Five Minutes with Annette Szygiel, Executive Vice President & Chief Experience Officer at Univest Financial Corporation

The team at Univest Financial takes great pride in being involved Christkindlmarkt & the community. Here’s what Annette Szygiel, Executive Vice President & Chief Experience Officer for Univest Financial Corporation, had to say about why an event like Christkindlmarkt is so important to our community.

1. Univest Financial has been a supporter of Christkindlmarkt for the past 4 years. What drove your decision to support this event?

Univest Financial is excited to again serve as presenting sponsor of Christkindlmarkt. While we all continue to navigate uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Univest Financial remains dedicated to supporting the local communities we serve. Christkindlmarkt provides a great opportunity to support local artisans and small businesses at a time they need it more than ever. Univest has financial centers in Bethlehem and Allentown as well as a regional office in Berks County so this partnership is also a great way for us to reinforce our presence in this region while demonstrating our commitment to local communities in which we operate.

2. Are you surprised with how much the event has grown?

ArtsQuest is truly dedicated to bringing the community together in support of the arts in the Lehigh Valley, so it is no surprise how much Christkindlmarkt has grown over the years. This growth proves that Christkindlmarkt is a favorite Christmas City tradition for families. Univest is always looking for partnerships that bring families together to enjoy the arts and culture of our local region so the partnership has been a great fit.

3. What is your favorite part of Christkindlmarkt?

My husband is a painter and we both love art so we enjoy exploring the many artisan works that can be found at Christkindlmarkt. We enjoy getting into the holiday spirit while supporting local vendors. I also love that members of the Univest Family volunteer at Christkindlmarkt – that is a truly important aspect of our partnership. Univest strives to be a part of the communities we serve. It isn’t just about writing a check and offering financial support. Our Committed to Local philanthropic program is also about volunteering time to help local nonprofits. Volunteering at Christkindlmarkt allows our employees to share their time and talents while building relationships with other employees, interacting with members of the community and supporting ArtsQuest.

4. What is new at Univest Financial?

In June, we celebrated Univest’s 145th anniversary. As we reflect on our history, we are grateful to have the opportunity to continue to serve our customers, communities, shareholders and employees. It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of more than 900 members of the Univest Family that we continue to move the Corporation forward. We continue to support our customers and communities as they navigate the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic and remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting local communities. In 2020, we donated more than $1.9 million to the communities we serve and we are on track to do the same this year. Continuing to make these investments during uncertain and vulnerable times is a testament to our corporate values and dedication to our Committed To Local philanthropic program.

5. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Being of Dutch Indonesian descent, a favorite tradition is enjoying Spekkoek, a layered butter cake that blends cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cardamom into the batter. It’s delicious as dessert with coffee and again Christmas morning with tea. While this special dessert is a favorite tradition, what I truly enjoy most is celebrating the spirit of the season together with family and friends.

Visit Christkindlmarkt presented by Univest Financial Nov. 19-21, 26-28 & Dec. 2-5, 9-12 & 16-19!