news & events

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — A sweet dessert infused with tropical flavors took home the top prize in the 6th Annual Start Up Lehigh Valley pitch competition held on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem. The pitch competition is a "Shark Tank"-style event for local entrepreneurs designed to showcase innovation happening in the community and support the next generation of local business leaders. Laura McHugh, vice president, marketing and communications, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Bo Koltnow, anchor/reporter at 69-WFMZ, hosted the event. Thirty-three entries were received and narrowed down to seven finalists...

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Teens with an eye toward starting and managing their own businesses learned the basics of what it takes to be an entrepreneur at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s (PSU-LV) annual Teen Entrepreneur Challenge (TEC), held July 28 to Aug. 3. Sponsored by Bosch, the weeklong residential experience introduces rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to the fundamentals of starting and managing their own enterprises. Students lived in residential housing on the campus of Penn State Berks for the camp’s duration, which gave them the opportunity to live, work and learn from peers hailing from different backgrounds...

Penn State LaunchBox Ladies holds pitch competition By Sara Karnish SUMMARY: Woman-owned online education company captures top spot in second annual event CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (July 2, 2024)—An Allentown-based entrepreneur captured the top prize in the second annual Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) LaunchBox Ladies’ Women in Business Pitch Competition held on June 26 at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital’s Center Valley location. Denise Ogden, marketing professor at PSU-LV, served as the evening’s emcee. Nadia Alicia, Ed.D., was named the grand prize winner, netting the $2,500 prize. Alicia is director of the Language Project, LLC— Spanish Immersion TV, a subscription-based online...

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Entrepreneurs utilize countless innovative strategies to identify needs, tackle issues, and connect with customers. Design thinking is just one approach to creative problem solving and was the focus of the latest Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Ladies speaker series at Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV). Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation by using empathy, creativity, and iterative problem solving to foster ideas and solutions. A record 89 attendees were on hand to hear from Laura Cruz, research professor at the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at University Park, who offered not only 90 minutes of education...

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A festive retail destination – filled with hand-crafted nutcrackers, Christmas tree ornaments, retired reindeer bells and other yuletide cheer – is coming soon to the Christmas City. Dear Santa, a business offering unique Christmas gifts and decor along with family-friendly, Christmas-themed activities, is expected to open by mid-April at 458 Main St. in downtown Bethlehem. Ryan Kneller Dear Santa, a business offering unique Christmas gifts and decor along with family-friendly, Christmas-themed activities, is expected to open by mid-April at 458 Main St. in downtown Bethlehem, owner Tom Dubreuil said. For the past five years, Dubreuil has been...