LVEDC Vice President of Administration and Investor Relations Jaime Whalen was named one of the LVB 2018 Women of Influence. (photo courtesy LVB)

Jaime Whalen, Vice President of Administration and Investor Relations for the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), has been recognized as one of the region’s 2018 Women of Influence honorees.

Additionally, Jane Long of Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, who serves as Chair of the LVEDC Board of Directors, has earned the Lifetime Achievement Award in this year’s Lehigh Valley Business (LVB) Women of Influence awards.

They, along with their 26 fellow nominees, will receive their awards during a May 9 ceremony at Cedar Crest College in Allentown. Click here for more information.

“To be affiliated with so many fantastic and strong female leaders in the Lehigh Valley is something I am very proud of and I don’t take it lightly,” Whalen said.

“I would like to congratulate my peers who are being honored this year, and I would also like to acknowledge all of the other professional female leaders and mentors around the Lehigh Valley,” she said. “The message I hope that all women receive from me is whether you are honored at events like these or not, your hard work is recognized and so very important.”

Whalen is responsible for managing support services at LVEDC, including corporate finance, human resources and information systems, as well as providing assistance with corporate strategy.

In addition to those duties, she is responsible for managing investor relations for the organization. Whalen first joined LVEDC in 2013 in the position of Director of Regional Finance Programs, and was promoted to her current position in 2016.

“Jaime has had a very distinguished nearly 20-year career in public service and community and economic development in various capacities here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of LVEDC.

“Jaime is the type of skilled and dedicated worker who quickly changes the culture and professionalism of any task she is assigned,” Cunningham said. “Her knowledge and experience in community and economic development and state and federal government is extensive, making her one of the top in her field, in both the Lehigh Valley and in Pennsylvania.”

Prior to joining LVEDC in 2013, Whalen served as a staff member to U.S. Rep. Paul McHale and Pennsylvania State Representative Richard Grucela and served as an economic development analyst in Northampton County’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

In her capacity as Vice President of Administration and Investor Relations, Whalen has led back-to-back record-breaking private investment years, Cunningham said. She has also reduced operating costs at LVEDC, allowing those funds to be used for marketing and recruitment of the Lehigh Valley economy instead of overhead.

“She is committed to the Lehigh Valley, it’s economy, and the well-being of its residents,” Cunningham said. “I am proud to have her as part of our team helping to grow the economy of the region. As a resident of the Lehigh Valley, I am grateful for the work that Jaime has done on behalf of all of us in her two decades of serving the region.”

Long is a shareholder at Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, and chair of the firm’s Corporate, Business & Banking Group. Her area of practice includes commercial real estate, financing, leasing, business entity formation and organization, business acquisitions and sales, and contracts.

For nearly 30 years, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba has served businesses and individuals throughout the Lehigh Valley from its Center Valley and Easton offices. Its high-quality services cover the areas of business, real estate, land use, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, estate planning and taxation, health care, employment, family law, and related areas.

Long began her term as Chair of the LVEDC Board of Directors in 2017, and has served on the board as a member since 2009. She had also previously held the positions of board secretary starting in 2013, and vice chair starting in 2015.

“Jane has been an integral part of our efforts to deliver on LVEDC’s mission of growing opportunity and creating jobs in the Lehigh Valley,” Cunningham said. “Most recently, she helped guide the organization through its implementation of our new three-year strategic plan. Her wisdom, guidance, and expertise has been invaluable to our organization.”

Click here to see the full list of winners from the 2018 LVB Women of Influence awards.