09/21/2026
On today’s Mission Monday, we hear from LL Core Program Alum and Board Member, Stacy Cognetti, on her Mission Moment and her continued involvement with LL:
“My Mission Moment is seeing how one connection or opportunity to get involved can lead to so many others. Through my involvement with Leadership Lackawanna, I have met so many people who genuinely care about our community and want to find ways to make it better.
That same commitment to our community is something that is important to me both personally and professionally. Through my work at Lackawanna College, I have the opportunity to support education and help create opportunities for our students. Outside of work, I serve on the boards of Leadership Lackawanna and the LRCA, volunteer as a Penn State Master Gardener and Master Watershed Steward, and help organize community events like the Hillside Park Concert Series and our annual kids fishing derby.
Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones, like seeing families come together for a free concert at the park or watching a child catch their first fish. I especially value opportunities to get kids outdoors, experiencing nature firsthand and hopefully inspiring the next generation to take an interest in conservation and protecting our local environment. I also love seeing the work Leadership Lackawanna does with local nonprofits. The projects completed by each class help these organizations fulfill their missions, expand their reach, and build a stronger presence in our community.
Leadership Lackawanna has impacted my life by giving me the opportunity to grow as a leader while also becoming more connected to the community around me. I have met so many wonderful people through the organization, learned more about the businesses and nonprofits that make our area special, and built relationships that I may not have had the opportunity to develop otherwise.
It has also reinforced for me how much can be accomplished when people with different backgrounds, experiences, and skills come together around a common goal. Leadership Lackawanna has encouraged me to continue looking for ways to get involved, give back, and use my own skills and connections to support others.
I think that is why I feel so strongly about the organization. It is not just about developing leaders. It creates a network of people who are invested in this community and gives them opportunities to use their leadership to make a difference. I am grateful to now have the opportunity to continue supporting that mission as a board member.
For me, that is what Leadership Lackawanna is really about. It brings together people who want to make a difference and connects them with organizations that are already doing great work in our community. Those relationships and experiences often continue long after the program ends, and I think that is where the real impact happens.”
