Growth Pattern

For Frank Alvarado ’15, there is just no getting away from growth—that theme is woven throughout both his professional and personal lives.

Alvarado, director of research & data management at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), describes his work as tracking and reporting the region’s “economic and demographic vital signs.” Why is this important? Because it supports informed decision-making around economic growth, which in turn helps communities plan for long-term success.

Alvarado analyzes trends in demographics, industry growth, workforce readiness, and regional gross domestic product. For example, when the U.S. Census Bureau releases new data, he looks for trends and highlights data points to share. But his job isn’t just about tossing out numbers. He learned early on in his career at LVEDC that data itself isn’t the storyteller; it’s the context around the data points that is so valuable—and that's what he strives to provide.

“My passion is to use data to inform and promote growth,” says Alvarado, who started at LVEDC in 2019 as assistant director of outreach and quickly worked his way up from there. “Researching and analyzing data on labor, industry, and education can reveal opportunities to strengthen the talent pipeline, enhance the region’s appeal to employers, and support a vibrant, resilient economy.”

Even when he was deciding on his major, Alvarado was focused on growth. He always had an interest
in business, believing it could open doors to opportunities that would allow him to, well, grow. As a business administration major at NCC, he challenged himself by applying to the Honors Program and getting involved in student life, serving as fundraising chair of the Business Club and treasurer of the SkillsUSA Club. He also was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students.

Every open door and opportunity at NCC led to more growth. By participating in the Honors Program, Alvarado earned the Honors Program Scholarship, critical financial assistance for a student who didn’t have any other financial aid. (Alvarado also worked several part-time jobs to support his education.)

“NCC was close to home and affordable, and offered the flexibility to work while attending school,” he says. “The smaller class sizes and strong student support also stood out. I know that many other local colleges could have provided similar opportunities, but the affordability factor was very important to me at the time.”

Alvarado considers some of the classes he took at NCC to be among the most challenging and rewarding of all his education—high praise considering that he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from DeSales University in 2017 and an MBA from Fitchburg State University in 2020.

He credits his honors classes with going beyond academics and pushing him to think critically and develop the skills he uses every day at LVEDC. One class, he recalls, required students to develop time management, communication, and teamwork skills through working on a semester-long project. An assignment to create a fundraising campaign for a student club to support its initiatives for a different class helped him improve his project management and leadership skills.

So enthusiastic about the value of an NCC education is Alvarado that he gives back as a member of the Alumni Association Board and officially welcomed a new class of graduates to the Alumni Association at this past Winter Commencement.

“I loved my experience at NCC,” he says. “NCC provides more than just an education, it’s a launching pad
for growth. I started NCC as a young adult trying to figure out what to do with my career and left feeling more prepared and ready to take on the next challenge. I’m proud to be an NCC graduate.”