About Mike & Corey
Meet Mike Washo and Family
Born and raised in Scranton, Mike Washo graduated from Scranton Central High School before attending college at the University of Michigan, where he earned his B.A. Subsequently, Mike pursued graduate studies at Wayne State University and earned his master’s degree in History).
Mike began his professional career in the field of historic preservation, working for the State of Michigan’s Bureau for Historic Preservation. Mike recognized that historic preservation constitutes much more than merely an attempt to preserve old buildings for posterity; it can also serve as a powerful economic development tool. Indeed, when done properly, urban planning becomes a major catalyst for economic growth. Mike eventually rose to become Deputy Director of Historical Programs for the entire state.
In 1983, Mike moved back to Lackawanna County, and over the next decade, he worked for the City of Scranton under two mayoral administrations (one Democrat and one Republican). Upon being named Director of Scranton’s Office of Economic and Community Development, Mike was placed in charge of all economic development programs in the city at a time when Scranton’s renaissance was in its infancy. Most notably, Mike acted as Scranton’s point person for the development of the Steamtown Mall, which served as the building block for all of the later development that has taken place in and around Scranton
After working for his family’s business (P&W Washo) for several years, Mike returned to public service when a vacancy was created on the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners in early 2005, and he was appointed to fill the seat of departing Commissioner Randy Castellani. Since that time, Mike has been a tireless advocate for the hardworking taxpayers of Lackawanna County.
Additionally, Mike’s volunteer service to Pennsylvania and the region has included numerous board positions and organizational memberships. On two occasions, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. He also served on the Citizens Advisory Council, which offers advice to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Governor, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly on matters of environmental regulation and policy. Furthermore, Mike was a founding board member or officer in a number of local organizations including: the Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton Tomorrow, the Community Concerts Association, the Lackawanna Regional Cultural Council, the Friends of the Everhart Museum, the Lackawanna County Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Penn’s Northeast (a non-profit economic development organization), among others.
Mike and his wife Karla have been married for more than thirty years, and they have three children—Michael, Mimi, and Martha. The family lives in Clarks Summit.
Meet Corey O’Brien and Family
Atty. Corey D. O’Brien has always dreamed big. As an 18-year old Dunmore High School senior, Corey successfully lobbied for a $600,000 federal appropriation to build a community center in Dunmore. Today, residents of Dunmore enjoy a $4.5 million state-of-the-art community center that mirrors Atty. O’Brien’s early vision of providing residents with a multi-generation community center.While attending Penn State University, Corey testified before a sub-committee of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee on affordability of higher education. At age 22, Corey O’Brien served in the Clinton White House and was later appointed to a position in the Clinton Administration’s Agency for International Development.
After serving in the Clinton Administration, O’Brien attended and graduated in the top of his class from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Atty. O’Brien is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia. Atty. O’Brien is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, among other federal courts.
After 10 years in Washington, D.C. serving as a political advisor and attorney, Corey returned with his family to his roots in Northeastern Pennsylvania. After being back in Pennsylvania for only four months, Corey launched the public affairs television show, The Pulse with Corey O’Brien on FOX. Past guests include Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, U.S. Senators Arlen Specter, Robert P. Casey, Jr. and Rick Santorum and Congressmen Paul E. Kanjorski, Christopher Carney and Don Sherwood, among others.
The Pulse with Corey O’Brien has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters as an Outstanding TV Public Affairs Program/Series. The Pulse was also recognized by the Electric City newspaper as the region’s top public affairs television talk show. Corey O’Brien has also served as a political analyst to the region’s most-watched television station, ABC-affiliate, WNEP-TV 16 and the most listened to news radio station, WILK News Radio. Atty. Corey O’Brien has also been the host of a radio program, Corey O’Brien Now on WILK News Radio.
In 2006, Atty. Corey O’Brien was named one of the Top 20 most influential people under the age of 40 in Northeastern Pennsylvania by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
Atty. O’Brien resides with his wife, Atty. Michelle R. O’Brien, and their two children, Kate and Casey, in Moosic.
