CAN DO’s Jocelyn Sterenchock named tecBRIDGE Bill McNally Mentor of the Year
Jocelyn Sterenchock, Director of Economic Development at Greater Hazleton CAN DO, Inc., has been named the recipient of the Bill McNally Mentor of the Year Award, presented by tecBRIDGE. She will be honored at the tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition Awards event on May 1st at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre.
A passionate advocate for economic development and entrepreneurship, Sterenchock has played a vital role in shaping opportunities for aspiring business owners, students, and professionals across Greater Hazleton. Through her work at CAN DO, the CAN BE Innovation Center, and other organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, she has supported nearly 500 entrepreneurial ventures, many involving historically disadvantaged business owners, and has spearheaded key initiatives like the Downtown Hazleton Kitchen Incubator and The Hazleton Innovation Collaborative (THInC).
During the 2025 tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition, four of the eight teams in the live presentation round were from the Greater Hazleton Area. Three local participants – Karlii Laurel, Lilah Sharkey, and Jaylnn Toohil, all from the Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences – created AveraJewels, a discreet, stylish line of GPS-enabled jewelry designed to enhance personal safety by allowing wearers to stay connected and protected at all times. To celebrate this incredible showing, we caught up with them to learn more about their journeys.
During the 2025 tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition, half of the teams who advanced to the live presentation round were from the Greater Hazleton Area. Sharan Parikh and Rishi Patel, both of MMI Preparatory School, created HealthHue, the first biodegradable, color-changing bandage made from bamboo and hemp that uses turmeric to detect infections early, offering an eco-friendly, affordable solution for better wound care. We caught up with them to learn more about the experience so far.
During the 2025 tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition, four of the eight teams that presented in the live presentation round were from the Greater Hazleton Area. Corey Buchman, a senior at MMI Preparatory School, came up with LawnEase, an on-demand lawn care platform that connects homeowners with local service providers through a mobile app and website, making yard maintenance more convenient while creating flexible income opportunities. To celebrate this accomplishment, we connected with Buchman to learn more about his journey so far.