PITTSTON — Richard Kazmerick, president of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, announced Josh Olerud, team president and chief operating officer of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, will serve as principal speaker at the Mid-Winter Breakfast Meeting set for Friday, Feb. 22 at the Gramercy Ballroom & Restaurant, 155 S. Main St.

Olerud joined the RailRiders staff in November 2015 as chief operating officer. Following the RailRiders’ win in the 2016 National Championship Game, he was promoted to general manager and president of the team.

Most recently, he was named the 2017 International League Executive of the Year after spearheading the first National Championship Game to be hosted at PNC Field.

Olerud came to the RailRiders from the Potomac Nationals where he spent five years as the executive vice president and general manager. In 2013, he was awarded the Calvin Falwell Executive of the Year Award in the Carolina League, after he helped the Potomac Nationals break a franchise attendance record. He was also honored with the Minor League Executive of the Year Award by the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago for his work in 2012.

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Olerud got his start in professional baseball with the Rockford RiverHawks of the Frontier League. His highlights with the RiverHawks included a Frontier League Championship in 2004, opening the new RiverHawks Stadium in 2006, hosting the circuit’s All-Star game in 2009, and leading the RiverHawks in their transition from the Frontier League to the Northern League in 2010.

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Olerud graduated with a degree in Sports Management with an emphasis in Marketing from Minnesota State University at Mankato.

Serving as general chairperson for the breakfast is Mary Kuna.

Kuna is the deputy executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of Pittston. Originally from the Pittston area, Mary has spent the past eight years working in the field of economic development in the Greater Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas.

In 2009, Kuna received her B.S. in Political Science from The University of Scranton. She continued her studies at Harvard University during the summer of 2009 to focus on Urban and Regional Planning. The following year, she became a graduate student at the University of Delaware’s School of Public Policy and Administration. In 2012, she completed her M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy focused on Urban and Regional Planning.

Throughout her professional career, Kuna has worked with the Greater Newark Partnership, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, Cecil County Office of Economic Development and Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation.

She serves on the boards of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Pittston YMCA, the Anthracite Heritage Museum, and Art E Fekts Gallery.

Invitations have been mailed to all members and friends of the Chamber, and the breakfast is open to the public.

Reservations may be made online at www.pittstonchamber.org/events or by contacting the Chamber office at 570-655-1424 or info@pittstonchamber.org.

Kuna
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Kuna
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Olerud
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