At its regular meeting Oct. 13, Coplay Council appointed Lynn Zakos as the borough’s health officer.

After the meeting, Zakos talked with The Press about her career and connection to the area.

“I was born in Neffs, so I understand some of the politics and difficulties of a small town and the importance of keeping businesses running,” she said.

Her first experience was opening a Boston Market restaurant.

“It was challenging, but I learned a lot about the demands of running a foodservice business. After a while you get burned out,” she said.

Zakos is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

After her experience with Boston Market, Zakos served as a dietitian at an area nursing home and took a job at Allentown State Hospital.

“Four years ago when I applied for the food sanitation job, I thought I wasn’t going to be considered. I told them in my interview that I wasn’t cut out to be the mean, unyielding inspectors I had seen in my various jobs,” she said.

Zakos promised to play by the rules and keep the same standards that her mentor, George Briner, set for area restaurants.

A complaint often voiced about Briner was that he lived far outside the area. Briner always responded to any emergency, but Zakos lives closer to Coplay.

“I live in Bethlehem with my husband, so we are closer if I need to attend to a critical problem,” she said.

In addition to Coplay, Zakos has responsibilities that span from Bethlehem up into Moore Township.

“I’ll keep my other responsibilities and add Coplay,” she said.