The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce proudly recognized the region’s young professionals at its third annual Emerging Leaders Awards Program. The event brought together business and community leaders to celebrate the next generation of talent shaping the future of the Lebanon Valley.

Designed to spotlight young professionals who are making meaningful contributions in their workplaces and communities, the Emerging Leaders Awards highlight individuals, age 21-40, who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and a commitment to growth. Four awards were also presented to Rising Leaders, students in high school or college and nominated by their teachers or administration.

Those honored are not only excelling in their careers, but they are also investing in our community and helping to shape its future.

The program also emphasized the importance of connection and mentorship, encouraging attendees to continue building relationships across industries and to support the development of future leaders through guidance and shared experience.

The Emerging Leaders Awards have quickly become a signature event for the Chamber, reinforcing its commitment to workforce development and professional growth. By recognizing and connecting young professionals, the Chamber continues to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline, essential to the region’s long-term success.

Workforce challenges? Unlocking untapped talent may be an option

Is your organization struggling to find the workforce you need? You may be overlooking valuable talent pools that are ready and eager to contribute.

Join us on April 28^th from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at the Lebanon Valley Chamber to discover new pathways to hiring and learn how to tap underutilized workforce resources to strengthen your team and your business.

You’ll hear directly from experts representing the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Department of Corrections, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans Affairs, and more — each offering insight, connections, and practical solutions to help you meet your workforce needs.

Speakers/Panelists:

PA Department of Labor and Industry – Deputy Secretary of Workforce Development, Patricia Blumenauer
Lebanon County Jail – Warden Tina Litz
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation – Patrick Kane
Veterans Affairs – Vince Jones
Lebanon County Reentry Mentoring Program – Leroya Ryan

This program is open to the public, but registration is required by visiting here.

In-person connections make a difference

While there’s no shortage of information available online, nothing replaces the impact of in-person connections. The Chamber creates intentional opportunities for businesses to come together, build relationships, and turn conversations into meaningful connections.

We offer networking during all of our regular programming as well as dedicated networking events, making it easy to engage in ways that feel comfortable and valuable. Some gatherings are small (perfect for novices or introverts), while others are larger and high-energy.

Networking helps you grow your business and strengthen your connection to the community. With options offered in the morning, midday, and evening, we have something that fits your busy schedule.

Meet Delta at the market!

Every other Friday, Delta Quinones, our Director of Membership and Engagement, will be at the Lebanon Farmer’s Market to talk all things business. Do you want to learn more about the chamber or how to connect to business resources? Stop by and chat. Her next visit is April 10 from 11-1:00 p.m. Hablo Español.

Connecting to classrooms

The Chamber works closely with our local school districts to help bridge the gap between education and the business community. Creating these connections is essential to building strong career pathways for students and to retaining young talent in our region after graduation.

By introducing students to local employers, career opportunities, and real-world experiences, we help them better understand the possibilities available in the Lebanon Valley. At the same time, businesses gain valuable opportunities to engage with and inspire their future workforce.

When students can see a future here, they’re more likely to build one here.

Why partnerships matter for your business

At our Chamber, strong partnerships are at the heart of everything we do. By developing relationships with trusted organizations, we connect our business community to the resources they need.

One way we provide this is through our monthly Small Business Support Hours, offered free to anyone in the region. These sessions provide one-on-one access to experienced professionals who are ready to help you navigate challenges, explore opportunities, and grow your business.

Each month, we welcome partners from organizations such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kutztown Small Business Development Center, SCORE, finanta, and ASSETS.

By bringing these experts together in one place, we make it easy to access confidential, personalized guidance without barriers or complicated scheduling.

Our next Small Business Support Hours are April 24, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Don’t miss out on upcoming programs

The Chamber has a robust program of events.

4/7 – Lebanon County Civics Bee, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Lebanon High School auditorium. Open to the public. Watch county middle-schoolers compete for prize money!

4/9 – The Marketing Hour: Intro to Social Media for Business, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Chamber office. Members-only.

4/10 – New Manager Training: 8:00-10:30 a.m., Chamber office. Program continues on 4/17, 4/24 and May 1.

4/15 – Women in Business Roundtable: What I wish I knew when I started in business, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Chamber office.

4/28 – Unlocking Untapped Talent: 8:00-10:00 a.m., Chamber office, open to the public.

4/29 – The Psychology of Sales: 11:30-1:00 p.m., Chamber office.

5/5 – Military Appreciation Breakfast: 7:30-9:30 a.m., Hebron Banquet Hall

5/5 – Excellence in Education Ceremony: 6:00-7:00 p.m., Lebanon High School auditorium, open to the public

5/20 – State of the County: 8:00-9:30 a.m., Lebanon Valley College

For details about these events and all our programs, please visit here.

No matter the programming, our office is always there to help our business community, regardless of membership, size, or location. Come on in! Bilingual staff is available to assist.

Meeting space available

Are you looking for a great location to host your board meeting, off-site retreat, business workshop, or training? We have two rooms available for rent with capacity for 5-55 individuals. These rooms feature full presentation technology, hybrid connectivity, and more. Learn more here.