Mr. Bernhard is currently coordinating a private sector initiative, Downtown Allentown Community Development Initiative, DACDI, to help revitalize center city Allentown neighborhoods.
Don is a native of Allentown and a graduate of Allentown public schools. He holds an M.A. in political science from Brown University and a B.A. in history and political science from the University of Pittsburgh.
He is married to Arlene who is retired from positions with the Allentown School District and they have two children, Spencer and Tess who are both also graduates of Allentown public schools.
Don was Director of Community Affairs at PPL from 1996 until October 2014. In that position, he managed corporate citizenship, economic development and local government relations. Prior to joining PPL in 1995, Don spent 20 years with the City of Allentown, 16 of those years as Community Development Director where responsibilities included managing city parks.
He is Past Chairman and still a board member of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Board Chairman and 39 year board member of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. He serves on the Boards of Community Services for Children, The Executive Committee of the Governor’s Early Learning Investment Commission, Pennsylvania Economy League, the Advisory Council for Building 21 High School and the Upside Allentown steering committee. He is a Trustee of the Century Foundation in Allentown since 2017.
He previously served as long time board chair of both the Allentown Library and the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Commission.
Don has been an active member of the International Economic Development Council where he has obtained the status of Certified Economic Developer and recently joined their racial justice and economic development committee.
