BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A few years ago, Cami VanGorden had a vision.
She foresaw a community of dedicated volunteers working to promote the Lehigh Valley and all it has to offer.
“I have yet to find another place like it,” VanGorden said. “Big and diverse enough to have something for anyone, but small enough to still have the safe and inclusive ‘small-town charm.’”
- The Lehigh Valley Ambassador program launched in May
- The free program is designed to make people more engaged and educated regional advocates
- More than 800 people have completed the program so far
Fast forward a few years, and VanGorden, an enrollment operations specialist at Moravian University, is among many volunteers turning out in big numbers — and banging the drum for the people, places and things that make the area worth visiting.
Collectively, they’re known as “ambassadors” and have completed a free online instructional program to build their knowledge base of all things Lehigh Valley.
“We were just hoping that it would catch fire. And now it’s like, there’s something really beautiful happening here.”Sandra Bieber, manager of operations and community development for Discover Lehigh Valley
The initiative from Discover Lehigh Valley launched in May and is designed to make people more engaged and educated regional advocates.
More than 800 people have been through the program so far, according to Sandra Bieber, manager of operations and community development for Discover Lehigh Valley.
“We were just hoping that it would catch fire,” Bieber said. “And now it’s like, there’s something really beautiful happening here.”
‘A community pride piece’
Aspiring Lehigh Valley Ambassadors are required to complete a free, 45-minute program offered in a fully virtual format.
It’s a change from a similar program, the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program, that Discover Lehigh Valley launched just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We wanted to make [this new program] accessible for everybody,” Bieber said. “It was designed so that anybody can go on and take it — from a student, all the way to a [corporate] level senior executive, or somebody that's retired or someone that just loves the Lehigh Valley.
"What we're seeing is that there's a lot of people that love the Lehigh Valley.”Sandra Bieber, Discover Lehigh Valley
“So it's really a community pride piece. And what we're seeing is that there's a lot of people that love the Lehigh Valley.”
VanGorden said she's thrilled to count herself among those eager to learn even more about the events, activities and attractions that draw people to the area.
“I have lived in Bethlehem my entire life, except for a six-month stint in sunny Southern California for school — but ultimately returned back because Lehigh Valley was my real home,” she said.
“That's got to say something. Who gives up California?”
‘No feeling like being home’
Like so many others, VanGorden also shared her certificate of completion on LinkedIn, which contains the course name, certificate ID and the issue date.
A broader search for “Lehigh Valley ambassadors” through the LinkedIn network shows the high level of enthusiasm for the program.
“There’s no feeling like being home and I can’t wait to raise our daughter in such a special place.”Dominica Fox-DeMarco, who said her family soon will return to the area.
“I’ve been living in Wilmington, NC for over a year, but I’ll always be proud to be a Lehigh Valley native,” wrote Dominica Fox-DeMarco, who said her family soon will return to the area.
“There’s no feeling like being home and I can’t wait to raise our daughter in such a special place.”
She said she was looking forward to eating a Yocco’s hot dog, walking on Main Street in Bethlehem during the holiday season and enjoying the fabulous wineries and delicious craft breweries in the region.
“That's exactly why we want everybody and anybody to complete the program,” Bieber said.
“If we get 10,000 or 20,000 people to take it, I’m thrilled. But really the most important part of it is that community pride piece and being able to say, ‘I'm from the Lehigh Valley, it's a beautiful region, I love where I live.’”
Promoting ‘opportunities for growth’
For A.J. Suero, the ambassador program was a win-win, providing insider tips and helping to learn even more about the area.
Suero, a media relations specialist at PPL Corp. and the board chairman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he was excited to learn more about the region — even as an Allentown resident for nearly two decades.
“It was great to learn some of the stats about the region,” he said. “As I talk to others about commerce in the Valley, it’s great to have that raw data to back up the talk.
“I see the Lehigh Valley as the second-largest population center in the entire state with many opportunities for growth across a wide array of sectors.”
“I see the Lehigh Valley as the second largest population center in the entire state with many opportunities for growth across a wide array of sectors.”A.J. Suero
Nicholas Schlegel said he sees that growth through his job as a sales coordinator at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
“I immediately thought that this [ambassador program] was something that I, as well as our whole team should participate in,” said Schlegel, who was born and raised in Nazareth.
He also knew it would benefit colleagues who are newer to the area, and said the entire Wind Creek Bethlehem sales team has now completed the program, and the front desk staff and management team are also working to become ambassadors.
“Our sales team at Wind Creek has a strong partnership with Discover Lehigh Valley, and we are proud to be a part of what they are accomplishing,” Schlegel said.
“I, as well as my colleagues, attend as many events as possible, not only to get to meet others from or working in the Lehigh Valley, but to spread the word about what the area has to offer, and in turn, educate people who are not familiar with the Lehigh Valley on all it has to offer.”
To learn more and enroll in the Lehigh Valley Ambassador program visit: https://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/partnership/lehigh-valley-ambassador-program/
