Allentown Economic Development Corporation is pleased to welcome Mr. David Quier as the newest member of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Quier will be joining the 15-member governing body, along with seven ex officio members, all of whom meet monthly to provide direction and guidance as AEDC works to strengthen the region’s manufacturing sector.
Quier brings both professional experience and personal passion to AEDC’s Board. As Vice President of Transmission & Substations for PPL Electric Utilities he oversees planning, engineering, project & construction management, siting, real estate, compliance, and operations. He also manages new transmission business ventures. When asked what piqued his interest in sitting on the AEDC Board, Quier points to the fact that he was born and raised in Allentown and has a deep love for the city.
Impacting the Community
AEDC’s existing Board members were in favor of the newest addition as well. One in particular was Don Cunningham of LVEDC, noting that David’s expertise coordinating new electric service could prove to be a major asset as AEDC looks to tackle new manufacturing development projects. David also believes his experience will be helpful when it comes to new projects, adding that a major hurdle to setting up businesses and manufacturing plants is often interconnection requirements and cost. David’s expertise on the Board also has the potential to elicit strategies to attract new businesses. “Having highly reliable power at reasonable rates also helps attract outside businesses to the local area,” says Quier.
Prior to becoming Vice President in his current role, Quier was Director of Asset Management for Transmission and Substations. In the position, he oversaw the planning, system reliability, standards, strategic initiatives, regulatory policy, special projects, and capital development. A member of PPL’s team since 2007, Quier has been instrumental in improving reliability performance. He played a key role in efforts to deploy smart grid switches on PPL’s electric utility power grid. Prior to his time at PPL, Quier’s professional roles included project engineer at F.L. Smidth, where he managed new mill installations overseas, and power plant engineer at WorleyParsons.
Quier received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University, a Master of Business Administration from the Pennsylvania State University, and is a licensed professional engineer. He is a member of several industry organizations, including the North American Transmission Forum, the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, and WIRES Group. He is also a member of REACH, PPL’s Business Resource Group that focuses on improving the well-being of differently-abled employees.
“We’re pleased to add further expertise onto AEDC’S Board,” says Executive Director Scott Unger. “We have a knowledgeable group of volunteers who take pride in the future of manufacturing and entrepreneurship in Allentown. David’s expertise and passion for Allentown make him an excellent addition to the existing group.”
Q&A With David:
What do you enjoy most about the city of Allentown and what makes it so unique?
We have it all. An up-and-coming downtown, beautiful parks, comfortable neighborhoods, and the ability to find good work close to home. We’re also an hour from Philly, two hours from New York, yet 15 minutes from hiking in a state forest. It’s been the relationships and people that I’ve grown close to over the years that make the real difference.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
As dedicated as I am to my family and profession, I always make time to cook one meal a day. It’s a peaceful hobby that tastes good…sometimes.
Where can you usually be found on a Saturday morning?
Drinking coffee with my wife. We don’t miss a weekend of it in the mornings.
