It turns out that five of the Lehigh Valley\u2019s most iconic brands did not originate here. Four of them came from New York City and the other from Japan.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the leaders of Lutron Electronics, Mack Defense, Olympus, C.F. Martin & Co. and Crayola explained how their predecessors came to the Valley and why the companies continue to grow decades after the moves.<\/p>\n
The panel was part of the Lehigh Valley Development Corp.\u2019s<\/a> Fall Signature Event at Archer Music Hall in downtown Allentown. Moderator Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the LVEDC, pointed out that manufacturing makes up 16% of the Valley\u2019s economy, which is above the U.S. average of 12%, and contributes $9 billion in gross domestic product.<\/p>\n \u201cI always say it\u2019s kind of in our DNA that we know how to make things, and it\u2019s been our role in serving America through multiple industrial revolutions, through multiple wars,\u201d Cunningham said. \u2018The Lehigh Valley has stepped up and delivered, and we continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Picking the Valley<\/p>\n Brian Donlon, vice president and general manager of sales operations for Lutron, said the company got its start in a New York City apartment, where Joel and Ruth Spira invented the first solid-state electronic dimmer. Today, the Upper Saucon Township-based company makes thousands of products that are sold worldwide.<\/p>\n Ruth Spira was the daughter of J.I. Rodale<\/a> \u2014 publisher, editor, author and founder of the Rodale Institute \u2014 which brought the Lehigh Valley to Joel\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n \u201cA well-placed spouse is a good part of the economic development attraction,\u201d Cunningham quipped.<\/p>\n Other companies, such as Crayola \u2014 which was Binney & Smith Co. until 2007 \u2014 moved to Forks Township from New York because of the local slate quarries needed to produce pencils. President and CEO Pete Ruggiero<\/a>, who grew up in Pen Argyl, said the slate in the Valley is the \u201cbest in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n A common theme among the businesses was that they planted themselves in the Lehigh Valley because of the work ethic of the people and access to major East Coast markets.<\/p>\n Richard Reynolds, president of the Olympus of the Americas medical systems group, said the company settled on Upper Saucon Township because of those factors, and to give employees a place where they can enjoy the area.<\/p>\n A native of England, Reynolds settled his family in the Valley after moving around to different Olympus locations.<\/p>\n \u201cI fell in love with the region immediately,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a really good fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Continuing to thrive<\/p>\n Cunningham wanted to know how the companies are confronting current economic conditions.<\/p>\n Donlon said Lutron continues to innovate like it has from the beginning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t sell knockoff products,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything must be a genuine invention to deliver a high-quality product.\u201d<\/p>\n