The Made Possible in Lehigh Valley initiative seeks to share the stories of the people and companies in our region, and let them explain why Lehigh Valley is a special place where you can create a life, a business, or a career, on your terms.

We’ve been telling those stories through the Made Possible in Lehigh Valley Instagram account. Below are just a few of those posts from the past month. Follow it on Instagram @lvmadepossible, and be sure to use the hashtag #lvmadepossible. And if you’ve got a story you’d like to see highlighted there, let us know!

We’ll also be highlighting Lehigh Valley entrepreneurs and starts as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in November. Follow our account so you don’t miss any of the region’s great stories!

View this post on Instagram

Liz decided to attend school in Lehigh Valley because it was close to home. She didn't really see herself moving elsewhere to attend school, and Moravian College was a perfect fit for her. Asked about her favorite place in the Valley, she is quick to point out the Allentown Art Museum. Liz grew up loving and creating art, thanks to her dad. They would go on school field trips to the Art Museum, and she remembers having one of her art pieces showcased in a student exhibition when she was in elementary school. Over the summer, Liz interned in the Graphic Design & Packaging department at The Factory LLC in Bethlehem, where she learned about product packaging, working with professional clients, and learning from other designers. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in editorial design or packaging. Liz is making it happen. Lehigh Valley made it possible. Liz Mongollan, Graphic & Interactive Design Student at @moraviancollege #lvmadepossible #lehighvalley #highered #design #art #careers #internship #bethlehem #igbethlehem #iglehighvalley #thefactoryllc #productdesign

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 9, 2019 at 9:50am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Over the past 12 months, several nationally-known manufacturing companies have announced new projects or major expansions here in Lehigh Valley. Martin Guitar, which has been part of Lehigh Valley’s business community for more than 180 years, is continuing that tradition with plans for what will be the biggest capital investment in the company’s history. Last month, Keurig Dr Pepper announced it will establish $220 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Lehigh Valley, creating nearly 400 new full-time jobs in the region. Tyber Medical, which relocated to Lehigh Valley from New Jersey four years ago, is continuing to grow and thrive, having announced plans to expand its manufacturing of orthopedic and spinal implants. IQ Fibers, a manufacturer of high-quality cellulose fiber products has chosen the Lehigh Valley for its first manufacturing operation in Pennsylvania, creating dozens of full-time jobs in the region. These are just a few examples of the 700 manufacturers that have found success here. Clearly, manufacturing is alive and well in Lehigh Valley, where anything is possible. #MFGDay19 #MadeInPA #LVmadepossible

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 4, 2019 at 12:01pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

ADP, a long-standing employer of choice in Lehigh Valley, just cut the ribbon on their Five City Center location in downtown Allentown. As one of ADP’s Inside Sales Centers of Excellence, the Five City Center office houses part of ADP’s inside salesforce, which plays a critical role in helping clients find the right human capital management solutions for their business needs. The 240K+ SF space spanning ten floors is the new home for more than 1,000 employees, and their move marks the singular largest commercial investment in the history of Downtown Allentown “While I certainly want to give credit to ADP for choosing Allentown as its new home, I also recognize the economic resurgence that’s happening in the Lehigh Valley,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf during the ribbon-cutting. “Allentown is in the midst of a reinvention and state and local officials are committed to working collaboratively to making the Lehigh Valley known worldwide as a place of wealth and success.” #lvmadepossible #lehighvalley #worksmartlivehappy #insidesales #careers #findyourpossible #whatareyouworkingfor #adpallentown

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 10, 2019 at 12:04pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

@jayslocal, the newest café in Lehigh Valley, is celebrating their grand opening tomorrow, 10/12, in the Allentown’s West End. The café style eatery, founded in dedication, honor and memory of long-time Allentown attorney and philanthropist, Jay Scherline, aims to provide the entire Lehigh Valley community with a comfortable and inviting place to meet, relax, and enjoy high-quality local fare. When the Scherlines decided to open up Jay’s Local, they asked their future customers what they wanted to have in the neighborhood. They collaborated with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department at @muhlenbergcollege in order to better understand what the local community desires from their new space on Liberty and 23rd. Most students were looking for convenience, affordability; a spot they could meet with friends and grab a quick bite to eat without breaking their budget. That’s exactly what Jay’s Local seeks to offer with the restaurant. “My father was constantly striving to make the Lehigh Valley a better place, with strong values in community outreach and service,” Lyell Scherline said. “We wanted Jay’s Local to follow in his footsteps and showcase those values in the form of a local neighborhood eatery. So we thought, what better way to do that than to ask the neighborhood exactly what they want?” #lvmadepossible #allentown #lehighvalley #westendallentown #local #grandopening #eatlocal

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 11, 2019 at 1:35pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

?? They say bigger is better, but that’s not always the case in the accounting industry. I was working for one of the Big 4 accounting firms when I met my wife, who lived in the Lehigh Valley. Their closest office was in Philadelphia, which more often than not took two hours each way to get to. On top of my horrific commute, my boss warned me there was a good possibility they might look to transfer me to their Detroit office. That was the last straw. Twelve years later, I’m now a senior manager at Concannon Miller in the Bethlehem area and much happier. On top of the short commute, the job provides me with a lot of flexibility for my personal life and opportunity in my professional life. In my time with the firm, I’ve moved up from senior accountant to manager and now senior manager. As an auditor, I work with many local nonprofits and I’m blown away by all the good they do for our community. I do my small part by serving on the board of ProJect of Easton. My family and I love living in the Lehigh Valley. My daughters are very active in the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance, and in our free time we like to spend time together as a family, including watching movies and playing board games. Cary and his family made it happen. Lehigh Valley made it possible. Cary Giacalone, @concannonmiller #lvmadepossible #lehighvalley #careers #ditchyourcommute #findyourpossible #accountingfirm #auditorproud #qualityoflife #big4accountant

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 8, 2019 at 7:09am PDT

View this post on Instagram

?? “I'm from northwestern New Jersey and I moved here for love, and I have to say, it wasn't a hard choice because the Lehigh Valley area has so much to offer, from downtown events, to woods and lakes, and everything in between.” “The area is rebounding from its older, manufacturing days and constantly evolving and bringing new opportunities, but also has a little bit of something for everyone whether it be the more urban downtown scene and events or the great outdoors. It's all here in the Lehigh Valley, or very close by.” “I love the pride that everyone has in making their community a better place and how there are so many ways to be a part of the community here, and its more than just living and working here. “ Favorite Lehigh Valley place: "I think everyone will probably say the @steelstacks_pa. It's just such a neat way to celebrate our history but also create new experiences and bring a community together.” – Kristen Kunath, Staff Recruiter, Ideal Concepts #lvmadepossible #findyourpossible #lehighvalley #recruiter #hr #lehighvalleyvoices #humanresources #community

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 17, 2019 at 7:32am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Four years after relocating to #LehighValley from New Jersey, Tyber Medical is continuing to grow and thrive, having announced plans recently for a $7 million expansion that will more than double the company’s workforce and size in the region. In total, the project is expected to create 35 new full-time, high-paying jobs, and allow for the retention of 51 existing jobs over the next three years. Tyber Medical was also recently named as the 2nd Fastest Growing Company in the Lehigh Valley during last week’s event from Lehigh Valley Business. Tyber manufactures orthopedic and spinal implants that address the industry’s need for rapid access to regulatory-cleared systems in the spine, trauma, and distal extremity markets. Made Possible in Lehigh Valley. #lvmadepossible #lehighvalley #tybermedical #medicaldevices #spinalhealth #manufacturing #findyourpossible

A post shared by Made Possible in Lehigh Valley (@lvmadepossible) on Oct 29, 2019 at 8:26am PDT