WLC Shines at 2016 Women's Summit

WLC members packed the speakers’ roster at the 2016 Lehigh Valley Women’s Summit on June 7, which drew a record 500 prominent business and professional women to Cedar Crest College for a day of leadership training, self-help and exchanging ideas and business cards.

The Summit, which is the Lehigh Valley’s predominant women’s conference, is sponsored annually by the Women’s Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, The United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council and Cedar Crest College. The event rewarded attendees with top-notch local speakers, useful advice, thought provoking discussions and unparalleled networking opportunities. 

In addition to a wide-range of panel discussion and presentations, headliners for the day-long session included Judy Smith, the famed Washington, D.C. strategic communicator whose business served as the inspiration for the popular television show “Scandal” and Dr. Jen Welter, who was the first female NFL coach.

1. Ashley Russo: Mistress of Ceremonies
Ashley Russo, a WLC Member, served as mistress of ceremonies for the 2016 Lehigh Valley Women’s Summit and also as a panel moderator.  Russo is president and executive producer of ASR Media Productions.  She also served as moderator for “No Risks, No Rewards”, a panel of women who talked about the risks they had taken by changing industries or going into business for themselves.  Russo (second from left) is pictured with panel members: Amy Edgar, a certified nurse practitioner, owner of, Children’s Integrated Center for Success; Brittany Lynch Morse, owner of Barre 3, and Lisa Daugherty, director, customer care, Victaulic.

2.  WLC Members Advise that Community Service Pays Off
Three WLC members participated in a panel of well-known community and business women to discuss the importance integrating community involvement and service into one’s career.  They are: Bevin Theodore (3rd left), senior communications specialist, Talen Energy; Megan Beste (4th left), director of community partnership services, Taggart Associates; and, Jane Ervin (5th left), CEO (ret.) Community Services for Children. Theodore, Beste and Ervin are WLC members. Also pictured are: Panel Moderator Karen Daly Smith, vice president of programs and Lindsey Knupp, vice president, marketing & entertainment, Iron Pigs.