Honors
The 2025 Fifty Over 50
Meet the state’s senior leaders who are cementing their legacies in politics, policy and beyond.
From left to right: Beverly Mackereth, La Dawn Robinson & Bob Steitz Provided; Commonwealth Media Services; Philadelphia 76ers
Pennsylvania’s thriving political, entrepreneurial and social landscape bears the powerful imprint of its senior leaders – professionals who have devoted decades of their careers to improving everything from medicine to education, finance to social services. This year’s 50 Over 50 honorees exemplify the achievements that have pushed the state forward: They’ve built our cities’ skylines, broadened access to college and healthcare and tackled challenges ranging from the environment to post-industrial economies. And they’re not done yet.
Tim Abell
Tim Abell has been boosting Greater Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial scene for decades. As the longtime president of Firstrust Bank, where he is also CEO, he has leveraged his experience in business and real estate lending to grow the bank into a $5 billion full-service outfit focused on cultivating success for its customers, employees and community.
For Abell, community is an essential part of his mission at the family-owned bank. “For over 40 years, I’ve served Philadelphia entrepreneurs, helped businesses thrive and partnered daily with caring, talented Firstrusters who share this mission,” he says.
He’s thrilled to lead the official bank of the Philadelphia Eagles – and when he’s not watching games, he devotes his spare time to the boards of Redeemer Ministries and LaSalle Academy.
Abell graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned an MBA from Drexel University. Early mentors like Jim Lynch, the former CEO of Prime Bank, “showed me that local banks can empower entrepreneurs, fund neighborhood projects and support organizations that strengthen communities,” he noted.
“Their example convinced me that banking, done right, is about relationships, stability, and helping others build long-term prosperity.”
Hugh Allen
Growing up in a large family gave Hugh Allen an early crash course in commitment and interpersonal dynamics. “You learn to pitch in,” he notes. “A big family also helped me learn what makes people tick. In some respects, my career is an extension of that.”
Allen now puts those lessons to use as a principal in the government relations department of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, leveraging his extensive relationships to benefit clients in a wide array of industries, from technology and financial services to the nonprofit sector and municipal entities.
Prior to joining Buchanan, Allen was the executive deputy treasurer and chief of staff at the Pennsylvania Treasury, overseeing operations for an agency responsible for over $150 billion in public funds and an operating budget of $40 million. His career also includes government affairs and leadership roles with the University of Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia and the National Constitution Center.
It’s no surprise that Allen remains a people person. The best part of his job, he says, “are my colleagues, clients and the people I get to meet.”
Irwin Aronson
Labor lawyer Irwin Aronson is a partner in residence at the Harrisburg offices of Willig, Williams and Davidson, a firm known for its representation of workers, their unions and their employee benefit plans.
Prior to entering private practice, he held a number of roles with the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, including as director of government and legislative affairs, editor of PA AFL-CIO News, and assistant to the president and secretary/treasurer of the Pennsylvania Labor Communications Association.
Aronson earned his undergraduate degree in labor studies from Penn State University and began his career as an organizer with SEIU Local 585 in Pittsburgh, returning to Penn State for his law degree. He credits his success to the mentorship of “a legion of exceptional colleagues and guides,” including PA AFL-CIO officers and his former law partner, Jerry Gerber.
What keeps him motivated after all these years, he adds, is “helping workers to secure, protect and advance the fullest measure of their rights at work, on the job, in their communities and in our society.”
Eric Battisti
By the time he co-founded One+ Strategies, among the buzziest new government affairs firms in Harrisburg, Eric Battisti had 25 years of experience to his credit in various levels of government. Under Battisti’s guidance, One+ brings together experts in a variety of specialties – from lobbying and public policy to procurement and crisis communications – to meet clients’ diverse needs.
To the endeavor, Battisti brought a deep knowledge of state government from both the public and private sides. A government relations alumnus of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, he counts as his most formative experience serving as senior staff for then-Gov. Edward G. Rendell – “working in a bipartisan fashion to move legislation that equated to positive change for the citizens of the commonwealth,” he says.
Throughout his career, Battisti has focused on energy, IT and procurement issues, advocating for policies that promote innovation and efficiency. Another constant has been his inspiration: the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whose example Battisti tries to emulate, both in government and in civic life. His motivation, he explains, “is when you can help educate or influence an issue you know will have a positive impact on the lives of your fellow Pennsylvanians.”
Darren Bonass
Darren Bonass has devoted his career to ensuring that the carpenters trade flourishes. As a senior council representative with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, he represents over 42,000 union members across six states and Washington, D.C., advocating for safe labor standards and negotiating fair wages.
A union member since 2003, Bonass has served Carpenters Local 164 as treasurer, financial secretary, delegate, and organizer before advancing to his current role. He also serves on the Finance Committee of UBC’s 43rd General Convention and lends his expertise to a Delaware County code appeals board.
“I joined the Carpenters Union for opportunity, stability and solidarity,” says Bonass. “It gave me more than a career. Above all, the brotherhood and shared purpose inspired me to be part of something greater.”
Bonass began his career as an apprentice, working his way up to be a journeyman, foreman and superintendent. Today, he is passionate about mentoring younger members and watching them grow into leaders, explaining: “Their success reflects the strength of our union and inspires me every day.”
Dominique Bonds
When business and thought leaders convene in the commonwealth, Dominique Bonds makes sure they come away impressed. Bonds is the director of engagement for Legends Global, the facility manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where she has worked in various roles for over 15 years.
Bonds has won awards for her high-level management over nearly three decades in the hospitality industry. She is known for best-in-class corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, a focus on guest experience and spearheading community and employee engagement programs.
Bonds holds a degree from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. “I initially thought the PCC would be a transitory role, until I found myself falling in love with all things hospitality,” she says.
She retains that enthusiasm for showing off her city, community and region. “You have to love people to thrive in hospitality, because people are what it is all about,” Bonds notes. “Many who’ve had a long tenure at an organization may go through the motions – but I am grateful to wake each day excited and energized about new possibilities.”
Lori Brennan
Lori Brennan is advancing bold strategies to achieve The Nature Conservancy’s ambitious 2030 goals. As executive director for Pennsylvania and Delaware for the storied environmental organization, she is leading the region’s efforts to address urgent challenges related to climate change and biodiversity loss, protect landscapes and restore freshwater ecosystems.
Brennan first joined The Nature Conservancy as a marketing specialist, building the organization’s first-ever communications and public relations program. (She has a communications degree from West Virginia University, and later did graduate work in environmental education at Arcadia University.)
Over the following two decades, she established herself as a nonprofit leader in the Philadelphia area, raising more than $20 million for regional and national organizations, including Philadelphia’s University City District and Academy of Natural Sciences, which she served in a series of economic development roles.
She was most recently a senior director at CCS Fundraising, one of the world’s leading fundraising companies specializing in nonprofits, where she secured critical funding for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Jefferson Health.
Bob Casey Jr.
Looking back on a career that includes three terms as a U.S. senator and stints as Pennsylvania’s auditor general and treasurer, Bob Casey Jr. could point to a myriad of accomplishments.
But when asked what he is most proud of, he mentions initiatives aimed at helping society’s most vulnerable.
One was a change to the tax code allowing families with disabled children to save money in a similar manner to college-savings accounts. Another was helping to pass the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which expanded healthcare access to millions. More recently, Casey pushed through the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in 2022 after 10 years of effort.
“People who don’t have a lot of wealth or political influence expect those who represent them to fight like hell on their behalf,” explains Casey. “And I was fortunate to have that opportunity.”
A son of Scranton, Casey grew up steeped in the values of honor and faith and the example of his father, a Pennsylvania governor. “If you’re committed to public service, you have to be committed to ethics,” he says. He shares that moral framework with students at the University of Scranton, where he is the Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service. Political polarization increased significantly over his years in office – but Casey, a passionate student of American history, takes the long view. “From the beginning of our republic, we've had partisanship. That's what George Washington really feared in having parties,” he notes. “The only time that in recent history we saw almost-unanimous bipartisan support was during COVID,” he added. Still, even now, “there's more bipartisanship than people realize – but there's not nearly enough.”
Beth Christian
As a teenage waiter in a York County restaurant, Beth Christian discovered she loved service. And though it’s been a while since she wrangled drinks and salads, Christian has served the public every day for the past 32 years at myriad state agencies. She is currently deputy executive secretary for Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System, helping ensure that her peers enjoy the fruits of years of labor.
“Serving others has always been at the core of who I am,” reflects Christian. “This work isn’t just a profession – it’s my heart’s calling.”
In her previous role, as acting secretary for the state Department of General Services, Christian spearheaded a mentoring program. She has also mentored with the Society for Human Resource Management and Women in Leadership.
Christian’s service doesn’t end at the office. She has dedicated her spare time to serving as an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since her 2018 diagnosis. More recently, she and her husband have stepped in as foster parents to their 4-year-old granddaughter. In all her roles, “what I love is the daily opportunity to make a meaningful impact,” says Christian.
Christopher Conner
After more than 20 years as a federal judge – including, most notably, presiding over the “Kids for Cash” judicial corruption scandal – Hon. Christopher C. Conner left the bench earlier this year to join the law firm of Saxton & Stump.
He co-chairs the Appellate Advocacy and Investigations, White Collar and Criminal Defense groups, and is part of Optimal Dispute Resolutions, where he serves as mediator, arbitrator or special master in complex litigation cases.
Conner draws on his prior experience as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, where he handled thousands of cases. Among them was “Kids for Cash,” which made national headlines over the convictions of two federal judges in Pennsylvania who funneled children to juvenile detention centers in exchange for kickbacks from the developers of those centers.
Conner is a graduate of Cornell and Dickinson Law, where he later taught. He has held leadership positions with the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is a Life Fellow of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.
Jay Costa
As leader of the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats, state Sen. Jay Costa has had a trying autumn, as Harrisburg factions continue wrangling over the months-delayed budget. But his enthusiasm for the job has never waned. “I am always excited to hear from Pennsylvanians of all walks of life about how our state government can improve their lives,” he says.
Costa, a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, has represented his Pittsburgh district since 1996. He has secured over $500 million in economic development funding for the county, spearheaded a higher education reform package and championed legislation supporting homeowners and funding school-based mental health.
Public service is a family tradition for Costa. His late father, Jay Costa Sr., was the Allegheny County treasurer; his brother, accountant Paul Costa, and their cousin, Dominic Costa, a former Pittsburgh Police chief, have both served in the state House of Representatives.
“I have been proud to forge my path in the state Senate,” Costa says, “rooted in my love of Pittsburgh, my passion for economic development that benefits our working families, and my commitment to delivering a commonwealth that works for every Pennsylvanian.”
Drew Crompton
Attorney Drew Crompton has spent nearly 30 years at the center of Pennsylvania government, having served with distinction in all three branches. Now he brings that accumulated wisdom to McNees Government Relations, where he is president.
As a Commonwealth Court judge, where he was confirmed by a bipartisan state Senate vote, Crompton authored more than 150 opinions. He previously rose through the state Senate to become chief counsel and chief of staff, guiding major legislation and high-profile cases on redistricting, the NCAA and separation of powers.
Crompton studied political science at Dickinson College and earned a law degree at Widener University. “I didn’t start with a grand plan. I simply needed a job out of law school,” he recalls. “The Senate was meant to be temporary before heading to a law firm, which arrived … 25 years later. Along the way, I was fortunate to work with remarkable leaders and shape policy.”
While serving on the bench was one of the proudest chapters of Crompton’s career, his current role “keeps me grounded,” he says. “I get to be the spare guy outside the Capitol.”
Don Cunningham
Few people are as invested in the well-being of the Lehigh Valley as Don Cunningham – and even fewer have the breadth of perspective he brings to his role as president of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.
Cunningham has led that organization since 2012, playing a key role in the region’s economic and cultural renaissance as it rebounded from the loss of heavy industry to become a Top 10 U.S. mid-sized market for economic growth. Previously, he was the Lehigh County Executive, where he championed economic development.
Prior to that, Cunningham, a Democrat, served as Secretary of General Services in the administration of then-Gov. Ed. Rendell, overseeing major capital projects across the commonwealth.
He was also a two-term mayor of Bethlehem, his hometown. He is credited with launching that city’s widely lauded transition to a post-industrial economy after the collapse of Bethlehem Steel, where his father and grandfather both worked.
Cunningham earned his bachelor’s in journalism and government from Shippensburg University and holds a master’s in political science from Villanova University.
Vincent J. Delie Jr.
As the chief of F.N.B. Corporation and its subsidiary, First National Bank, Vincent Delie Jr. has guided the organization’s growth into a diversified regional financial institution with $50 billion in total assets. His tenure has seen market capitalization increase by nearly 600%, added multiple major markets to F.N.B.’s footprint and substantially expanded its digital platform.
He was the driving force behind the bank’s omnichannel Clicks-to-Bricks strategy, unifying the company’s digital and physical delivery channels. Delie, who previously oversaw corporate banking for National City Bank, also introduced AI to increase F.N.B.’s efficiency and has steered successful financial performance and growth across seven states and Washington, D.C.
He traces his interest in banking to a childhood in Pittsburgh’s North Side “during the decline of the steel industry,” he recalls. “Unemployment was high; many families struggled. It made me fascinated with economics, and passionate about building something that creates opportunities.”
Banking has been that something. Delie has championed reinvestment in his hometown, and while numbers matter, so does the mission: “Working on projects that impact our city and community.”
H. Jeffrey DeVuono
A fixture at Brandywine Realty Trust since 1997, Jeffrey DeVuono has played an integral role in the company’s growth and prominence in Southeastern Pennsylvania’s real estate landscape. Currently, he is Brandywine’s Philadelphia regional managing director as well as executive vice president, overseeing the company’s life sciences division.
DeVuono is a driving force behind infrastructure investment in Philadelphia’s burgeoning life sciences and gene therapy ecosystem, which includes such high-profile companies as Spark Therapeutics as well as numerous startups. Under his leadership, Brandywine has made significant investments in millions of square feet of development to support this sector – including, most prominently, the Schuylkill Yards complex in University City.
DeVuono studied finance at LaSalle University; early in his career, he worked as a sales and leasing representative for Cushman & Wakefield of Philadelphia and at LCOR, a private development company. He is a longtime board member of the Center City District, the University City District and the King of Prussia District, where he is also a former board chair.
Maria Montoro Edwards
Maria Montoro Edwards’ proudest professional moment was opening the Circle of Care maternity medical home practice in Scranton, where expectant mothers could receive comprehensive services, from nutrition and postpartum care to clothing and transportation assistance.
Personally and professionally, Edwards knows just how much support families need. As the CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services in Wilkes-Barre, she has prioritized outreach and expansion, partnering with community organizations to address evolving needs.
Edwards’ upbringing as the eldest of eight children also gave her an early appreciation for those needs. Beyond the hands-on experience of caring for infants and young children, she says, she learned “the importance of resources, support and community in fostering healthy and resilient families.”
At Maternal and Family Health Services, she leads a 200-strong team that serves 100,000 clients annually across 17 counties. Prior to 2020, she spent five years overseeing strategic initiatives for Scranton’s Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. She has also held leadership roles with Marywood University, from which she received a doctorate in human development.
Currently, Edwards’ impact includes service on the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the board of the PA Alliance of Family Planning Councils.
Debbie Failor
At GSL Public Strategies Group, Compliance Officer Debbie Failor ensures the smooth operations of governmental and community programs across the commonwealth, counseling GSL clients on compliance with lobbying and campaign finance laws.
Failor also plays a key role on the firm’s live events client service delivery and economic incentives development teams. More broadly, she helps to manage operational needs for GSL.
“I work across all areas within GSL and enjoy the variety – from live events to public affairs to consulting,” she says.
Failor’s effectiveness comes from extensive experience with Harrisburg’s administrative, operational and regulatory landscape. Prior to joining GSL, she was a director in the state Department of Community and Economic Development; she has also held key specialist positions in the Office of Gov. Tom Wolf and the state departments of Housing and Environmental Protection.
“I found my home at GSL,” she says. “I’ve experienced many positions in state government, which I am grateful for – but working with our clients and the various industries we are in has been the most fulfilling.”
John Fry
John Fry is becoming to Southeast Pennsylvania universities what certain marquee coaches are to European soccer teams: the expert you call in when you really need results.
Last year, he left Drexel University after a transformational 14-year tenure leading its Philadelphia neighbor, Temple University. At Drexel, he raised the university’s profile as a forward-looking institution through affiliations with the Academy of Natural Sciences and the $3.5 billion Schuylkill Yards complex nearby in West Philadelphia, as well as startup and innovation incubators and the creation of a School of Entrepreneurship.
He also announced record-setting gifts, including $45 million for Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health and $50 million from attorney Thomas Kline to fund the Kline School of Law. Fry previously led Franklin & Marshall College, where the average student SAT score rose and the student-faculty ratio lowered during his tenure.
Born in New York City, Fry graduated from Lafayette College and holds an MBA from New York University; he began his career in consulting.
Dionne Gary
In 2024, Dionne Gary made history as the first African American woman to lead AFSCME District 1199C, the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. In this role, Gary represents thousands of hospital and healthcare workers – in large health systems and small clinics alike – across Philadelphia and the surrounding Southeast Pennsylvania region.
Gary began her career as a hospital technician before deciding to pursue nursing. She became a union representative early on and has been a consistent promoter of fair labor values and standards. Over the years, she has served on the union’s executive board, as an administrative organizer, and as executive vice president of the Hospital Division.
As president, Gary is dedicated to strengthening contracts, advancing workforce development and expanding educational opportunities, addressing the healthcare labor shortage. Under her leadership, District 1199C has spearheaded a fundraising initiative that has thus far awarded scholarships to more than a dozen college students.
Charlie Gerow
Every week for 25 years, viewers of Harrisburg’s CBS television affiliate have tuned in to see Charlie Gerow share his insights on politics and policy. The CEO of Harrisburg-based Quantum Communications and sometime GOP candidate has, after all, been a fixture on Pennsylvania’s political landscape for decades.
Gerow, a Villanova-trained attorney, has attended every Republican National Convention since 1976, a record currently unmatched in the state. He has held several nationally prominent positions, including as the vice chair of CPAC and as a presidential and gubernatorial appointee to various public commissions – including, most recently, the Governor’s Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation. And for the past 20 years, he has hosted a monthly policy briefing in Harrisburg attended by dozens of opinion leaders from across the state.
Gerow currently chairs the Ryan Foundation, which supports the Matthew J. Ryan Center at Villanova University; he also serves on the advisory board for the McCullen Center at Villanova Law School, his alma mater. But he suspects that he is best known for his “extraordinary skill and sense of duty in judging baked goods at the Farm Show each year,” he explains.
Peter Gleason
Veteran lobbyist and attorney Peter Gleason brings three decades of legislative expertise, effective advocacy and deep energy-industry knowledge to 1812 Strategies, where he is managing principal. Until recently, he was a partner at K&L Gates, where he created the Pennsylvania policy group in 2002 and grew that highly respected practice.
Earlier in his career, he held roles in the U.S. Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and served as Secretary for Legislative Affairs for then-Gov. Mark Schweiker.
Gleason’s career was inspired by his politically active family – and powerfully shaped by his childhood in Johnstown. “I witnessed the devastating impact of government policies on manufacturing and coal jobs,” says Gleason, who earned a degree from Widener University’s School of Law.
Unsurprisingly, Gleason’s specialty is energy policy: He regularly advises industry clients such as U.S. Steel, CSX Transportation and Expand Energy. “One of my proudest achievements is forming the Power PA Jobs Alliance,” he says, “which united leaders from organized labor, electricity generation, coal, natural gas and manufacturing” against a proposed carbon tax. “I love building coalitions to drive meaningful change – and advocating for Pennsylvania’s economic vitality.”
Fred Harran
As he faces a reelection challenge, Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran draws strength from knowing his values haven’t budged over four decades of service.
“I enjoy getting to solve problems – and, most importantly, the ability to genuinely help someone,” says Harran. “This work allows us to change outcomes for people in crisis – and make a tangible, positive difference in their lives.”
Harran is especially proud of pioneering programs that allow police to collaborate on alternative ways of addressing addiction and mental health crises, incorporating treatment rather than simply arrests. Since his early days as Bensalem’s public safety director, he has prioritized outreach, youth mentorship and community trust.
That community focus has roots in Harran’s New York City childhood, when he revered the NYPD officers who patrolled his neighborhood. His father, a U.S. Army physician, set another example by helping liberate Holocaust survivors during World War II.
In Bucks County, Harran established one of the nation’s first municipal DNA databases to solve cold cases. More recently, he introduced a new, county-wide Police Athletic League program: “My proudest accomplishment is building strong community partnerships,” he said.
Sean Healy
At the helm of Healy Long & Jevin, Sean Healy presides over a local construction dynasty started by his great-great-grandfather in 1891. That ancestor’s business built a considerable share of Delaware’s schools, hospitals and churches – and inspired Healy’s father to found the company that Healy has now led for over a decade.
His forefathers “were incredible builders, and built some of the most noteworthy projects throughout the mid-Atlantic,” recalls Healy, who joined the family business in high school. “I wanted to follow in their footsteps.”
Indeed he has: Over the past five years, Healy has overseen 6 million-plus square feet of concrete construction, both residential and commercial, across Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.
He also strives to ensure the vitality of his industry as an executive board member of the General Building Contractors Association, president of the Delaware Union Contractors Association and a trustee for the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Union and LiUNA Local 199, among others.
“I love working with and around very talented people – watching them problem-solve and get things done,” he says. “Nothing we do is easy, and they make it look easy.”
Tom Hecker
Tom Hecker was always drawn to healing – he holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees in psychology – but it was his pregnant wife’s experience of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 29, and treated at Penn Medicine, that set Hecker on his professional path in healthcare administration.
That interaction “opened my eyes to the business of healthcare,” recalls Hecker, who, since 2021, has served as Penn Medicine’s vice president for administration and chief of staff. “The opportunity to work for an organization that provides healing and comfort was compelling.”
Hecker earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Temple University, where he then worked as assistant dean for administration and planning. He moved on to leadership roles at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he was chief of staff, and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.
Along the way, Hecker took on another kind of leadership, serving six years as an Abington Township commissioner.
All of those experiences inform Hecker’s current role at Penn Medicine, where he supports the CEO and other leaders across clinical and administrative operations. He also manages the health system’s communications and government relations. “I’m proud to work for an organization whose mission is to save lives and improve health,” he notes. “To support our providers and staff who do such incredible work is a true honor.”
Ken Innella
For 33 years, Ken Innella has steered LF Driscoll’s evolution as a Philadelphia-based construction powerhouse. He joined the firm in 1992 and has grown along with the nearly century-old company, serving as president since 2023.
Along the way, Innella has driven key initiatives, including the founding of Driscoll’s engineering and quality departments, the development of employee training and development programs, and the creation of the Driscoll Q-Tips publication.
Innella grew up in Philadelphia, where his “passion for construction” was sparked by his family’s renovation projects. In high school and while studying mechanical engineering at Villanova University, he worked in a corporate maintenance department. He also ran his own handyman business, building decks, painting and making cabinets.
Innella takes great pride in his role in his work on such Philadelphia institutions as the Barnes Museum, Penn Medicine’s Smilow Center, Citizens Bank Park and, most recently, Jefferson’s Honickman Center and Calder Gardens. “After 41 years, I still love driving through the city, seeing the many projects I helped plan and build – and knowing I was part of the team that made it happen.”
Beverly Mackereth
Beverly Mackereth’s favorite job ever was serving as a cabinet secretary, leading Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services under then-Gov. Tom Corbett.
Mackereth relished the challenge of cultivating a positive culture: “The team needed a boost,” she recalls of her 17,000 employees, “somebody that listened and respected them.”
The hardest job she had was an early role as a caseworker for York County. “I came from an upper-middle-class family, but that job was when I learned about real people’s lives,” recalls Mackereth, who’d grown up in Silver Spring, Maryland, where her attorney father worked as a Washington lobbyist.
She says her toughest job, in many respects, has been “being a mother.” One of four siblings, she raised four children herself – so it’s no surprise that Mackereth became an expert at navigating relationships, political and otherwise.
Today, she leverages those relationships with her eponymous consultancy, which collaborates with the lobbying firm Malady & Wooten. Many of her clients are counties seeking advice around human services and child welfare – Mackereth’s specialties since those 1980s caseworker days.
Investigating child abuse and neglect as a young psychology graduate of Frostburg State University, “I learned to listen,” she observes. “And I learned about respect and trust – not to judge.”
At DHS, Mackereth implemented Healthy PA, the administration’s signature initiative around healthcare access. “And we did it with a Republican Governor and legislature, working with the feds – the Obama administration,” she recalls. “It was a collaborative effort.” For this ace collaborator, nearly everything successful is.
Jake Markezin
Jake Markezin has always loved travel. “But little did I know it would turn into a career for me after all these years,” says Markezin, a 25-year veteran of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.
As senior vice president for operations at the Montgomery County agency, he has driven growth through the targeted use of research and data, attracted large-scale events to the region and helped forge strategic relationships with high-profile brands. Under his financial leadership, the organization continues to grow its non-traditional revenue streams through membership and partnership advertising programs.
Markezin, a graduate of Susquehanna University, joined the Tourism and Convention Board nearly 30 years ago and has played a pivotal role in enhancing the area’s reputation as a meeting and leisure destination. He now manages the daily activities of a 22-member team, including finance and IT operations.
Most rewarding, he relates, has been “being part of a small but mighty and highly creative team who put their heart and soul into selling everything that Montgomery County has to offer.”
Paul McIntyre
Philadelphia environmental lawyer Paul McIntyre is known not only for his expertise in myriad aspects of environmental law, but also for his leadership in growing the field locally.
Since 2023, McIntyre has been a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, where he had previously worked from 2004 to 2014. Within the firm’s Environmental Practice, he supervises a five-attorney team in the Philadelphia and Silicon Valley offices that handles environmental due diligence and risk management for private equity and corporate real estate clients.
He is additionally known for his expertise in legal issues surrounding brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects, and for helping clients navigate myriad aspects of regulatory compliance.
Drawn early to his field, McIntyre studied history at Elon University before earning a joint JD and master’s in environmental law from the Vermont Law and Graduate School. For a decade, he co-chaired the Environmental Practice Group as a principal at the Philadelphia firm of Post & Schell.
Jill Murray
The first woman to serve as president of Lackawanna College, Jill Murray also holds the title of chief innovation officer, emphasizing her commitment to fresh ideas.
Over her nearly 20 years at Lackawanna, Murray has helped improve student retention and graduation rates, expand online learning options and roll out new academic programming and support services.
“I’m so proud of the many ways we’ve evolved and adapted to meet the needs of our students and our communities,” says Murray. In addition, she says, new strategic partnerships with local businesses “have elevated both the student and employee experiences.”
A lifelong Scranton resident, Murray is a philosophy graduate of the University of Scranton and holds a master’s in that field from SUNY Albany and a doctorate in human development from Marywood University.
“I fell in love with higher education while I was in college,” reflects Murray. Then and now, she explains, college remains “a place where you can explore new subjects in a structure that provides time to think and grow as an individual.”
Donna Oberlander
After 15 years in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives – including a history-making turn as the first female Republican whip – Donna Oberlander left public office last year to become a partner at the Rooney Novak Isenhour Group, where she advises clients on state government matters.
Her impact as a legislator remains not only significant but tangible, thanks to the new data centers that are powering the Keystone State’s burgeoning AI industry. Oberlander says her proudest accomplishment was championing a 2021 measure supporting development of the data centers, “a commitment to advancing the commonwealth’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving industry,” as she puts it.
Oberlander was inspired to enter public service by her mentor and predecessor in two key roles – Fred McIlhattan, who, like Oberlander, was a Clarion County commissioner, then held the House seat where Oberlander succeeded him in 2009. “And in my current role,” she says, firm co-founder Alan Novak “encouraged me to expand my impact by helping clients achieve meaningful results.”
Oberlander first got involved in local politics while a small business owner, and has consistently championed that sector (she currently serves on the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Advisory Board). Her new role broadens her reach, affording her “endless opportunities to solve complex problems,” as she says, “and contribute to meaningful policy solutions that strengthen communities and improve the lives of Pennsylvanians.”
Randy Padfield
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is in the capable hands of Randy Padfield, whose 35-year public safety career includes being part of the response to the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001, the 2021 condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida and numerous hurricanes.
With experience spanning firefighting, rescue, EMS, and emergency management, Padfield assumed his current post in 2019, following his previous service as the agency’s deputy director for response. He is an original member of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team, which responds to complex disasters nationally.
As an original member of PA Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team, he has responded to numerous major disasters nationwide. He previously oversaw the public safety training program at Harrisburg Area Community College, and continues to teach at several emergency training centers.
The Schuylkill County native was encouraged to pursue his career by childhood mentors at the local ambulance association and fire department. “They taught me what it took to serve my community,” says Padfield, who now lives in Cumberland County. “I’ve taken those lessons and applied them throughout my career to help others.”
Sal Panto
The name Sal Panto – formally Salvatore J. Panto Jr. – is essentially synonymous with Easton City Hall. Panto, a Democrat, has been the mayor of Easton for a total of 25 years – seven non-consecutive terms. He was the youngest-ever mayor when he was first elected in 1983 at 31, serving from 1984 to 1992, and returned to office in 2008 after a stint in the private sector, fending off primary challenges along the way.
Evidently, his style is popular. Annual decreases in crime back up Panto’s claim of making Easton a “cleaner and safer city.” The city’s S&P rating is up, and the mayor’s economic development program has yielded $1 billion in public and private investment, creating hundreds of jobs.
Panto graduated from Kutztown University, earned a master’s from Lehigh University and taught in the Easton Area School District early in his career. He also holds an honorary doctorate in public service from Lafayette College and has twice served as president of the Pennsylvania Municipal League. “I love making residents proud of their city again,” he says.
Leah Pason
As Merakey’s chief people officer, Leah Pason has a particularly special role at the health nonprofit that’s all about people. She has devoted nearly 30 years to shaping an inclusive, innovative and impactful culture at the organization, which coordinates a range of behavioral health and human services across 11 U.S. states – from autism and developmental disability programs to foster care and initiatives around aging.
Pason earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s in health administration from the University of North Carolina. She began her career with Magellan Behavioral Health and worked as senior vice president for NHS Human Services, the predecessor to Merakey, before joining the rebranded organization as chief strategy officer.
In the decades since, Pason has helped shape the nonprofit’s direction and strategic expansion in a variety of roles. Her impact ranges from developing programs to managing accreditation and optimizing efficiency throughout the organization. Most recently, she has focused that strategy on effective talent recruitment and retention to ensure high quality as Merakey grows.
Tameko Patterson
Tameko Patterson is the Pennsylvania state president of the National Council of Negro Women, a 2 million-strong, 90-year-old organization dedicated to economic empowerment, education, health equity and social justice. As state leader, Patterson guides 17 regional sections comprising 1,000 members statewide, managing initiatives around issues like voter education, financial literacy and college readiness.
To the role, Patterson brings 30 years of corporate strategy and grassroots advocacy. A certified project management professional, she studied at SUNY Old Westbury and has held leadership roles with IBM and Sanofi. She has also directed the Stroudsburg Area School District, and she currently chairs the Monroe County Democratic Committee.
In 2024, Patterson was honored with the NAACP’s Mary McLeod Bethune Award, named for Patterson’s own inspiration – NCNW founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Honoring that legacy, Patterson says she focuses on “mentorship, equity, and representation – ensuring women of color have a voice in shaping stronger communities.”
P. Timothy Phelps
Since 2012, Tim Phelps has helped move Chester County forward as director of its Transportation Management Association. Beyond mobility, however, Phelps strives for sustainability and emphasizes that “transportation management isn’t just a policy term, but a lived reality that connects people, places and opportunities.”
Long drawn to “community-building and placemaking,” as he puts it, Phelps previously held leadership roles with three chambers of commerce in the Delaware Valley. He currently serves by appointment on Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Commission and on the boards of the Chester County Economic Development Council and Chester County Parks and Trails.
A graduate of William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and Juniata College, Phelps has called Chester County home for 25 years. Being rooted in the community informs his work at TMACC, where he aims to make transportation more accessible and responsive to his neighbors’ evolving needs and lifestyles. “Transportation isn’t just about roads and routes,” he says. “It’s about building more thoughtful, connected communities where everyone has a way forward.”
Stephen Pouppirt
Stephen Pouppirt has, since 1997, served as president of the Clemens Construction Company, a Philadelphia-based contractor known for its expertise in historic preservation, carpentry craftsmanship and full-scale renovations.
Pouppirt earned a degree in environmental design and architecture from the University of Kansas before settling in Philadelphia. At an early position with Rouse and Associates, he served as the project manager for the One Liberty Place and Two Liberty Place office towers, now iconic features on the city’s skyline.
Over three decades at Clemens, Pouppirt has grown the business to serve a variety of clients across sectors, from healthcare, life sciences and educational institutions to multifamily buildings, hospitality projects and public facilities.
Social responsibility is a guiding ethos for Pouppirt. Under his leadership, Clemens has a strong relationship with Philadelphia’s union workforce, working closely with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, the Laborers District Council and others. The company also takes pride in its many projects with social impact, including neighborhood playgrounds, recreation centers and schools throughout Philadelphia.
Philip Radomski
As of 2024, Philip Radomski chairs the board of the century-old construction outfit founded by his great-grandfather, Frank V. Radomski & Sons. He steers a Montgomery County company whose clients include major pharmaceutical firms like Pfizer, local institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and multinationals including 3M.
Raised in Philadelphia, Radomski grew up around the family business; at Spring Garden College, he studied structural engineering and construction management. “Watching my father and grandfather, I’ve only ever wanted to be in this industry,” he says.
Radomski has played a major role in growing and safeguarding that sector through his leadership with the Philadelphia-based General Building Contractors Association – where he has served on the board since 1991 and chairs both the executive and the government affairs committees – and the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers Board of Trustees, where he is currently vice co-chair and benefits funds vice co-chair.
“My proudest professional accomplishment has been leading our company past its 100th year and into the fourth generation,” he says.
Salim Ramji
Last year, finance executive Salim Ramji was at the center of a major transition: He became CEO of Vanguard, succeeding Tim Buckley, the investment management firm’s longtime chief.
In his new role, Ramji, who also joined Vanguard’s board, helms a 50-year-old enterprise that is among the world’s most successful firms of its kind. Under his purview is a Malvern-based behemoth that manages roughly $11 trillion in assets and is the largest provider of mutual funds and the second largest provider of exchange-traded funds globally, in addition to offering brokerage, financial planning and other services.
He brings a quarter-century of experience in global finance – including previous senior roles at both BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and McKinsey & Company, the multinational consultancy.
Born in Canada to Tanzanian parents, Ramji earned a degree in economics and politics from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the University of Cambridge. He began his career as a lawyer in London and Hong Kong.
La Dawn Robinson
In August, La Dawn Robinson was honored with the Executive Director Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, where she has served as the Pittsburgh regional director since 2024. The honor reflected Robinson’s commitment to bettering human communities via outreach across her office’s 26-county region – “an unwavering pursuit to empower emerging leaders,” as she put it, and “a commitment to social change – a blend of passion and purpose.”
That ethos has infused Robinson’s career. Prior to joining PHRC, she spent 20 years in human relations roles, including with an energy company and, most recently, at Carnegie Mellon University, where she managed equal opportunity services. She has long been a forceful advocate for inclusion, a value she brings to Pennsylvania’s civil rights enforcement agency.
Robinson earned a bachelor’s in psychology from West Virginia University, a master’s in professional leadership from Carlow University and a doctorate in executive leadership from the University of Charleston.
Amy Rockwell
From her perch as manager of Harrison Township, Amy Rockwell minds the details that make this corner of Allegheny County a vibrant place to live.
Rockwell, a seasoned municipal professional, has played an integral part in ambitious collaborations like the Millvale Eco-District, a holistic sustainability strategy for that Pittsburgh-adjacent borough, as well as the River Bend Plan, a comprehensive plan involving zoning and other collaborations across multiple municipalities. She has also advised local efforts to form a multi-municipality emergency services authority.
Rockwell got her start working for the City of Lower Burrell, where she returned in 2018 to serve as city administrator and manager. In between, she served as manager of Upper Burrell Township and borough manager of Millvale.
Nowadays, Rockwell frequently mentors new municipal managers on navigating the complexities of local government and consults with municipalities on fiscal operations. She also represents the Pennsylvania Municipal League on the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Board of Trustees and is a past president of the Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management and Government Finance Officers Association of Pennsylvania.
Gregory Scott
Gregory Scott nurtures entrepreneurship and community across Centre County, where, as CEO of the Chamber of Business & Industry, he is currently promoting Centre County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. “Building relationships and championing the future of our region is incredibly meaningful,” he says. “Throughout my career, I’ve held leadership roles that have allowed me to help others succeed and make a positive difference in my community.”
A Centre County native, Scott earned a civil engineering degree from Penn State and an MBA from National University, and was certified through Penn State’s Executive Management Program. Prior to joining the chamber in 2021, he held a series of business and operations roles at Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh.
He says his proudest professional accomplishment remains his service as an officer in the U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps: “That experience instilled in me the values of leadership, service, and integrity, which continue to guide my work today as I strive to make a lasting difference in my community.”
Kara Seitzinger
Dedicated to the health and well-being of her Northeast Pennsylvania community, Kara Seitzinger oversees public affairs at the The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, where she also serves as advisor and liaison to the president.
In 2023, she was honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers with the Award for Primary Care Excellence, recognizing her work as a community ambassador. At Wright, Seitzinger cultivates partnerships with business and community leaders to strengthen the centers’ outreach and advance its grassroots mission.
Seitzinger earned a bachelor’s in political science and government, with a minor in marketing and communications, from the University of Scranton. More recently, she added a certification from Boston University in philanthropy and fundraising. Prior to joining the Wright Centers, she spent 15 years as a paralegal for the City of Scranton.
She currently serves on the American Heart Association’s executive leadership board of directors, receiving its Eastern State Region’s 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award.
Desiree Sokoli
For decades, Desiree Sokoli has guided operations for some of the region’s most prominent health institutions. Since 2021, she has headed operations for Temple University Health System’s faculty physicians division, a position she has held since 2021. Among her accomplishments thus far: spearheading the Neurosciences Access Initiative, designed to reduce neurology wait times from 85 days to just 72 hours.
Sokoli previously led ambulatory operations and strategic oncology partnerships at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she led employee COVID testing and care during the pandemic. Prior to that, she was a nurse and directed ambulatory and preoperative services at Hackensack University Medical Center.
After studying business administration and nursing science at William Paterson University of New Jersey, she earned a master’s and then, at Fairleigh Dickinson University, a doctorate. Sokoli also holds an executive MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
“As a clinician and leader, I bring both perspectives to my work,” she reflects, “using my clinical knowledge to shape strategy and operations while supporting teams to deliver exceptional patient-centered care.”
Shawn Steffee
Shawn Steffee brings a lifelong commitment to his union and the trades to his role as business agent for Boilermakers Local 154, which he assumed in 2018.
Born and raised in Indiana County, Steffee credits his childhood for inspiring his path. His father and uncles had worked for the local Homer City Generation Power Plant – whose recent closure Steffee called “devastating” – and eventually he and his brothers did, too.
In high school, Steffee studied mine equipment maintenance notes in a county vocational technology program. In addition to graduating from Local 154’s boilership apprenticeship program, he also earned a two-year degree in welding from Williamsport Area Community College.
Along with his role with the Boilermakers, Steffee also proudly serves as president of the South-Central Building Trades, representing and advocating for thousands of skilled workers across the region. He is frequently quoted in local publications speaking up for the labor community and the economy, and leads efforts to advance the interests of working people, promote safe job sites, and strengthen opportunities for future generations.
James H. Steigerwald
As a child, James Steigerwald was encouraged by his mother to cultivate values that have served as his longtime North Star: “Curiosity, hard work, and the value of learning from others,” says the attorney. “She inspired me to pursue a career that would challenge me intellectually, while surrounding me with people of integrity and purpose.”
Steigerwald found that career in litigation. Today, he is a partner at Duane Morris, where he co-chairs the Commercial Litigation Division of the firm’s Trial Practice Group.
Beyond the courtroom, Steigerwald counts among his proudest accomplishments being named the first managing partner for Duane Morris’ Philadelphia office.
His practice spans high-stakes disputes involving contracts and licensing, as well as fraud and complex claims under securities, antitrust, and RICO laws – often with nine-figure damages at issue. Over the years, he has represented clients nationwide in federal and state courts, securing multimillion-dollar victories and defense verdicts.
Steigerwald graduated cum laude from Harvard and from Cornell Law School. In his off hours, he is deeply committed to public service, especially efforts on behalf of children. For his pro bono work on behalf of abused and neglected children with the Support Center for Child Advocates, he earned the organization’s Distinguished Advocate Award, “which was exceptionally meaningful,” he says.
Bob Steitz
Since childhood, Bob Steitz has been driven by “an ardent desire to play sports at the highest competitive level possible,” he says. “A career in athletic administration was always the goal.”
Steitz certainly operates at an élite level with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he is vice president of operations. In the role, he oversees the Penn Medicine Training Complex, supports team operations and major projects at Xfinity Mobile Arena and coordinates with the NBA on gameday logistics.
Steitz, who holds a master’s in education from Springfield College, got his start as an associate commissioner for the Northeast Conference. Prior to joining the 76ers, he served as the senior associate athletic director for Villanova and Columbia universities.
Some of his most memorable moments happened in between – during the dozen years he spent with the Atlantic 10 Conference, where he led marketing and TV strategy, directed the Men’s Basketball Championship and helped launch the successful Atlantic 10 Television Network. “Having minimal experience in this area, we gained significant notoriety – and the network won multiple Emmy awards,” Steitz recalls.
David S. Thomas
At the helm of the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation is David Thomas, who oversees the city’s full-service community development organization, dedicated to increasing access to safe and affordable housing for Philadelphians.
Under his purview is a host of programs financing the preservation and redevelopment of properties and facilitating critical upgrades that ensure homeowners’ safe dwellings.
PHDC also coordinates community groups, businesses and developers to re-purpose vacant land, making critical investments throughout city neighborhoods.
As an analyst for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Housing and Community Development, he was responsible for one of the city’s largest-ever relocations of displaced families and was instrumental in the federal prosecution of developers who victimized those families and defrauded the city.
Prior to joining the PHDC as executive vice president, Thomas oversaw operations and housing finance at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. In 2019, he led a structural overhaul to increase transparency and efficiency across three quasi-city agencies – the PRA, PHDC and the Philadelphia Land Bank.
Roy Wells
State government veteran Roy Wells is best known as the founder of Triad Strategies, a full-service public affairs firm whose services range from discreet consultations to statewide advocacy campaigns.
Guided by the “belief that every individual and organization should have appropriate counsel and access to public policy decision-makers,” as he says, Wells has assembled a team of lobbying and communications professionals who provide best-in-class service to a wide-ranging client list that includes public, private and nonprofit organizations throughout the commonwealth.
Wells, a graduate of Fairfield University and Penn State, spent years working in the General Assembly as a policy and budget analyst and as deputy state treasurer in the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. He also holds certifications from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the Said Business School at Oxford University.
At Triad, Wells not only counsels clients, but also mentors his growing team. “I take great satisfaction in providing my team of public affairs professionals with the resources they need to achieve their personal and professional goals,” he says.
Joyce Wilkerson
Joyce Wilkerson was raised by a mother who’d been turned down for teaching jobs for being Black; later, during a mid-college hiatus, Wilkerson worked at the NAACP. By the time she returned to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, her social consciousness was a primary source of her determination.
“I always saw my career as being an extension of the civil rights movement,” says Wilkerson, a longtime civic fixture and former school board president in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia.
The Cleveland native’s first models for service were her father, a physician, and her mother, a scholar of early childhood education. Throughout her professional life, Wilkerson has dedicated her efforts to improving the fortunes of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
Her career began at Philadelphia’s Community Legal Services, but has since broadened to impact housing (she has held leadership board roles with the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Project HOME), civic leadership (as the longtime chief of staff to then-Mayor John Street) and economic renewal (as executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority).
But her most significant contribution is arguably as a champion of education. As chair of the School Reform Commission, Wilkerson oversaw a new teachers’ contract and the return of Philadelphia schools to local control. With the School District of Philadelphia board, she helped spearhead a 2018 initiative to bolster academic outcomes.
“It’s very easy to get distracted and to lose focus on the question of, ’Are the children learning anything?’” notes Wilkerson. “I’m really proud of the role I played in pivoting to a focus on student achievement, and the adoption of our goals and guardrails.”
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