Division of Business

Forum for Ethics in the Workplace

The Forum's mission is to provide opportunities for people to come together for study, reflection, conversation, and action on ethical issues in the workplace, especially in the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The Forum functions as a subsidiary corporation of DeSales University under the administration of the MBA/Division of Business and is guided by a board of directors. The Forum for Ethics in the Workplace hosts a quarterly ethics breakfast on the first Thursday of the month of each financial quarter in the University Center at DeSales University unless otherwise noted.

More about the Forum for Ethics in the Workplace

Forum Board

2022 - 2023 FORUM FOR ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE BOARD MEMBERS

Michelle Gaynor – (President of the Board) Vice President / Klunk & Millan Advertising

Kati Labuda – (Vice President of the Board) VP, Wealth Management / Raymond James

Robyn Barebo – Digital Marketing & PR Coordinator, Otterbine Barebo, Inc.

Kevin Campbell – President & COO / Barry Isett & Associates

Greg Chaples – VP / Property & Casualty Capstone Group

Chris Cocozza – Division Head of Business / DeSales University

Thomas Craig – McCabe Chair of Business & Society / DeSales University

Ron Eichenberg - Commercial Sales & Development / BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors

Deanne Fenstermacher – Comptroller / DeSales University

Tom Garrity – Managing Partner / Compass Point Consulting

Melissa Gerhardt – Financial Advisor / Legacy Planning Partners

Justin Hartman – LPL Financial Advisor / Lehigh Valley Investment Group

Bob Heimbecker – General Manager / Altronics Security Systems

Murtaza Jaffer – Owner / Express Business Center (EBC)

Renee James – Marketing Director / The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

Art Kardos – Owner / TV Marketing & Promotion

Melissa Kaschak – Director of Compliance Operations / Olympus Corporation

Ray Lyons – Senior Consultant / Marsh McLennan Agency

Shawn Mack – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer / Valley Youth House

Colleen Mooney McGee – Manager, Community & Government Relations / Crayola

Andy Plank – Owner, President / Blue Eagle Logistics, Inc.

Michael Rice – VP, Marketing / Follett Corporation

Katie Santana – Director, Photography, ASR Media Productions & The PEAK TV

Charlie Thiel – President / Thiel Strategic

Dan Villanti – Assistant Director, Alumni Relations / DeSales University

Pat Witmer - Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications, B. Braun Medical Inc.
History

Establishment

In the Fall of 2000 a group of concerned citizens from Holy Spirit Lutheran Church met to discuss the lack of ethical conduct in many parts of our society today. Out of subsequent conversations came the formation of the Interfaith Coalition on Ethics in the Workplace, incorporated in July 2001. In 2003 the corporate name was changed to the Forum for Ethics in the Workplace.

Rather than deal with ethics on a grand, national scale, the Forum decided to focus on ethical issues facing persons in the workplaces of the many organizations in the Lehigh Valley (PA), including business, education, health care, public service, law, human services, and communications.

Read a detailed history from the Journal of Lutheran Ethics (September 2007)

Re-organization

In the Summer of 2005, members of the executive committee of the Forum met with the director of the Salesian Center for Faith & Culture at DeSales University to discuss means of possible collaboration. Subsequent discussions led to the formation of a new corporate arrangement in which the Forum would become a subsidiary of DeSales University.

As a subsidiary of the University, the Forum receives administrative assistance to fulfill its mission and is able to capitalize on the success of related programs in the Salesian Center for Faith & Culture. By its partnership with the Forum, the Salesian Center is able to extend its mission of social engagement into the corporate world and is able to capitalize on the working relationships that the Forum has already established in the business community.

The Forum's board of directors approved the arrangement in September 2005, and the University's board of trustees gave its approval in November 2005. The new entity began operation on January 1, 2006.

Read the current By-Laws
Societas Award for Responsible Corporate Conduct
The Forum for Ethics in the Workplace presents an annual award to one or more companies that demonstrate responsible business conduct. This award program honors those employers who meet the needs of others through the production of goods and services, the organization of good and productive work, and the creation of sustainable wealth distributed justly.

Click on the links below for information & forms relative to the processes associated with this award:
- Societas Award Fact Sheet
  provides information about the nature and scope of the Societas Award
- Societas Award Entry Form
  must accompany the application package
- Societas Award Nomination Form
  to be submitted with nomination
- Societas Award Submission Guidelines
  instructions for use by a company to submit an application package
Previous Award Recipients:

2017

BerkOne (large company)

Concannon Miller (mid-size company)

KMRD (small company)

2015-16

Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.

2014

Air Products (large company)

Ecotech Marine

2012-13

Jaindl Corporation

2011

Lafayette Ambassador Bank