A scene from the Spring 2026 Lehigh Valley Partnership Summit. Photo by Nick Chismar ’20

Learn how successful business leaders navigate uncertainty, build trust, and help their teams adapt to a rapidly changing workplace during the Fall 2026 Lehigh Valley Partnership Summit. 

Leading through change is more than managing timelines, technology, and processes. It requires the ability to guide people through uncertainty and adapt to evolving challenges. 

These skills will be the topic of Moravian University’s Fall 2026 Lehigh Valley Partnership Summit at 4:30 p.m. on  November 3 in the Haupert University Building (HUB). The summit will include a discussion from a panel of local business leaders called “Leading Through Change.” Attendees can also enjoy a networking hour and refreshments following the presentation. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. 

Moderated by Katie P. Desiderio, Moravian University’s assistant vice president for organizational learning and leadership and professor of management, the discussion will explore questions such as: 

  • What is the difference between managing change and leading people through it?
  • How do leaders build trust and maintain team morale during times of uncertainty?
  • How can organizations use technology to strengthen employees’ capabilities rather than minimize them? 

Panelists include Bill Schaninger ’93 G’98, senior managing director of Accenture, a global professional services and technology consulting company; Bill Darcy ’93, global president and CEO of National Kitchen and Bath Association; Amy Vieney, chief human resources officer of People’s Security Bank & Trust; and Michael Spigel, president and CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. 

The summit builds on Moravian’s inaugural Lehigh Valley Partnership Summit, held in March, which explored “The Human Side of Change: Building Cultures that Perform Under Pressure.” November’s event will continue that conversation with a focus on leadership skills needed to help employees and organizations adapt, grow, and succeed amid evolving challenges. 

“Change is constant, and how we lead through it matters. It invites us to stay curious, embrace learning, and lead with a human focus,” says Desiderio, who leads the executive education and organizational development portion of the partnerships program at Moravian University. 

“When we cultivate trust and psychological safety, we create space to question, connect, and grow together, building cultures where people and performance thrive, even under pressure.”

Beyond the panel discussion, the summit is also an opportunity to learn about the ways local organizations can partner with Moravian University, including executive education, sponsorships, placement of interns, and hosting events in the new HUB. 

Through its university partnerships program, Moravian works with organizations to develop innovative educational and partnership opportunities, strengthen talent pipelines, and drive long-term success. 

“At Moravian, we believe in being a partner in learning. We listen to understand, lead with curiosity, and co-create meaningful learning experiences rooted in trust, connection, and psychological safety,” Desiderio says. “By bridging academic expertise with real-world challenges, we inspire learning that strengthens people, organizations, and our Lehigh Valley community. Together we rise.” 

For more information visit moravian.edu/university-partnerships.