Sam Bennett

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

– Vince Lombardi

Currently

  • Saturday June 18, 2016 “I’m With Sam” Mayoral 2017 Announcement
  • Tuesday June 7, 2016 Hillary Announces Democratic Nomination after CA Primary Wins 55.8% of the vote
  • Tuesday April 26th, 2016 PA Primary Hillary Wins 55.6% of the vote
  • 2016, 2014, 2010, 2008 The Historic Benner Mansion on West Park House Tour
  • April 2016, 2015 Sam founding Co-Chair of Stories That Shaped A Nation at Freedom Memorial,
  • 2016 Sam receives Community Leader Award -Benevolent and Improved Protective Order of the World Wide Elks 2016
  • 2016 – 2005 Sam worships and past choir member, Mediator Episcopal Church, The Rev. Canon Maria W. E. Tjeltveit Allentown, PA
  • 2016 – 1998 Sam volunteers Mayfair Festival of the Arts
  • 2016 – 1999 Sam creates and is co-founder of The William Allen Construction Company with Lee Butz of Alvin H. Butz. Sam currently serves as Board Secretary
  • 2016 -1999 Sam founder of Properties of Merit in Allentown PA, past PA Statewide Director; currently serves on PA Board of Directors
  • 2016 – 2010 Sam founding Leadership Team member of historic Political Parity
  • 2016 – 1990 Lucia Fest Volunteer Muhlenberg College

2000’s

  • 2015 – 1995 Sam, daughter Rachael and son David volunteer and perform – Sam performs in 2015 as Mrs. Fezziwig at 26th year of Christmas Carol at Nineteenth Street Theatre Allentown PA
  • 2015 Historic Benner Mansion celebrates its 300th reservation and 500th guest!
  • 2015 Historic Benner Mansion hosts first Annual Captain Benner family member reunion
  • 2014 – 2009 Sam invited to be CEO candidate in national search for next CEO of Women’s Campaign Fund and She Should Run, first in nation to financially support women when they run for office – accepts position April 2009, retires $250,000 in inherited debt, garners remarkable national and international press for this historic organization, is the longest serving CEO in its thirty year history
  • 2013, 2015 Sam’s first and second grandchildren are born
  • 2012 Sam’s daughter Rachael marries Jasper. Beaverkill NY
  • July 2012 Sam’s step-father Mike Loizeaux passes away, his father a revered member of the Hamburg Germany resistance movement in WWII
  • May 2012 Sam mother Ellen Loizeaux passes away, respected local business woman and member of church choir, Beaverkill NY
  • 2012 Sam broadcasts from the floor for Megyn Kelly of FOX News at both Democratic and Republican Conventions
  • 2010 Sam honored as “Top 21 Woman: U.S.A.” by Women’s ENews
  • 2011 Sam’s daughter Emma marries Michael Oneonta. NY
  • 2011 Sam as co-founder raises $400,000 for globally unique Martin Luther and Coretta Scott Memorial (now Freedom Memorial) memorial and surrounding park donated to the City of Allentown in 2011
  • 2010 Sam creator and co-founder of Political Parity National Convener for Name It. Change inspired by political sexism she experienced as a candidate
  • 2010 Daughter Rachael graduates from Parsons School of Design Paris and NYC, the most highly regarded program in its field in the world
  • 2009 Sam honored as one of “Top 21 Woman: PA” by Women’s ENews
  • 2009 – 2005 Sam elected Chair Allentown City Democratic Committee delivering the first ever all Democratic candidate sweeps in Allentown history
  • 2009 – 2003 First Vice-Chair; Chair GOTV Committee Lehigh County Democratic Committee
  • 2009 – 2002 Board of Directors Allentown Housing Association and Development Corporation (HADC)
  • 2008 Daughter Emma graduates Summa Cum Laude from Hartwick College, NY with honors in Studio Art and Art History
  • 2008 Sam gains city approval to make The Historic Benner Mansion Allentown’s First and Still Only Bed and Breakfast
  • 2008 Sam as U.S. Congressional candidate featured in multiple day Morning Call article drawn on blog Lehigh Valley Ramblings with quote “Sammy Bennett is a phony political wh*** who gives good head and makes cheap political opportunists look like f****** Mother Teresa.  Even her p***** is made of plastic.”
  • 2008 Sam recruited to run for U.S. Congress in Lehigh Valley – becoming most endorsed challenger in nation in that cycle, garnering most votes of any Democrat prior and third highest funds in that election
  • 2007 – 2008 Board Member WDIY Public Radio
  • 2006 – 2008 Board of Directors Greater Lehigh Valley Girl Scout Council
  • 2005 Allentown Education Association, “Excellence in Education” Award 2005
  • 2005 Sam hired as Sales Manager by The Morning Call
  • 2005 Sam runs for Mayor of Allentown coming in second to Ed Pawlowski after being in race only four months
  • 2005 Daughter Rachael graduates William Allen High School
  • 2005 – 2001 Founding Board Member William Allen Academy of the Arts
  • 2004 Sam Regional Field Director for Lehigh Valley for largest voter mobilization effort in S. history – delivers one of highest election performance in nation
  • 2003 Daughter Emma graduates William Allen High School
  • 2003 Lehigh Valley Magazine, “Mover and Shaker”
  • 2002 Son David born – two days before Mayfair Festival of the Arts 2002
  • 2001 – 1998 Founder, Chair Good Neighbors correcting misperceptions of the Allentown School District
  • January 2001 Sam father Captain David R. Bennett passes away, interred at Arlington National Cemetery
  • 2001 Sam hired as Executive Director of Mayfair Festival of the Arts, retires $250,000 in debt, turns around a failed financial audit, delivers highest revenues and attendance in festival’s history
  • 2001 Sam leaves Republican party concerned over its national position on women’s reproductive health choices – registers as a Democrat
  • 2001 Sam asked by party leadership during 2001 Mayoral campaign with press in the room “Just What Are Your Measurements”
  • 2001 Sam recruited by Democratic and Republican leaders to run for Mayor of Allentown – loses by 46 votes to Roy Afflerbach
  • 2000 Allentown Preservation Association, “Outstanding Historic Renovation”Historic Benner Mansion
  • 2000 Morning Call, “Woman To Watch”

1990’s

  • 1999 Sam and Martin purchase The Historic Benner Mansion 25 S. 15th Street Allentown PA
  • 1999 Sam contracted as “Team PA” interviewer for PA Department of Economic and Community Development on behalf of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, is one of two top interviewers in state
  • 1995 – 1990 Troop Leader Girl Scout Brownie, Troop Assistant Girl Scout Daisy First Presbyterian Church
  • 1995 Marries Martin Ulloa Estrada, Senior DataEngineer at Historic Sun Inn Bethlehem, PA
  • 1994 – 2005 Sam worships and choir soloist for First Presbyterian Church Allentown PA – the first Presbyterian Church in nation to have a women minister (Margaret Towner).  Every year since a woman part of senior pastoral staff
  • 1992 – 1998 Sam works for NTD-PDD/Bell Atlantic, top performing Yellow Page unit in the nation – first in company’s 100 year history to be promoted to corporate out of training, #1 account executive and sales manager, promoted to Regional Training Manager
  • 1992 Sam and Jeffrey R. Tipping divorce – work diligently to raise daughters between their West End Allentown PA homes
  • 1992 Sam raped in her West End Allentown PA home
  • 1989 – 1991 PTO President, Muhlenberg Elementary School, ASD
  • 1990 Sam and Jeffrey R. Tipping separate
  • 1990 Sam received the Lifetime Achievement Award Properties of Merit Oneonta NY

1980’s

  • 1986 – 1994 Sam worships, choir member and food bank volunteer Grace Episcopal Church, Allentown PA
  • 1986 Sam founds Tipp’s Chewy Chocolate Chipps in Allentown PA, popular at Musikfest, Salvatore Ruffino Pizzeria and Muhlenberg College’s Red Door Cafe
  • 1986 Sam purchases Monk and Dolly Rabenold’s former home 2334 Livingston Street, Allentown PA
  • 1986 Daughter Rachael born
  • 1984 Sam founds Properties of Merit
  • 1984 Daughter Emma born
  • 1983 Sam founds Tipp’s Chewy Chocolate Chipps in Oneonta, NY
  • 1982 Sam purchases, renovates and manages 9 Oneonta, NY apartment buildings, 33 units
  • 1982 – 1986 Sam worships Paul’s Episcopal Church. Franklin NY
  • 1982 Marries Jeffrey R. Tipping, Muhlenberg College Soccer Coach, National Soccer Education Director
  • 1980 – 1982 BA Studio Art Oneonta State University, NY – Dean’s List

1970’s

  • 1977 Freshman Potsdam State University, NY – Ranger ROTC – Advanced Honors
  • 1978 Sam’s maternal grandfather passes away T.R. Loizeaux, revered businessman and local philanthropist Plainfield, NJ
  • 1974 Sam’s paternal grandfather passes away O.W. “Bud” Bennett – the longest serving National Director in Boy Scouting history and Mayor of Piscataway, NJ
  • 1974-1976 Graduation Oneonta High School, Oneonta NY -Bresee Award – Art in America Award – Social Studies Award – Best Actress Award – Girls Soccer Team – Regent’s Scholar and Alternate Regent’s Scholar
  • 1975 Sam runs away from home to escape sexual abuse by family friend – entrapped by and escapes from white slavery in NYC
  • 1973 Ninth grade Bay City, TX High School Marching Band
  • 1972 Sam chosen to be on Commemorative National Girl Scout Team, Marquette and Joliette Reenactment on the Mississippi River, 1972
  • 1972 Eighth grade Bay City, TX Middle School Marching Band
  • 1971 Seventh grade Livingston Manor, NY Senior Choir
  • 1970 Sixth grade Poughkeepsie, NY – Environmental Science Award – Athletics Award

1960’s

  • 1969 Sixth grade home schooled Saigon Vietnam
  • 1968 Fifth grade Singapore American School, Singapore
  • 1967 Fourth grade Chapel Hill, NC (2 schools)
  • 1966 Third grade Cherry Point, NC
  • 1965 Second grade Orange County, CA
  • 1964 First grade El Toro, CA
  • 1963 Kindergarten Seattle, WA

1950’s

  • December 11, 1957 Siobhan “Sam” Bennett born Parris Island, Beaufort, South Carolina
  • 1955 Sam’s mother Ellen Loizeaux and David R. Bennett (Marine officer and pilot) marry

I'm With Sam

“I've known Sam for 25 years. She has made a difference for our city more than anyone I've ever known in my 40 plus years living in Allentown, 32 years working for Lehigh County Department of Human Services, 35 years as a parent of two daughters schooled in the Allentown schools, property owner and tax payer for 40 plus years and resident of North 6th Street for 33 years. Taking into consideration my history, experiences and community involvement and participation, I believe Sam will be the best mayor our city has seen! ”
— Cynthia Douglas Mertz - 40 resident Allentown, Call Time Manager Friends of Siobhan "Sam" Bennett

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