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Lehigh Valley Business Announces 2025 Circle of Excellence Award Winners
Lehighton, PA – The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), proud partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, Executive Vice President of Affiliated Chambers, Easton & Phillipsburg, Bethlehem and the Northern Tier, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Lehigh Valley Business 2025 Circle of Excellence and Women of Influence award recipient! The Circle of Excellence Award is awarded annually to women of longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women based on professional achievement, community involvement and a commitment to inspiring change.
Since joining the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber in 2014, Jessica has played an instrumental role in strengthening business and community partnerships across the Lehigh Valley. Through her leadership, she has successfully led mergers and regionalization efforts that have expanded the Chamber’s reach and impact, reinforcing its mission to enhance economic growth and quality of communities throughout the region. Jessica and her dedicated team work tirelessly to connect key business and community leaders, ensuring collaboration and prosperity across all five counties the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber encompasses.
Jessica’s commitment to community development extends beyond her Chamber role. Over the years, she has been recognized for her efforts in fostering business growth and civic engagement, earning accolades such as the Lehigh Valley Business 2021 Women of Influence Award, 40 Under 40 Recognition, and being honored by the Saucon Valley Community Center for her leadership and contributions to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon area. She is also active with the Parkland Education Foundation. Her dedication and passion for regional progress continue to leave a lasting impact on the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We are incredibly proud of Jessica for receiving this well-deserved recognition,” said Kylie Adams-Weiss, Senior Vice President for the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation. “Her leadership, unwavering dedication, and passion for strengthening our local business communities exemplify the spirit of this award. She continues to be an inspiration and a driving force in shaping a thriving future for our region.”
Jessica, and her fellow awardees, will be formally honored at the Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence Awards Ceremony on May 14, 2025. The honorees are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement and commitment to the Greater Lehigh Valley area. To be eligible for the awards, the honorees must live or work in the Greater Lehigh Valley region.
The honorees were selected by a panel of judges comprised of previous years’ Circle of Excellence honorees and the Lehigh Valley Business editorial team.
For more information about the event or to join in celebrating this outstanding achievement, visit https://lvb.com/event/women-of- influence-awards/.
2025 Women of Influence
2025 Circle of Excellence
2025 Women to Watch
About the Chamber: The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation is a Proud Partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; our purpose is to advance balanced economic growth and quality-of-life solutions in Carbon County through sustained advocacy, programs and services for our members, key stakeholders and the communities we serve. The mission of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Area. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises. With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.
Since joining the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber in 2014, Jessica has played an instrumental role in strengthening business and community partnerships across the Lehigh Valley. Through her leadership, she has successfully led mergers and regionalization efforts that have expanded the Chamber’s reach and impact, reinforcing its mission to enhance economic growth and quality of communities throughout the region. Jessica and her dedicated team work tirelessly to connect key business and community leaders, ensuring collaboration and prosperity across all five counties the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber encompasses.
Jessica’s commitment to community development extends beyond her Chamber role. Over the years, she has been recognized for her efforts in fostering business growth and civic engagement, earning accolades such as the Lehigh Valley Business 2021 Women of Influence Award, 40 Under 40 Recognition, and being honored by the Saucon Valley Community Center for her leadership and contributions to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon area. She is also active with the Parkland Education Foundation. Her dedication and passion for regional progress continue to leave a lasting impact on the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We are incredibly proud of Jessica for receiving this well-deserved recognition,” said Kylie Adams-Weiss, Senior Vice President for the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation. “Her leadership, unwavering dedication, and passion for strengthening our local business communities exemplify the spirit of this award. She continues to be an inspiration and a driving force in shaping a thriving future for our region.”
Jessica, and her fellow awardees, will be formally honored at the Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence Awards Ceremony on May 14, 2025. The honorees are selected based on their professional experience, community involvement and commitment to the Greater Lehigh Valley area. To be eligible for the awards, the honorees must live or work in the Greater Lehigh Valley region.
The honorees were selected by a panel of judges comprised of previous years’ Circle of Excellence honorees and the Lehigh Valley Business editorial team.
For more information about the event or to join in celebrating this outstanding achievement, visit https://lvb.com/event/women-of- influence-awards/.
2025 Women of Influence
- Dianne R. Altieri, Keller Williams Real Estate Jaime R. Bassett, FD Design LLC
- Michelle Beck, New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Megan Beste, Taggart Associates
- Dr. Carol D. Birks, Allentown School District Cattima Cirksey, New Bethany
- Hannah Votta Coleman, Joyful Giving
- Melissa Confalone, Fraser Advanced Information Systems Cady Darago, Altitude Marketing
- Ania Fiduccia, All Service Concierge, Polka Dot Powerhouse, ONEHOPE Wine Lisa Harms, ArtsQuest
- Lisa Hoffman, Phoebe Ministries Christie Hurley, Alvin H. Butz Inc. Jennifer Kennedy, NAI Summit
- Jessica Klocek, RA, LEED AP BD+C, MKSD architects Nancy Knoebel, Danny’s Ride
- Michelle L. Kott, Bethlehem Police Department
- Dina Kovats-Bernat, Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley Ginger Kunkel, Tompkins Financial Corporation
- Emma Lacey, 6ycle Cycling Studio Casandra Magliane, YMI Insurance Inc. Abby Mahone, Moravian Academy Christine Martin, PPL Electric Utilities
- Amy Nyberg, Lehigh Valley Health Network – part of Jefferson Health Laura Pascoe, Fellowship Community
- Sarah Phillips, Irish Creek Enterprises Inc. Vanessa Rivera, Univest Bank
- Ashley Santiago, MSHRM, SHRM-CP, Valley National Financial Advisors Amanda Steele, Like the Metal, LLC/Community Services for Children Natalia Stezenko, IKEA
- Kimberly Stuckey, DesignPoint Inc.
- Maureen H. Thomson, CPA, CVA, MAFF, RKL LLP Kim A. Vandergrift, CPA, Herbein + Company Inc. Andrea C. Weismiller, Joshi Hotel Group
2025 Circle of Excellence
- Nancy W. Ahlum, Carol C. Dorey Real Estate
- Fusun Bubernack, ET&T
- Terri Lampe Melcher, Reading Area Community College
- Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
- LoriAnn Wukitsch, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
2025 Women to Watch
- Mykayla L. Biechy, PSECU Megan Braun, Victaulic
- Erica Butler, Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center Kelly Friedberg, Barry Isett & Associates Inc.
- Jessica S. Kaczinski, Gross McGinley LLP Molly MacDonald, Altitude Marketing Jenna Minetola, ArtsQuest
- Kirstin Reed, Lehigh Valley Health Network – part of Jefferson Health
About the Chamber: The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation is a Proud Partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; our purpose is to advance balanced economic growth and quality-of-life solutions in Carbon County through sustained advocacy, programs and services for our members, key stakeholders and the communities we serve. The mission of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Area. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises. With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.
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