Bill Bergstresser ends a 39-year career at PPL March 31 and enters retirement. He began back in 1961 as a residential sales representative in Wilkes-Barre and spent the last 28 years in Honesdale as an area manager and, most recently, as the community development director for the Honesdale region.

But, the end of one thing often means the beginning of another and Bill is focused now on pursuing his personal interests. "I worked long enough," he notes, "that I can now do what I want to do." For Bergstresser, that means travel and a lot more time spent hunting and fishing. He and his wife of 47 years will spend the fall in Maine, a few weeks of winter in Florida and schedule time to visit their children in Texas, Montana and Virginia. "I'll miss the people," he admits. "After 28 years, I know just about everyone in the area. But I have so many things I want to do, there's no chance I'll get bored."

Bergstresser's duties will be assumed by Paul Canevari. Canevari, a native of Northeast Pennsylvania, currently serves as Monroe County Community Development Director and will be extending his responsibilities to include Pike and Wayne counties.

Don Bernhard, PPL manager of economic development and community affairs, said that Bergstresser will be missed by both his colleagues and the community; but added that the combined region under Canevari will allow PPL to maintain its close contact with the people and businesses in Wayne and Pike counties.

"Bill has done an excellent job building and maintaining positive relationships with the community," Bernhard said, "and we're confident that Paul will be able to continue meeting the local needs."

Canevari, a 20-year PPL employee, now serves customers in Monroe County and is already familiar with the area and its people, Bernhard said. "And the whole area is often seen as a region, so it just makes sense to let an experienced person like Paul step in and provide a seamless transition."