BETHLEHEM, Pa.- As the sixth largest chamber in the U.S., the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce certainly knows how to promote and advocate for local businesses.
It also knows how to party.
On Wednesday, the organization did both at its annual celebration at a packed Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem.
A poster promoting the event promised it won’t be like a typical annual meeting, and it was not; past years have provided an action-packed program blending information and entertainment, and 2026 was no different, featuring musical numbers, dancing, mascots (Gritty!) and even a legendary Philadelphia Eagle.
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Iannelli opened the event with a song, crooning “Break My Stride” while backed by the TimeWhys and WAHS Dancers. There was an outfit change for Iannelli (colorful blazer to personalized Lehigh Valley Phantoms jersey), the first of several, and then the show got down to business.
The awards
Milestone Awards were presented to the Gross McGinley law firm and WFMZ, both celebrating 50 years, and to Lafayette College, which marked the 200th anniversary of its founding this year.
Easton’s Lafayette College takes its name from the 18th-century French military officer the Marquis de Lafayette. But the school’s president, Nicole Hurd, who accepted the award on Thursday, said it’s a Lehigh Valley institution, through and through.
“This is home,” Hurd said. “And while we spent the last 18 months celebrating and had our big gala just a couple weeks ago where we announced $50 million in investment in the college and in our students in our future, I want you to hear me say loud and proud, not only has this been home for 200 years, it’ll be home for the next 200 years. We are the Lehigh Valley.”
Barry Fisher, president and general manager of WFMZ, while accepting the station’s award, noted that WFMZ went on the air on Thanksgiving Day in 1976. There would be some trying times in the years ahead, Fisher said. “There were times when we were in our fifth anniversary wondering if we’d have the sixth. Sometimes we were in our 10th anniversary and wondering if we’d have 11th. But here we are at 50.”
Forks Township-based Crayola was recognized as the 2026 Business of the Year. The company used to be known as Binney and Smith, named for its founders, cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Slate pencils were its first Lehigh Valley-made product, back in the year 1900.
Now, of course, Crayola is probably best known for its colorful crayons. It also produces a number of art supplies and toys, and President and CEO Pete Ruggiero said there’s more to come.
“We are about to launch into a phase of growth and transformation that will take this brand to where it really should be as a global brand and continue to put the Lehigh Valley on the map of where it all started,” Ruggiero said.
Miller Keystone Blood Center was named the chamber’s Nonprofit of the Year. President and CEO Rami Nemeh used a prop during his award acceptance speech- a 50-gallon barrel- to spotlight a volunteer in the audience who has donated 150 gallons of blood.
Although that particular donor may be the gold standard, there’s no such thing as a small donation. “We need an average of 350 blood donors to roll up their sleeves every single day to support our mission,” Nemeh said.
An Eagles Hall of Famer stops by
Sports fans in the audience got an early look at some of the players who will take the field for the Lehigh Valley Spirits, the professional indoor soccer club that debuts this year at the PPL Center in Allentown.
The players appeared on stage briefly with owners Rob and Jim Brooks, who also launched the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2014.
Also, Jefferson Health presented three $100,000 checks to the non-profits (Valley Youth House, Sodexo Stop Hunger, and Eagle Autism Foundation) that are benefiting from the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Golf Classic, which debuted in late September at the Lehigh Country Club.
And Eagles fans were treated to an appearance by Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Quick, who took part in what was billed as a motivational chat (“Nick & Quick”) with Iannelli and Jefferson Health Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Nick Ragone.
Quick, who has worked as a color commentator for the Eagles since 1998, talked about the team’s ups and downs and said fans shouldn’t lose heart.
“You’re going to have these down years that we’re having right now,” Quick said, “but because of the fiber (of the organization), it will come back, and it will not be a long-time fix. It’s going to be a short-time fix, and this organization will come back to prominence.”
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