LINC, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering welcoming and inclusive workplaces and communities, announced the third biennial Lehigh Valley C-Suite Leadership Summit will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lehigh University’s Iacocca Conference Center.

“The C-Suite Leadership Summit offers a space for strategic partnerships to emerge that strengthen our workforce and our region,” said LINC’s President Katelyn Mack. “As workers and businesses face a wave of disruption, it is clear that no single leader or organization can tackle these headwinds alone. In the Lehigh Valley, there are many examples of businesses creatively and strategically partnering to meet their organizational challenges while addressing community needs. If we want workforce innovation that delivers results, this Summit is where ideas are sparked and partnerships cultivated to move them forward.”

Now in its third year, the C-Suite Leadership Summit has evolved from a virtual CEO forum into one of the Lehigh Valley’s premier gatherings for executive leaders. What began as a focused conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2021 has evolved into a cornerstone experience centered on workforce development, leadership, and regional collaboration. The summit brings together executives across industries to address workforce challenges and foster inclusive, resilient organizations.

With each summit, LINC has deepened its commitment to equipping leaders with the tools, strategies, and networks needed to drive meaningful change within their organizations and across the community. The 2025 summit builds on LINC’s decade of progress and partnership, offering a platform for leaders to align their vision, share strategies, and drive meaningful action that will carry the region into the next chapter of growth.

• Opening remarks by Founder and CEO of idealis.advisory, Dr. Sumona De Graaf, offers a data-driven global perspective on workforce challenges and strategies to drive resilience.
• CEO panel discussion on pressing workforce issues, where attendees can hear how CEOs are strengthening workforce resilience by responding to emerging challenges and trends, offering insights to help leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity and purpose.
• Workshops and interactive sessions on how AI and automation are reshaping the workforce, ways companies are collaborating to address community issues impacting talent retention and employee engagement, and examples of organizations partnering creatively to expand workforce opportunities to meet their business needs.
• Networking with over 150 senior executives shaping the future of the Lehigh Valley economy.

Champions of this year’s event are Dr. Joseph Helble, president of Lehigh University; Marci Lesko, CEO of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; J.B. Reilly, president of City Center Group; Julien Sauvagnargues, president and CEO of Olympus Corporation of the Americas; and Michael Spigel, president and CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation.

As a host of the 2023 summit, Sauvagnargues was inspired to step up this year as a co-Champion, inspired by the theme,‘Stronger Together.’

“The reason I’m participating in the summit is found in the title and embodies our larger community: ‘Stronger together,’” said Sauvagnargues. “There is so much we can learn from our peers, especially in times of uncertainty, when attracting and retaining talent is critical to success. By listening, learning, and sharing with one another, we can create workplaces where people feel inspired, valued, and connected to a greater purpose.”