Cedar Crest hosts inaugural Lehigh Valley Tech & Talent Summit

Cedar Crest College recently hosted a group of industry and academic leaders for an inaugural Tech & Talent Summit.  

Presented by ADVANCE at Cedar Crest and the Harmon Center for Leadership in Technology, the Lehigh Valley Tech & Talent: Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Summit explored workforce technology needs and skills gaps in the Lehigh Valley. 

Lauren Holubec, executive director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association, delivered the keynote address, The Future of Workforce Development in Pennsylvania.  

She highlighted the growing demand for talent across key industries, persistent skills gaps, and the need for stronger partnerships between education and industry as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workforce. Emphasizing the broader challenge, Holubec noted, “This is not a pipeline problem. It is a systems problem. And systems problems require systems solutions.” 

A central theme throughout the summit was the continued gap in foundational “power skills”-including communication, collaboration, and interpersonal effectiveness-despite growing awareness of the need for technical proficiency.  

Cedar Crest said it is also responding to rapid technological change, transformations in healthcare, and evolving workforce demands.  

Through initiatives such as ADVANCE at Cedar Crest and the Harmon Center for Leadership in Technology, the College is equipping students and professional learners with the skills and adaptability needed to succeed in a dynamic labor market. 

 “What resonated most was the urgency to move beyond hiring strategies and focus on skill strategies, said Melanie Kohler, chief transformation & technology officer at Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  “As technology continues to reshape the workplace, investing in upskilling, AI literacy, and critical thinking is no longer optional; it’s a core leadership responsibility.”