Over the past 25 years, H. T. Lyons, Inc., has grown to be one of the Lehigh Valley's most successful companies by recognizing and embracing the change necessary to serve customers' changing needs.

The mechanical contracting and engineering firm will continue to be successful in the future by becoming even more flexible, more cost effective, and more focused on giving employees the skills they need to help the company grow.

That's the assessment of founder Ted Lyons as he looks back on the company's growth, and ahead at what the future might hold. H. T. Lyons was acquired by PP&L Resources, Inc. in December 1997.

Lyons and his 300 employees joined customers, public officials and business leaders in an anniversary open house Thursday (10/15) that included tours of the latest addition to the East Allen Township, Northampton County, business -- a 12,000-square-foot headquarters for its service department.

"We've worked very hard over the past 25 years to make this company successful," Lyons said, "and a major portion of the credit goes to the dedicated employees of H. T. Lyons.

"As we move into the future as a subsidiary of PP&L Resources, we anticipate that the rate of change in our industry will increase, and that we'll have to be flexible enough to anticipate and react to changing conditions."

The affiliation with PP&L Resources will allow Lyons to concentrate on its core mechanical contracting and HVAC business while offering new products and services in partnership with PP&L Spectrum and other companies in the PP&L family, Lyons said.

"Flexibility, adaptability, cost-effective operations, effective employee training -- those are the things that have set us apart, and will continue to set us apart in the future," Lyons said. "Those are the things that will pave the way for continued success and growth."

"We congratulate H. T. Lyons on its anniversary, and on its strong track record of success in a competitive industry," said William F. Hecht, PP&L Resources chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are very fortunate to have the extraordinary people of H. T. Lyons as part of the PP&L Resources family.

"We understand what our large commercial and industrial customers want, and we're expanding our capabilities to deliver a wide range of energy services," said Hecht. "Through our various subsidiaries, including PP&L Spectrum, H. T. Lyons, and McClure Company of Harrisburg, we can offer services ranging from energy supply and management to the design and construction of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems."

PP&L EnergyPlus is not the same company as PP&L, Inc., the electric distribution company. PP&L EnergyPlus prices are not regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. You do not have to buy electricity or other products from PP&L EnergyPlus to receive the same quality service from PP&L, Inc.