Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO

This past Thursday we had the pleasure of meeting Susan Bartels the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters LV (BBBSLV).  Susan was introduced by Bryce where he and Mike Lahanas serve by being board members.  She has been the CEO and director for the past three years where she oversees all aspects of the organization's fund development and program expansion for Lehigh and Northampton counties.  Susan has taken the organization from 300 to 415 the number of "little's" that are currently being mentored by a "Big".  Bigs are the adults that come to mentor the children and little's are the children being mentored.  Susan is currently looking for approximately 100 new mentors for the program. 

         She and Bryce will be working with the Emmaus Rotary to form a sub committee to see how the Emmaus Rotary club can help BBBSLV with their ongoing needs.  Bryce shared his experiences as a child when he was part of the program BBBS.  Susan has moved the offices of BBBSLV from Macungie area to Allentown where BBBSLV inherited a church and its facilities to expand their organization.  Currently Susan has taken on a group of littles on a weekly basis at the new location providing fellowship and ministry to the littles who do not have a mentor to help them. 

         Susan is extremely active in getting area non profit leaders working together to achieve some common goals.  She is a gold standard recipient(only 17 BBBS local organizations received this award) a prestigious award recognizing her hard work and dedication based on metrics within the BBBS National Organization.  Susan has a Master's in Social Work from Temple University and resides in Upper Black Eddy with her husband Denny and son Dean.  She also is a Big Sister to Lee Lee at Jefferson school.  We look forward to helping Bryce and Mike helping the Big Brothers Big sisters of the Lehigh Valley.