The “Citation of Distinction” of the Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council is conferred annually upon individuals who are recognized as leaders within the community for exemplifying the high ideals of human dignity, compassion, and friendship for all people.

  

The Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council held its annual Citation of Distinction Award luncheon on Monday, November 16, 2015 at Genetti’s Hotel and Conference Center 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre.

 This year's honoree was  Mr. Michael Zimmerman.

 The “Citation of Distinction” of the Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council is conferred annually upon individuals who are recognized as leaders within the community for exemplifying the high ideals

of human dignity, compassion, and friendship for all people.

 Michael Zimmerman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Misericordia University, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Organizational Management. He was previously employed by the American Red Cross as a Regional Executive from 1999 to 2009. He had worked at Family Service Association from 1981 to 1999. His last position before leaving was as Director of Community Programs, overseeing Family Life Education programs, the Special Kids Network, Help Line, Law Enforcement Protection from Abuse Hotline, and the Workplace Violence Prevention program. He returned to Family Service Association in December 2009.

Under his leadership at Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Help Line implemented the ‘211’ call center, expanding coverage from two to seventeen counties; a Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program was implemented in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties; a Child Advocacy Center was established in Montrose and will serve both Wyoming and Susquehanna Counties; and programming for children in dependency or delinquency has been expanded.

Michael’s community affiliations have included Co-Chair, Luzerne County Juvenile Justice Task Force (including providing testimony to the Pennsylvania House Panel on Children & Youth), Co-Chair Luzerne County Long-Term Disaster Recovery Coalition, Luzerne County Dependency Court Roundtable, Luzerne County Juvenile Court Roundtable, former President Domestic Violence Service Center Board of Directors, RSVP Board of Directors, Vice President Advisory Board for the NEPA Regional Blood Services of the American Red Cross, Chair of the Human Resources Committee of the Luzerne County Historical Society Board of Directors, Northeast Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance Board of Directors, Secretary for Tower Mountain Hunting Club.

Michael is a life-long resident of Wyoming Valley, where his family has resided for seven generations, dating to 1768. He is married to Laura Faith Wereschagin, Out-Patient Therapist at Northeast Counseling, and they enjoy a daughter, Barrett Elizabeth Zimmerman, Scranton, who is employed as a Mental Health Crisis Interventionist.

See the photo section for photos of the event.