September 9, 2026

NERCRD is pleased to welcome John Turack in a new collaborative role supporting our work across the region. Through a partnership with Penn State Extension, John will work closely with the NERCRD team to help support and develop multi-state regional initiatives that align with NERCRD goals and will help adapt NERCRD research for Extension audiences.  

John brings a wealth of Extension experience and perspective to the NERCRD team, having held various positions within Penn State Extension for nearly 20 years, most recently as a Leadership and Community Vitality Education Program Specialist based in Westmoreland County. He has contributed to several Extension programs that have earned national recognition, including an active transportation planning program, a food-system mapping program, and a program on fostering intergenerational communities.

He also has been leading the Land Use Webinar Series since 2025, which has delivered professional development to hundreds of planners, elected officials, zoning officers, and others working in the land-use space in Pennsylvania. He will continue leading this effort, and will explore the feasibility of expanding the scope of this webinar series to the regional level.   

We look forward to the collaboration and to learning from John’s expertise in community and economic development!