The LVB Power 100 list highlights “those who make our laws, build our homes and highways, protect our health and safety, educate our children, support the vulnerable, and provide the spark that inspires innovation and economic growth.” (photo courtesy Lehigh Valley Business)

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Don Cunningham and nine members of the LVEDC Board of Directors have been included on the Lehigh Valley Business’ (LVB) Power 100, which seeks to highlight individuals who help “shape our communities and influence our quality of life.”

Don Cunningham

Cunningham said the inclusion of so many LVEDC representatives in the list highlights the importance of the organization’s efforts to grow the regional economy, particularly in the past year during the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis.

“The Lehigh Valley is in the midst of an economic renaissance, and so many of the individuals on LVB’s Power 100 list have helped to make that happen,” Cunningham said. “The LVEDC Board of Directors has played a pivotal role in maintaining the strong coalition for economic development that allows us to pursue creative initiatives that go beyond the economic development work in a typical region.”

LVEDC board members included in the list include:

• Anne Baum, Lehigh Valley Market President of Capital BlueCross
• Ann D. Bieber, President of Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Luke Cunningham, Chair of the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation
• Bob Donchez, Mayor of Bethlehem
• Anthony Iannelli, President & CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive
• Ray O’Connell, Mayor of Allentown
• Sal Panto, Jr., Mayor of Easton
• Scott Unger, Executive Director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation

“It’s a wonderful reflection on the ‘power’ of the LVEDC board when so many individuals from the organization have been included on this list,” Baum said. “The Lehigh Valley is fortunate to have so many engaged leaders are in the region who understand the importance of investing in economic growth.”

Bieber added: “It’s an honor to work with so many talented professionals on the LVEDC Board of Directors. Each bring their own unique talents and experiences to the board, but we all share the same goal of growing the Lehigh Valley economy and creating jobs for the region.”

The full Power 100 list can be found here. The selectees were chosen by the LVB editorial staff, and the list does not include any rankings, according to LVB Managing Editor Garry Lenton.

Lenton said the list seeks to highlight “those who make our laws, build our homes and highways, protect our health and safety, educate our children, support the vulnerable, and provide the spark that inspires innovation and economic growth.”

He added, “Our intent is to introduce our readers to the people who make the decisions. To do that, we asked them to introduce themselves, and share something personal, because no matter how high up the ladder they are, they’re all human.”

LVB’s Power 100 list said of Cunningham: “In his role at the LVEDC, Cunningham has been instrumental in the economic and cultural rebirth of the Lehigh Valley.”

The list compliments the quality and depth of business leadership in the Lehigh Valley, which was also the subject of a recent executive video interview series organized and released by LVEDC.

Cunningham interviewed nearly a dozen new leaders at some of the region’s largest companies and institutions as part of the series, which attracted more than 5,000 views. These 30-minute, one-on-one interviews can be found on LVEDC’s website and YouTube channel.

Three of the executives were featured in the series were also included in the Power 100 list: Todd Shamash, President & CEO of Capital BlueCross; Vince Sorgi, CEO of PPL Corp.; and Michael Spigel, President & CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.