{"id":131017,"date":"2024-05-23T22:44:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T02:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=131017"},"modified":"2024-05-23T22:44:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T02:44:14","slug":"linc-announces-new-board-of-directors-executive-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=131017","title":{"rendered":"LINC Announces New Board of Directors Executive Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The Lehigh Valley-based nonprofit welcomes Marci Lesko, Scott Blair, Joan\u00e9 Hockenbury and Edwin Taliaferro to its board of directors executive leadership team.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>BETHLEHEM, Pa. (May 23, 2024) <\/strong>\u2014 LINC, a nonprofit organization committed to fostering welcoming and inclusive workplaces and communities, announced the appointment of four existing board members to leadership roles on its Board of Directors Executive Committee: Marci Lesko, board chair, Scott Blair, vice chair, Joan\u00e9 Hockenbury, secretary, and Edwin Taliaferro, treasurer. These four professionals embody LINC\u2019s mission to create an environment where everyone relocating to the Lehigh Valley feels like they belong. They join LINC President, Katelyn Mack, Executive Board Member ex-oficio Oldrich Foucek, III, and Orville Trout, co-chair of LINC\u2019s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, in executive leadership roles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTogether, this accomplished team brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and diverse perspectives to guide our organization forward,\u201d said LINC&#8217;s president, Katelyn Mack. \u201cTheir collective leadership will strengthen our commitment to creating an inviting community for all those moving to the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_131019\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131019\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Marci-Lesko.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-131019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Marci-Lesko-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Marci-Lesko-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Marci-Lesko.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-131019\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marci Lesko Chief Operating Officer headshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Marci Lesko, incoming CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedwayglv.org\/\">United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley<\/a>, has been appointed board chair. As chair, Lesko is responsible for guiding the board in fulfilling its governance duties and advancing LINC\u2019s mission. Lesko has worked at United Way since 2006, having previously served as the organization\u2019s Vice President of Community Impact, Executive Vice President, Chief Impact Officer and Corporate Secretary. She was appointed Chief Operating Officer by the Board of Directors in 2023 and will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer starting in June 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to being a proud member of United Way Tocqueville Society and long-time member of United Way Women United, Lesko serves on several boards and is affiliated with many community improvement efforts such as the Lehigh County Suicide Prevention Coalition, as Board Chair for Pennsylvania\u2019s Family Support Alliance, as Chair of LINC, as Board Chair of Enduring Keys, Inc., and as a committee chair of the Concourse Club of Palmerton. Lesko has won several distinguished awards for her work, including the Human Relations Commission (2005), The Donley Award for Children\u2019s Advocacy (2016), Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead Award (2017), Community Achievement Award\/Woman of Influence Award from Lehigh Valley Business (2018), the PBS39 Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award (2018) and led United Way to receive the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Community Leadership Award (2021).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_131020\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131020\" style=\"width: 242px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Scott-Blair-headshot.jpeg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-131020 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Scott-Blair-headshot-242x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Scott-Blair-headshot-242x300.jpeg 242w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Scott-Blair-headshot-300x371.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Scott-Blair-headshot.jpeg 311w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-131020\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scott Blair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Scott Blair, senior director for diversity, equity and inclusion at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbraunusa.com\/en.html\">B. Braun Medical Inc.<\/a>, is the board\u2019s vice chair and co-chair of LINC\u2019s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. As vice chair, Blair supports the chair in fulfilling her duties and assuming responsibilities in her absence. He previously worked as associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desales.edu\/\">DeSales<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desales.edu\/\">University<\/a>, chief diversity officer at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northampton.edu\/\">Northampton Community College<\/a> and director of student diversity &amp; inclusion initiatives at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.edu\/\">State University of New York College of Environmental<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.edu\/\">Sciences and Forestry<\/a>. A former Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Governor\u2019s Commission on Latino Affairs and Board member with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Blair is an active member with the AdvaMed Inclusion &amp; Diversity practitioners community and serves as a Board member for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n<p>Joan\u00e9 Hockenbury has been appointed as board secretary. Hockenbury worked at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justborn.com\/\">Just Born,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justborn.com\/\">Inc.<\/a> for over two decades, most recently serving as Chief Human Resources Officer.<\/p>\n<p>Hockenbury, who retired earlier this year is an active community member. She has served on LINC\u2019s board since 2022 and is a member of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedwayglv.org\/\"> United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley\u2019s<\/a> board and the <a href=\"https:\/\/dementialv.org\/\">Dementia Friendly Lehigh Valley<\/a> Steering Committee. She also sits on the advisory boards of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cedarcrest.edu\/\">Cedar Crest College<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bethlehemavts.org\/\">Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School<\/a>. She previously served as president of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrmlv.org\/\">Society of Human Resource Management Lehigh Valley<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dreamcometrue.org\/\">Dream Come True<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Edwin Taliaferro, vice president of internal audit services at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lvhn.org\/\"> Lehigh Valley Health Network<\/a>, will continue his service as board treasurer. He is a financial professional who has been performing financial and operational oversight for more than four decades. Taliaferro previously held positions at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avantax.com\/\">HD Vest Financial Services<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mskcc.org\/locations\/directory\/memorial-hospital?utm_source=local%2Blistings&amp;utm_medium=organic%2Bsearch&amp;utm_content=memorial%2Bsloan%2Bkettering%2Bcancer%2Bcenter%2Bnew%2Byork&amp;utm_campaign=local%2Bsearch%2Blocations\">Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center<\/a>, the Hospital for Special Surgery, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jeffersonwells.com\/\">Jefferson Wells<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/\">RCN<\/a>, McGraw-Hill, Gitano Group, CBS, AT&amp;T and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ey.com\/en_us\">Ernst &amp;<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ey.com\/en_us\">Young (EY)<\/a>. He and his wife Nilda also received LINC services upon their relocation to the Lehigh Valley in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Taliaferro has sat on LINC\u2019s board since 2021. He previously served on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desales.edu\/academics\/academic-divisions-departments\/division-of-business\/forum-for-ethics-in-the-workplace\">Forum for Ethics in<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desales.edu\/academics\/academic-divisions-departments\/division-of-business\/forum-for-ethics-in-the-workplace\">the Workplace<\/a> board at DeSales University and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheasStarOfHope\/\">Thea\u2019s Star of Hope<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Meet LINC\u2019s full Board of Directors by visiting <a href=\"http:\/\/www.linc-lv.org\/about-us\/board-of-directors\/\">www.linc-lv.org\/about-us\/board-of-directors\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1>About LINC<\/h1>\n<p>LINC is a nonprofit organization that envisions communities and workplaces where everyone feels welcome, gets rooted, and thrives. It focuses on supporting employers by attracting and supporting relocating employees and other newcomers to the greater Lehigh Valley while helping advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations. For more information, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.linc-lv.org\/\">www.linc-lv.org\/.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Information provided to TVL by:<br \/>\nAmiee Goldy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.socialTmarketing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.socialTmarketing.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Lehigh Valley-based nonprofit welcomes Marci Lesko, Scott Blair, Joan\u00e9 Hockenbury and Edwin Taliaferro to its board of directors executive leadership team. BETHLEHEM, Pa. (May 23, 2024) \u2014 LINC, a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=131017\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">LINC Announces New Board of Directors Executive Leadership<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/linc-logo.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131017"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=131017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/131018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=131017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=131017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=131017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}