BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Feb. 14, 2017 — PBS39 is pleased to announce that all four officers of its Board of Directors have returned for 2017:
David Willard, Olympus Corporation of the Americas (retired); John E. Longenderfer, President/CEO, Lutron Electronics, Inc. (retired); Gary Olson, President & CEO, ESSA Bank & Trust; and
Steven Thompson, Business Development Manager, Delane Consulting and Staffing, LLC.
All four individuals retain their same roles from 2016.
“Our Board of Directors officers are valuable assets to our organization and community,” said Tim Fallon, PBS39 CEO. “We look forward to sharing in their guidance and expertise as PBS39 works to create a community that is inspired, engaged, and vibrant.”
David Willard (Chair)David Willard retired from Olympus Corporation of the Americas in September 2010 after a 31-year career with the company. During his career, Dave held various executive positions in the imaging business, e-commerce, and corporate marketing. After the company’s relocation to the Lehigh Valley in 2006, Dave was also responsible for the company’s community outreach and corporate social responsibility programs.
Since his retirement, Dave has been an active volunteer in the community, serving on the PBS39 Board of Directors, the ArtsQuest Trustees and Visual Arts Board, the Allentown Symphony Association Jazz Committee, and the Via Marathon Planning Committee. He was a Co-Organizer of TEDxLehighRiver, an independently produced TED event, from its inception in 2013 through 2016. He served one term as an elected official on the Lower Saucon Township Council.
Dave has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Dave and his wife, Monica, have resided in Bethlehem, PA since 2006. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.
John E. Longenderfer (Vice Chair)
John E. Longenderfer is senior advisor and member of the Executive Board of Lutron Electronics, Co. Inc. Located in Coopersburg, Pa., Lutron is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of dimmers, lighting controls and shading systems.
Longenderfer joined Lutron in 1969 as a quality control supervisor. He was promoted to Manager of Engineering in 1973 and charged with the responsibility of making Lutron the industry leader in new product development. He was named a vice president in 1978, and in 1990 was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2002, and appointed to his current duties in June 2010.
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Longenderfer earned a degree in physics from Franklin and Marshall College. He is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, serving as co-chair of its International Relationships Committee and past chair of the Papers Committee. He is also a past member of the IES Board of Directors.
Gary Olson (Secretary)
Gary Olson is the president and CEO of ESSA Bank & Trust. He joined the bank in 1977 and has held numerous positions within the company.
Besides his dedication to his profession, Gary has had a lifelong interest in community service. He joined the board of directors of Pocono Health System in 2001. During his tenure, he served as Board Chairman from 2009-2013, Treasurer in 2006, and Chair of the Finance Committee in 2005. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Pocono Health Foundation from 2003-2005.
Gary graduated from Stroudsburg High School in 1972 and from East Stroudsburg University in 1976. He graduated from the Graduate School of Savings Institutions Management at the University of Texas in 1991. Gary, his wife Jennifer, and son and daughter reside in Stroudsburg, PA.
Steven Thompson (Treasurer)
Steven Thompson has spent most of his career in the communications industry working for Western Electric, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Agere Systems, LSI, and Verizon Communications. Currently, Steven is with Delane Consulting and Staffing, LLC as the Business Development Manager.
Steven has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Brown University, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania and a certified Project Management Professional. Steven is President of the Board of Directors of Bethlehem Area Moravians; serves on the Executive Board of Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America; and is a member of East Hills Moravian Church, where he has served as a trustee, sacristan, and Church Council President.
Steven is married with two grown children and one grandchild, and has lived in Bethlehem for 40 years.
About PBS39
PBS39 is a community-owned public television station licensed to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pa., serving eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. PBS39 is owned and operated by the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. PBS39 acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley through its dynamic communication platforms and resources.
Information and photos provided by:
DaWayne Cleckley
VP, Marketing
PBS39
