
Thursday, April 7

Frances Prado, chief executive and co-founder of Ageless Beautiful Clever Creations LLC, shared her experiences in what can be a daunting process of patenting an invention. She explained how to generate an idea, turn the idea into a prototype, protect the idea and finally, how to patent it.

Partners: Emprender Latino, Inc.