PITTSTON — Another new business opened its doors May 10 in downtown Pittston as Susan Dantona Jolley of Edward Jones, a financial investment group, is ready to roll up her sleeves and serve the people of Greater Pittston.
Jolley, a native of Scranton and a current resident of Kingston, has been working as a non-profit fundraiser for 31 years, including her last position as director of development at Wilkes University.
“I always thought I was going be a non-profit fundraiser,” Jolley said. “A couple of years ago, I went to Eileen Song, who is an Edward Jones financial advisor on Public Square, Wilkes-Barre and she became my own personal advisor. After a year together, she said she thought I should do this work and I’d be really great.”
Jolley had her reservations about changing careers but Song assured her with the experience she had talking to people about their money for three decades in the non-profit field, she could easily be a financial advisor.
“Eileen told me, it’s not about the investments, it’s about the relationship,” Jolley said. “I was pursued pretty heavily by Edward Jones and it took me a while to make the decision.”
The Pittston Edward Jones branch is centrally located between the company’s Dunmore and Wilkes-Barre offices.
“Pittston is the Mayberry of northeastern Pennsylvania,” Jolley said. “Pittston is so much about the relationships of the people who live here more so than anywhere else.”
Jolley had been in talks with Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo for a year and a half about finding a location downtown. In addition, she became a member of the Greater Pittston Chamber and the chamber’s Women’s Network.
“I’m certainly grateful that Susan decided that downtown Pittston was the location for her business and I’d like to commend the developers of the site,” Mayor Lombardo said. “This is a great example of re-purposing of a building that has had an interesting history and a long life in the city so it’s nice to see it not go to a mothball condition.”
In addition to having support from the city officials, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in helping Jolley land on her feet downtown.
“We certainly helped her get her name out there doing events and networking with us,” Michelle Mikitish, executive vice president of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. “She’s been making connections and we are so excited to have her downtown. She’s going to be a great asset to the community and she really is engaging in not only Chamber events but community events as well.”
Jolley said she will bring passion into her new position, believing there are people who need financial advice and guidance.
