[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO FREDERICK A. LOHMAN AS HE RETIRES FROM THE GREATER 
             WILKES-BARRE CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2007

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my esteemed colleagues in 
the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Frederick A. Lohman, 
senior vice president of real estate and asset management for the 
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, who recently 
announced his resignation to accept a position with Mericle Commercial 
Real Estate Services.
  During his 19 years with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business 
and Industry, Mr. Lohman has been responsible for all aspects of real 
estate development including planning, financing, development, 
management and disposition of real estate assets. He also served as the 
executive vice president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Development 
Corporation and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund, Inc.
  The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry is a 
community, economic development and business service organization 
charged with the mission of collaborating with community and regional 
partners to create quality employment and business opportunities and 
improve the area's quality of life through strategic planning, programs 
and investments.
  Throughout his tenure, Mr. Lohman worked successfully with talented 
coworkers and dedicated volunteer community leaders to change the 
economic landscape of the greater Wilkes-Barre area.
  He joined the chamber in 1987 as business manager. He later served as 
vice president, controller, senior vice president, chief financial 
officer and senior vice president of real estate and asset management.
  Mr. Lohman contributed toward the expansion of the Crestwood and 
Hanover Industrial Parks and the construction of three new parks 
including the Corporate Center at East Mountain, Hanover Crossings and 
Highland Park, home to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.
  The chamber was responsible for redeveloping the former Pomeroy's 
Department Store building into what is now Public Square Commons, a 
first class office building, and the former Woolworth's Five and Dime 
Store, which is now home to the Innovation Center, a business 
incubator, as well as a joint collegiate bookstore, Barnes and Noble 
College Booksellers.
  Mr. Lohman played an integral role in one of the chamber's most 
aggressive efforts--the Northampton and Main Redevelopment Project, a 
160,000-square-foot urban mixed use, entertainment-based, commercial 
and residential complex containing a 14-screen cinema, retail space and 
loft housing.
  Lohman is a 1976 graduate of Wilkes College, now Wilkes University, 
and received his master's degree in 1986 from Marywood University. He 
previously served as municipal manager for Edwardsville Borough and 
Towanda Borough and as director of the Wilkes University's Small 
Business Development Center.
  On a personal note, let me express my sincere appreciation for all 
the assistance Fred has provided to me throughout the years. Whenever I 
have called on him to assist in furthering the progress of any project 
that would bring jobs to the region, he has been unfailingly generous 
with his time and expertise. He is a truly talented professional, and I 
am pleased to also call him a personal friend.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Lohman for his 
years of service to the Greater Wilkes-Barre community. The talent and 
dedication he brought to his role as a business development executive 
has paid many dividends that have improved the quality of life 
throughout the region, and I wish him well in his new position in the 
private sector.




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