Albright College is honored to announce that John P. Weidenhammer, founder, CEO and chairman of Weidenhammer Systems Corporation, will deliver the 2026 keynote address at the college’s May 2 commencement ceremony in Santander Arena.
A titan of both business and community service, Weidenhammer has spent nearly five decades building bridges between innovation and impact, proving that success is measured not by what you achieve alone, but by how many others you lift along the way.
“Albright is honored to have John, who is a role model for students, as our commencement speaker this year,” said President Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D. “Throughout his distinguished career, he has demonstrated that true leadership is not just about the bottom line, but about elevating others and serving the community he calls home. His commitment to strengthening education in the region and philosophy that success is measured by the positive impact you make on others aligns perfectly with Albright’s mission and campus.”
Weidenhammer, armed with vision and determination, founded Weidenhammer Systems Corporation in 1978 to provide cutting-edge information technology solutions to a wide range of organizations. Prior to launching his entrepreneurial journey, he honed his expertise at Ernst & Young, assisting clients in areas related to IT strategy, software development best practices, mergers and acquisitions, operations research, and the application of data system internal controls. Weidenhammer began his career as a project leader developing production management systems for Carpenter Technology, a global leader in the production of high-performance specialty steel alloys, founded in Reading in 1889.
Weidenhammer has become synonymous with community leadership in Berks County. A purpose-driven steward in business and the Berks County community, Weidenhammer, current board chairman for the Reading Hospital Foundation, also serves on the boards of the Reading Hospital, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Berks Business Education Coalition and The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust.
A prominent supporter known for his philanthropic dedication, Weidenhammer is a trustee emeritus of Albright College and, as a longtime supporter of the United Way of Berks County and other local nonprofits, received the 2007 Eugene L. Shirk Community Builder Award from BCTV.
Named Executive of the Year by Lehigh Valley Business Journal in 2017, he has also received the Philadelphia Business Journal Technology Disrupter Award, the Centro Hispano Community Builder Award, Alvernia University’s Franciscan Award and the Lehigh Valley Business Journal Icon Award. In 2019, John and his wife of 47 years, Nadine, received the Spirit of Reading Award from the Salvation Army of Reading for their outstanding community service and commitment to the Reading area.
Weidenhammer is a founding board member of the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation (Tec Centro), for which he assists in fundraising and facilities management. As Chairman of RDG-Tech, the organization’s real estate holding company, he provided board oversight during renovations to its building on Sixth Street and as it acquired another facility on Pearl Street, creating spaces where dreams are nurtured and careers are launched.
A resident of Wyomissing, Weidenhammer says his favorite activity is helping in the success of Berks County nonprofits and working toward the revitalization of the Greater Reading region. He and his wife enjoy spending time with their daughter and grandsons, who live in the Oley area.
Albright College is thrilled that the Class of 2026 will hear from a leader who has proven that purpose and profit can coexist. Weidenhammer’s philosophy that business success and community transformation are inseparable – and create a lasting legacy – serves as powerful inspiration for graduates starting a new chapter of their professional and personal lives.
