Katelyn McManamon knows that if you have not walked a mile in someone’s shoes you cannot understand who someone is.
“Empathy towards others has been a guiding principle in my life,” says the special projects coordinator at the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.
In her capacity as special projects coordinator, McManamon is responsible to identify and engage participants and coordinate projects within the eight-county service area of the center. Projects include marketing the center’s services and the University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center, including the center’s StartUP Program, one of her favorite programs.
StartUP is a 6-week certificate program designed for women with lower incomes, women experiencing a life transition or women trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. “I have found that working with the women participants and the student interns through this program is inspirational and fulfilling,” she noted.
The entrepreneur graduated from Abington Heights High School and Millersville University with a bachelor of science degree in communications with a specialization in public relations. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a specialization in international business from the University of Scranton. She served as public relations coordinator of a local hospital and as the marketing manager and the AVP of marketing for a local credit union before arriving at her current position.
McManamon says she has been lucky to have crossed paths during her career with many inspiring women who have helped get her to where she is today, including Donna Simpson, Lisa Hall-Zielinski and Chris Carroll who have all have played an important part.
As an energetic extrovert who genuinely enjoys connecting with people, McManamon says she tries to always have a positive attitude and always see the glass as half full. “With everything that has happened in the past three years of the pandemic, I have found myself embracing change and trying new things that maybe I would not have tried before,” she admits.
The projects coordinator notes that her husband, Lee Borthwick, is her biggest supporter and champion, and always helps to keeps her grounded; as well as her parents, Diane and Joseph McManamon, who are always ready to offer encouragement and never miss a chance to tell her how proud they are of her.
She is an alumni of Leadership Lackawanna and of Leadership Wyoming County. The young woman enjoys being involved in the community and is always ready to jump in when needed, and has spent many years being involved in walks, fundraisers, and events.
McManamon enjoys traveling to new destinations, skiing in the winter, being on the water in the summer and endless games of fetch with her two dogs, Rex and Bronty.