United Way welcomes 5 new board members

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has added five professionals to its board of directors, it announced.

• United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has welcomed five professionals to its board of directors
• The new board members bring diverse expertise in education, diversity and inclusion, consumer products, marketing and community advocacy
• With a focus on advancing health, safety, and education in the community, the board aims to create a stronger and more inclusive community for all residents

Allentown School District Superintendent Carol D. Birks; Scott Blair of B. Braun Medical Inc.; Crayola Chief Operating Officer Pete Ruggiero; Tyrone Russell, chief executive officer of Faces International Marketing and Development; and Jill Wheeler, vice president of services and marketing at City Center Investment Corporation, will join the organization's board, United Way Board Chairwoman Dorota Gasienica-Kozak said.

The new board members bring diverse expertise, including education, diversity, equity and inclusion, consumer products, marketing and community advocacy, according to Gasienica-Kozak.

Here are the five board members and their experiences:

Blair is an educator, mentor/coach and diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader at B. Braun, where he also leads its employee resource group community and supports health equity, sustainability and supplier diversity initiatives. Blair's leadership has centered on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through professional development facilitation and faculty/staff engagement.

Russell is an entrepreneur, community advocate and higher education professional. He previously was the coordinator of racial and ethnic justice with the Community Action Agency of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh University's director of multicultural affairs. He conducts cultural realization sessions and diversity training for corporations, non-profits, municipalities and school districts.

Birks has experience in organizational leadership, community engagement and empowerment. Her leadership practices concentrate on accelerating academic progress and promoting systems thinking.

Ruggiero's leadership at Crayola has automated U.S. manufacturing, integrated processes, executed sustainability initiatives and expanded global market share, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wheeler has more than 25 years of experience developing and implementing corporate strategies for sales, marketing and communications. She oversees integrated marketing for various properties and is a board member for the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation and the Lehigh Valley Children's Hospital Ambassador Council.

The new directors will serve three-year terms starting July 1.

With a total revenue surpassing $26 million, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley says it focuses on raising funds and investing in sustainable solutions for education, healthy aging and community stability.