Biographies

Lori G. Sywensky, Community Development Administrator

610-559-3200  (option #2)
lsywensky@northamptoncounty.org

Lori G. Sywensky administers local, state, and federal grants designed to improve quality of life for  Northampton County residents.  Grant programs include Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Shelter Grants, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Grant Programs.  Ms. Sywensky has over 10 years of experience in grant management and program development.  Her experience includes serving as Planning Manager of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's Victims' Services Program and as Director of the YWCA's Wise Options and Helpline programs in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  Ms. Sywensky holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lock Haven University.

Alicia Karner, Economic Development Administrator

610-559-3200 (option #3)
akarner@northamptoncounty.org

Alicia Karner is the Economic Development Analyst for Northampton County.  Ms. Karner has ten years experience in assisting communities and companies with economic development projects throughout the Lehigh Valley.  Her experiences include serving as a District Chief of Staff to a local State Senator and as a Director at a local community revolving loan fund.  Ms. Karner also served as a local elected official and has been actively involved in several downtown revitalization organizations.  Ms. Karner holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Thomas A. Dittmar, Environmental Conservation Coordinator

610-559-3200 (option #4)
tdittmar@northamptoncounty.org

Northampton County’s Environmental Conservation Coordinator (ECC) position was newly created in 2008.  As the County’s first ECC, Thomas Dittmar’s key responsibility is implementing the County’s DEP Solid Waste Plan.   The plan’s objectives relate to recycling, waste reduction, yard waste and composting programs, household hazardous waste, and electronics recycling.  Mr. Dittmar will assist the County and its municipalities with coordinating and implementing programs, along with conducting educational programs for communities and schools.

Mr. Dittmar has over 16 years of experience in recycling and waste reduction for AT&T Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies.  A member of the Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee since 1994, he helped implement their first household hazardous waste collection event.  He received his Certified Recycling Professional (CRP) from Rutgers Cook College in 1995.  Mr. Dittmar also served on the Board of Directors of the Association of New Jersey Recycling (ANJR) and taught Waste Audit programs for Rutgers/Cook College.  His awards include Outstanding Corporate Recycling Program Award from Morris County, N.J., Outstanding Achievement in Recycling from N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, and an EPA Waste Wise Program Champion.  Mr. Dittmar’s motto is, “I would like to leave the world a cleaner place than I found it.”

Susan Shulman, CDBG Program Coordinator

610-559-3200 (option #5)
sshulman@northamptoncounty.org

Susan Shulman is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Coordinator for Northampton County.  Ms. Shulman has over 10 years of business experience, with 3 1/2 years of experience specifically in grant management. Her grant management experience includes serving as the Customized Job Training (CJT) Coordinator for Northampton Community College for several large corporations in the Lehigh Valley.  Ms. Shulman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University.

Loretta Schiavone is the administrative assistant to the Authorities Administrator in the department and manages all office duties.  Ms. Schiavone’s 25+ years experience has included positions in a banking institution, and several large corporations.  Ms. Schiavone received her continued business education and computer training at Northampton County Community College.