Air Products named ‘Business of the Year’
The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce named Air Products its “Business of the Year” on Thursday at the chamber's annual meeting, recognizing the industrial gas company's recent decision to build its future corporate headquarters in Trexlertown and its commitment to workforce development and community engagement.
More than 1,200 people attended the sold-out event at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.
Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products' CEO, said the company has developed a culture of honesty, transparency and commitment to the community as a direct result of being based in the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years.
“I thought we would lose that culture and spirit if we moved the headquarters to another location,” he said during an on-stage interview with Chamber CEO Tony Iannelli.
But Ghasemi also lamented the level of divisiveness across the country and said business leaders need to be “very diligent about how we motivate our people” if the U.S. is going to keep up with the dynamism found in China, India and other international economies.
“We need to be aware that other people are not sleeping,” he said. “A lot of people think everything is happening in the U.S. That's not the case. Other places are moving fast.”
Air Products plans to spend at least $15 billion on large projects and acquisitions over the next five years. Ghasemi said during a fiscal year-end earnings call Tuesday that while the Fortune 500 company would like to invest all its capital in the U.S., more opportunities are presenting themselves in China, the Middle East and elsewhere.
Other honorees during the Chamber event included:
Nancy Dischinat, executive director of the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, Chamber Champion Award
Bruce Palmer, Buckno Lisicky & Co., Volunteer of the Year
Jewish Community Center of Allentown, 100-year Milestone Award
Buckno Lisicky, 50-year Milestone Award Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, 30-year Milestone Award
Kevin Schmidt, president and CEO of Neffs National Bank, Community Partner Award.
The Chamber also recognized local government officials in attendance, and recently elected Congresswoman Susan Wild offered some remarks. Kare Ladd of Air Play Entertainment is suspended over the crowd at the annual meeting of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Thursday at the Sands Bethlehem Events Center. More than 1,200 people attended. CEO tells gathering that moving from Valley would have cost ‘culture and spirit’ of 70 years. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■