[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       STEPHEN M. BARROUK HONORED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 24, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
distinguished community leader and my good friend, Mr. Stephen M. 
Barrouk. In June, Leadership Wilkes-Barre will honor Steve with the 
group's 1999 Distinguished Leadership Award. I am pleased and proud to 
have been asked to participate in this richly-deserved tribute.
  A native of Wilkes-Barre, Steve graduated from E.L. Meyers High 
School. He earned a B.A. degree in Urban Studies/Economics and a 
Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of 
Pittsburgh. Steve went on to serve in the Department of City 
Development in Pittsburgh and later as the Deputy Director of the 
Allegheny County Department of Development. He also served as Executive 
Director of the Allegheny County Industrial, Hospital and Higher 
Education Authorities.
  Steve returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania to become the President/
CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry and 
its affiliates, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund and the 
Greater Wilke-Barre Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the 
Luzerne County Convention Center Authority, the Pennsylvania Economic 
Development Association, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, 
and the Industrial Development Research Council.
  Steve serves on the board of the Economic Development Council of 
Northeastern Pennsylvania, the United Way of Wyoming Valley, the Ethics 
Institute, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Downtown 
Task Force of Wilkes-Barre. Steve also serves on the board of the Earth 
Conservancy, a non-profit, charitable organization that is restoring, 
preserving, and developing more than 17,000 acres of land throughout 
Luzerne County previously owned by a bankrupt coal company. He also 
played an important role in helping to win an American Heritage River 
designation for the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed.
  I have worked closely with Steve on countless projects to improve the 
quality of life for Northeastern Pennsylvania. Despite the enormity of 
the challenges he has faced on complex projects such as restoring the 
former Pomeroy's building in downtown Wilkes-Barre, creating a new 
sports area/convention center, and the day-to-day work of attracting 
new industries to our area, Steve has always shown the utmost devotion 
to the community. He leads his organization with the highest level of 
professionalism.
  Over the past several years, I have enjoyed working with Steve 
Barrouk to promote economic development in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 
Steve's efforts have literally helped create thousands of jobs in the 
Wyoming Valley. I am pleased to join Leadership Wilkes-Barre in 
thanking Steve Barrouk for his efforts. Luzerne County will undoubtedly 
benefit from his further labors in the years ahead.

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