Danielle Weinschenk

 What’s your current position?  How long have you been in this position?  Can you give me a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

I am a Lead Public Affairs Specialist at Tobyhanna Army Depot, and I’ve been in that role for 3 of my 14 years at the depot.  Working alongside a wonderful team, I develop communication strategies for internal and external messaging as well as various types of digital media.  What I love most about my job is it’s different every day.  On any given day, I could be interacting with high-level visitors or the media, writing articles, creating content, or producing videos that showcase Tobyhanna’s critical mission and workforce.  

 What are you most passionate about?

I am most passionate about helping others to be their best selves.  I believe we have the right to be better today than we were yesterday, so it’s deeply important to me to be available as a compassionate ally to my family, friends, teammates and community.  

 Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are?  Tell us about them and what they did that influenced you.

 While I have been inspired by many over the years, my life has been primarily influenced by two amazing people.  First - my husband, Keith, who is simply the best person I know.  He is an incredibly supportive partner (many know him as an honorary Leadership Lackawanna participant).  Keith inspires me daily with his kind heart, resilience and willingness to grow.  I can’t say enough good things about him!

 I also owe a lot to my first (and best) mentor, Brad Jones.  He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, guided me, and helped shape my professional identity.  I’m lucky to call him a mentor and close friend.

 I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my dream dinner guests:  the late David Carr, a journalist for the New York Times.  His writing was amazing, and I aspire to be half the journalist he was!  But, more importantly, he modeled determination, grace, and optimism as he faced numerous challenges in life.  His memoir, “The Night of the Gun” should be required reading – it taught me that regardless of your past, you can create a bright future for yourself if you work hard enough.

 How did you learn about Leadership Lackawanna? In what class year and program did you participate? Describe your experience. How did the program affect you post-graduation? What has your involvement with leadership Lackawanna been post-graduation?

I first became aware of Leadership Lackawanna after seeing an article in the Scranton Times and was a member of the Core Class of 2021-2022.  During Core, I was part of the North Pocono Library Team, which established a gazebo/outdoor learning space for library patrons (no small feat during an unprecedented global pandemic).  My Core Class experience definitely changed my life - it forced me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to expand my network, and helped me grow as a person – and professional.    After such a great year in Core, I was humbled when I was presented the Class Leader of the Year award – just thinking about it makes me teary-eyed!

 I'm thrilled to remain engaged with Leadership Lackawanna, and returned to the program this year as a Team Advisor.  Our team (which is super fantastic, by the way) is working to restore Mercatili-Segilia Park in Moosic – a wild coincidence, since it happens to be a park I frequently visit.  I am so excited to help the team give back to their community and improve one of Moosic’s best-kept secrets!

 Let’s get personal:  tell us your favorite movie, favorite book, and favorite local restaurant!

My favorite movie is a tie between La La Land and The Silence of the Lambs.  My favorite book of all time is The Great Gatsby, and my favorite local restaurant is hands-down A Little Pizza Heaven - everyone should try their garlic zeppoli!