Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, CAP
Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, CAP®, succeeded Bernie Story as Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021. Erika joined the Foundation in 2014 as Director of Donor Services with a focus on maintaining and expanding philanthropic relationships of the Foundation. Before becoming President and CEO, she has served as Vice President of Philanthropy, contributing to strategic decisions and community leadership activities, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Certified Public Accountant, she provides professional knowledge and advice about charitable giving to a wide range of Lehigh Valley residents, from individuals and families to their trusted advisors and local businesses.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Erika was Vice President of Investor Relations at Magnitude Capital, LLC, a fund of hedge funds based in New York City. In this role, she was responsible for client service and content management for the firm’s global investor base. Prior to joining Magnitude, Erika was a Senior Audit Associate in the Banking and Capital Markets sector at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
A Lehigh Valley Business Forty Under 40 honoree in 2019, Erika has had several thought pieces and op-eds published in local publications including Network Magazine, Lehigh Valley Business, and The Express-Times. She has contributed to news stories in The Morning Call, and has appeared on television broadcasts including WLVT PBS39, WFMZ 69 News, WBPH TV-60, and on radio programs at WDIY 88.1 FM.
In 2023, Erika attained the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation, administered through The American College of Financial Services. She was a 2018-19 Rider-Pool Foundation Collective Impact Fellowship, participating in a program that trains and equips nonprofit leaders to address complex community needs and develop stronger cross-sector partnerships. In 2016, Erika completed the Leadership Lehigh Valley program at Northampton Community College.
Erika is a member of the Board of Managers of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem (2018 – Current) and is the immediate past president of the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley (2017-Current). She is a member of the Junior League (2010 – Current), previously in New York City and currently in the Lehigh Valley. Erika was recently named Vice Chair of the Board of the Pennsylvania Community Foundation Alliance (PACFA).
A Bethlehem native, she graduated from Lehigh University with a major in Accounting. She was awarded the President’s Scholarship and went on to earn her Masters in Accounting and Information Analysis.
Contact Erika: erika@lvcfoundation.org