United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Recognizes Outgoing Board Members for Their Many Years of Service and Leadership
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley extends our gratitude to Veronica Gonzalez, MBA and Peter Ruggiero for their time, service and deep commitment as members of our Board of Directors. Their dedication to building a stronger community has helped advance our mission, deepen our impact and create more opportunities for people to thrive across the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Veronica Gonzalez, MBA, is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center (VHP). VHP is dedicated to advancing the health and wellness of the Lehigh Valley’s most vulnerable community members. The organization consists of well-established community-based practices and programs that were previously under the umbrella of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). Gonzalez has over 17 years of healthcare administration experience with expertise in process improvement, leadership, fiscal responsibility and community-based program management.
Gonzalez’s career progression reflects her passion for serving vulnerable patients. She began her career at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) in 2005, working first as a secretary and later as a trained medical interpreter. Always an advocate for the underserved, she advanced through multiple leadership positions overseeing Interpreter Services, the Centro de Salud Latino Health Initiative, Lehigh Neurology, the Center for Women’s Medicine and served as the Administrator of the Community Practices that transitioned to VHP at the LVHN 17th St campus. In her current role as Chief Executive Officer, Veronica collaborates with the Board of Directors to establish long-term strategic goals for delivering high-quality healthcare to underserved populations.
Peter Ruggiero is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Crayola, a Hallmark company based in Easton, Pa. He is responsible for all aspects of Crayola’s global business, providing strategic direction and vision for the company and brand. He is passionate about fulfilling the Crayola brand mission to help parents and educators raise creatively alive children. Crayola LLC is the leading consumer products brand in the children’s creative expression category.
Ruggiero began his career with the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche before transitioning to a key role on the corporate staff of Union Pacific Corporation. In 1997, Ruggiero joined Crayola and evolved through key leadership positions including Director, Corporate Sourcing; Managing Director, Europe; and Vice President, Global Finance; and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer. Under his leadership, Crayola’s global supply chain has been transformed and enables Crayola’s strategy through the addition of critical capabilities, the automation of U.S. manufacturing, the integration of structured problem solving (LEAN and Six Sigma), the development of Crayola’s regional supply and logistics networks, and the execution of numerous sustainability initiatives including a 3.0 megawatt solar farm at Crayola’s corporate headquarters in Easton, Pa.