A weekly roundup of business awards, promotions and recognitions.
Laura J. Mertz Laura J. Mertz has been named general manager of Valley Preferred, a provider-owned, preferred provider organization aligned with Lehigh Valley Health Network. She will be responsible for business management, development of network relationships, accountable care initiatives and internal operations.
Mertz, of Emmaus, has more than 20 years of health care experience. She last served as vice president and general manager of AllOne Health Management Solutions, a health and wellness organization in Wilkes-Barre.
Before that she served as general manager at Valley Preferred from 2006 to 2011. She had served as director of sales and marketing since the founding of Valley Preferred in 1993.
Mertz holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Scranton. She is a chartered benefit consultant licensed in accident and health and has served with the National Association of Health Underwriters.
Mertz serves on the board of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome Velo Fund in support of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. She is also a member of the Leonard Pool Society.
Valley Preferred offers programs to improve health care delivery.
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Colleen Krcelich Colleen Krcelich has joined the Lehigh Valley Financial Group in Upper Saucon Township as a financial services professional. She will serve as a specialist in life insurance programs, executive and employee fringe benefits, estate planning, disability income insurance programs, business insurance, estate and retirement planning and accounting and tax preparation.
Krcelich earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bloomsburg University and a master’s degree in business administration from Lehigh University.
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Elliot Joseph Dr. Elliot Joseph has joined the staff of PA Foot & Ankle Associates. He will practice at the Easton, Allentown and Lansford, Pa., offices. Joseph is a specialist in foot and ankle reconstruction, lower extremity trauma and diabetic limb salvage.
Joseph completed medical training at the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia and a surgical residency at St. Luke's University Health Network in Allentown. He is board certified and maintains membership in all nationally recognized surgical societies.
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Amanda Schuetrumpf and Dena Gabel Amanda Jane Schuetrumpf and Dena Gabel have joined Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
Schuetrumpf has been named marketing and communications specialist. Gabel has been named hospice development coordinator and donor family services coordinator.
Schuetrumpf will support the development and marketing and communications departments, including maintaining the eye bank’s website, administrating its social media presence and conducting eye bank tours.
She is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where she was awarded the chapter’s Chamberlain Scholarship.
Before joining the eye bank, Schuetrumpf worked as an administrative assistant in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.
Schuetrumpf earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and philosophy from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Gabel, of New Tripoli, will work with the hospice development department in the area of home health care and establish stronger ties within the region’s hospice community. She also will manage the communication and development of the eye bank’s newly created donor family services program.
Gabel studied psychology at Lebanon Valley College and is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Lehigh Valley.
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Janice Bolomey Janice Bolomey, executive vice president, director of sales and chief administration officer of Unity Bank, was recently honored as a New Leader in Banking by the New Jersey Bankers Association during the trade association’s annual gala in Atlantic City.
Bolomey is one of only 12 bankers under age 50 statewide honored as a New Leader.