Four women leaders who exemplify courage, confidence, and character will be paired  with local Girl Scouts as mentors and honored this April

 (December 18, 2025)— Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) is thrilled to announce its 2026 Take the Lead Lehigh Valley honorees – four female leaders who exemplify the Girl Scouts’ mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

This year’s honorees are leaders in both their professional industries and communities, serving as positive role models for Girl Scouts in Lehigh Valley through their careers and dedication to local causes they support. The honorees will be recognized at a special Girl Scout-led event at Delta Hotels by Marriott Allentown Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, April 23, 2026.

2026 Take the Lead Lehigh Valley Honorees

• Jennifer Alpha, Board President, Lehigh Valley Girls Rock: Jennifer serves as Board President and Program Director of Lehigh Valley Girls Rock (LVGR), an organization that offers empowerment opportunities for cisgender girls and women + transgender and nonbinary individuals through music and art. Outside of LVGR, Jennifer is a community development and affordable housing consultant. Her work in communities across the country and locally is based on finding compassionate strategies that promote inclusivity.
• Kelly A. Chando, CFRE, Director of Development, St. Luke’s University Health Network: As Director of Development for St. Luke’s University Health Network, Kelly leads philanthropic strategy and major gift fundraising by partnering with community leaders to advance innovation, expand access, and elevate care throughout Lehigh Valley. A passionate advocate for women’s heart health, Kelly serves on the Board of the American Heart Association and is a member of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s Tocqueville Society, reflecting her long-standing commitment to investment in community-wide solutions. A survivor of postpartum preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, Kelly raises awareness through her personal journey to empower women through advocacy and education in healthcare.
• Dr. Elizabeth M. Meade, President, Cedar Crest College: Serving as the fourteenth President of Cedar Crest College, Dr. Elizabeth Meade has led the institution’s transformation into a comprehensive college that offers fifteen graduate programs. In her role, Dr. Meade has championed strategic initiatives that expand access and strengthen opportunities for women to excel in academics and beyond, encouraging women to lead with confidence.
• Tanya Tyler, Executive Assistant to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Air Products and Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Inspirational Arts Foundation: As the Executive Assistant to the Chief Human Resources Officer at Air Products and co-chair of the company’s Black Employee Resource Group, Tanya advances Air Products’ diversity and inclusion objectives to develop programming, messaging, and resources that support employees. Additionally, Tanya serves as the Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley Inspirational Arts Foundation, extending her leadership by advancing local art as a medium to educate and inspire the community.

“Through their vision, resilience, and commitment to excellence and lifting others in the community, our 2026 Take the Lead Lehigh Valley honorees truly exemplify Girl Scout values,” said Kim E. Fraites-Dow, Chief Executive Officer of GSEP. “We are thrilled to honor these women and celebrate both their individual accomplishments and the impact they have in strengthening our community. We look forward to Girl Scouts from Lehigh Valley learning firsthand from these women what it takes to lead a life of purpose.”

Beyond serving as an opportunity to acknowledge women leaders in the region, Take the Lead is also a unique leadership opportunity for Girl Scouts. As part of the program, high school-aged Girl Scouts are paired with each honoree to shadow them for a day to gain impactful career and leadership insights, as well as receive guidance on building their own professional networks. The girls, who are selected through a competitive application and interview process, then creatively reflect on the experience and deliver presentations at the Take the Lead event. The program provides unparalleled public speaking, creative writing, and relationship management opportunities. In addition, Girl Scouts will serve as presenters, emcees, event hosts, social media influencers, and chorus members – because GSEP’s signature fundraising event, Take the Lead, is truly an event for girls, by girls.

Take the Lead Lehigh Valley is co-chaired by Krista Ortwein, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility
at Olympus Corporation of the Americas and Katie Santana, President at ASR Media.

“Each year, our Take the Lead Lehigh Valley event raises critical funds for Girl Scouting in Eastern Pennsylvania. We are grateful to our co-chairs and committee members whose tireless efforts help continue the success of this program and ensures that every girl has access to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience,” said Fraites-Dow.

This year, guests are welcome to enjoy a cocktail reception including Girl Scout-led activities followed by an inspiring program celebrating outstanding leaders and girls who are making a difference in our community.

For more information about Take the Lead sponsorships and tickets, visit www.gsep.org/takethelead or call 267-332-5483. 

About Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania 

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) is the largest girl-serving organization in Pennsylvania and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. What was started in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia by founder Juliette Gordon Low as one small, yet dedicated troop of diverse girls has grown into 2.8 million Girl Scouts across the U.S. today. GSEP serves more than 25,000 girls in partnership with more than 14,000 volunteers in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties. Today, 80 percent of women in leadership and executive roles in the U.S. are Girl Scouts. Girl Scout alumni comprise 70 percent of women in the U.S. Congress. For further information about Girl Scouting, how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, call 215-564-2030 or visit www.gsep.org. Follow @GirlScoutsEPenn on X, Instagram and Facebook.