The new incoming members of LVEDC Board of Directors include (left to right) Anne Baum, Gregory Dudkin, Gary Kinsey, Seth Vaughn, Wade Watson, and Barry Wentzel.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) will welcome six new members to its Board of Directors during the organization’s 2016 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 22.

Anne Baum, Vice President, Lehigh Valley at Capital Blue Cross; Gary Kinsey, manager, real estate and property management at Air Products; and Wade Watson, vice president and general manager at Mack Trucks; will be joining the 35-member LVEDC Board of Directors.

The board is also welcoming two new member appointed to fill unexpired terms: Gregory Dudkin, president of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation; and Barry Wentzel, Director, East Region at UGI Utilities.

Additionally, Seth Vaughn, vice president of Northampton County Council, will join the board as the council’s LVEDC designee.

“We are very pleased to welcome our new board members,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC President and CEO. “All of these individuals are very dedicated to economic growth in the Lehigh Valley, and their guidance, expertise, and support will be welcome additions to the Board of Directors.”

The 2016 LVEDC Annual Meeting will be held at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem starting at 5 p.m. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required.

Baum, Kinsey, and Watson will replace outgoing board members Angie Brong, director of facilities and property management at Air Products; Bruce Huegel, chief financial officer at B. Braun; and Marilyn Rettaliata, owner, Special Events Tent and Party Rentals. Their three-year terms ended this year.

Vaughn is replacing Margaret “Peg” Ferraro, past president of the Northampton County Council. Also departing from the board are Becky Eschbach, who has accepted a promotion to Director of Marketing Programs and Strategy at UGI Facilities, and L. Charles Marcon, the past president of the Lehigh Valley Partnership.

“We deeply appreciate the service of our outgoing board members,” Cunningham said. “They’ve helped our organization make great strides over the past few years, and have never wavered in their commitment to the Lehigh Valley or to our common goal of creating jobs here and growing the regional economy.”

Baum is the senior leader in the Capital BlueCross Lehigh Valley office, and has over 30 years of experience in healthcare, health insurance, consulting, and leadership/culture development.

“I am honored to join the LVEDC board and am looking forward to working with my fellow board members and the LVEDC team to continue the growth and development which makes the Lehigh Valley a great place to live, work and play,” Baum said. “When we moved here, we were struck by the cohesiveness of the business community, as well the community pride and spirit. We had never seen anything like it!”

Kinsey is responsible for managing the real estate and property management activities associated with Air Products’ industrial gas production facilities and product transportation pipelines.

“I would like to thank the LVEDC for the opportunity to participate in the board activities,” Kinsey said. “I am looking forward to working with the Board members to continue the LVEDC’s outstanding activities supporting the Lehigh Valley.”

Watson is responsible for Mack Trucks’ growth strategy, and previously served as Vice President of Operations for Volvo Powertrain Production, as well as Vice President of Quality & Customer Satisfaction.

“As a business leader, I think it is important to help guide the economic growth of our region with direct and current feedback from operating units within Lehigh Valley,” Watson said. “Personally, I find great self-development and learning opportunities working with community leaders all focused on the sustainable growth and prosperity of our region.”

Dudkin oversees the largest capital program in PPL Electric Utilities’ history, with investment of about $5 billion over the next five years, including major transmission expansion, local reliability improvements and increased deployment of advanced technology.

Vaughn has served on Northampton County Council since 2013, and also works as a physician assistant in the emergency department at St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Wentzel’s office at UGI Utilities oversees growth for new residential, commercial, and industrial conversion and new construction customers added to the UGI distribution system.