Don Bernhard, right, relaxes in a custom-engraved LVEDC rocking chair as LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunnigham extends his congratulations on his two years as chairman of the board during March 28^th’s LVEDC Annual Meeting at The Historic Hotel Bethlehem in front page photo.

Last week’s 2013 Annual Investors’ Meeting’s theme was “The Future of Economic Development in the Lehigh Valley and the Role of LVEDC.” And that’s exactly the message that was delivered to the packed house of investors, board members and partners who jammed the Hotel Bethlehem.

A quartet of LVEDC officials took turns enlightening the crowd. Some of the forward-thinking messaging follows.

“What is important is that we understand where the economy is going, strengthen our regional approach, improve our workforce training, continue to grow all of our downtowns and urban cores – that make us unique—and never stop working to improve.”

~Don Cunningham, president and CEO

“When our organization’s founders created LVEDC in 1995, they wanted the newly formed organization to be a marketing tool for the entire Lehigh Valley. Fast forward to now, and that is exactly what we’ve set out to do in 2013 – to beef up the marketing budget substantially and to promote the Lehigh Valley and its many business successes through a number of high-profile channels.”

~John McGran, vice president, marketing

“So many of the data that we will be aggregating over the next few months are available to anyone willing to look for them. The site selection industry grows more sophisticated every year, and they have access to all the same public data that we do. Our competitors have access to those data as well. If we want to effectively communicate the essential value of our region, we’ll need to develop new data and present them in novel ways.”

~Matthew Tuerk, director, research and innovation

“Some great ideas and great companies require the injection of more risk tolerant capital.  Peter Lynch, the renowned fund manager, argued that an investor should invest in what they know.  LVEDC is exploring an equity network to allow Lehigh Valley investors an opportunity to put their money on Main Street instead of Wall Street.”

~John Kingsley, vice president, finance

To read each presentation in its entirety, please visit

https://lehighvalley.org/2013-annual-investors-meeting-focuses-on-future-of-economc-growth-in-the-lehigh-valley/