Tyler Day

What’s your current position? 

I work for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, we are an economic development agency serving seven counties in Northeast PA. I have been with NEPA Alliance since 2020. The NEPA Alliance assists businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, etc. in the region.

We all wear many hats but I primarily work with businesses to help them enter the government marketplace. The U.S. government is the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, but there are certifications and registrations that need to be completed before a business can sell to the government. Because of this many businesses do not sell to the government because they don’t know where to even begin. I help them get set up to sell and find opportunities.

What would you say most motivates you to do the work you do?  What are you most passionate about? 

I love working with local businesses here in Northeast Pennsylvania. Helping our businesses find new customers is rewarding. The way I see it is I don’t want the government to spend more money, I want them to spend more of the money here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lackawanna County really is a great place to live and raise a family. The area has seen a lot of successes in the past few years in terms of economic growth. Moving forward, if I can continue to play a larger role in scoring “wins” for the region, I’ll be very happy.

Where did you grow up and did you go to a college/trade school after high school? 

I grew up in the Milford area in Pike County. After high school I stayed local and graduated from East Stroudsburg University. After that I worked as a legislative staffer for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and then my (now) wife and I lived in Philadelphia for a little bit.

My wife is more of the Scranton legacy person, she’s a Scranton Prep graduate, Marywood graduate, family lived in the area for generations. When we started dating I spent a lot more time here and it’s a good place to be. A few years back we decided NEPA was where we wanted to live long term, which is a decision I haven’t regretted. Being close to family is so important. But also this area has so much to offer too that we’re never bored and unlike other areas, it’s affordable to live here so we can actually afford to do everything this area has to offer.  

Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are? 

I don’t think I could list any one person as a mentor, but I think my first job is definitely something I can list as something that deeply influenced who I am today. When I was 15, after a long summer of doing nothing noteworthy, my mom told me she got me a job at the local butcher shop in Milford. She’d known the owner for years and said I was starting that Saturday. I wouldn’t say I was sheltered before that, but starting there was definitely a reality check.

I had responsibilities, I had to work with people and wait on people who I would never had come in contact with otherwise, and I learned the value of hard work and the value of a dollar. They always treated me as a student first, but gave me tough love and a dose of reality when needed.

I know some people remember their first job as an absolute nightmare, but for me, I couldn’t me more thankful for that experience. The pay was good, the hours were good, so much so that I stayed working there throughout high school and college.

I’d encourage any small business owner that reads this to take time to mentor their young employees.

How did you learn about Leadership Lackawanna?

The NEPA Alliance is partners with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, we work together on a lot of projects and attend each other’s events. The Leadership Lackawanna program had always been highly recommended, and I was excited to apply once I got the okay to do so.

I enjoyed my time in the CORE program. It was tough at some points but certainly a rewarding experience. Many of the other participants are young professionals in the community that are also looking to be in this throughout their career so it was nice to be around like minded people.

Since graduation I have tried to stay involved with the program. I’m looking forward to the Dues and Brews event later this month and staying active in the alumni community.