May. 17, 2023
KINGSTON - Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) today officially welcomed Compass of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Compass of NEPA) to the area during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at their headquarters on Wyoming Avenue in Kingston.
Compass of NEPA is an entrepreneurial technology company that will be actively recruiting engineers, designers, technicians, and marketing majors from colleges and universities in Northeastern Pennsylvania to give them an opportunity to bring their ideas to life – from proof of concept to finished product.
“This company is a welcome and exciting building block for community development. Their business model fits well with our efforts to rely on local resources, both natural and human, to strengthen and expand the job base,” said Baker. “Employing the knowledge and skills of students graduating from local schools should bring a new level of professional and entrepreneurial impact to the area.”
The Compass of NEPA management team consists of top consumer product developers that have a combined 260 years of successful experience in developing video games, video gaming systems, radio-controlled vehicles (including drones), toys, and other consumer products of all types.
“The era of our top-notch STEAM graduates leaving the area to pursue their dreams ends today,” said Kaufer. “Compass of NEPA is providing the resources, experience, and opportunities to not only give our students the chance to make their ideas a reality but to stay here in Northeastern Pennsylvania to see the results of their efforts. I’m thrilled to see this happening here in Kingston.”
Joining Baker and Kaufer for today’s announcement was Joe Lubinski, CEO of Compass of NEPA. Lubinski, who was born and raised in Scranton, is a successful game developer with nearly 50 years of experience in the toy industry.
“I have witnessed firsthand the exodus that occurs when students graduate and leave the area to pursue their careers. In fact, it’s what I did 46 years ago when I graduated with a physics degree from the University of Scranton,” Lubinski said. “The talent that exists in this next generation of digital designers is top-notch, and I’m thrilled that we get to mentor our young entrepreneurs and help them through the process of making their ideas become a reality. None of this could be possible without the support of our local colleges and universities.”
The inaugural group of eight students began with Compass of NEPA earlier this year and are in the preliminary phase of concept development. In the coming months, the students will be learning all aspects of creating a successful product and eventually going from concept to design and finally taking the product to market.
Students interested in participating and being a part of Compass of NEPA are encouraged to speak with their professors or apply online through their school’s website or info@compassofnepa.com.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
mefox@pahousegop.com
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