Penn State Worthington Scranton to host NEPA BlogCon on Oct. 14

Event returns to Worthington Scranton campus for second consecutive year
Blog Con 2017

Penn State Worthington Scranton will again host NEPA BlogCon on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Study Learning Center. Tickets are free, but advanced registration is required. Go to nepablogcon.com for more information and to register.

Credit: Penn State

DUNMORE, Pa. — Now entering its sixth year, NEPA BlogCon, the region’s only blogging and social media conference, has announced both the start of registration and selected speakers for this year’s event.

NEPA BlogCon will return to Penn State Worthington Scranton, located at 120 Ridgeview Dr. in Dunmore, on Saturday, Oct. 14. Free tickets, which include admission to the conference and expo hall, swag and lunch refreshments, are available now at nepablogcon.com. Limited tickets are available, so attendees are encouraged to register online before the event sells out. The event will take place in the campus' Study Learning Center.

NEPA BlogCon is designed to bring together bloggers of all experience levels, as well as those interested in marketing, social media, creativity, leadership, technology and branding. Professional communicators, small business owners, nonprofit organizations and students alike are welcome to attend.

NEPA BlogCon draws a wide range of local, regional and international talent. This year’s speakers include:

  • Kathryn Bondi, digital designer at Posture Interactive
  • Sam Chiarelli, creative nonfiction author and blogger for This Day in Dinosaurs
  • Kristin Elliott, social media manager for ReelzChannel
  • Lew Hastings, host of Red Road Radio Show and founder of the Native Now Foundation
  • Dan Kimbrough, videographer, educator and founder of Park Multimedia
  • Kenny Luck, local author and filmmaker
  • Claudia Pennington, internet marketer and founder of seoauditguide.com
  • Lori Rochino, author and podcast host of Simply Designed Life

Jeannine Luby, author and founder of Laugh to Live, will be the event’s official master of ceremonies and host.

Attendees can expect presentations and roundtable discussions on branding, content development, podcasting, vlogging and more.

This year’s BlogCon also will see the return of the popular NEPA BlogCon Expo, which debuted at last year’s conference. The expo offers businesses, professional organizations, nonprofits and other community resources an opportunity to meet and network with online influencers who attend NEPA BlogCon. Spots are still available for interested exhibitors. Visit nepablogcon.com for details.

Following the conference, attendees are invited to join another group of area bloggers at NEPA Blog Fest at the River Grille, located at 670 N. River St. in Plains, beginning at 5 p.m.

Thanks to the support of sponsors and partners like Penn State Worthington Scranton, Net Driven, Park Multimedia, WhatNow App, LIU 18, NEPA Geeks, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center, AAF NEPA, NEPA Blogs, and tecBRIDGE, NEPA BlogCon is able to offer its event at a low cost to the community.

Both NEPA BlogCon and its STEM education camp, Squirrel Girls Tech Camp, are held in collaboration with sponsor organization tecBRIDGE. TecBRIDGE is a regional collegial organization that collaboratively strives to create and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities with the purpose of growing technology and biotechnology wealth within northeastern Pennsylvania.

Last year, NEPA BlogCon drew more than 150 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.

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 $15,000, with beneficiaries including Squirrel Girls Tech Camp, Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, NEPA Veterans Multicare Alliance, and The Arc of Luzerne County.

Tickets, a schedule of events, speaker bios and additional information can be found at nepablogcon.com.

See NEPA Scene’s photos from last year’s NEPA BlogCon here.