[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 107 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATING MARTHA HERRON ON HER RETIREMENT FROM PPL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2014

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate 
Martha Herron on the occasion of her retirement as Regional Director of 
the PPL Corporation. In her remarkable 47 year career with PPL, Ms. 
Herron has had a profound impact on both the company, and the greater 
Hazleton community through her assiduous service and leadership.
   Initially unable to afford college, Ms. Herron worked at a textile 
factory and saved money so that she could enroll in business school, 
eventually earning a certificate that ultimately helped her get her 
first job in 1967 as a clerk at PPL, then known as the Pennsylvania 
Power and Light Co. Through hard work and dedication, she rose through 
the ranks to become the regional affairs director in 1995, a position 
she has held to this day.
   When Ms. Herron began her career, she found a professional 
environment that was not sympathetic to females with few women 
available to serve as mentors. The decision to fill this void lead Ms. 
Herron to begin her legacy of helping other women develop 
professionally by providing the needed resources to foster growth and 
development. She challenged and successfully changed PPL's policy of 
requiring expecting mothers to resign and then reapply, and also served 
as a founding member of the PPL Women's Network, a group dedicated to 
assisting developing women in a competitive work environment in order 
to reach their highest potential.
   As a result of her efforts, Ms. Herron received the Woman of the 
Year Award by Soroptimist International, was named on the list of 
``Who's Who of American Women,'' and was recognized as one of 
Pennsylvania's ``50 Best Women in Business.'' As well as helping women 
throughout the Hazleton area, Ms. Herron has volunteered countless 
hours and resources to multiple organizations such as the Community 
Area New Development Organization (CAN DO), the Greater Hazleton United 
Way, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, and Volunteers of 
America. In her role with PPL, Ms. Herron has had the opportunity to 
work with colleagues throughout the 29 counties that PPL served. 
Through that exposure, she was able to bring back ideas and programs to 
Hazleton, creating groups such as Leadership Hazleton, an organization 
modeled after Leadership Wilkes-Barre and dedicated to training 
volunteers to serve area nonprofits. I can personally attest to Ms. 
Herron's dedication to bettering Hazleton. During my time as mayor of 
Hazleton, Ms. Herron was always a willing and helpful resource to my 
office.
   Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of her retirement, I commend Martha 
Herron for her years of service to PPL and to our community. I know 
that she looks forward to spending time with her family and friends, 
including her husband, Terrance, her son and his wife, Terry and Kelly, 
and her grandsons TJ and Jack. I thank her for all that she has done 
and continues to do for Northeastern Pennsylvania and wish her the best 
in her future endeavors.

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