Former NRCI President Honored at the Spirit of Hope Celebration

Bob Durkin was the President at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute for over a decade. In 2012, the relationship between Chairman Leo Vergnetti and Bob created the synergy which became the Spirit of Hope Celebration to support the Institute’s Community Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. It has become an annual event.

On Friday, November 11, 2022, things came full circle as Bob was recognized as the Tribute to Courage Honoree at the Spirit of Hope Celebration. The Board of Ambassadors and Associate Board of Ambassadors organize this event. These are individuals and business leaders in Northeast Pennsylvania who come together to raise funds & awareness to fight cancer in the local community through their support and promotion of a gala event.

Bob Durkin is President and CEO of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, overseeing planning, finances, staffing and programing of the Chamber and its affiliates – Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Company, Lackawanna Industrial Fund Enterprises, MetroAction, Inc., Leadership Lackawanna, Skills in Scranton, and The Scranton Plan. Durkin previously served as founding Director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority; Vice-President of the Chamber; and has worked in various capacities in the non-profit and regional government arenas.

He is a 1981 graduate of Penn State University and undertook advanced studies at the PSU Institute for Public Administration and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management at the University of Delaware.

Bob serves on numerous professional and community-based organizations including: Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Major Cities Roundtable, Penn State Scranton Advisory Board Board Member, Foundation for Free Enterprise Board Member, Institute for Public Policy Advisory Board Member, Regional Foundation, LLC – Treasurer, Lackawanna County Department of Health – Board Member and ARC of Northeastern Pennsylvania Foundation Board Member. Additionally, Bob and his family are active in several special needs related programs, including Challenger Baseball and Special Olympics. He resides in his native Olyphant with his wife Sherry. They are the parents of a daughter (Jessica) and son (Kevin).

Thank you, Bob Durkin and Leo Vergnetti, for your insight and leadership. You have led a path for the Spirit of Hope Celebration to help support our Community Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program. This program has facilitated over 8,500 completed screenings and continues to help participants get up to date on breast, cervical, lung and colon cancer screenings. We are grateful for the years of working together to fulfill our mission of easing the burden of cancer in NEPA.