Giana Jarrah launched her own business, With Meraki Co. in the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Annual Meeting featured a conversation about how four talented individuals followed their career aspirations to the Lehigh Valley.

Moderated by ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert, the March 21 panel discussion explored how the region’s strong career and technical schools and colleges, its rich employment opportunities, and strong civic life are attracting the skilled work force employers need for success.

“We are the top growing region in the state for that valued demographic of the 18-to-34 year old worker that is so coveted here in the Lehigh Valley,” Hilgert said. “And now you're going to hear from four of them.”

Sight Unseen

Trey Cornish

A wrestling standout in North Carolina, Trey Cornish was recruited by Lehigh University and came to the region sight unseen in 2016. Fulfilling his childhood dream, he studied engineering as he wrestled NCAA Division I. He landed some internship opportunities with local companies and, upon graduation, accepted a position at Lutron Electronics, choosing to make the Lehigh Valley his home. He now coaches girls’ wrestling at Easton Area School District.

“There seems to be a very strong sense of community, right? You can talk to anybody in the valley. You name drop one person, and they know everything about them, their uncle, their cousin, they know three fun facts,” he said. “There just seems to be something really special about the area. That’s definitely something that attracted me and definitely keeps me here.”

‘Incredible Support System’

Giana Jarrah

Allentown native Giana Jarrah was driven to become a biomedical engineer when her mother was diagnosed with an aggressive state of pre-cervical cancer.  She went on to study at Lehigh University and developed a probiotic supplement for urinary and vaginal health, launching a business With Meraki Co. to sell her product and winning $20,000 at the 2022 StartUp Lehigh Valley pitch competition. She is also a full-time product engineer at ABEC, a Bethlehem company that delivers customized single-use stainless steel and hybrid solutions and services for manufacturing in the biopharmaceutical industry.

“I just felt so incredibly supported with my brand. And with my products. Lehigh University has my entire heart,” Jarrah said. “They've been such an incredible support system. And the Lehigh Valley, Northampton County, just the amount of support I've received through my journey has really kept me here.”

‘Adding Value’

Nate Snyder

A native of Slatington, Nate Snyder graduated from Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in 2015 and was hired as an apprentice at B. Braun Medical when he began studies toward a Tool and Die Machinist Apprentice Certificate at Lehigh Carbon Community College, which he completed in 2018. In 2017, he interned for six months at B. Braun’s global headquarters in Germany and returned to the Lehigh Valley as a craftsperson/machinist. He was promoted to injection mold designer in 2021 and is now pursuing a degree in technical leadership at Bloomsburg University.

While training for his job, he loved the idea that he was “adding value” to what he was making.

“I was taking a raw piece of metal and making it into something useful that was worthwhile or can be used for something and divvied up,” Snyder said. “That's been a big thing throughout my career is always making sure I'm adding value to something.”

‘From Down Under’

Steph Wilbow

Steph Wilbow moved to the Lehigh Valley last year to help set up her employer’s first U.S. manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley due to its proximity to the large consumer population. The Australia-based Easy Signs manufactures high-quality, digitally printed signage promising a 24-hour turnaround time so location was essential. A spot in the Lehigh Valley could accomplish that, she said. She began working at Easy Signs in 2016 in Australia and worked her way up to Chief Operations Officer for the new facility.

When she arrived, Wilbow said she was overwhelmed by the welcoming nature of the people in the Lehigh Valley, especially since everything is so “upside down” from the way things are done in Australia.

“Every person that I bumped into in this area, they're so willing to have a conversation and recommend someone if you're looking for something to do on the weekend,” she said.

To watch the entire panel discussion, go to WFMZ.com archived livestream of the event.