Trailblazers
The 2025 City & State Pennsylvania Trailblazers in Economic & Workforce Development
Meet the difference-makers in politics, policy and beyond.
From left to right: Michael Barley, Rob Cherry & Christine James Pace-O-Matic; Janet McMillan; PMG
From small businesses to apprenticeship programs to public-private partnerships, the commonwealth’s economy hums along thanks in large part to those listed among City & State PA’s 2025 Trailblazers in Economic & Workforce Development. Featured this year are the Pennsylvanians who connect students with post-graduate opportunities, make sure education aligns with the needs of today’s businesses and support grassroots development initiatives, from neighborhood revitalizations to startup outfits.
Carrie Amann
As chief officer for economic and workforce development at the state Board of Higher Education, Carrie Amann is focused on ensuring that post-secondary learning is aligned with the needs of today’s employers. Previously, at the helm of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association, Amann bolstered initiatives to improve the organization as a leading resource and industry advocacy hub. Throughout her 20-year career, she has steered collaborations between the private, public and nonprofit sectors – including multimillion-dollar investments – to prioritize consumer experience and economic opportunity.
Khine Arthur
Khine Arthur leads the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, advocating for a community with an outsized economic impact. Before settling in Pennsylvania, the Myanmar-born Arthur worked in Indonesia as a senior officer at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Women and Migrant Workers Division and in Tokyo as a news reporter at NHK World International. More recently, she founded the Khineder Creations and Khinez Organics natural skincare companies, which employ and support single mothers and survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking.
Michael Barley
With skill games at the top of Pennsylvania’s legislative agenda, the focus is on Mike Barley, who serves as chief public affairs officer for the nation’s leading skill game developer, Pace-O-Matic. Barley has played an outsized role in bolstering the industry’s legal standing nationwide, having helped pass legislation in multiple states to legalize the skill games that provide supplemental revenue for myriad organizations. Barley previously served as senior adviser to then-Gov. Tom Corbett and was the executive director of the Pennsylvania GOP.
Billie Barnes
Billie Barnes has dedicated her career to connecting workers and employers in Southeastern Pennsylvania – and currently does so at the Bucks County Office of Workforce and Economic Development, which she joined as executive director in 2020. Barnes has more than 25 years of experience, including, most recently, as director of training for the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation. She has also held roles with the Bucks and Montgomery County community colleges and the Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services.
Kurt R. Bauman
Advocating for the vitality and prosperity of Pennsylvania’s Northeast is Kurt Bauman, who leads community and economic development services at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. He also directs the alliance’s affiliated Nonprofit and Community Assistance Center, which coordinates workshops, services and other resources to fortify and grow the region’s nonprofit organizations. Bauman holds an MBA from the University of Scranton, where he teaches and co-facilitates the nonprofit leadership certificate program.
Luke Bernstein
Luke Bernstein is enjoying a successful run as head of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, where his advocacy is partly responsible for numerous recent initiatives, including historic corporate tax reform, bolstering the fortunes of the chamber’s 10,000-member businesses. Before taking the helm of the commonwealth’s largest business advocacy organization, Bernstein was the operations and technology chief at Orrstown Financial Services. He also served in senior roles for the respective administrations of Gov. Tom Corbett and former President George W. Bush.
Beth Bittenbender
Since 2017, Beth Bittenbender has secured $15 million in federal and state grants to support apprenticeship and other job training programs through workforce development at Pennsylvania College of Technology, where she is the executive director for operations. Bittenbender previously held a series of operations and workforce development roles at the college and, prior to that, ran her own environmental safety consultancy. She was also the longtime CEO for a Baltimore facilities management outfit.
David F. Bonsick
Over the years, David Bonsick’s advocacy has played a key role in advancing numerous commonwealth industries, especially those related to technology and telecommunications. Currently a Harrisburg-based principal at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, Bonsick previously headed the Technology Council of Pennsylvania, a trade group, and led public and regulatory affairs for an internet service provider. He has directed technology investment for two former governors, lobbied with the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and helped advance broadband expansion and medical marijuana in the commonwealth.
Alicia Booker
Pittsburgh’s airport complex bustles with activity, thanks in part to Alicia Booker, who oversees workforce development initiatives for the Allegheny County Airport Authority. In addition to supporting the authority’s $1.8 billion terminal upgrade program, she spearheads diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Booker previously held leadership roles at workforce organizations in Virginia and Michigan, and has served as vice president for several higher-education institutions, including the Community College of Allegheny County.
Malik Brown
As the longtime CEO of Graduate Philadelphia, Malik Brown champions educational completion and workforce pathways. A passionate advocate of social and economic mobility for vulnerable populations, Brown also serves on the boards of the Economy League, Girard College, City Year and the African American Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, where he had a concentration in nonprofit management.
Otis Bullock
Attorney Otis Bullock is the longtime CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating poverty, where, since 2012, he has grown the budget from $3 million to $25 million and gone from four to eight locations. He previously led the Mayor’s Office of Community Services and ran his own law firm. A onetime strategist for former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Bullock is married to former state Rep. and fellow nonprofit leader Donna Bullock.
Laura Goodrich Cairns
In Pennsylvania’s fifth-most-populous county, Laura Goodrich Cairns cultivates prosperity as director of the Delaware County Economic Development Corporation. Under her guidance, the corporation organizes initiatives to support small businesses, promotes local arts and culture, and partners with the County Workforce Development Board on career programs. In addition to her primary role with the EDC, which she joined 26 years ago, Cairns also directs the county’s Redevelopment and Industrial Development authorities.
Gregg Caren
Philadelphia is riding a wave of popularity, thanks partly to the efforts of Gregg Caren, who, as CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, guides efforts to promote the city as a premier destination for conventions, sporting events and international tourism. Under Caren’s leadership, the city set tourism records in 2024 and is set to extend that streak with next year’s World Cup games and the events surrounding America’s 250th birthday. Caren previously led strategic business development for ASM Global.
Rob Cherry
Partner4Work CEO Robert Cherry leads Pittsburgh’s regional workforce agency, overseeing career programming for youths, professional development for seasoned workers and recruitment events for area employers. He previously served as deputy secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development and has also held leadership roles at Employ Milwaukee, where he developed a youth career program. Cherry, who has chaired the Department of Labor Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, is a veteran of the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and the Center for Urban Population Health.
H. Patrick Clancy
H. Patrick Clancy has two decades of leadership in workforce development, much of it at Philadelphia Works, the nonprofit where he is CEO; he is also first vice president of the Workforce Development Council of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Previously, Clancy served as special adviser for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, where he led a successful $80 million welfare-to-work program and helped draft the state’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. He has also directed workforce initiatives for Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County.
Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson directs community outreach and hiring for Temple University’s Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative, where he annually assists hundreds of local job-seeking adults, including military veterans and formerly incarcerated citizens. He is also the longtime organizer of Philadelphia’s largest annual citywide job fair and is this year’s “Men Making a Difference” honoree by state Sen. Vincent Hughes. Robinson, who holds a master’s in Christian counseling, serves on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs and is a chaplain with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Ron Cole
As president of Allegheny College, alumnus Ron Cole has emphasized workforce preparation and solid career pathways in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Under Cole’s leadership, the college strategically focuses on community and economic development, partnering with industry, governments and nonprofits to promote opportunities and align education with regional needs. Cole has also spearheaded new programs in in-demand fields like informatics, computer science, health management and business, and launched the Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity to support regional innovation.
Don Cunningham
Over three decades spent in public and private roles, Don Cunningham has played a key role in the Lehigh Valley’s economic and cultural vibrancy. He currently heads the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, guiding a regional economy that has become a $55.7 billion powerhouse, which ranks among America’s top mid-sized economic markets. Cunningham previously served as Lehigh County’s executive and, before that, as secretary of general services under then-Gov. Ed Rendell.
Jeff Darwak
Bucks County’s economic future is the guiding mission for Jeff Darwak, who heads the county’s Redevelopment Authority. In this role, he collaborates with small businesses, private developers, municipalities and nonprofits to identify and realize community and economic development projects. Darwak’s leadership is evident in the Bucks County Enterprise Zone, local blight abatement and brownfield redevelopment programs and numerous successful public-private partnerships that leverage funding for high-impact projects throughout Bucks County.
Nancy Dischinat
As the Lehigh Valley has evolved over the last three decades, Nancy Dischinat has stewarded its Workforce Development Board, which she joined as executive director in 1998. Dischinat graduated from Lehigh Carbon Community College, which informed her conviction that community college is an essential springboard for many an aspiring worker. At the board, she has cultivated partnerships with area employers, spearheaded training programs and collaborated with local and state organizations to ensure the ongoing success of the region’s economy.
Bryan Fenstermaker
A veteran of grassroots revitalization efforts, Bryan Fenstermaker currently brings his expertise to the leadership of City Ave District, a business improvement district that spans portions of Lower Merion and Philadelphia counties. Fenstermaker previously led the Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation, where he led infrastructure efforts along that South Philadelphia commercial corridor; prior to that, he headed The Enterprise Center, a Philadelphia organization that promotes entrepreneurship. Fenstermaker holds a master’s in city and regional planning and public administration from the University of Texas.
Jill Foys
As executive director of the Northwest Commission of Pennsylvania, Jill Foys stewards an Oil City-based organization that promotes community and regional business growth across eight counties – Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren. Foys previously served as director of enterprise development for more than a dozen years at the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission. She is a business graduate of PennWest Clarion.
Bryan Giaimo
Bryan Giaimo helps independent workers and small businesses connect with benefits through Stride, a software platform. Since joining as head of platform three years ago, the business strategist has coordinated benefits access for non-salaried workers at clients including Amazon, Uber and Lyft; most recently, Giaimo partnered Stride with DoorDash’s Pennsylvania workforce, enhancing financial security through a portable savings program for 4,400 workers. Giaimo previously held leadership roles at Deloitte and CVS Health, and was a partner at a health care strategy consultancy.
Ryan Glenn
Ryan Glenn brings an expansive vision to Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the Philadelphia-based economic development program where he directs statewide initiatives. He coordinates marketing, funding and outside partnerships for four regionally based Ben Franklin centers, which specialize in cultivating technology-driven initiatives. Glenn previously served as the venture capital adviser for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, where he managed a portfolio exceeding $350 million.
Jane Golden
Jane Golden is the visionary founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program. Starting in 1984 with the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, she transformed the city’s graffiti crisis into a powerful mural movement that has produced over 4,000 public artworks while engaging and empowering Philadelphia youth. Under her leadership, Mural Arts has become a global model for urban transformation through community-based art that addresses social issues like education, restorative justice, mental health and the environment.
Eric Goldstein
Since founding King of Prussia District in 2011, CEO Eric Goldstein has guided the blossoming of Southeast Pennsylvania’s regional economic hub – to the tune of $5 billion in economic development. Goldstein has orchestrated much of that growth through collaborative planning, strategic partnerships and fundraising that exceeds $16 million for KOP programming and events. A landscape architect and environmental planner by training, he is currently advocating for greater investment in the region’s public transportation.
David Gonzalez Jr.
At the York County Economic Alliance, David Gonzalez Jr. leads implementation of the county’s Economic Action Plan, a 10-year competitiveness strategy that encompasses industry, quality of life and equity. The York resident also facilitates key plan programs around housing, the rural economy, and York County’s Trail Towns initiative, and serves as a liaison to local officials, business leaders and investors. Gonzalez graduated from York College of Pennsylvania, where he was student Senate president, and holds an MPA from Penn State.
Claire Greenwood
Over two decades at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Senior Vice President of Economic Competitiveness Claire Greenwood has worked to attract and nurture companies, capital and talent in the Greater Philadelphia region. Greenwood is also executive director of the Chamber's CEO Council for Growth, leads its CEO Council for Growth and directs initiatives like Select Greater Philadelphia and the Young Professionals Network. A cornerstone of her strategy is leveraging relationships with chamber members, partners and investors to amplify the region’s competitive advantages – including its life sciences sector.
Prema Katari Gupta
Last year, new CEO Prema Katari Gupta brought fresh perspective to the Center City District, the Philadelphia revitalization organization helmed for decades by its founding executive, Paul Levy. Gupta, who also serves as executive director of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, has wide-ranging experience in economic development and public-private real estate projects, with past roles at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, PIDC and University City District. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s national council on public-private partnerships and serves on the Fairmount Park Conservancy board.
Jodie Harris
Since 2023, PIDC chief Jodie Harris has promoted business, investment and development in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and key stakeholders. Under Harris’ leadership, PIDC was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and honored for its quarter-century-long efforts to transform Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. The Philadelphia native previously worked for nearly 20 years in federal government roles, including leadership positions at the U.S. Treasury and as director of the CDFI Fund.
Valerie Hatfield
Valerie Hatfield directs workforce and economic development at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, a career-focused Lancaster public institution. She has secured $8 million in grants for job training programs, managed initiatives to create stable career pathways for underrepresented communities and championed inclusion in education and employment, earning her recognition as a two-time Workforce Development Hero. Hatfield, who previously worked at the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, is also a founding member of Career Ready Lancaster! and is a former PA CareerLink site administrator.
Patty Horvatich
At the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, business investment chief Patty Horvatich promotes the 10-county Allegheny region to companies considering location or expansion and manages projects that yield investment and job creation. One of Horvatich’s signature projects was Shell Polymers’ multibillion-dollar petrochemical complex in Beaver County. In 2017, she was honored with the Mary Jo Hanover Award for Economic Development Excellence from the Industrial Asset Management Council and named as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect.
Lee Huang
A 20-year veteran of economic development initiatives, Lee Huang currently serves as principal at Econsult Solutions. He also sits on the board of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and advises other groups. Until 2021, Huang was a mayoral appointee to the Philadelphia Board of Education. At Econsult, he leads consulting on issues ranging from higher education, hospitality and economic inclusion to environmental sustainability, historic preservation and strategic planning.
Jason Hunt
Jason Hunt specializes in luring businesses to Pennsylvania – and making sure they thrive here. Since 2024, he has managed business and economic development for PPL Electric Utilities in Pennsylvania, partnering with public and private stakeholders to help companies locate and expand operations in the Keystone State. He previously held a similar role as director of international business attraction for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, working with a global team to assist multinational companies in choosing Pennsylvania for their U.S. business expansions.
Sheila Ireland
Sheila Ireland brings nearly three decades of diverse workforce development experience to her role leading Philadelphia OIC, a 60-year-old organization that connects individuals with family-sustaining employment. Previously, as Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of workforce development, Ireland led Philadelphia’s first citywide workforce strategy; she also managed a $270 million budget at the state level. Ireland is also the founder of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative and serves on the board of the Community College of Philadelphia.
Becky Jacobs
As senior director of workforce development at the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, Becky Jacobs is a leader in strengthening Pennsylvania’s home-based health care labor force. She led the creation of PHA’s Caregiver Resource Hub and a caregiver recognition program; she also oversees the association’s free online training platform and a grant and mentoring program aimed at supporting 1,300 professionals by 2026. Jacobs also engages with policymakers and industry leaders to address workforce challenges, improve training and retention efforts, and promote career pathways.
Christine James
From health education classes and preventive screenings to skills training, Christine James advances equity and opportunity at Jefferson’s Community Health Worker Collective, a division of the health system’s Collaborative for Health Equity. Under James’ purview are the Health Workers’ Academy, a training and workforce development program, as well as initiatives aimed at supporting job security, economic advancement, housing stability and other measures of well-being. James, who holds a doctorate in social work, also teaches at Rutgers University.
Lee Anne Jeffries
A State College native and Penn State alumna, Lee Anne Jeffries champions her home community at the Downtown State College Improvement District, which she joined seven years ago. As executive director, she drives policies and partnerships that support small businesses and grassroots development, informed by her own retail background as the onetime owner of a local ceramics studio. Jeffries also worked as a visual merchandising manager at Macy’s.
Colleen Kopp
Over a dozen years at Wojdak, Colleen Kopp has earned a reputation for effective advocacy that turns economic development projects from vision to reality. Kopp, the firm’s senior vice president for government affairs, has grown Wojdak’s business and scored critical funding and policy wins for clients in health care, education, insurance and gaming. She began her career working in the state House of Representatives and held key roles in the administration of former Gov. Ed Rendell, including as secretary for legislative affairs.
Stephanie Kosta
Stephanie Kosta steers local partnerships and crucial technology access programs at Comcast, where she is vice president of government and regulatory affairs, and leads community impact. An attorney by training, Kosta was ranked among Pennsylvania Super Lawyers’ top 50 female attorneys as a partner at Duane Morris before bringing her energies to the Philadelphia-based telecommunications giant. Her recent accomplishments include spearheading Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion digital equity initiative, and guiding programs like Internet Essentials to expand broadband access across the region.
Amy Kaufman Kronenberg
Amy Kronenberg leads GMS Funding Solutions, a public funding consulting company based in Central Pennsylvania, where she is known for orchestrating public-private partnerships that facilitate infrastructure, jobs and community revitalization. Under her leadership, GMS secures and administers multimillion-dollar grants targeted at promoting economic development throughout the commonwealth; among other programs, GMS has administered more than $135 million in funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
Shawn Leppo
Patent attorney Shawn Leppo co-chairs the intellectual property group at McNees Wallace & Nurick, the Harrisburg-based law firm. Leppo works on patent, trade secret, copyright and other matters on behalf of clients in a range of industries, for whom he also handles the intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions. A Penn State-trained chemical engineer, he serves on the executive board of the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation.
Amy Luyster
Amy Luyster heads business and workforce development at The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, overseeing a range of initiatives aimed at boosting skills, leadership and workforce-employer alignment. She also supports companies relocating to or expanding in Lackawanna County. A Wilkes University graduate, Luyster also completed programs with the U.S. Chamber and the University of Scranton, and has been named among the Top 25 Women in Business by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal.
Ariella Maron
As executive director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Ariella Maron leads a federally designated organization with planning oversight for a nine-county region spanning Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Maron, who honed her craft at the New York City Mayor’s Office and Department of Planning, also teaches at Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Under her guidance, the commission has prioritized advocacy around sustainable transportation initiatives, as well as environmental goals.
Bronley Martin
Longtime York City resident Bronley Martin oversees urban revitalization strategy for the Downtown Inc division of the York County Economic Alliance. His role embraces historic preservation, public art, wayfinding and public safety, as well as the alliance’s economic development. Martin, a University of Pittsburgh graduate who holds a master’s in public policy and administration from York College of Pennsylvania, joined the alliance in 2023 after seven years working at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Aleks Martray
Since 2005, filmmaker and educator Aleks Martray has led community media programs across Baltimore, Central America and Philadelphia – most recently as executive director of Big Picture Alliance, where he developed education and apprenticeship programs that have empowered hundreds of Philly youth to consider creative careers. In 2022, Martray founded Big Picture Productions, an Emmy Award-winning company that employs emerging Philly filmmakers as social impact storytellers, fostering an inclusive talent pipeline that strengthens Pennsylvania’s workforce.
Erin McDermott
Energizing the aging services sector, Erin McDermott directs member engagement and workforce solutions at LeadingAge PA, the state chapter of the national nonprofit. McDermott has played a key role in initiatives like the Careers to Love PA Campaign and Career Growth Partnerships, both aimed at cultivating the caregiving workforce. She holds degrees from Penn State in human development and family studies, health policy and administration, and gerontology.
Kate McGeever
This month, Delaware County Workforce Development Board Executive Director Kate McGeever is helping nearly 3,000 displaced workers find new jobs after Crozer Health system shuttered. It’s not the first challenge she’s tackled: McGeever joined the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020. The nonprofit veteran previously helmed the Delaware County Literacy Council and held leadership roles at the Philadelphia Foundation and Philadelphia’s Lutheran Settlement House-Jane Addams Place; she holds an MBA from Yale.
Kathleen McKenzie
Kathleen McKenzie heads community affairs at Highmark Blue Shield, where her role involves managing corporate grants, neighborhood programs and volunteerism across Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. She is responsible for developing strategies and cultivating relationships to promote Highmark’s corporate community initiatives. A recipient of numerous community and leadership awards across the Pennsylvania communities she serves, McKenzie currently chairs the board of The United Way of the Capital Region and serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Brandon Mendoza
Earlier this year, Brandon Mendoza joined the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership as president and CEO. He brings a passion for the region and a strong background in industry and government relations, having managed government affairs for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania. A graduate of Lock Haven University, Mendoza also holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Erica Mulberger
Erica Mulberger helps align Central Pennsylvania’s workforce with regional business demand at Advance Central PA, where she is the executive director. In this role, Mulberger supports workforce readiness programs at the local Workforce Development Board and works closely with employers, education providers, community organizations and PA CareerLink on sustainable workforce solutions. Her efforts are focused on addressing skill gaps to improve economic mobility for Central Pennsylvanians, ensuring that individuals and businesses have the tools they need to thrive in a competitive, evolving job market.
John O’Brien
West Chester’s chief business cheerleader, John O’Brien, has strong roots in the community he now promotes, having earned a political science degree as well as an MBA from West Chester University; he is also a volunteer firefighter with First West Chester Fire Company. O’Brien joined the West Chester Business Improvement District as executive director in 2020 following nearly a decade at the state House of Representatives, where he worked as the communications director and senior policy adviser for the Appropriations Committee.
Mary Oliveira
Mary Oliveira is the first woman to lead the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, a role she assumed in 2023. The same year, she was appointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Advisory Commission for Women and to the Women’s Leadership Network Advisory Council for United Way of the Capital Region. Named a Power 100 Player by the Central Penn Business Journal, Whitaker was previously a vice president with the PA Chamber and holds a master’s in organizational leadership from Shippensburg University.
Rich Paganie
Supervising dozens of apprentice carpenters, millwrights and flooring specialists is Rich Paganie, the training director at three “learn while you earn” technical education centers run by the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Paganie, a union carpenter himself for more than a quarter-century, currently oversees workforce preparation at the Lebanon, Duncansville and Pittsburgh technical centers, training the next generation of builders for a union with 43,000 members across six Northeastern U.S. states.
Barbara Pierce
As the manager of ARTS Oil City, artist and designer Barbara Pierce leads efforts to transform her post-industrial city through culture. Under Pierce’s leadership, ARTS has incentivized some 60 artists to relocate to this city on the Allegheny River, energizing the downtown through galleries, festivals and concert series, and transforming the historic National Transit building into an arts hub through city-facilitated art studios. Last year, Pierce became one of its tenants, opening Century Arts Design and Fine Art Studio with her husband, artist CJ Hurley.
Lisa Riggs
At the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, Lisa Riggs brings a strategic, data-driven approach to fostering business growth and regional prosperity. The 25-year economic development veteran manages economic strategy and partnerships for the organization, a public-private endeavor. Riggs previously led the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, where she lives, as well as Lancaster’s James Street Improvement District. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, she has also directed economic development for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.
Jennifer Rodriguez
As head of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Rodriguez promotes the entrepreneurial power of one of Philadelphia’s fastest-growing communities – including some 22,000 Latino-owned businesses throughout the Delaware Valley. Under Rodriguez’s leadership, the chamber produces the Dine Latino Restaurant Week, publishes the Éxito Business Journal and hosts an annual conference of the same name. Rodriguez previously headed community programs for Philadelphia’s Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha and directed the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs.
Kristen Rotz
Under President Kristen Rotz, the United Way of Pennsylvania is a leading force for social well-being throughout the commonwealth, allotting more than $4 million in community grants last year and supporting its regional network of chapters. Rotz also took over leadership of UWP’s PA 211 resource hotline during the COVID-19 pandemic and has bolstered the organization’s strategic partnerships and public policy efforts. She previously held government relations and policy-related positions with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
Gregory Scott
Centre County’s economic development is priority No. 1 for Gregory Scott, the CEO of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County. Under his leadership, the chamber recently launched a strategic plan in partnership with Penn State University – Scott’s alma mater – aimed at bolstering local infrastructure and workforce, and tackling issues like population decline. Scott, a Centre County native who joined the chamber in 2021, is a U.S. Navy veteran who served as an officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.
Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown
At Accenture, longtime changemaker Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown connects Philadelphia and Pittsburgh workers with opportunities. As senior manager for operations and strategic programs, she leads Accenture’s Philadelphia Apprentice Network, engaging employees and industry partners to promote skill-building and advance careers. Sharpe-Brown, who previously held outreach roles with the School District of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia, serves on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs and the Philadelphia Works board and was named one of Technical.ly Philly’s 2024 RealLIST Connectors.
Robert Shipp III
For nearly a decade, Robert Shipp has advanced health equity and the clinical workforce at the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, where he is vice president for workforce and clinical affairs. His strategic work on behalf of the commonwealth’s health institutions is informed by previous roles overseeing quality and care delivery for River Health ACO and as a nurse manager at the former PinnacleHealth system. A nurse by training, Shipp holds a doctorate in administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Kevin Shivers
The commonwealth’s 70 community banks are the financial backbone of many a region, and Kevin Shivers represents their interests as CEO of the 14,000-member Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. He previously directed the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Specialty Management Services and, prior to that, held leadership roles with the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business. Shivers began his political career working for then-Govs. Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker.
Joshua Skopp
As director of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, Joshua Skopp has the ear of lawmakers and represents commonwealth professionals involved in growing the state’s business, nonprofit and workforce landscape. Prior to joining PEDA in 2010, Skopp was a consultant with Stevens & Lee; before that, he worked as an economic development specialist with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. He holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Rich Stahovich
Rich Stahovich is a senior manager for business development at UGI Utilities, a Denver, Pennsylvania-based natural gas and electric utility where his territory comprises municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania. At UGI, Stahovich has helped steer a utility that delivers energy to 700,000 customers throughout the commonwealth. He also guides the rollout of new natural gas delivery technologies and supports local businesses through utility abundance and the economic development it facilitates.
Tuesday Stanley
Veteran strategist and workforce educator Tuesday Stanley leads the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, where she previously chaired the executive committee. From 2014 to 2024, she was the president of Westmoreland County Community College, where she raised more than $123 million in public and private grants to balance the institutional budget and align educational offerings with employers’ needs. Stanley holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Lehigh University.
Margaret Starke
From the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll and University City Dining Days to small-business networking events and pop-up performances, Margaret Starke orchestrates connections between Philadelphia’s University City District and local entrepreneurs and cultural communities. Starke joined the UCD nine years ago as an event planner and is now senior manager of events and community partnerships, serving as the liaison between neighborhood organizations and the city and nonprofit services that can help grow their local impact.
Donita Thomas
Donita Thomas started out as a mechanical engineer – and now engineers economic growth as head of the Pittsburgh Economic and Industrial Development Corporation. Under her leadership, the 30-year-old nonprofit serves as the city’s real estate development authority, enabling projects like the recent transformation of a former school and vacant lot into mixed-income housing communities. It’s a hometown investment for this Pittsburgh native, who graduated from Carlow University and earned a master’s in engineering from Carnegie Mellon.
John Tkach
John Tkach is the executive director of the Keystone Development Partnership, a workforce development organization founded by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Under his supervision, the nonprofit partners with employers, unions and public agencies to promote training and apprenticeship programs and connect workers to opportunities. Most recently, Tkach was at the White House to launch the National Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, which aims to create a nationwide network promoting apprenticeship-based careers.
Bernard Tynes
One of Greater Philadelphia’s youngest financial executives, Bernard Tynes is Penn Community Bank’s chief consumer banking officer. In this role, the executive vice president leads retail and small business banking as well as marketing, with an emphasis on financial inclusion and workforce development. Tynes also oversees community impact as head of the Penn Community Bank Foundation, where he expands initiatives in financial literacy, economic empowerment and career readiness.Prior to joining Penn in 2016, Tynes was a vice president and regional manager at Citizens Bank.
Sakura Ung
Sakura Ung brings more than a decade of experience in Pennsylvania politics to her role at Triad Strategies, where she is a senior associate. Ung, who holds degrees in political science from Temple and Columbia universities, advocates for clients across industries, advancing priorities ranging from patient access to lifesaving medicines to addressing workforce shortages. She previously held roles with the Pennsylvania Senate, the state GOP, the House Republican Campaign Committee and the administration of former Gov. Tom Corbett.
Ryan Unger
Under the leadership of CEO Ryan Unger, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber is one of just 2% of chambers nationwide to receive a 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he serves on the prestigious Committee of 100. Unger also leads CREDC, the Harrisburg chamber’s economic development arm, and serves on the executive board of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, a national industry group. Unger previously led international trade missions as CEO of Team Pennsylvania, the public-private economic development partnership.
Angela Val
Angela Val is having a big year as CEO of Visit Philadelphia: Her organization, which promotes tourism for the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, is gearing up to host the 2026 World Cup as well as year-long celebrations around America’s 250th birthday, emphasizing Philadelphia’s role as the original U.S. capital. Val, a Drexel University graduate, has also held leadership posts with Philadelphia’s 2016 Democratic National Convention host committee and with the city’s post-pandemic economic revitalization initiative.
Jennifer Wakeman
Jennifer Wakeman drives entrepreneurialism and prosperity across five Central Pennsylvania counties as the executive director of DRIVE, the region’s economic development entity, whose programs include the DRIVE Business Hub and the SBDC Incubator. Wakeman also chairs Focus Central Pennsylvania, a seven-county marketing organization committed to bringing new capital investment to the region, and was appointed to the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board by Gov. Josh Shapiro. She sits on the boards of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association and the National Rural Economic Developers’ Association.
Andy Walker
Few people are more invested in Meadville and its civic and community institutions than Andy Walker, who is finishing his first year as the inaugural director of the Meadville Community Revitalization Corporation. He helms a nonprofit that aims to cultivate downtown commerce, improve public spaces and promote Meadville as a destination. Walker previously oversaw economic, civic and community engagement for his alma mater, Allegheny College, in Meadville, where he has also served as Meadville’s city manager.
Timothy White
As chief of business development and strategy for the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, Timothy White helps power a 70-year-old Pittsburgh-area nonprofit whose 8 million square feet of space – with more under development – currently houses 118 companies supporting 8,500 jobs, mostly in economically distressed communities. White previously worked as the inaugural coordinator for the Greater Oakland Keystone Innovation Zone and in the joint office of economic development for the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon, from which he earned a master’s in public policy and management.
Benjamin Wilson
Last winter, Benjamin Wilson took over leadership of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, bringing his track record in education and workforce development to a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating poverty. Wilson, who had previously directed workforce development for the organization, was more recently the senior adviser for workforce solutions at an Indianapolis-based consultancy and also oversaw six-county operations for Erie-based Equus Workforce Solutions. He holds a doctorate of education from the University of Pittsburgh and also teaches and mentors students at Erie County Community College.
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