Honors
The 2024 Fifty Over 50
Meet the difference-makers in politics, policy and beyond.
C. Kim Bracey, Jim Harrity & Miko Rose John Williams, jDub Photography; City Council; Brian G. Henry
By the time people round the corner on their second half-century, they rarely have anything left to prove to anyone but themselves. They know what they’re good at – and their communities know, too. Armed with a wealth of insights from decades of formative experiences, the Pennsylvanians on City & State’s 2024 50 Over 50 list are taking on fresh challenges, raising the bar for ambition as new opportunities arise.
This year’s list features a seasoned educator at the helm of the commonwealth’s newest university, pioneering policewomen transforming the force – and numerous entrepreneurs who, drawing on years of relationships and experiences, successfully launched their own consultancies. More than a few of this year’s honorees are on their second or third professional acts – entering politics as a meaningful transition from early careers, or leaving government to mentor the next generation.
Jon Anderson
Earlier this year, Jon Anderson traveled from his home state of Utah to become the first permanent president of PennWest University. He leads the second-largest university in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, created through a recent consolidation and serving 11,300 students on three campuses and online.
A scholar of business administration, Anderson holds a doctorate from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in business education from the University of West Georgia, where he served on the faculty for more than a dozen years. Prior to joining PennWest, Anderson was the provost at Southern Utah University, where he managed an $85 million budget and a division with nearly 1,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff.
At PennWest, Anderson brings first-hand experience with post-secondary integration: He previously served as provost at Middle Georgia State University, which was created from the merger of two colleges, and where he supervised the successful consolidation of services across five campuses. He hopes to build on that achievement at PennWest. “I strive to foster our growth as an outstanding public university in Western Pennsylvania,” says Anderson, “and to empower students to achieve their goals.”
Margaret Berger Bradley
Ben Franklin was the original Philadelphia visionary. At Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Margaret Berger Bradley ensures Franklin’s hometown remains in the vanguard by facilitating the venture capital needed to finance bold ideas.
With a mission to grow a more vibrant and equitable entrepreneurial economy across the region, Bradley joined the firm in 2016 and currently serves as vice president for strategic initiatives. Under her guidance, Ben Franklin is ranked among the most active seed and early-stage investors nationally among venture development organizations. Bradley has also been a driving force behind the incubation and launch of ImpactPHL for which she serves as treasurer, which seeks to grow the Philadelphia region’s social-impact economy.
Bradley, who holds an MBA from Yale, has spent a quarter-century in regional economic development. One highlight was launching the regional Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, which helps Philadelphia entrepreneurs take early success to scale. Currently, she is supporting Ben Franklin’s investment in a regional tech hub for precision medicine. “I’ve been a catalyst for change,” she reflects. “What is possible when and if we come together?”
Rochelle Bilal
In 2020, Rochelle Bilal made history when she was sworn in as the first-ever African American woman sheriff in the 181-year existence of the Office of the Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia.
A 27-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, Bilal is no stranger to leadership: She has also served as president of the Guardian Civic League, a community-oversight organization comprised of 2,500 active and retired Philadelphia police officers, and as secretary for the Philadelphia NAACP.
As sheriff, the lifelong Philadelphian manages an office with a $26 million budget, 400 employees and responsibility for court security, prisoner transportation and foreclosed and tax-delinquent property sales. In addition, she serves by appointment to the Philadelphia City Council’s Special Committee on Child Separations.
During her career as a Philadelphia police officer, Bilal served in units that focused on sex crimes and drug trafficking. She also taught recruits at the Philadelphia Police Training Center, where she launched the Steer Straight initiative, which helps new police recruits to identify and avoid high-risk situations.
“I’m motivated by the energy that my staff brings to the workplace and to the community each and every day,” she says, “to serve and protect our residents.”
C. Kim Bracey
Like many who have achieved success, C. Kim Bracey says that the credit for her accomplishments is partly due to “surrounding myself with some of the best and brightest people in their field, who aren’t afraid to tell me ‘no.’”
Girded by that support, Bracey has contributed to the ongoing vitality of her York community. From 2010 to 2018, she served two terms as the first Black mayor of the City of York – including reelection with more than 80% of the vote – a feat she calls her proudest accomplishment.
In 2022, Bracey became the first African American CEO in the 131-year history of YWCA York – a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting social justice. In between, the York City native was the executive director of the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, supervising regulations, policies and standards for local governments across the commonwealth.
A veteran community leader, Bracey currently serves as secretary to the York Benevolent Association and as a trustee of York College of Pennsylvania. “I am motivated by results that impact people,” she says. “I get excited when I am able to meet a goal through a sound plan that also shows off my team’s ability.”
Tracy Brala
Currently responsible for strategy and partnerships at Philadelphia’s University City Science Center, Tracy Brala has built a career fostering thriving communities.
Brala joined the Science Center in 2018 as vice president of ecosystem development. She provided the impetus for Venture Café Philadelphia, a gathering spot that connects entrepreneurs, creatives, scientists and corporations to create a more inclusive innovation ecosystem in Greater Philadelphia. In its first five years, over 200,000 people have converged through Venture Café and Quorum, the Science Center’s community space, helping accelerate Philadelphia’s role as a hub of creativity.
Prior to joining the Science Center, Brala spearheaded digital transformation initiatives at Comcast/NBC Universal, where she created the nation’s largest WiFi hotspot network. Earlier in her career, she built a $250 million convenience food platform at Campbell’s Soup and, at one point, launched her own consulting firm.
Brala is also active with Villanova University, her alma mater, where she served as president of the Alumni Association, founded the university’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and was recognized with Villanova’s Loyalty Award.
“I wake up every day ready to inspire people and teams to believe they can do great things,” says Brala.
George C. Brown
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown was born and raised in that city on the Susquehanna River, where he brought up his three children and had a successful four-decade business career. Wanting to give back to the place that had given him so much, he made politics his second act by first winning a seat on Wilkes-Barre’s City Council.
By the time he was elected mayor – in 2019, in his second run for the post – Brown’s knowledge of and dedication to Wilkes-Barre had few equals. Now in his second term, the mayor has prioritized economic opportunity for the city of 40,000, along with public safety and an inclusive culture that celebrates Luzerne County’s diversity. His emphasis on business development is informed by his years in human resources and management roles at large corporations.
But the mayor also maintains a focus on city neighborhoods. Brown founded the South Wilkes-Barre Residents Association in his own longtime district; he also organized the committee that led to the creation of Wilkes-Barre’s first special-needs playground – and is planning another. “That’s my proudest accomplishment,” he says.
Anne Carnathan
A self-described “go-giver as well as a go-getter,” Anne Carnathan has a life story to inspire and energize. From her start as a part-time radio ad salesperson in college, Carnathan now heads a nationally ranked media marketing agency, Universal Media.
“Recognizing the blessings my life has afforded me, it’s important to consistently consider those who need an assist,” says the Mechanicsburg-based CEO. “Helping others in any way I can has always been my North Star.”
Carnathan earned a degree in radio and television communications from Shippensburg University. After nearly a dozen years with Clear Channel Radio, where she ultimately became director of sales, she joined Universal in 2011, rising through leadership positions before taking over as CEO this year.
These days, she’s enjoying co-hosting the popular (and highly ranked) Grit & Gravitas podcast; now in its fourth season, the show features Carnathan’s chats with industry and community leaders about their paths to success. “This is a passion project to pay it forward and provide ‘business vitamins’ that uplift and strengthen our listeners,” she says, “elevating other women, and offering support to shorten their learning curves.”
Aaron Chapin
Aaron Chapin has 177,000 reasons to come to work each day. That’s the number of “caring, qualified, dedicated professionals I represent” as PSEA president, he says. He assumed the post in 2023, charged with inspiring and championing the state’s educators as the profession confronts deep inequities in education funding and crisis-level school staffing shortages.
Before looking after the interests of the commonwealth’s educators, Chapin taught fourth- and fifth-graders for 30 years – mostly at the Stroudsburg Area Middle School, and with a focus on social studies and reading. Along the way, Chapin got involved with teachers' unions. He was president of the Stroudsburg Area Education Association, served on the National Education Association’s Committee for Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules, and held a variety of leadership positions with the PSEA – including as vice president.
Focused on teaching since college, Chapin graduated from Penn State in 1993 with a degree in elementary education, then earned his master’s in education from Wilkes University. In the decades since, he says, his love for the field has never waned. “I have enjoyed success by pursuing a career that I’m truly passionate about,” he says. “The opportunity to lead and inspire this association has been a joy and an honor.”
Karin Copeland
With a career at the intersection of arts, design and business, Karin Copeland is celebrating a successful decade at the helm of the Philadelphia firm she founded, CreateXChange. Working with industry leaders, best-selling authors, and global teams, she crafts high-impact experiences that revitalize clients’ approach to leadership and performance.
Copeland studied industrial design at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, where the balance of aesthetic appeal and practical functionality became the cornerstone of her creative approach to business challenges – producing innovative solutions that resonate across industries.
Beginning her career in New York City, Copeland collaborated with leading designers and firms such as Citibank and Xerox on product and interior solutions. Back in Philadelphia, she brought her insights to the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where she oversaw engagement and led the Arts + Business Council. Copeland’s initiatives connected executives across diverse industries through leadership programs that broadened the chamber’s mission and influence.
“Starting my own business after 50 was the ultimate testament to my resilience and drive,” reflects Copeland. “Each step built upon the last, helping me overcome challenges. I’m always excited to try new things.”
Julie Cousler
As executive director of Education Plus Health and the Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance, Julie Cousler leads nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing health equity across the commonwealth. It’s the latest role in a career devoted to improving the health and social outcomes of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.
“What has motivated me throughout my life is fairness,” says Cousler. “There are many inequities in America that make it very difficult for many people to excel. We must do more in childhood for those that have less so they have a fair chance to get ahead in life.”
In 2022, Cousler aided that cause by securing $2.85 million from the state Senate to fund the expansion of mental health services in 30 school-based health centers across the commonwealth. Cousler has led state efforts to grow such school-based health centers across the state, having founded the Pennsylvania School-Based Health Alliance in 2020.
The Temple University-educated social worker has also researched truancy and chronic absenteeism in Philadelphia and held leadership roles at two of Pennsylvania’s highest-regarded Latino nonprofit organizations – Concilio, where she was a deputy director, and Congreso, where she led the division of critical health services.
Lisa Deeley
Elections have been particularly fraught since 2016, when Democrat Lisa Deeley was first sworn in as a city commissioner for the City of Philadelphia. In the years since, Deeley, now vice chair, has brought her extensive background in government and constituent outreach to ensure Philadelphians encounter a voting system that is transparent, confidence-inspiring and, above all, accessible.
Under her watch, Philadelphia transitioned to a new voting system – with voter-verifiable paper ballots – and introduced electronic pollbooks. Serving as chair of the City Commissioners from 2017 until this year, she successfully instituted mail-in voting for Philadelphia and, under global scrutiny, led the department through the tense administration of the 2020 presidential election. (She calls the June 2020 primary, three months into the logistically challenging pandemic, her proudest moment.)
Raised by a politically active mother, the Philadelphia native was involved from a young age – working on campaigns and serving as a 30-year committee person. Deeley has also held roles at City Council, in the state House of Representatives and at the Philadelphia City Controller’s Office, where she headed community outreach efforts.
“I try to engage voters as young as possible,” says Deeley. “I love my job and have a passion for serving my community.”
Steve DeFrank
Steve DeFrank brings extensive experience in both Pennsylvania’s public and private sectors to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which he joined in 2022 and currently chairs. In addition, this past May, the Federal Communications Commission appointed DeFrank to its Federal-State Joint Board on Jurisdictional Separations.
The Uniontown native is a quarter-century veteran of Pennsylvania state government – mostly in the state Senate, where he was chief of staff to chamber leadership. As Democratic executive director of the Senate’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, DeFrank helped develop utility-sector policy initiatives, including modernizing the Public Utility Code. He was also a key figure in the authorization of transportation network companies in the commonwealth.
Before joining the PUC, DeFrank was a principal in the government relations practice of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, where he deepened his operational understanding of water and energy delivery. “We are in the midst of a significant energy transition, so being involved in the utility sector at this level feels truly impactful,” he says. “The decisions we make in the next few years will affect future generations. That is something I remain mindful of every day.”
Jill Yesko Diana
A social worker by training – and a human resources professional and organizer by profession – Jill Yesko Diana united her talents in 2022 to found Safe Moves for Seniors, a nonprofit organization with a simple mission: to move low-income older adults into safer and more affordable housing at no cost.
“Sometimes, the simplest problem has the simplest solution,” observes Diana. “It just needs someone to provide structure and take initiative.”
Indeed, those qualities define Diana’s professional life. Twenty years ago, she founded Discover Organizing, a nationally recognized Pittsburgh-based firm that has since expanded from home organizing to life-transition services like packing and unpacking.
Diana studied social work at Villanova University and began her career in medical human resources. Before long, her entrepreneurial spirit was evident: In addition to her other ventures, Diana has also launched a bin storage delivery company and a line of motivational cards for professional organizers.
Her senior moving nonprofit has expanded nationally, with nearly a dozen offices from coast to coast. The author of three books and a popular speaker on organizational issues, she clearly relishes keeping busy. “I love creating new pathways for clients and community,” she says, “as we work together to break new ground.”
Lori A. Dumas
Lori Dumas brings a passionate commitment to social justice and human rights to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, where she is a judge. Previously, while working with human trafficking victims on the First Judicial District Family Court, she helped create the nation’s first juvenile human trafficking court. The program, “Working to Restore Adolescents’ Power,” has since become a national model.
Prior to her election to Commonwealth Court, the Democrat served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for 19 years, working in every major trial division – including, most recently, handling property disputes and real estate transactions with the court’s Civil Trial Division.
A graduate of Duke University and North Carolina Central University School of Law, Dumas holds executive credentials in diversity and inclusion from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. Her involvement with national task forces and think tanks has made her a key player in high-profile social impact projects – and placed Philadelphia’s court system in the national spotlight.
“What motivates me is my service to others,” says Dumas. “I believe my gift is to serve, and I have spent my life carrying out that assignment, standing on the shoulders of those giants who came before me.”
Richard S. Edley
Behavioral health veteran Richard Edley currently leads the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association in Pennsylvania. In this role, he represents the interests of 400 member entities for one of the country’s largest state trade associations – providers of services around mental health, aging, substance use disorder, rehabilitation, disabilities and criminal and juvenile justice.
An Emory University-trained psychologist, Edley previously held a faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry. Prior to his current role, he headed PerformCare/Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania, a national behavioral-health managed-care organization.
More recently, Edley served on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s human services transition team and is currently an appointed member to both the state’s Employment First Commission and Behavioral Health Advisory Committee. A presence in the mental health field since the late 1980s, Edley wields influence nationally as a board member of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, a Washington, D.C.-based organization representing behavioral health providers and associations throughout the country.
“In helping those in need, it feels like I am on the ‘right side of the equation,’” says Edley. “When there are wins – better policy, funding in the governor’s budget, critical legislation – this makes it all worthwhile.”
Thomas P. Foley
“The universe is not made of atoms, but stories,” Tom Foley told the Harcum College graduating class in his 2024 commencement speech. Indeed, Foley believes that his gift for storytelling – paired with a strong work ethic – is at the heart of his success.
That way with words propelled his career as a chief speechwriter for a future U.S. president, as Pennsylvania’s youngest-ever secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry, as a Pennsylvania college president and as leader of the commonwealth’s two largest volunteer-run nonprofits (United Way and Red Cross). Foley knew words transcended mere metaphor when he served as a front-line peace worker in Northern Ireland during the worst of the Troubles.
Today, as president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, he represents 85 independent nonprofit schools that educate roughly half of the state’s low-income and minority students. “I understand in a personal way the transformative power of education,” reflects Foley, a first-generation college graduate from a family of 12 children.
“Everyone has their story, no matter where they stand on the political spectrum – and taking the time to listen to, understand and respect their story is the best route to getting things done.”
Dan Frankel
Twenty-six years ago, when Dan Frankel was first elected to the state House of Representatives, he was considered a youngster at age 42. As the Pittsburgh Democrat has gotten older, more younger members have joined the chamber – and his party is finally in charge.
But for a politician who emphasizes bipartisan cooperation, other changes have been less positive. “Even though we were in the minority, the chasm of difference between Republicans and Democrats was much narrower back in 1999,” when he joined the House, he says. Working alongside pro-choice colleagues on women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues, he recalls, “we had good relationships with Republicans, socially and politically.”
Today, Frankel’s across-the-aisle collaboration with Republican Health Committee minority chair, the conservative Kathy Rapp, can raise eyebrows. But the 68-year-old lawmaker retains an optimistic energy and is proud of “creating a very civil environment and finding ground on common issues,” passing numerous bills into law with Rapp’s cooperation.
Frankel’s passions for health care and human rights stem partly from his Jewish identity and his upbringing in a politically active Pittsburgh family; when he went off to boarding school as a teen, his father gave him his own New York Times subscription. Later, he held leadership positions with numerous Jewish organizations, including Pittsburgh’s Jewish Family and Children’s Services and the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, where he partnered with other faith-based organizations to address community needs.
Frankel’s longtime Pittsburgh district includes Squirrel Hill, site of the 2018 synagogue shooting, which spurred his legislation updating state measures to combat ethnic hatred and antisemitism. More recently, House colleagues passed both his anti-hate crimes package and the Fairness Act, which protects LGBTQ people against discrimination.
“I’ve fought for some version of these bills for my entire 25 years in office,” says Frankel. “But there’s still work to be done. My proudest accomplishment will be when those bills become law.”
Gerard Geoffroy
In a career that spans four decades in mental health and education, Gerard Geoffroy has devoted his latest chapter to advocacy for community health centers. As the immediate past chair of The Wright Center for Community Health and The Wright Center for Patient and Community Engagement Boards of Directors, Geoffroy has crusaded to ensure patients have a voice in health care governance.
The experience of caring for his late wife during her illness inspired Geoffroy’s dedication to grassroots health care. With patients’ perspective in mind, he pushed to diversify The Wright Center for Community Health’s board from being exclusively physician-led to including community members from diverse backgrounds.
Before embarking on his latest chapter, Geoffroy retired as a faculty specialist in counseling and human services at the University of Scranton. He has also served as a school counselor at primary and post-secondary institutions.
More recently, the Jermyn resident used an audience with President Joe Biden to advocate for the importance of community health centers. That led to a meeting with the president’s special assistant for health care and science – and paved the way for The Wright Center’s contribution to a national position paper on the socioeconomic determinants of health.
Cindy Haines
Cindy Haines is the first president and CEO of The Hear Foundation, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that brings together police and residents to promote public safety and harmonious relations. As a veteran community-builder, Haines is the driving force behind programs that discourage gun violence, promote healing from trauma and jump-start workforce development in her hometown’s least-resourced neighborhoods.
“I am motivated by the quest for social justice for communities and individuals who have been marginalized historically,” says Haines, “and for residents who have not been acknowledged for the value that they bring to create a thriving and equitable city.”
Prior to founding The Hear Foundation, she served as executive director of Focus on Renewal, a $4.4 million not-for-profit community organization. She draws on nearly two decades of work as a community builder with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she coordinated programs aimed at homeless veterans. She holds a bachelor’s in law enforcement and juvenile justice from Mercyhurst University and a master’s in social science administration from Case Western Reserve University.
“I lead with love,” she says, “and focus on building resilience in our communities.”
Nydia Han
Nydia Han isn’t just an Emmy-winning television journalist, consumer investigative reporter and TEDx speaker; she is also a voice for the Asian American community and an explorer of contemporary racial dynamics – most notably as creator of #ThisIsAmerica, a documentary series about race and the American experience.
Han, a familiar face on Philadelphia’s 6abc, anchors Action News at 10 a.m., where viewers tune in to watch her expose scams, defend consumers and encourage businesses and agencies to do the right thing. As anti-Asian expression has surged in recent years, she has also made national appearances on ABC News Live and “20/20” to discuss discrimination and hate against Asian Americans.
A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Han is the recipient of the Pearl S. Buck International Woman of Influence Award and the Inspire Award from the National Association of Asian American Professionals; she was also named an Outstanding Ally of Diversity and Inclusion by the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 2019, #ThisIsAmerica received an Asian American Journalists award.
Han says she is gratified by the ability to impact diverse audiences – “my children, our community, my ancestors, and our viewers,” she reflects. “Everything I do is in service to them.”
Jim Harrity
Jim Harrity knows the value of a second chance. He took advantage of the opportunities that came his way – achieving sobriety as well as political success, most prominently by being elected to Philadelphia City Council.
Harrity’s gratitude, he says, has inspired a career in service – both grassroots and with the City of Philadelphia and the commonwealth. On his Kensington block, Harrity refers people struggling with drug and alcohol use to treatment, and he advocates for children and seniors who confront obstacles to getting safely to school and doctor’s appointments.
Before his 2022 election, the Southwest Philly native had served as an auditor in the City Controller’s Office and as political director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. He also worked as a union construction laborer, which inspired his recent Council push for displaced-worker protections.
Regardless of the setting, Harrity says, he is motivated by helping his neighbors, whether across town or right in his own neighborhood. “Life is already hard; it gets even harder when people walk around with no hope,” he says. “I was given many chances. Now I strive to make sure other people have those same opportunities.”
Lily Higgins
Pediatrician and medical executive Lily Higgins plays a key role in the health and well-being of thousands of Pennsylvanians. An 11-year veteran of AmeriHealth Caritas, she currently serves as the corporate chief medical officer for its Pennsylvania Medicaid managed-care plans, overseeing quality assurance initiatives, clinical programs and relationships with the local medical community.
In addition, since 2021, she has served on the Delaware County Board of Health, where she is currently vice chair, tasked with establishing the county’s first health department. A fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Higgins has long promoted education around pediatric obesity, breastfeeding, immunization, foster care and food insecurity.
In addition to a medical degree from Drexel University, Higgins holds a master’s in nutrition from Columbia and an MBA in medical services management from Johns Hopkins. At AmeriHealth Caritas, Higgins has spearheaded programs to improve member health outcomes and promote health equity; these include initiatives around asthma management, family-planning medication access and increased maternal and pediatric engagement – her specialty.
Higgins calls these programs her proudest contribution: “Making a positive impact on both individuals and the broader community,” she says, “aligns my work with my passion for meaningful change.”
László Kulcsár
László Kulcsár is a social demographer and a deep believer in state universities. “I am motivated by the best traditions of public higher education,” he muses, “the idea that knowledge not only leads to individual opportunities for social mobility, but also to becoming a responsible citizen.”
A professor of rural sociology and demography at Penn State University, Kulcsár currently serves as senior associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Within social demography, his research focuses on such timely contemporary issues as migration, urbanization, aging and regional development.
Kulcsár holds master’s degrees in public administration and sociology from universities in Budapest, and a doctorate in development sociology from Cornell University. Prior to embarking on his academic career, he consulted for the European Union on various rural development projects in Eastern Europe and worked in Hungary in public opinion polling.
Since joining Penn State in 2017, Kulcsár has also headed the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education and served as interim dean of the college. He was the editor of Rural Sociology between 2017 and 2020. Prior to that, Kulcsár was a faculty member and department head at Kansas State University.
Ken Lawrence
Ken Lawrence is a familiar presence in Southeastern Pennsylvania’s corporate and civic circles. As Highmark Blue Shield’s senior vice president of corporate affairs, he guides a comprehensive strategy to advance the health company’s commitment to regional communities.
Lawrence recently served as chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, which oversees a $500 million budget and nearly 3,000 employees of Pennsylvania’s third-largest county, as well as its health and human services programs. Currently, he leads the boards of directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Schuylkill River Development Corporation.
The driving force behind Lawrence’s many roles is “helping others succeed and reach their full potential,” he says. At Highmark, Lawrence collaborates closely with colleagues who handle community and government affairs, communications, and initiatives around social determinants of health. He also guides strategic collaboration with external stakeholders throughout a five-county region.
At Temple University, his undergraduate alma mater, Lawrence previously spent a decade heading alumni relations as well as government, community and public affairs. He also founded the consulting firm Public Affairs Strategies and holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mike Long
As a founding partner of Long Nyquist and Associates, Harrisburg’s largest state lobbying firm, Mike Long has made a deep imprint on the commonwealth's political landscape over the past 35 years – arguably more than any other non-elected Pennsylvanian.
The Lebanon County resident was drawn to public affairs early, studying political science at Millersville University and earning a master’s in public administration from Shippensburg University. For a quarter-century, Long had a front-row seat to the state legislature, holding the Pennsylvania Senate’s only staff position enshrined in commonwealth statute: chief of staff.
Drawing on that experience, Long joined forces to start a government relations firm with his colleague, Todd Nyquist, a former top aide to the Senate president pro tempore. The two built one of Pennsylvania’s largest public affairs firms – a presence that recently increased when Long Nyquist acquired Pugliese Associates, creating a powerhouse with 20 full-time lobbyists. As the 2024 election season heats up, Long, the firm he built and the insights he shares are in greater demand than ever.
John Malady
For people who follow Harrisburg, the name Malady is nearly as much a Capitol fixture as the Rotunda – although John Malady’s roots are actually in Pittsburgh, and his influence extends from Allegheny County to Philadelphia and beyond. Malady is a founding partner of Malady & Wooten, the storied government affairs firm known for its direct lobbying and track record of political influence.
Malady got his start in Harrisburg in the late 1970s, working in the office of the lieutenant governor while earning a master’s in business and management from Penn State. That experience, along with a stint in the Pennsylvania Senate, formed the basis for a government relations career that included nearly two decades as a managing partner with Wojdak & Associates, the nationally regarded public affairs outfit.
Malady launched his own firm in the late 1990s and now leads a team of professionals with deep relationships throughout state government, agencies and business. His firm’s clients include Pennsylvania icons like Comcast, Highmark Health and the University of Pennsylvania, and schools, government agencies, industry associations and global corporations, including ExxonMobil and FedEx.
Megan Martin
Over her three-decade executive, legal, and public policy career, Megan Martin has dedicated herself to improving the lives of Pennsylvanians. She has done that by serving in all three branches of state government – and as an attorney for the U.S. Navy.
Currently, Martin is the first-ever general counsel of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, the commonwealth’s largest business advocacy organization, with nearly 10,000 affiliates. As a member of the chamber’s executive team, Martin oversees legal operations and assists with government affairs, helping to advance the organization’s pro-business mission. She also serves on the Leadership Committee of the PA Chamber Foundation’s With Malice Towards None Leadership Development and Civility Program.
In addition, Martin was the first and (still) only woman to serve as the secretary-parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania Senate, a role to which she was unanimously elected five times. From that experience, in which she led an 80-person operation, she gleaned a deep understanding of Pennsylvania’s complex legislative process.
“I believe public service is a calling, and that I was called to serve,” says Martin. “I love being part of something that is so much bigger than I am.”
David Nasatir
An influential figure in Pennsylvania’s civic and legal circles, attorney Dave Nasatir is the chair of both his firm, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, and its business and finance department.
In addition, Nasatir successfully steered the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority through the pandemic as its chair. He currently serves on the boards of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and the Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority.
“I crave seeing things improve, become more diverse and equitable,” says Nasatir, who makes a point of mentoring younger colleagues. “Our law firm must look like our clients – understand their history, efforts and goals. The Convention Center is no different: We need a workforce that looks like our region.”
Strongly connected to his Montgomery County community, Nasatir has served as a local Democratic committee person and as chair of the 2023 Montgomery County Democratic Committee Judicial Screening Committee. Last year, he was co-counsel to the transition team of fellow county denizen Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Professionally, Nasatir is also committed to improving his home region – handling bond financings for both SEPTA and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and representing the Philadelphia Parking Authority in real estate matters.
Leland Nelson
Business adviser, entrepreneur and civic leader Leland Nelson serves as president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Pennsylvania. He also counsels 150 small businesses across Pennsylvania and the East Coast and is a founding member of the Greater Harrisburg Chapter of the National Black MBA Association.
Nelson’s entrepreneurship has involved sectors as diverse as home restoration, private label clothing and event promotion. Currently, he heads Dirty Dog Hauling, a junk removal company, and Think Tank Consulting, which specializes in robotic process automation and IT staffing.
Nelson launched his first business, C.M.B. Photography, while studying accounting at Delaware State University; he soon expanded into a network of student-operated services at local universities. After a series of accounting positions at KPMG, in 2017, Nelson earned an MBA from Penn State, where he was the inaugural graduate adviser for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Corporate success aside, Nelson considers his community service paramount. “We were able to help over a dozen companies obtain critical funding during the pandemic,” he says. His inspiration comes from the pioneering Black Member of Congress, Shirley Chisholm, whom he quotes: “Service to others ... is the rent you pay for time on this earth.”
Michael Nutter
Just days after leaving office after two terms as Philadelphia mayor, Michael Nutter was on a beach in Turks and Caicos when he got a message from a friend back home: “Aren’t you glad you don’t have to worry about the snow?”
It was January 2016, and for the first time in years, a massive snowstorm wasn’t his problem. “I wrote back, ‘No, I’m not worried about the snow,’” recalls Nutter.
Of course, after a lifetime of civic engagement – including 15 years on Philadelphia City Council – Nutter could only relax so long. He now helms his eponymous consulting firm and teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he is the inaugural David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs. He also holds fellowships at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago and the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics.
It’s a lengthy résumé – but ask the former mayor about career highlights and he doesn’t hesitate: “The smoking ban in Philadelphia,” he affirms. “I know that we saved lives and brought quality of life to Philadelphia. It wasn’t easy.”
Known for his diligence, Nutter systematically tackled Philadelphia’s thorniest issues as mayor – and he’s proud of the results. When he left office, he recalls, crime was at historic lows, high school graduation rates were up and the city was buzzing with $11 billion in development projects. Nutter emphasizes it’s not all about the numbers: “I think we set a standard of integrity and transparency in the government.”
The mayor traces his inspiration to an early political mentor, former City Councilmember John Anderson, for whom Nutter worked in the 1980s. It was his first foray into politics, “and I decided, ‘This is what I want to do with my life,’” he recalls.
In his latest professional chapter, Nutter finds himself in that mentor role, deriving fulfillment from imparting what he’s learned. His Columbia students “still believe that they can make a difference in the world,” he says, “and that spirit brings me joy.”
Diane O’Connor
A lifelong devotee of higher education, Diane O’Connor is currently vice president of administrative services at Montgomery County Community College. She joined the institution in 1996, bringing a people-focused approach that has powerfully shaped the institution’s success.
As vice president, O’Connor – who holds a master’s in organizational leadership from Cabrini College – leads campus planning with an emphasis on safety, efficiency and sustainability; she also co-leads facilities master planning. Her strategic vision is informed not only by her own roots as a local teacher, but also by her years in human resources, managing benefits, recruitment, training and labor relations for an employee roster that now tops 1,700.
The culture of work-life balance she helped build contributed to the college’s being repeatedly named among the “Most Promising Places to Work” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development and “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.” Under her leadership, MCCC was also one of just 26 two-year institutions nationally to be recognized as a “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
“Our national recognition highlights the welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace and learning environments we strive to create for all at Montco,” says O’Connor.
Hugh Organ
At Covenant House Pennsylvania, Hugh Organ has worked with runaway, homeless and trafficked youth for the past quarter-century, where his current role is chief program officer. He oversees the day-to-day operations for the organization’s street outreach program, York drop-in center, 76-bed crisis shelter and 20-bed transitional living program.
“I am motivated by my faith, my family and the young people I serve each day,” reflects Organ, who calls his work sheltering thousands of youth over the years at Covenant House his most meaningful achievement.
A founding member and the chair of the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition, Organ is a recognized expert on human trafficking who has presented at the United Nations and provided assistance and training to anti-trafficking organizations statewide and throughout North America. He is a former leader of the Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Advocacy Group and was appointed in 2010 to the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.
With multiple degrees in criminal justice, Organ has also testified on anti-trafficking legislation at the state Capitol – including leading efforts to pass a Safe Harbor law in Pennsylvania so that trafficking victims receive treatment instead of incarceration.
Teresa Osborne
Since 2020, longtime senior advocate and public servant Teresa Osborne has managed advocacy and outreach for AARP Pennsylvania, the commonwealth chapter of America’s largest organization advocating for people 50 and over. In this role, Osborne leads the state group’s legislative and policy agenda, as well as community education and outreach work throughout Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. “This work is incredibly motivating and life-giving for me,” she says.
A social worker by training, Osborne brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in both state policy and the aging sector. From 2015 to 2019, she headed the state Department of Aging, serving as the commonwealth’s most visible advocate for nearly 2.9 million state residents aged 60 and older. She also managed Pennsylvania’s senior pharmaceutical assistance program and its network of home- and community-based services. In addition, Osborne is a former chair of the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission.
The Scranton native began her career with Meals on Wheels of Northeastern Pennsylvania before serving as the executive director of several Northeastern Pennsylvania aging and human services agencies. She is also a former chancellor and chief operating officer for the Diocese of Scranton.
Andi Perez
Andi Perez has built a career lifting up her fellow Philadelphians. For the past decade, she has done that at SEIU 32BJ, where she is currently deputy political director.
Since joining the 175,000-strong union as Pennsylvania political director, Perez has fought for her constituents’ contract campaigns – including organizing airport workers, who subsequently secured better wages and workplace standards. A graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Perez was proud to be part of a coalition that built a new city high school.
Last year, she achieved a political victory that was particularly resonant: After blowing the whistle on a sexual harassment incident involving a Capitol lawmaker, Perez was gratified to be part of last year’s measure changing House rules to grant lobbyists and other advocates protection in cases involving sexual harassment.
Perez got into political organizing after college at UCLA, working at a youth nonprofit. Returning to her native Philadelphia, she was the longtime executive director of Youth United for Change, organizing high school students to fight for improved education.
This fall, Perez is rallying her constituency to elect pro-worker candidates. Her motivation, as always: “Knowing that the work that I am doing is improving the lives of others and my community.”
George Potts
After a decades-long career in advertising, in 2018, George Potts founded an outfit with a very personal mission: advancing progressive brands and organizations, liberal issue advocacy groups and Democratic political campaigns. As president of Fifth Influence, Potts now oversees a firm dedicated to using social media and digital marketing to advocate for the ideas and people he believes in.
A self-described early adopter and entrepreneur, Potts remains rooted in Allegheny County, where he grew up – and where he honed what he has called a “keen blue-collar work ethic” that has yielded results. He studied political science at Duquesne University, from which he also earned a master’s in education and where he continues to guest-lecture. Potts also teaches digital and social media analytics at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and speaks frequently at Carnegie Mellon and Point Park universities.
Over the years, Potts has represented brands both local – like 84 Lumber and Bruster’s Ice Cream – and global, including Aquafresh, Benjamin Moore, Bob Evans and Mattel. He worked in advertising and communications for a number of Pittsburgh outfits, most notably Brunner, the agency where he led an award-winning Super Bowl campaign for 84 Lumber.
Nick Ragone
A veteran of health care marketing and communications, Nick Ragone brought his considerable experience this year to Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia’s fast-expanding academic health system. Since January, he has served as executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer of an organization with five primary locations, nearly 10,000 employees, myriad university programs and a health insurance plan.
Ragone studied history and political science at Rutgers University, then earned a law degree from Georgetown University. He honed his communications skills over a decade at the global public relations firm Ketchum, becoming a partner and director at its New York City and Washington, D.C. offices.
For the next 10 years, Ragone managed the public face of Ascension, America’s largest nonprofit Catholic health system. As chief marketing and communications officer and, most recently, executive vice president, he led messaging for a $22 billion organization with 2,600 locations, including nearly 200 hospitals and senior living facilities. Starting in 2016, he led the industry’s largest-ever rebranding campaign, uniting Ascension’s disparate health systems under a single name; he also unified the St. Louis organization’s communications teams.
Miko Rose
When Indiana University of Pennsylvania officials proposed opening a college of osteopathic medicine, they recruited Miko Rose, a renowned teacher of psychiatry and neurology, to be its founding dean. Rose is nationally known as a pioneer in wellness medicine and is a two-time recipient of the National American Osteopathic Medical Educator Fellowship Teaching award, including this year.
She previously headed the psychiatry division and served as assistant dean for clinical education at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. Rose also initiated and directed the Joy Initiative Wellness Program at Michigan State University’s medical schools.
A graduate of Wellesley College and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rose began her career in nonprofits – and realized medicine could be her conduit to maximal social impact. She now brings that mission to IUP, where she is cultivating health care partnerships to facilitate medical students’ practice in rural and underserved commonwealth communities.
The program “has the potential to not only address the critical need for rural health care, but it can be part of the solution to breaking the poverty cycle,” says Rose. “My dream has always been to break that cycle.”
John Ruane
Now president of The GIANT Company, John Ruane began his grocery career at a Foodtown in New Jersey at age 14 – and never left. He logged shifts at the store while earning a business degree from Rutgers University before joining Pathmark in 1980, working his way up from part-time clerk role to senior vice president of merchandising.
In 2018, Ruane was hired in that same role at GIANT; he assumed the position of president four years later, overseeing a 101-year-old omnichannel grocer with multiple brands and a significant retail presence throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
In between, Ruane completed executive training programs at Cornell and Harvard Business School, oversaw Stop & Shop’s New York division and, as senior vice president of fresh for Ahold USA, led supply-chain operations at more than 800 stores across the United States.
Committed to GIANT’s mid-Atlantic roots, Ruane serves on the board of Philabundance, a Philadelphia nutrition nonprofit, and chairs FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Fresh Food Leadership Committee. As he motivates 35,000 employees, Ruane still remembers his own humble beginnings – and still loves the business he joined a half-century ago.
Maureen Rush
Maureen Rush has had a storied career in community policing and security. But you could easily just as easily sum up her career in a single word: pioneer.
Rush, 71, had never seen a female police officer when she became one of the first 100 women hired for the City of Philadelphia’s Street Patrol. From that pilot program nearly 50 years ago, women now comprise 22% of the city’s police force – and for nearly two decades, Rush was one of them, “proving women could do the job,” she says.
Today, she raises over $1 million annually as president of the Philadelphia Police Foundation. As head of The Rush Group, Rush is also the security adviser for 76 Place, the proposed $1.55 billion Center City arena spearheaded by her longtime West Philadelphia colleague, developer and 76ers co-owner David Adelman.
In between, Rush is proud of her role in transforming West Philadelphia’s University City district. For nearly 30 years, Rush held leadership roles with the University of Pennsylvania’s public safety division, including as chief of the Penn Police Department. Wielding a $27 million budget, she trained scores of new hires “to be guardians instead of warriors.” Policing “involves social work,” explains Rush, who is also vice chair of the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. “We’re there in the most intimate situations, on the best and the worst days of their lives.”
At Penn, she cultivated relationships with local stakeholders for West Philadelphia Initiatives, a neighborhood revitalization program that combined heightened security with infrastructure and became a national model for urban transformation. “We had to get people to feel safe walking on the streets,” says Rush. “It made a huge difference.”
Decades on, Rush’s legacy validates what she first proved when she aced the police department’s now-antiquated “woman test” – that a female point of view was its own kind of power. “I like to rescue people. I like to solve their problems. And I’m also an adrenaline junkie,” she laughs. “For me, it was a perfect fit.”
William R. Sasso
For decades, the name William Sasso has been synonymous with Stradley Ronon, the Southeastern Pennsylvania-based law firm where he chaired the management committee and board of directors for 27 years; he is now chair emeritus.
Sasso’s step back was hardly an exit: Then-Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro asked him to chair the board of his transition team, a role Sasso had previously fulfilled for then-Gov. Tom Corbett. He also served Corbett as chair of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority and as a commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority.
But the accomplishment he is proudest of, Sasso says, is expanding Stradley Ronon. Over a half-century as chair, he grew the staff to more than 230 attorneys and guided the firm’s expansion to nine offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Chicago and California. Nowadays, Sasso retains “an incredibly active practice” counseling organizations in matters from mergers and acquisitions to health care, education, taxes and real estate.
Widely lauded both locally and internationally, Sasso remains steadfastly connected to his Philadelphia community. “Creating and maintaining meaningful personal relationships with my clients, and with those in the business and the political communities, is incredibly important,” he says.
Jill Senior
Jill Senior knows the kind of magic that happens when people get together in person. “I’m motivated by the impact I can create when I see how well-planned events bring people together, foster connections, and drive organizational growth,” she says.
Over her decades in event management, Senior has done just that. Currently, she serves as director of meetings and events at the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, where she oversees yearly educational planning, budgeting and logistics for the commonwealth trade group. Previously, Senior spent 15 years managing events for numerous health care and veterinary organizations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
One of her proudest moments wasn’t at an event at all; it was when she earned her certification as a Meeting Professional in 2011. “It allowed me to help associations grow member engagement through impactful event participation,” she says. Known for her creativity, attention to detail and expertise in enhancing attendee engagement, Senior credits much of her success to the relationships she’s developed over the years – because a space or event is only as good as the people in it.
Kevin Shivers
It’s no surprise that Kevin Shivers was twice named a Top 100 CEO by the executive organization Titan CEO: With three decades of experience in management and policy, Shivers knows how to build an organizational presence.
Since 2019, Shivers has headed the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. He recently fought for state legislation that protects the state Banking Fund, as well as a measure allowing banks to work with the state’s legal cannabis businesses.
After studying political science at Allegheny College, Shivers began his career at the Pennsylvania Department of State and was a press secretary for then-Gov. Tom Ridge. That experience has paid off in his collaborations with multiple governors to pass more than a dozen laws favorable to Shivers’ industry clients.
For nearly two decades, he led the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business. Shivers’ community work includes leadership roles with the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, which mentors high school students, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Central Pennsylvania.
“Being upfront, honest and consistent,” is how Shivers describes his successful approach. More than any single bill, he says he is most proud of “building a reputation as a hardworking and ethical leader.”
Shelley Smith
Litigator Shelley Smith has been a fixture on Philadelphia’s legal scene for decades – and nearly a decade after leaving public service, she remains the City of Philadelphia’s longest-serving city solicitor.
At Archer & Greiner, Smith is a partner in the Business Litigation and Labor Employment Groups, counseling clients in commercial litigation and labor and employment matters. She also serves as the firm’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and speaks frequently on diversity and related constitutional issues.
Having studied criminal justice at Temple University, Smith earned her JD at Villanova before starting her career at the city’s law department. Her success as a federal trial lawyer attracted the attention of then-City Councilmember Michael Nutter, who appointed her to the role that would define her career: city solicitor. She stayed on as Nutter was elected mayor, serving as the city’s chief civil legal officer while managing an office of 325 attorneys and support staff.
Now a mentor committed to increasing diversity within the legal profession, Smith also volunteers as a child advocate with the state Department of Human Services and lends her time to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Women’s Law Project and the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.
Craig Snyder
As the firm he founded, Ikon Global Consulting, marks its first quarter-century, CEO Craig Snyder takes pride in having cultivated a nationally recognized political and government relations consultancy with strong roots in Philadelphia. Whether lobbying, fundraising or campaigning, Snyder’s motivation is a desire to “give back to the greatest country in the world for the benefit of its future,” he says.
The independent-spirited Republican, a onetime GOP nominee for Congress, is currently directing the super PAC Haley Voters for Harris, serving as Pennsylvania director for Andrew Yang’s centrist Forward Party and chairing Republicans Against Perry to defeat Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District race. He builds on a cross-party legacy that includes spearheading Republicans for Shapiro in 2022 to support Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cross-partisan landslide victory (he subsequently served on the governor’s transition team).
As a lobbyist, Snyder advises prominent civic organizations such as the Museum of the American Revolution and Philadelphia250. He also teaches at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School of Communications and is a familiar media presence, co-executive producing the public television series, “The Whole Truth with David Eisenhower,” and appearing as a commentator on MSNBC, Scripps News and NewsNation.
Pam Snyder
Whether as a public servant or, now, as a government relations adviser, Pam Snyder has always been adept at facilitating her constituents’ goals – and connecting clients with critical resources.
A former five-term state representative, Snyder currently represents and secures funding for a variety of clients at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s government relations team, where she draws on her years representing Pennsylvania’s 50th legislative district in Greene County, where she shepherded numerous bills into law.
Her effectiveness is all the more impressive considering that Snyder was a Democrat in a Republican-led state House. “I learned how to work with people to advance common goals, demonstrating my flexibility and ability to get work done,” she says. Snyder began her career as a Greene County Commissioner, serving nine years, including as chair.
But her proudest achievement, she says, “is advocating to advance broadband initiatives across the commonwealth” – Snyder was a co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill that led to the creation of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. Two years ago, then-Gov. Tom Wolf appointed her chair of the Pennsylvania Broadband Authority. More recently, Snyder served on the transition team leadership board for Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Kim Ward
Kim Ward made waves as the Pennsylvania legislature’s first female majority leader – but since becoming the first woman to hold the title of state Senate president pro tempore, she’s garnered attention for her leadership on policy. When she was reelected last January, the Westmoreland County Republican was praised by colleagues from both sides of the aisle for her initiative and professionalism.
A breast cancer survivor and former respiratory therapist, Ward has taken a lead role on health initiatives in the Senate. She has championed legislation to expand access to breast cancer screening and promotes early detection efforts around the commonwealth. Ward also played a key role in developing state policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded legislation adding sex traffickers to the Megan’s Law registry.
A native of Washington County, Ward worked in several Western Pennsylvania hospitals before becoming the first woman elected to represent her district in 2008. In addition to health matters, Ward has established herself as a voice for children and youth and a champion for Pennsylvania businesses.
Jay Wiederhold
Jay Wiederhold loves a challenge. “What motivates me is being told that I can’t do something, or that something isn’t possible,” explains Wiederhold, the president of the Philadelphia Beer Alliance. “I believe hard work and perseverance always pay off.”
It’s a helpful attitude for a beer executive in a state with some of the country’s strictest alcohol regulations. Fortunately, Wiederhold is an industry insider in both beverages and politics, having previously served as executive director of the state House Liquor Control Committee. In fact, he logged a dozen years working at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving variously as a staff member on the Finance Committee and as special projects coordinator for then-Majority Leader John Perzel.
Wiederhold gravitated to politics early on, majoring in public policy at Penn State. But despite his many policy accomplishments and the success he has enjoyed helming the Beer Alliance, he remains proudest of serving the Wholesale Beer Association Executives industry group as president a decade ago. “Although I’ve had multiple legislative accomplishments with the PBA, it was an honor to be selected by my peers nationally to serve that organization,” he says.
Corinna Vecsey Wilson
Corinna Vecsey Wilson is the president of Wilson500, a 10-year-old Harrisburg-based consultancy dedicated to mission-driven organizations. The state capital veteran provides services from strategic planning to government relations, public relations, and fundraising for some of the commonwealth’s best-known organizations; partners include Penn Medicine, Philabundance and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
An attorney, lobbyist, fundraiser and certified trainer, Wilson was a newspaper reporter before going to law school and becoming the on-air host of a public affairs cable network. As a lawyer, she worked in private practice with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Harrisburg, as in-house counsel at the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association and as chief counsel at the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, a state executive agency.
Wilson is also the presenter and co-founder of the Capitol All-Stars Game, an annual bipartisan softball matchup of Pennsylvania House and Senate members. Now in its 13th year, the game brings political rivals together to raise, thus far, more than $600,000 to benefit Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania.
“I have always paid attention to relationships first and deeply value the excellent working partnerships that I’ve developed,” reflects Wilson. “My ethics and integrity are my true North Star.”
Jonathan Young
A member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters since 1996, Jonathan Young has, in recent years, been one of the trade’s most prominent political figures.
He currently serves as political director with the influential Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters, which represents some 42,000 unionized laborers throughout Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic. His appointment, says Young, was the proudest moment of his career – bringing his advocacy for fellow carpenters to a larger platform, and merging his twin passions for politics and labor.
Born and raised in Darby Township, just outside Philadelphia, Young grew up in a family that encouraged community service. That legacy is evident in his résumé: He is currently a member of the Black Legislative Caucus Labor Advisory Panel and the Walter Rand Institute for Public Policy, as well as the vice president of the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council. Most recently, he added Camden County Commissioner to his titles, serving a three-year term.
Young attributes his effectiveness to “refusing shortcuts and staying true to my principles,” he says. “I focused on changing the system for the better, always maintaining honesty and transparency.”
Laurie Zierer
Laurie Zierer grew up inspired by the stories of her grandfather, who worked at the Altoona Railroad, taught German and read the classics to Zierer at night. “I’ve always wanted to step in his shoes and inspire people to take action for the betterment of their lives and community with the humanities,” she says.
In the digital era, Zierer remains devoted to promulgating the message that arts and culture can be transformative. As executive director of PA Humanities, she leads an organization that promotes the humanities to build community, foster well-being and make meaningful change in Pennsylvania.
Zierer oversees PA Humanities programs like the Rain Poetry community poetry initiative, the Teen Reading Lounge and PA Heart & Soul, a grassroots neighborhood engagement program. She is also a vocal advocate for the cultural sector at the state and national levels, and serves on the board of Leadership Philadelphia.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Temple University and a master’s in rhetoric from Penn State, Zierer taught high school English before joining the nonprofit world. “I am proud to be leading a movement that uses our shared humanity as the essential tool for personal and collective growth,” she says.
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