Alvernia names School of Business

University receives largest alumni gift in 64-year history

Alvernia University announced today that it has received the largest alumni gift in the university’s history from Greg ‘97 and Stacey Header through their charitable organization, the Header Foundation. The gift will be used to establish the Header School of Business.

The gift will fund an endowed scholarship program for business students, including those interested in manufacturing, entrepreneurship and innovation.

“I would like to acknowledge the incredible generosity of the Header family, whose leadership in providing vital financial resources for our students will benefit generations of students,” said Alvernia University President-Elect Dr. Glynis A. Fitzgerald. “Innovation and entrepreneurship are cornerstones of the Alvernia student experience. This transformational gift will allow the Header School of Business to continue to prepare industry leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators that will drive economic growth throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and beyond.”

The Header School of Business is located at the university’s downtown Reading location, the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne. At this new location, Alvernia business students have access to the Bloomberg Terminal, a service used by leading business and financial professionals worldwide, state-of-the-art classrooms, and various study and gathering spaces.

“Stacey and I are excited to support Alvernia University and the School of Business,” said Header. “As an alumnus, I experienced the value of an Alvernia education, and we are pleased to provide scholarships for deserving students to obtain outstanding training from a values-based institution. These students will assist in meeting the workforce development needs in our community and make a positive difference in the lives of many in our community.”

Combining classroom and experiential learning, business education at Alvernia provides the foundations for careers in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources and specialized areas of management. The university offers associate, bachelors, accelerated adult bachelors, and masters programs in business.

“Living here, having my classes here, having access to the business lab and working here through the O’Pake Fellows Program has made me feel like I am part of this community and more involved in the university,” said Marisa Bishop ‘22, MBA Candidate ‘23. “It is because of generous donors like the Headers that students like myself are able to have such a meaningful college experience. I truly thank the Header family for such a transformational gift as I know it will continue to better the experience for business students at Alvernia.”

About the Headers

Greg Header is an accomplished business professional, entrepreneur, innovator, and community leader with a proven track record in manufacturing, product development, operational excellence, and business strategy. He holds 49 unique patents, with more pending, and is the co-founder of Solar Innovations, a premier architectural glazing system company acquired in January 2022 by Fortune Brands, a Fortune 500 company. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award at Alvernia University’s Annual President’s Dinner in 2022.

Header currently serves as the Vice President of R&D and Innovations for Fortune Brands Home & Security; CEO and Owner of IRT Reels – the best in class American made custom fishing reels; CEO and Owner of Universal Clamps – manufacturer of aluminum roof clamps and snow guards; and CEO and Owner of Header Trading Companies.

Stacey Header co-founded Solar Innovations with husband Greg and Darren Coder in 1998, serving as part-owner and chief financial officer. She is a 1993 graduate of Bloomsburg University, where she received a degree in accounting. She obtained her CPA license in 1995 while working at Beard & Company, a regional accounting firm in Reading.

She spent several years as an internal auditor for Hershey Foods and FirstEnergy while working part time at Solar Innovations, then transitioned to Solar Innovations full time in 2002. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association. Since the sale of Solar Innovations, Stacey has continued to work with the company’s CPA firm. She leads the financial, human resource, and administrative functions for Innovative Reel Technologies, the Headers’ custom fishing reel business, and two other Header companies, Universal Clamps and Escapes Limited.