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Featured Image: The CEO panel shares remarks at the 2023 LINC Inclusion Summit (Photo credit Marco Calderon)
The biannual event featured c-suite guest speakers Tyrone Russell, Vincent Sorgi, Jean-Claude Dubacher, Kassie Hilgert, and Rich Wuerthele.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (October 13, 2023) – LINC, a nonprofit organization that helps employers advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies in the workplace and community, in alliance with Lehigh Valley Partnership, hosted over 100 CEOs and executive leaders at its second Lehigh Valley Inclusion Summit on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Olympus Corporation of the Americas Headquarters in Center Valley.
“The state of our workforce is very different from when we started eight years ago. This decade is predicted to be a time of rapid change for our world, our companies and our people. AI is revolutionizing the way people work. The global pandemic has permanently altered where people work. And now, people are reconsidering why they relocate for work,” said LINC President Katelyn Mack. “This Summit brings into focus the notion that our people, our companies, and our community are inextricably linked.”
The summit’s theme, “From Intention to Impact: Advancing Equity & Belonging from the
C-Suite,” encouraged collaboration between influential leaders in the region and the creation of plans capable of developing long-lasting change in the community.
The event included a CEO keynote panel, breakout sessions, workshops, and networking. The CEO panel was moderated by Tyrone Russell, CEO of Faces International, and featured Vincent Sorgi, president and CEO of PPL Corporation; Jean-Claude Dubacher, chairman and CEO of B. Braun of America Inc.; and Kassie Hilgert, president and CEO of ArtsQuest.
“Only by working together, we can create workplaces and campuses where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected,” said Julien Sauvagnargues, president of Olympus Corporation of the Americas. “I continue to learn every day about DEI, and I know this conference is an opportunity for us to learn from each other, share best practices, and develop new strategies for promoting DEI in our organizations.”
LINC partnered with three local leaders committed to the organization’s DEI initiatives and creating a more inclusive region. This year’s Lehigh Valley CEO Co-Champions were Dubacher, Sorgi, and Rich Wuerthele, president and CEO of Crayola.
The summit included two breakout sessions that provided an opportunity to go deeper and reflect on what was previously heard during the summit. The first session divided attendees into 3 groups by job role: CEOs; HR and people leaders; and all other roles including operations, finance and marketing professionals. The second breakout session options included “Inclusive Hiring,” “Foundations for Equity & Belonging,” and “Sustaining & Deepening Commitment.”
Attendees were encouraged to identify at least one action they would take back to and implement in their own organization. One potential action is to join LINC’s DEI Community, a regional network of 50 businesses, which is a resource to help advance inclusion at all levels of an organization. Community benefits include access to LINC curated content and unlimited, free access to LINC’s virtual DEI Roundtable series. More information is available at
https://www.linc-lv.org/diversity-inclusion/dei-membership.
Summit sponsors include:
Title Sponsor
Presenting Sponsors
‒ B. Braun
‒ Crayola
Featured Sponsors
‒ Lehigh Valley Health Network
‒ Olympus
Celebratory Sponsors
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About LINC
LINC is a nonprofit organization that envisions communities and workplaces where everyone feels welcome, gets rooted, and thrives. It focuses on supporting employers by attracting and supporting relocating employees and other newcomers to the greater Lehigh Valley while helping advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations. For more information, visit their website.
Information provided to TVL by:
Amiee Goldy
http://www.socialTmarketing.com/
