NEPA Scene Staff

5th annual NEPA BlogCon comes to Penn State Worthington Scranton on Oct. 15

5th annual NEPA BlogCon comes to Penn State Worthington Scranton on Oct. 15
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From a press release:

NEPA BlogCon, the region’s only blogging and social media conference, is turning 5 this year and has grown tremendously since its start in 2012, hosting hundreds of attendees each year.

Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback from sold-out audiences in past years, NEPA BlogCon will make its return on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Penn State Worthington Scranton (120 Ridgeview Dr., Dunmore). This 45-acre campus just outside of Scranton in Dunmore hosts more than 1,100 students with 10 baccalaureate and four associate degrees.

“We’re so thrilled to be partnering with Penn State Worthington Scranton this year,” said co-organizer Michelle Davies. “This will be the first year we’ll be hosting our event in Lackawanna County, which is exciting as we’ve continued to grow and hope to reach even more attendees from the region.”

2016 brings a new venue but a continuing tradition of serving the community. In addition, it marks the second year of the addition of the NEPA BlogCon Expo, a vendor fair where sponsors, local businesses, and professional organizations can meet and network with attendees.

“Penn State Worthington Scranton offers tremendous potential for our conference,” said co-organizer Karla Porter. “With access to beautiful facilities, world-class faculty, and the resources of the nearby community, we couldn’t imagine a better place to celebrate NEPA BlogCon’s fifth year.”

NEPA BlogCon is designed to bring together bloggers of all experience levels, as well as those interested in marketing, social media, creativity, leadership, and branding. It’s also an excellent event for marketers, small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and students.

“Our conference is unique in that it offers something for everyone. The people we meet are by far the best part of NEPA BlogCon,” said co-organizer Mandy Pennington. “The opportunity to network and learn from so many diverse talents is invaluable.”

NEPA BlogCon draws a wide range of local, regional, and international talent, with past speakers including radical self-love champion and top fashion blogger Gala Darling, award-winning entrepreneur and business blogger Ashley Ambirge, entrepreneur Kris Jones of KBJ Capital, and internationally-acclaimed nonprofit founder Shane Burcaw of Laughing at My Nightmare.

Registration will open this summer at nepablogcon.com. Tickets include lunch refreshments, swag, and admission to all sessions and the NEPA BlogCon Expo.

Last year, NEPA BlogCon drew more than 200 local bloggers, technology influencers, students, and marketing professionals to Northeastern Pennsylvania, raising thousands of dollars to benefit Squirrel Girls Tech Camp, a technology camp for girls in grades 4-6.

Squirrel Girls Tech Camp launched in 2015 at Lackawanna College. It will be hosted this summer at East Stroudsburg University with the possibility of additional camps throughout the year.

NEPA BlogCon is unique in that all proceeds go to benefit nonprofit and community education projects. It is organized by volunteers and could not be held without the support of sponsors, local businesses, attendees, and community leaders.

Since the event originated in 2012, the amount raised for charity totals more than $10,000, with beneficiaries including Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, NEPA Veterans Multicare Alliance, and The Arc of Luzerne County.

All proceeds from this year’s conference will again be applied to Squirrel Girls Tech Camp.

Like NEPA BlogCon, the STEM education camp will be held in collaboration with sponsor organization TecBridge, a regional collegial organization that collaboratively strives to create and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities with the purpose of growing technology and biotechnology wealth within NEPA.