Meet the Lehigh Valley's most influential people for 2026

A mural artist. A nonprofit founder. A street outreach coordinator. A Super Bowl champion.

All are among the most influential people in the Lehigh Valley.

For our inaugural list, we asked readers to nominate those who made an impact over the past year. You responded, sending in more than 350 entries.

There were some obvious contenders — professional athletes, government officials and community leaders. But many of your nominations were people who haven’t made headlines. These are the silent heroes who make the Lehigh Valley a great place to live, work, raise a family, and build a business.

Whittling down the list was a difficult endeavor. Morning Call reporters and editors voted based on the depth of the nomination and the scope of the person’s impact on the wider community.

And now, here’s The Morning Call’s list of most influential people in the Lehigh Valley for 2026.

Winston Alozie speaks at the Bethlehem NAACP’s 78th annual Freedom...

Winston Alozie speaks at the Bethlehem NAACP’s 78th annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Carol Andersen, Bloom CEO, concludes the celebration Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at New Covenant Christian Community in Bethlehem for women who have completed Bloom for Women Inc.’s two-year residential program. Bloom for Women is a nonprofit providing support to survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Saquon Barkley is inducted into the Whitehall Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 5,2025, at halftime during a Whitehall High School football game in Whitehall Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Krista Berardelli paints a rock to decorate the future community garden at the Upper Macungie Township Lifestyle Center on Thursday, Sept.12, 2024, after a groundbreaking ceremony for the center in Upper Macungie Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Megan Beste, previously a district director for former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, has refocused her work on nonpartisan advocacy and community relations, helping connect state and national nonprofit organizations with individuals and organizations in the Lehigh Valley. (Jeff Hartney /Contributed photo)

Jayne Anne Bissell holds Teddy on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in her home in Weisenberg Township. Bissell, a dog care manager at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, was nominated as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people for 2026. According to the nomination, she goes above and beyond her regular duties, working tirelessly for pups that would normally be overlooked or euthanized. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Jayne Anne Bissell sits with Murray, Arya, Dobby, Wonton and Cozy in her home Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Weisenberg Township. Bissell, a dog care manager at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, was nominated as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people for 2026. According to the nomination, she goes above and beyond her regular duties, working tirelessly for pups that would normally be overlooked or euthanized. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Jayne Anne Bissell sits with Mago on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in her home in Weisenberg Township. Bissell, a dog care manager at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, was nominated as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people for 2026. According to the nomination, she goes above and beyond her regular duties, working tirelessly for pups that would normally be overlooked or euthanized. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Dominick Boyd performs a dance piece titled “Pieces of a Broken Man” at Muhlenberg College’s “Response and Repair: Higher Education, Corrections, and Solidarity” conference on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Elizabeth DeOrnellas/The Morning Call)

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio stands in the Lehigh County Forensics Center on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in South Whitehall Township. Buglio created a system to help families who cannot afford a burial or cremation. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Lee Butz, chairman of Butz Construction, helped rally donations, to a tune of more than $450,000 for the Allentown School District’s newly opened planetarium, now called the Learning Dome, at Dieruff High School in Allentown on Friday August 23, 2019. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Dolly Butz picks out the perfect gift and wraps it with care on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, at an Allentown location for Operation Santa Claus, a program from the Lehigh County’s Office of Children and Youth to bring gifts to hundreds of disadvantaged children in the county. (Bob Yurko/Special to The Morning Call)

Sue Butz Stavin, the Emmaus High School field hockey coach, guides her team during a game against Bethlehem Catholic High School Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, at Bethlehem Catholic High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

The Mahoning Drive-In’s property and theater partner Virgil Cardamore stands in the film projection room. The much-loved Mahoning Drive-In is facing closure as a solar panel farm company is looking to take over the property. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Jabez Carrasquilla started a DJ program for teens with the Boys and Girls Club. Has been an inspiration for the youth and young adults around the Lehigh valley for more than 10 years. (Jabez Carrasquilla/Contributed Photo)

Tattoo artist Christian Colon sits at his tattoo station inside his studio on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Bethlehem. Colon was nominated as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Tattoo artist Christian Colon shows samples of embroidery decals he provides in addition to tattooing at his studio on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Bethlehem. Colon was nominated as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Saucon Valley’s Talitha Diggs, left, poses with her mother, Joetta Clark Diggs, at a training session in Easton on May 21, 2017. Joetta Clark Diggs is a four-time U.S. Olympian who runs a foundation dedicated to youth fitness. (Mark Wogenrich/The Morning Call)

Gloria Domina, a Lehigh Valley Music Awards director, records a music video featuring the song “The Warrior” at the PigPenFun Bar on Tilghman Street in Allentown on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2019. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Former Bethlehem Mayor and Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, now president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., speaks Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, during the swearing-in of new Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel. (April Gamiz / The Morning Call)

Kyle Edwards speaks Saturday, June 28, 2025, during a celebration for improvements at Allentown’s Stevens Park, including a full-sized basketball court and community mural. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)

Family members Taylor Faidley, Samantha Griffin, Bill Faidley, and Angela Faidley pose with a photo of Amanda Faidley Layton, who passed away from cancer in 2018, on Saturday, July 30, 2022, during the first Mandee’s Lunchbox Cornhole Tournament at Rising River Brewery in Macungie. Mandee’s Lunchbox is a non-profit that gives tiny tin lunchboxes filled with restaurant gift cards to adults in cancer treatment. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Dawn Fenner, left, and Tammie Rinker are seen in Essentials Cafe, the business they run together, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Bethlehem. The cafe is the first first pay-what-you-can eatery in the Lehigh Valley. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Victoria Fields signs a tribute poster for Renee Good, the 37-year-old woman fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Fields organized a vigil on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 at the Hamilton Business Center in Allentown where she works as the CEO of a marketing agency and co-founder of a coworking space. (Elizabeth DeOrnellas/The Morning Call)

Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equality Project, shows off a flyer during National Coming Out Day Saturday, Oct., 11, 2025, at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Moravian University President Bryon L. Grigsby speaks Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, during the Moravian Church Settlements Inscription Ceremony at Moravian University’s Foy Concert Hall in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Liesel Gross is the CEO of the Lehigh County Authority. (Photo by Lifetouch Inc., courtesy Lehigh County Authority)

Matt Halm speaks Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, about the mural he created for the Bethlehem World Heritage community celebration. The city and the Moravian settlements organization hosted the event commemorating the Moravian Church Settlements recognition as a UNESCO world heritage site. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Janaja D. Harris, 26, is the owner of XFires KitchenX, a pop-up catering business. Harris provided complimentary meals to individuals facing food insecurity due to the delay in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Photo taken at Hampton Winds Restaurant, a student-run, fine-dining establishment, at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Janaja D. Harris interacts playfully with Jacqui Stackhouse, assistant director of employer engagement on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Hampton Winds Restaurant, a student-run, fine-dining establishment at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. Harris, 26, is the owner of XFires KitchenX, a pop-up catering business. She provided complimentary meals to individuals facing food insecurity due to the delay in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Michael Hawkins, CEO at Netizen Corp, speaks Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, during a news conference at the Northampton County office of U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Carolina Hernandez, assistant dean and director of Community Service at Lehigh University, is surrounded by furniture getting ready to be sold Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Bethlehem. The items were being sold during Lehigh University’s Great Southside Sale. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert speaks during a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown to announce a partnership between ArtsQuest and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Kari Holmes, a pastor with City of Hope Church, speaks Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, during Rebuild the Dream, a tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., at Union Baptist Church in Allentown. (David Garrett/The Morning Call)

Jenae Holtzhafer, founder and executive director of The Kindness Project. (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call)

Volunteer Joan Howe of Bethlehem Township helps assembles signs for canvasing with Lehigh Valley for All at Steelworkers Union Hall in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Rev. Peter Keady poses for a portrait Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Palmer Municipal Fire Department. Keady launched a business, First Responder Chaplain Corps LLC, which works to provide area police and fire departments with chaplains. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Justin Keiper is a funeral director of Cantelmi Funeral Home in Bethlehem. (Elaine Zelker/Contributed Photo)

Rick Koze, CEO of Kay Builders, explains how Kay Builders has a design center that displays all the custom choices available in the Indian Creek Community located in Emmaus. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Riley Kreuzer speaks on the issue of homelessness and trash at Jordan Meadows Park on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Andrea Kushnir of Orefield smiles as her two sons, Keegan, 3, and Leo, 2, are dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day outfits Sunday, March 20, 2022, before the 63rd Allentown St. Patrick’s Parade. (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call)

Raymond G. Lahoud is an immigration lawyer with a global practice focused on corporate and employment immigration issues as well as immigration litigation. (File photo/Lynn Goodwin)

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie speaks Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at a Uline warehouse in Lower Macungie Township before an address by Vice President JD Vance on the economy. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Building 21 alumni Destiny Santiago, left and Yanalit Maldonado attend and listen during a town hall meeting. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Atlanta Hawks player and Allen Alumni, Tyrese Martin, center, poses with students at a free basketball camp at the Allen High School gym in Allentown. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

Denise Martinez, stands Saturday, Dec. 11, 2020, at the D and L Trailhead in Slatington. (Rich Hundley III/Special to The Morning Call)

Victor Martinez, owner of La Mega Radio station in Allentown, talks Wednesday, April 10, 2024, about his radio show. He had recently become something of a national figure in Latino Democratic politics, visiting the White House, having Vice President Kamala Harris call into his show and appearing on CNN. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure speaks with William Knecht of Bangor on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Slate Belt Senior Community Center in Bangor, where seniors can obtain vouchers for the senior food program. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Brooke McDermott, lead organizer with Indivisible Lehigh Valley Bethlehem, speaks during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Rose Garden in Bethlehem. The rally was one of several in the Lehigh Valley held that day. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Red McFly is the first rapper from Allentown to sign a record deal, with diamond artist French Montana. (Rob Kandel/The Morning Call)

Jill Meyers of the Center City Group talks with an Allentown resident about the plans for development of the Allentown State Hospital grounds at the East Side Youth Center. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)

State Sen. Nick Miller speaks during a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, for Walnut Square Apartments in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley addresses the crowd during a “die-in” for health care Monday, July 7, 2025, at Third and Wyandotte Park in Bethlehem. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Colleen O’Neal is seen in her home located in Easton’s West Ward. (Amy Herzog/The Morning Call)

Hanna O’Reilly is a content creator for Discover Lehigh Valley. (Hanna O’Reilly/Contributed Photo)

Then Easton City Council candidate Frank Pintabone speaks Tuesday, April 18, 2023, during a candidates’ night sponsored by the Easton South Side Civic Association at Greater Shiloh Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. (Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)

Jose Rivera, a volunteer with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, helps take thousands of donated diapers into storage in preparation for a second pandemic wave. (Kayla Dwyer/The Morning Call)

School police Officer Stephen Schleig gathers local leaders prior to the start of Easton Leadership Day Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Cheston Elementary School in Easton. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)

Clementine Jorge and Alex Reyes, both from Allentown walk with Kenny Screven of Hellertown during the Lehigh Valley Pride 2021 at the Jewish Community Center Sunday, August 15, 2021 in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Josh Siegel speaks Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, during his swearing-in ceremony for Lehigh County executive at The Boys and Girls Club of Allentown Cumberland Gardens Clubhouse. (April Gamiz / The Morning Call)

Abby Silfies accepts the Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of 2023 Women’s Summit Planning Committee from Laurie Hackett at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Northwestern Lehigh’s head coach Josh Snyder talks to players Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, during the game against Bangor at Northwestern’s Tiger Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Tiffany Sondergaard was instrumental in YWCA Allentown communications and donor acquisition efforts in celebration of their 25th year anniversary which resulted in a sold-out guest list, extensive media coverage and the highest single donor gift of the year. (Tiffany Sondergaard/Contributed Photo)

The Very Rev. Jon Stratton Dean and Rector of The Cathedral Church of the Nativity speaks Thursday, June 26, 2025, during a rally at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem. The event was hosted by coalition of Lehigh Valley organizations including Muslim Youth Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America and the Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern, in protest of the U.S.-backed bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk speaks Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, during a City Hall news conference announcing Allentown has been selected as a Spotlight City by Work for America. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Keela Vincent speaks Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, during a panel discussion at the Boys and Girls Club of Easton. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Hannah Vote Coleman is the founder of the nonprofit Joyful Giving. (Charlotte Joy Coleman/Contributed Photo)

George Wacker, creator of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, in 2021. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

John Wescoe says a prayer as Chuck Deprill stands next to him Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, during the Corey and Kimberly’s Ride event in Alburtis. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Dean Young speaks Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, during a panel discussion at the Boys and Girls Club of Easton on how rising prices are hurting families and “greedflation,” the idea that corporations are using inflation as cover to raise prices and rake in record profits. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

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Winston Alozie speaks at the Bethlehem NAACP’s 78th annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

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Winston Alozie

Alozie is a leader in the Bethlehem community, serving as executive director of the Boys & Girls Club and as a Bethlehem Area School Board member. He provides music in various places of worship as minister of music at St. John A.M.E. Zion Church and others. He is well-known throughout the community for his compassion and humility.

Carol Andersen

As founder and CEO of Bloom for Women, a nonprofit providing support for survivors of human trafficking, Anderson secured dedicated funding from the Lehigh County district attorney’s office to assist survivors who also have opioid use disorder; partnered with the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to create safe, meaningful employment opportunities for survivors through PA 211; and created an advocacy initiative that positions Bloom as a statewide leader in survivor-centered policy work.

Saquon Barkley

Barkley’s journey from a small-town kid in Coplay to a Super Bowl-winning football star shows that hard work and determination can overcome obstacles. Beyond football, Barkley supports youth programs, donates to charities, and speaks out about mental health and social justice. His humility, community involvement and commitment to excellence make him more than just a great athlete — he’s a role model who motivates others to pursue their goals and give back to others.

Krista Berardelli

In 2025, Berardelli, business development director for Agentis Plumbing in Bethlehem, launched the nonprofit Rock to Remember to benefit brain cancer awareness, in honor of her father, Tony. She’s the recipient of multiple awards, including a Lehigh Valley Business 40 Under 40 honoree and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Young Professionals Council Most Influential Social Media Award.

Kristen Bertucci

A certified mental health peer specialist and HR director for Bethlehem-based Recovery Partnership, Bertucci has long been an advocate for individuals living with mental illness. During the Pennsylvania budget impasse, she lobbied for continued mental health funding and services, working to ensure the community is aware of the impact of underfunding social services on individuals experiencing mental illness and homelessness.

Megan Beste

Beste, district director for former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, has refocused her work on nonpartisan advocacy and community relations, helping connect state and national nonprofit organizations with individuals and organizations in the Lehigh Valley. She also works to encourage and support community members, especially women, people of color and young professionals, to run for public office for the first time.

Jayne-Anne Bissell

As dog care manager at the Sanctuary at Haafsville, Bissell works to save dogs and other animals. In 2025 alone, she rescued and placed into foster or had adopted hundreds of dogs, and even pigs and goats. She advocates for special-needs animals, works with law enforcement to rescue neglected animals and has made significant improvements to Haafsville’s shelter.

Vanessa Boulette

Boulette, of Wind Gap, had a far-reaching impact on the Lehigh Valley in 2025. She mentored first-time candidates for office, offering strategic guidance and financial assistance that allowed campaigns to remain competitive and organized. She helped develop Lehigh Valley Young Democrats, organized and supplied poll workers, and played a key role in revitalizing inactive civic groups, helping to lead to increased participation in the 2025 election in Northampton County.

Dominick Boyd

Boyd is a dance instructor for Born into the Arts dance studio in Allentown, where he works with children from all backgrounds. Boyd’s positive energy, dedication and influence hellp motivate children to explore their creativity and stay connected to something meaningful. He has built a dance studio that embodies inclusivity, creativity and community. Through his vision, students from all backgrounds and income levels have access to dance instruction and the opportunity to experience the arts in a meaningful way.

Daniel A. Buglio

As Lehigh County’s coroner, Buglio has had a visible presence, providing support to county residents at their worst possible time. He held a burial for unclaimed cremation remains and hired two bereavement coordinators to work directly with families, offering one-on-one assistance.

Lee & Dolly Butz

Lee and Dolly Butz are lifelong philanthropists whose impact can be seen throughout the Lehigh Valley. In 2025, they received the Lifetime Achievement Award from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the Take Hold Award from DeSales University. Both are graduates of Allentown High School.

Sue Butz Stavin

In 2025, Stavin began her 50th season leading the Emmaus High School field hockey dynasty. She has presided over the nation’s most successful program, having won more than 1,000 games and 15 state titles.

Seth Campbell

As director of Street Meds, Campbell has helped shape how the region responds to people experiencing homelessness, substance-use emergencies, serious mental illness and gaps in access to health care. In 2025, Street Meds expanded engagement in encampments and hard-to-reach areas, reducing unnecessary emergency room use and repeat 911 calls; strengthened cross-agency collaboration with local providers, shelters and first responders to move people from crisis to stabilization; and modeled a humane, evidence-based approach that other organizations in the Valley increasingly look to as best practice.

Duvan Cano

As tenant advocate and organizer at Community Action Development Bethlehem, Cano helps mediate landlord tenant disputes, connect renters with supportive services and keep folks housed. He helped households avoid eviction and connected them with legal, rental or utility assistance. He had a 100% resolution rate for the 17 landlord disputes he mediated.

Virgil Cardamone

Cardamone has worked for 10 years to build the Mahoning Drive-In Theater from a business that was on the verge of closing to a thriving community where movie fans from around the country gather to make friends, share experiences and revel in their fandom. He has brought together a team that makes the drive-in feel like a home away from home for many people.

Jabez Carrasquilla

A disc jockey, radio host and entrepreneur, Carrasquilla is a role model for youth. Also known as “Bez Musiq,” he started a DJ program for teens at the Boys and Girls Club, and started a free program for Allentown children who are interested in the arts and music.

Marisa Carrodo
As development director of the Eastern PA Heart Walks for the American Heart Association, Carrodo has organized two of the largest Heart Walks in the region at Lehigh Valley Zoo, raising critical funds, advancing research and supporting families facing cardiac crises. Through her work, she is also building a nation of lifesavers by ensuring households are prepared for emergencies through CPR training.
Tiffany Castillo

The owner of Cozy Corner Counseling in Easton, Castillo has created a welcoming space for children, teens, mothers, families and others. She is an advocate, leader and an inspiration who gives back to her community through events such as Beyond the Break, which offered free screenings, workshops and resources.

Joetta Clark Diggs

An Olympic track star and Lehigh Valley native, Diggs is a motivational speaker and founder of the Joetta Clark Diggs Foundation. She returned to competition in 2025, breaking the American Masters’ record for the 100-meter dash at the regional championship at 62 years old. And recently, at age 63, she broke another record in the American indoor 200 meter for women ages 60-64.

Christian Colon

Owner of C23 Ink Tattoo Studio, Colon is a role model to the community and other tattoo artists. He organizes a monthly community activity at his shop, and donates proceeds to nonprofit organizations. He is changing the way tattoo artists are viewed through his outreach.

Don Cunningham

A former mayor of Bethlehem and Lehigh County executive, now president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., Cunningham has been a central figure in the region’s continued economic revival as it rebounded from the loss of heavy industry into a top market for economic development. Last year, Site Selection magazine, a leading industry publication, ranked the Lehigh Valley as the No. 3 mid-sized market in the nation for economic development, and regional employment reached record highs.

Chuck Deprill

Deprill is founder of Corey and Kimberly’s Ride Continues, a nonprofit that raises awareness, offers solutions and provides resources to those affected by substance use disorder. He is known to many in Upper Macungie Township, having been a volunteer first responder since the age of 14. He spent about 12 years at Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Company and continues to work at Cetronia Ambulance Corps, where he’s been for 56 years.

Andrea Swarat and Sarah Dinan

This sister-duo started a nonprofit called USA Replay, formerly Nazzy Replay, that takes mildly used sports equipment and redistributes it at no cost to kids who need it. They also fund a scholarship for a graduating high school senior through their organization. In addition to providing sports equipment to those in the community, they also help improve access to mental wellness and volunteer opportunities.

Daniel Djuro Goiricelaya
As director of arts integration of Arts Academy Elementary Charter School and member of the Allentown Arts Commission, Djuro Goiricelaya builds bridges between education, culture and civic life through the power of expression. He is the co-founder of El Patio de Mi Casa, an artist-centered community initiative, and La Casita de Bambu, a creative residency program that fosters collaboration among local and international artists.
Gloria Domina

Domina has worked in the community for more than 40 years as a volunteer and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for abuse victims, homeless people and children with severe illness. In 2025, she was recognized as Northampton County Volunteer of the Year for her work. As a music producer and visual artist, she has donated her time and talent to a variety of organizations. She is also a mentor and advocate for young people in learning about the music industry.

Kyle Edwards

In addition to being a highly sought-after commissioned muralist and owner of Inkwell LLC, an art incubator in Allentown, Edwards has worked to help reinvigorate downtown Allentown with community-building events and art programming. He is a member of the Allentown Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the vice chair of the newly formed Downtown Allentown Alliance and a member of the Allentown Arts Commission.

Angela Faidley

Besides running the Out of Our Minds Arts Studio, Faidley is the organizer of the Macungie Halloween Parade and serves on a variety of committees. She also runs the nonprofit Mandee’s Lunchbox, in honor of her daughter Amanda, which helps adults fighting cancer with lunchboxes of treats during treatment. She gives away $4,000 per month in gift cards to adults and caregivers fighting cancer.

Dawn Fenner

Fenner is the director of Bethlehem’s Essentials Cafe, a pay-what-you-can community cafe. She welcomes everyone with a delicious meal, regardless of their ability to pay. She has a consistent group of volunteers who give their time to her and the cafe, a testament to her leadership and personality.

Victoria Fields

In 2025, Fields continued to shape the Lehigh Valley through entrepreneurship, cultural advocacy and community leadership. As co-owner of Agency Cowork and CEO of Victoria Fields Agency, she provided strategic marketing, brand elevation and business development support for local entrepreneurs. She also expanded the reach of her nonprofit, the Agency Arts & Culture Alliance, promoting arts access, multicultural programming and creative equity across the region.

Corinne Goodwin

In 2025, as executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, Goodwin helped keep more than 50 people in secure housing, helped 67 people with utilities and other costs, provided more than 3,400 meals and provided gender-affirming clothing to 39 people. The organization also paid for legal name changes, provided mentorships and scholarships, trained 2,500 people on cultural competency and other topics, and coordinated 4,000 signatures to petition the governor to take action to protect trans health care access.

Bryon L. Grigsby

As Moravian University president, Grigsby has overseen a 51% increase in enrollment since 2014, making Moravian the fastest growing university in the region and the fifth-fastest growing college in the country. Among his recent achievements was the opening last year of the Haupert Union Building, a “HUB” for students, faculty and staff.

Liesel Gross

As CEO of the Lehigh County Authority, Gross has had a direct, measurable impact on public health, environmental protection, and the region’s long-term sustainability. , During her time as CEO, LCA has advanced some of the most significant infrastructure initiatives in Lehigh Valley’s recent history, including a multiyear, multi-hundred-million-dollar regional wastewater planning and investment effort to modernize aging sewer systems, protect waterways and ensure the Lehigh Valley is positioned for sustainable growth.

Matt Halm

Halm is a visionary mural artist whose work has become an integral part of the cultural identity of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. He completed the Moravian mural in Bethlehem, honoring the city’s new designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most recently, he was commissioned by Walmart to create a 27,000-square-foot mural at the Walmart Headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, the largest mural in the state.

Zekay Hamoui

Hamoui is a soup kitchen supervisor who is dedicated to serving the homeless with compassion and commitment. Every day, Hamoui steps into the kitchen not simply to prepare meals, but to create dignity, hope and connection for those who have been forgotten by society. To him, caregiving is not a task; it is a promise.

Janaja D Harris

Chef and owner of Fires Kitchen LLC, Harris started her own catering business from scratch and gives back by making meals for those in need. During the federal government shutdown, she provided complimentary meals to individuals facing food insecurity due to the delay in SNAP benefits.

Michael Hawkins

As CEO of Netizen Corp., Hawkins has supported the Lehigh Valley’s veteran population through donations and support to service agencies. He was recognized by Northampton County College with an Excellence in Internships award for providing job shadowing, paid internships and hiring of dozens of interns from that school. He is an adjunct professor of computer science at LCCC and also an investor and adviser with the Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, who seek to invest and grow cutting-edge startups in the Lehigh Valley.

Carolina Hernandez

Hernandez is assistant dean and director of Community Service at Lehigh University, where she has worked to build a bridge between Lehigh and the south Bethlehem community. Under her leadership, nearly 2,700 students participate in service across the Lehigh Valley every year. She organized the Fountain Hill Elementary School Food Pantry and oversees cornerstone programs like the Great South Side Sale, which diverts tons of usable goods from landfills each year while raising funds for local nonprofits.

Kassie Hilgert

Under her leadership as CEO, ArtsQuest has become a place where individuals from all backgrounds can experience the transformative power of the arts. She has expanded spaces that not only welcome and inspire artists but also enrich our community with creativity, energy, and opportunity. In doing so, she has positioned Bethlehem as a vibrant destination.

Kari Holmes
As executive director of The Rising Sun Initiative, Holmes’ work bridges humanitarian relief; diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; and artistic expression, leaving a lasting impact across the Lehigh Valley and beyond as a cornerstone of growth. In 2025, she championed the celebration of “The 125th Anniversary of Lift Every Voice and Sing,” honoring Lehigh Valley African-American educators and leaders. She also launched a civic engagement initiative mobilizing Latino voters.
Jenae Holtzhafer

Holtzhafer is founder and executive director of The Kindness Project, a nonprofit that serves the foster care community. In 2025, she expanded the organization’s outreach to ensure even more foster families receive essential goods, during a time when the foster care system continues to face rising demand. She also introduced “lasting experience” initiatives, giving foster kids opportunities for joy, connection and normalcy through activities like sports participation, arts programs and family outings. She also launched a Mobile Boutique, created to reach foster families in remote or underserved areas.

Joan Howe

Howe is a dedicated volunteer and co-chair of the popular AAUW annual book sale. During election season, she spent weekends canvassing neighborhoods to get out the vote. She has hosted many local candidates in her home, regardless of their party, and has arranged for many speakers to present timely topics at AAUW meetings and puts out a newsletter regularly discussing specific current events. She was a teacher for many years at Hanover Elementary School in Bethlehem.

Peter Keady

Founder of First Responder Chaplain Corps, Keady has since started a partnership with many fire departments, police departments and EMS stations. He is on scene, being there for the first responders and checking in after. Keady sees his first duty as running toward those police officers and firefighters, and offers consolation if and when it’s sought. His role is as a spiritual counselor without being overtly spiritual.

Justin Keiper

Keiper is funeral director of Canelmi Funeral Home in Bethlehem. In 2025, he was runner-up for Funeral Director of the Year by American Funeral Director Magazine. He was named to the “40 Under 40” list by Lehigh Valley Business and won the Exceptional Leadership Award from the American Heart Association. His impact on the Lehigh Valley community goes far beyond his professional role, serving on multiple nonprofit boards and starting Heart and Healing, a grief support group offered in partnership with the Cancer Support Community.

Rick Koze

Koze and his team at Kay Builders helped Valley Youth House rebuild Camp Fowler, a 43-acre camp in Orefield, all through charitable contributions. The $5 million project spanned 2019 to 2025 and involved many contractors, companies and community donors.

Riley Kreuzer

Krezuer is manager of Street Outreach for the Lehigh Conference of Churches, and plays a central role in the region’s street-level crisis response, outreach and stabilization work. In 2025, his leadership was visible across multiple high-needs areas in the Valley, and was on the front lines helping homeless people who were evicted from encampments in Allentown and Bethlehem. He is a critical connector between Street Meds, Community Connections, New Bethany, shelters, county agencies and law enforcement.

Andrea Kushnir

Kushnir is founder of Leo’s League Pediatric Cancer Fund, a nonprofit she started after her son Leo was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a pediatric kidney cancer, for which he is in remission. The group’s mission is to help relieve the stress of families battling pediatric cancer and allow them to concentrate on treatment and their loved one by providing support, advocacy and financial assistance.

Mallory Kutz

Known as Ms. Motorama 2025, Kutz is a race car driver and ambassador for women in the sport of racing. She launched Queens Who Care, mobilizing pageant queens to participate in their own drives, and together they donated more than 1,000 essential items to Third Street Alliance. She led a seminar that brought together women to talk openly about what inspires them and what challenges them in motorsports and beyond. Through her brand, SpeedArt Creations, she has showcased more than 400 female racers through calendars, artwork and custom coloring books.

Raymond G. Lahoud

Lahoud, an immigration attorney and managing partner of Lahoud Law Group PC, has been influential in Lehigh Valley elections, funding campaigns on both sides of the political aisle. He also contributed heavily to Lehigh Valley colleges and nonprofits. He’s built one of the region’s fastest-growing law firms, handling immigration matters for more than 2,000 clients in 2025. Through the EB-5 program, he was responsible for foreign investments in the Lehigh Valley that exceed $250 million.

Ryan Mackenzie

The first-term congressman from the Lehigh Valley took office after flipping the 7th District red for the first time since 2018. Representing one of the biggest swing districts nationwide, Mackenzie has emerged as a key vote in the closely divided U.S. House. He supported President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act and became an outspoken critic of Northampton County’s rules for ICE agents on county property. He also broke from party lines to support measures that would extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Yanalit Maldonado

Maldonado is a case manager at Valley Youth House’s children’s emergency homeless shelter, where she provides vital support to youth and families experiencing crisis. She is a stabilizing presence who helps youth build essential life skills, strengthen their confidence, and connect with the resources they need to move toward safety and stability.

Kayla Marfehka

As a social media influencer, Marfehka has continued to grow and expand Lehigh Valley with Littles and has created a positive space for parents and caretakers of kids in the area. She has collaborated with many businesses and groups.

Colleen Marshall

Marshall is a community leader and organizer. For years, she has been coordinating more than 50 volunteers to buy school supplies, holiday gifts and more for the children at Pinebrook Family Answers. During the government shutdown when SNAP benefits were delayed, she mobilized her network to donate hundreds of pounds of food to fill blessing boxes through Hellertown and Bethlehem every day. She recruited a team of 12 volunteers to help with delivery efforts

Tyrese Martin

An Allentown native playing with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, Martin has been instrumental in giving opportunities to student-athletes on both the Allen High School boys and girls basketball programs. He has bought sneakers, meals, provided busing to Allen students for the semifinal playoff game, and tickets for a trip to an NBA game.

Denise Martinez

As founder and CEO of the Slatington nonprofit Caring DAM Hearts, Martinez helps hundreds of homeless people, veterans and others in need. She runs clothing giveaways, has events like Project Warm & Cozy and a children’s Christmas party, and runs a store called Caring Hearts Clothing Closet and More, where everything is free.

Victor Martinez

Martinez, owner of La Mega radio station and host of its morning radio show, has been a major influence in the Lehigh Valley’s Spanish-speaking community. He supports, educates and encourages Latinos to go out and vote. He has brought Univision, Telemundo and CNN to discuss the Latino community in the Lehigh Valley, and broadcast from the White House during the 2024 election. He also hosts free events for the community.

Matthew McClanahan

He has overseen the revitalization of the historic Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre in Oreland, garnering national attention from “Good Morning America,” CNBC, Variety, the Associated Press, and NPR — in 2025 alone. He works to ensure the theater operates correctly and efficiently, always working on projects to maintain and enhance the theatrical experience.

Lamont G. McClure

McClure concluded his second term as Northampton County executive, having served in that role for eight years, following 10 years on County Council. In his final year as executive, the county achieved a benchmark of 20,000 acres of preserved farmland. During his tenure, the county, without raising taxes, promoted economic growth and advocated for light manufacturing.

Brooke S. McDermott

As lead organizer for the progressive group Indivisible Lehigh Valley-Bethlehem, McDermott helmed a new, developing political movement in the region for which she had no experience. Indivisible became a vocal presence on the political scene, participating in multiple protests that drew thousands of people.

Red McFly

He is the first rapper from Allentown to sign a record deal, with diamond artist French Montana. He has used his success to support his community and has been putting Allentown on the map in the rap world. He made history with his hip-hop on the wall exhibit, bringing an Andy Warhol work to the city and by releasing the first hip-hop art book with lyrics, artwork and a full soundtrack.

Jill Meyers

Meyers is the architectural force behind the newly formed Downtown Allentown Alliance, serving as the bridge between a vision for a better downtown and its tangible reality. As DAA acting director, she transformed a complex set of ideas into a fully operational nonprofit organization.

Nick Miller

At only 27, Miller in 2022 became the youngest person elected to the Pennsylvania state Senate in more than 135 years. Since then, he has become a reliable advocate for the Lehigh Valley, helping to secure more than $11.7 million in PENNVEST funding to address PFAS contamination in Emmaus and delivering $1 million for a study of how to improve the Route 22 corridor. He also is the youngest person to hold a leadership position in the state Senate, having been elected to serve as chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

Carlee Nelson

In 2025, Nelson made an extraordinary impact on the Lehigh Valley through her leadership of Freedom First Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit in Bethlehem. She led her organization to save more than 200 dogs — many of them medical cases, neglected animals or high-risk “death-row” dogs pulled from under-resourced Southern shelters. She expanded the rescue’s reach in 2025 by organizing multiple major community fundraisers, volunteer events, educational initiatives and partnerships with local businesses.

Chris Page

Chris Page has run Betty Lou’s Food Pantry at St. John Church in Coopersburg for more than 20 years, making sure people who are food insecure have food for their families. A small-business owner, he has coordinated food pickups and volunteers for a pantry that fees more than 100 families each month. He also has a major role in organizing the annual Coopersburg Community Day.

Mark Pinsley

In 2025, Lehigh County’s elected controller helped persuade the district attorney to take another look at the case of a man convicted of fatally shaking his daughter to death on the basis of inconsistent testimony, ultimately leading to the man’s release after a decade in prison. Prior to that, Pinsley had authored a report examining potential cases of child abuse misdiagnoses in the Lehigh Valley, which led to more than two dozen families filing lawsuits. Those cases became the subject of a three-part New York Times Serial podcast.

Colleen O’Neal

A resident of Easton, O’Neal organized and led a coalition of neighbors opposing the Wood Avenue warehouse proposed in Easton and Wilson. The Stop Wood Ave Warehouse coalition has worked to educate the community, turn out in force at more than 10 public meetings and pressured political leaders to listen to residents. The warehouse was denied by Easton officials, and the plans are now the subject of a legal fight.

Hanna O’Reilly

O’Reilly is the go-to influencer if you want to be influenced on the best places to go and the best things to do around the Lehigh Valley. Her online presence spans every social media channel you can think of. As content creator for Discover Lehigh Valley, she is a consistent light throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Frank Pintabone

As a business owner and Easton City Council member, Pintabone has for the last 13 years organized a Thanksgiving turkey and meal giveaway that benefits hundreds. In addition, he has joined other nonprofits to collect toys for children in need. Pintabone holds community meetings for residents to express their concerns or just give updates on what’s going on around the city. “When he hears someone has any type of issue, he reaches out to help and make sure it’s corrected,” wrote one nominator. “His actions always speak louder than words, he shows up and stays.”

Jose Rivera

As a community engagement coordinator with the United Way, Rivera has helped to enhance the communities in the region, by working with multiple agencies for better parks and more affordable housing, and working in the reentry space to improve individuals’ ability to make a living and contribute to the communities they may have harmed.

Mary Rooney

Rooney dedicated more than 750 volunteer hours to protecting and improving the Little Lehigh Watershed. As president of the Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards, she leads a team of dedicated volunteers in initiatives that go far beyond data collection. She has been instrumental in advancing road salt education and advocacy; strengthened partnerships across the region; mobilized volunteers; and inspired countless individuals to take action for healthier streams. She also co-founded and chairs the PA Road Salt Action Working Group, a statewide coalition advocating for responsible salt use and legislative solutions to protect drinking water and ecosystems.

Skyelar Ryan

Skyelar is a 17-year-old Emmaus High School student in the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit classroom. She has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, but none of that has stopped her. This past year, she competed in the Pennsylvania Miss Amazing Pageant, a pageant for women and girls with disabilities. She was crowned the Teen Queen of DC and went to Chicago nationals, where she was a finalist. In October, she ran a food drive on her own, collecting 989 pounds of food. She also is a member of EHS Unified Track and Field team.

Stephen Edward Schleig

In 2025, Schleig, an officer with the Easton Area School District police department, saved the life of an infant experiencing a medical crisis; organized the school district’s widely celebrated National Leadership Pizza Day, where more than 80 community leaders served pizza, popcorn, apple slices and smiles to students at Cheston Elementary School; organized a districtwide Operation Warm event last November, where every Easton Area School District elementary student received a new winter coat; and helped organize the district’s Shop With a Cop program. He earned the prestigious FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, completing a nationally respected series of advanced leadership courses.

Kenny Screven

A social media influencer from Allentown, Screven has had several visits to Harrisburg to meet with Gov. Josh Shapiro and also traveled to Washington to meet President Joe Biden. He has used his social media platforms to promote Black-owned businesses in the Lehigh Valley and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Josh Siegel

At just 32, Siegel became the youngest person ever elected county executive in Pennsylvania, winning decisively in last November’s election. He ran on a platform of increasing affordable housing and improving communication from his office, while also generating attention for his vocal criticism of President Donald Trump. His win followed a quick rise through the local political ranks, first elected to Allentown City Council in 2019 at age 25, and then three years later, elected state representative in the newly-formed 22nd District in Allentown.

Abby Silfies

As executive director of the American Heart Association’s Lehigh Valley/Northeast PA region, Silfies spent 2025 transforming the health and well-being of the Lehigh Valley, saving lives one heart at a time. Her team was recognized as the top-performing AHA region in Pennsylvania. She’s become a widely respected voice for heart-health advocacy, regularly sharing survivor stories. As a ToastiQueen partner, she helps strengthen professional development and leadership opportunities for women across the Lehigh Valley.

Mark Smith

A real estate broker and developer, Smith in 2025 was the driving force behind the creation of the 1528 West Apartments, a $19 million affordable housing development in Allentown that provides 49 units for seniors and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He navigated complex zoning, financing, partnerships and community challenges to bring this development to life. When gaps in funding threatened to slow the project down, he contributed some of his personal funds to ensure it moved forward.

Josh Snyder

As a history teacher and head football coach at Northwestern Lehigh School District, Snyder mentors students who grow and mature into productive adults. These students develop a consistent work ethnic, and in turn, bring pride and recognition to the district. He devotes many hours to the high school and youth programs, thus the term “Home Grown” has evolved in New Tripoli.

Charles Sonday

Sonday’s contributions as associate chief medical information officer have not only advanced St. Luke’s University Health Network, but also set benchmarks across Pennsylvania. He spearheaded SLUHN’s artificial intelligence strategy, creating a unified ecosystem that enhances clinical decision-making, operational efficiency and patient experience. Beyond technology, he mentors teams, fosters collaboration and champions transparency in research.

Tiffany Sondergaard
In 2025, Sondergaard was instrumental in YWCA Allentown communications and donor acquisition efforts in celebration of their 25th year anniversary, which resulted in a sold-out guest list, extensive media coverage and the highest single donor gift this year. She grew the women’s professional development and networking platform, ToastiQueen, in which businesswomen from all professions and industries can connect, engage in timely discussions, and nurture both personal and professional growth.
Lisa (Lys) Sparrow-Serraino

A local who returned home to Bethlehem in 2021 following the murder of her husband and a cancer diagnosis, Sparrow-Serraino turned her grief into action by volunteering her time and skills. She sponsored a proposal that created a fund to replace homeowners’ sidewalks that were damaged by tree roots in a South Side neighborhood. She organized petitions for signatures and presented them during a Bethlehem City Council meeting for a traffic study to be conducted where neighbors deemed an area highly dangerous, leading to an agreement to install crosswalk lines and pedestrian crossing warning signs at or near the three-way intersection of Seneca, West Third and West Fourth streets.

Rev. Jon Stratton

Stratton, the 18th rector of Nativity and 14th dean of the Cathedral, has been outspoken in his support for protecting the immigrant community and impoverished residents. He traveled in Mexico for immersive language training to better serve our multilingual community.

Khalid Antonio Taylor

Taylor is a teaching-artist, documentary songwriter and storytelling facilitator. They led the community in song at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Allentown Art Museum. Through their private practice, SOL Songs, Taylor empowers individuals — especially queer and trans voices of color — to transform their personal narratives into original songs, using a collaborative documentary-songwriting method. Their own work, under the name “Khalid Antonio,” includes the self-love anthem “F.T.N.”

Matt Tuerk

The mayor of Allentown — Pennsylvania’s third-largest city — Tuerk has been a visible presence in person and on social media, becoming one of the city’s biggest cheerleaders. The city’s first Latino mayor, he won a second term in last November’s election with more than 70% of the vote. As he made his case to voters, he touted downtown development, a drop in violent crime, and the federal government awarding a competitive $20 million grant to the city to address unemployment.

Keela Vincent

In 2025, Vincent emerged as an impactful and forward-thinking leader in the Lehigh Valley. As executive director of Family Connection of Easton, she took on work that strengthens local communities, elevates underrepresented voices and drives meaningful change across the region. She led multiple initiatives focused on community wellness, youth empowerment and equitable access to resources, and has been a visible advocate for mental health awareness.

Hannah Votta Coleman

In 2025, Votta Coleman demonstrated leadership, compassion and community impact through her work with the nonprofit Joyful Giving. She helped mobilize volunteers of all ages, ensuring that every contribution directly supported the creation of Joy Maker bags — thoughtfully crafted packages filled with essential items such as socks, shampoo, body wash, lip balm and a piece of chocolate, each tied with a ribbon to feel like a true gift.

George Wacker

Through his media company, Lehigh Valley with Love, Wacker has built a large presence across multiple platforms that helps to connect the community, promote local storytelling and support small businesses. He has also worked to promote Lehigh Valley history, highlighting local traditions and making sure the community’s past is remembered and celebrated.

Justin K. Wright
A Marine Corps veteran who completed two combat tours during the Iraq War, Wright has transformed his experiences into a lifelong mission to help others. As a community intervention specialist with Pinebrook Family Answers, he provides critical outreach, crisis intervention and recovery-focused support to individuals and families across the Lehigh Valley. He leads two weekly Post-Traumatic Growth groups for veterans and first responders, contributed to the book “Restoring the Warrior: A Guide to Veteran and First Responder Wellness,” and hosts the “Tribe of the Restored Warrior” podcast.
Amend Wu

The owner of Connexious Art Gallery in Easton, Wu also runs one of the largest Facebook community groups in the area, Everything Easton. While the group is mostly used for community posting, it has also become a safe place for people experiencing economic hardship to ask for food and assistance. Amend has worked to ensure Everything Easton includes even the most vulnerable in the community.

Dean Young

Young has led the Boys and Girls Club of Easton as it faces an uncertain future over the fate of its building. Despite this, he has been instrumental in helping to feed the community every weekend via sponsorships with local supermarkets. To help bring more people inside the club, he began organizing a weekly bingo night.

Meet the Lehigh Valley’s most influential people for 2026

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