[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2046-E2047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MAUREEN BUFALINO AS SHE RECEIVES THE ATHENA AWARD FROM THE 
             WILKES-BARRE CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Maureen 
Moran Bufalino, regional president of Omega Bank in Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania, on the occasion of her receiving the prestigious Athena 
Award presented annually by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and 
Industry.
  Mrs. Bufalino is truly deserving of this honor because throughout her 
career she has exemplified what a true community leader should be.
  As a former president of the Junior League of Wilkes-Barre, Mrs. 
Bufalino helped develop many young women for volunteer service within 
the community. She has served as a role model for businesswomen through 
her work in the banking industry. And despite her demanding business 
schedule, she has still found the time to volunteer and serve several 
non-profit organizations and also raise three children.
  She is also a charter member of Circle 200, a regional executive 
women's networking organization, and is a graduate of the Leadership 
Wilkes-Barre program.
  Mrs. Bufalino serves as vice chair of CityVest Community Development 
Organization, a group committed to revitalizing Wilkes-Barre's 
downtown. She is a graduate of King's College.
  Mrs. Bufalino was also named one of the top 20 executives under the 
age of 40 in 2001 by the Northeastern Business Journal, a widely 
respected business periodical in northeastern Pennsylvania.
  On a personal note, I have known Maureen and her family for decades. 
I know her parents Jack and Maureen are extremely proud of her success, 
not only as a well-respected professional, but also as a dedicated 
community

[[Page E2047]]

leader and loving mother. It has been a pleasure to watch her develop 
into such a fine leader for the next generation.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Bufalino on this 
notable occasion. Her spirit and generosity repeatedly propels her into 
positions of leadership wherever she goes. An outstanding and highly 
talented woman, she is a model business and civic leader who epitomizes 
all the qualities required for a recipient of the Athena Award. Our 
community in northeastern Pennsylvania is far better off because of 
Mrs. Bufalino's selfless service.

                          ____________________