Honors
The City & State 2026 Forty Under 40
Pennsylvania’s young professionals – advocates, leaders and strategists – bring fresh energy to the commonwealth’s political culture, institutions and communities.
State Rep. Joseph Kerwin and Maridarlyn Gonzalez Gene Smirnov
The 2026 City & State Forty Under 40 celebrates a diverse group of young professionals who are reinventing age-old fields – from medicine and journalism to community infrastructure and political strategy. As advocates, leaders and mentors, they are reshaping institutions and communities across the commonwealth with their youthful energy.
Deborah Akanya
Physician, mentor and global health advocate Deborah Akanya directs the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at UPMC Jameson Hospital, where she brings high-level cardiovascular care and life-saving interventions to Pennsylvania’s underserved communities.
“My decision to pursue interventional cardiology was shaped by early clinical experiences in acute care, where I witnessed the immediate, life-saving impact of timely cardiovascular intervention,” explains Akanya, 34. “The ability to restore perfusion in real time was both intellectually compelling and deeply meaningful.”
A recipient of the UPMC Jameson Physician Excellence Award, Akanya is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. She trained at Quinnipiac University’s Frank H. Netter School of Medicine and completed fellowships through Yale University’s program at Bridgeport Hospital, earning the American College of Physicians Young Achievers Award and recognition as Best Senior Resident.
More recently, Akanya was the keynote speaker at the Lawrence County Women’s Conference; a mother of two daughters, she is also a frequent participant in medical missions across the United States and abroad.
Informed by science, the cardiologist also feels her path “has been guided by a clear calling from God,” she adds. “I view medicine as a ministry … This calling shapes how I lead, care for patients, and strive to make a meaningful impact every day.”
Leonard Altieri
Most people don’t grow up aspiring to a career in zoning and land use – but as Leonard Altieri discovered early on, shaping the infrastructure of communities can be extremely rewarding.
As a student at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Altieri was appointed to the Newtown Township Planning Commission, “an experience that ultimately shaped my career path,” he recalls. “Through firsthand exposure to development applications, public hearings, and municipal decision-making, I quickly developed a strong interest in the field.”
Today, the 37-year-old is a senior associate in the Zoning and Land Use practice at Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg, where he advises municipalities and developers across Philadelphia and five surrounding counties. For the past several years, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, as a Pennsylvania Rising Star and in multiple categories on the Best Lawyers list.
Altieri shapes his suburban community in his off-hours, too. He currently chairs the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, where he has served since 2019, and is the treasurer of the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority. By age 21, he served on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors; at age 23, he was the youngest-ever member elected to the Marple Newtown School Board.
“Seeing how legal, planning, and community considerations intersect in real time,” he observes, is “both challenging and rewarding.”
Alexander Batoff
This past January, Alexander Batoff was elected as a shareholder at Stevens and Lee, the Philadelphia law firm he joined in 2019.
The promotion was a testament to the 37-year-old’s effectiveness as an attorney and litigator focused on labor relations, employment law and broad-based commercial litigation. In addition, Batoff boasts a 70% success rate settling cases as a panel member of the pro bono mediation programs for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Philadelphia District Office and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“I have wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember,” affirms Batoff, whose father and many other relatives are also attorneys. He earned an undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, in political science and creative nonfiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh, then a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
A decade into what is, so far, an inarguably successful career, Batoff remains ambitious, aspiring to develop his skills as a mediator and arbitrator (he serves as an arbitrator in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Compulsory Arbitration Program).
And as befits a writer, he takes special pleasure in having spurred the creation of a new law – in the course of winning a recent trial – clarifying the meaning of a "chronic serious health condition."
Ryan Beaston
Ryan Beaston hails from the state capital – but although he grew up around politics, he began his own public-service career in California, Maryland and Oregon before returning to Pennsylvania.
Since 2020, he has worked in both chambers of the General Assembly – most recently as majority executive director of the House Labor & Industry Committee, where he has helped shepherd landmark legislation on a higher minimum wage and paid family and medical leave.
Beaston came by his political bent naturally: One grandfather, Philip Sgrignoli, was a longtime East Pennsboro Township commissioner, while the other was active with the Teamsters. “My own civic engagement began in third grade, with a classroom project that led to our community building a new playground,” recalled Beaston, now 39.
After graduating from Washington College in Maryland, Beaston's political ambitions were cemented by a Capitol Hill internship with then-Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He went on to earn a master’s of public policy from Oregon State University; while out West, he managed a successful Oregon state House reelection campaign and organized union support for San Francisco’s universal mental healthcare initiative.
Back in Harrisburg, Beaston’s mission hasn’t changed: “Ultimately, I was and am drawn to public policy to make a material difference in people’s lives.”
John Buffone
Having started out as a radio, newspaper, and television reporter, John Buffone knows about clear, ethical, and accessible communication.
He has brought that perspective to a variety of public-facing roles – including, most recently, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where he recently became the press secretary. Prior to that, Buffone headed communications and external relations for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, where he modernized the organization's messaging strategy and, in 2025, served as interim executive director.
Buffone holds a degree in journalism and communications from what is now PennWest Clarion University. He began his career in a variety of sports journalism roles, and worked for USA TODAY and Blue Ridge Communications.
During the pandemic-era 2020 census, he served as a media specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. His recognitions include being named the Pennsylvania Humane Society’s 2017 Media Hero of the Year and being listed in Marquis Who's Who.
Buffone also mentors underprivileged youth as a boxing coach at a York nonprofit gym. It’s one of the ways he pays tribute to the mentorship he himself has received, including from the grandmother who always told him his storytelling dreams were possible.
“She was my biggest fan, no matter what I did,” says Buffone. “Her unconditional support inspired me through my personal and professional life.”
Vivian Chang
The growing visibility and clout of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Asian American community owes a debt to Vivian Chang, who directs Asian Americans United. Thanks to her leadership, the half-century-old grassroots organization has emerged as the community’s most politically influential voice.
Last year, when a proposed arena development backed by big financial interests threatened to overwhelm Philadelphia’s Chinatown, Chang, 35, led her community’s efforts to defeat the proposal. Her successful campaign galvanized a generation of young Asian Americans, bolstering her efforts to mobilize thousands of Asian American voters to register – and to show up at the polls, many for the first time.
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants to Central Ohio, Chang found her activist voice early. She began volunteering as an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned degrees in both Hispanic studies and biological physics (she also holds a master’s in public administration from Princeton University). After college, she joined AmeriCorps VISTA, a federal anti-poverty program; she also worked in labor organizing and voter outreach, organizing multiracial coalitions in battleground states.
“My parents emphasized the importance of passing on traditions – and lifting as we climb,” reflects Chang. In the roles she has held, “I’ve gained a stronger understanding of the need for systemic change – and how necessary organizing to build power is to that.”
Tim Faircloth
Tim Faircloth’s athletic ambitions were cut short by injuries. Now he advocates for the kind of healthcare that treats others in distress – as legislative liaison for the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association.
Faircloth joins a tradition of former athletes who redirect their striving ethos into politics. He has found “renewed purpose in governmental and political work, channeling the competitive drive into advocating for constituents and industries” – and, he adds, allowing him to champion the issues he holds dear. And at 34, he has done so over a career spanning local, state, and federal government roles across three states and the District of Columbia.
These include raising the minimum wage in Maryland, a tenants’ anti-discrimination bill in Baltimore County, and the development of data center regulations in Loudoun County, Virginia. During the 2020 pandemic, he assisted in efforts to elect Pennsylvania state Rep. Dave Delloso.
Now, the onetime three-sport athlete puts his legislative and relational skills to use advocating for the advancement of chiropractic care in the commonwealth. A member of the Dauphin County Democratic Party and the Pennsylvania Young Democrats, Faircloth says advocacy offers him “sustained motivation – and a profound sense of purpose.”
Steven Gobac-Semple
Steven Gobac-Semple believes “that building is fundamentally about shaping communities – creating spaces that influence how people live and work,” he says, adding that this ethos “fuels my commitment to community engagement and industry inclusion.”
Gobac-Semple fulfills that commitment both as the preconstruction manager at Skanska USA, the American branch of the multinational construction company, and as a volunteer with Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia, encouraging young women to explore careers in construction. As his region and industry diversified, he put his inclusive ethos into practice by launching a networking group for LGBTQ+ professionals in the construction industry to foster visibility, mentorship, and belonging.
Gobac-Semple earned a civil engineering degree from Drexel University, then a master’s in construction management from the University of Washington, before joining Skanska nine years ago as a project engineer. In his current role, he guides clients through the earliest and most influential stages of a building plan, sketching out the project life cycle for clients – many of them repeat – across the life sciences, higher education and healthcare sectors.
“I take pride in translating early ideas into clear, actionable plans that set projects up for success from day one,” says Gobac-Semple, who holds leadership roles with numerous industry organizations. “Seeing something come to life from plans is really remarkable, and I love being a part of that.”
Maridarlyn Gonzalez
Maridarlyn Gonzalez brings civic commitment and scientific energy to her efforts on behalf of commonwealth communities.
As the inaugural state director for the League of United Latin American Citizens and a co-chair of the City of Philadelphia’s Welcoming Committee, she advocates for Hispanic and immigrant Pennsylvanians and drives efforts to make her city more inclusive.
As co-chair of the technical assistance panel for Urban Land Institute-Philadelphia, Gonzalez applies her geospatial technology training – she holds a master’s from Jefferson University – to initiatives around the city’s built environment. And as a member of the Committee of Seventy and other civic nonprofits, she advocates for grassroots democracy and opportunity.
Across these roles, Gonzalez, 35, brings a diverse perspective drawn in part from her roots in the Dominican Republic and from her past work with emergency shelters, regional planning, and energy programs. Her efforts recently yielded Gonzalez a Hispanic Heritage Month citation from Philadelphia City Council for her leadership in the Latino community, including recruiting multilingual poll workers and hosting an annual voter registration event.
Gonzalez says her research prowess makes her a more effective advocate. “Data became my way of making sense of the world … pushing me to ask why one neighborhood looks so different from another, or why some graduates follow different trajectories,” she explains. “I’ve never stopped chasing these questions – or believing that everyone has the potential to become more.”
Eric Gutshall
Eric Gutshall’s path to education advocacy was shaped by his early experiences.
“As a first-generation college student, I saw how access to quality education opens doors,” recalls Gutshall, 36. “And as an LGBTQI+ person, I am committed to advancing equity and equality and helping create welcoming institutions. Together, these experiences shape my work advancing opportunity through public policy and education.”
Gutshall now advocates for some 1,100 campuses nationwide as vice president for government affairs at Career Education Colleges and Universities, an industry association. He is also a co-founder and partner at Pinnacle Collective Public Affairs and a distinguished fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government.
Gutshall’s path to success began with a degree from Central Penn College – where he currently chairs the Alumni Council – and, later, a master’s in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2015, he was the Democratic nominee for Dauphin County controller. He also held senior roles in the Office of then-Gov. Tom Wolf and in the Biden-Harris administration; more recently, he advised the Shapiro-Davis transition team on state government operations.
“I first caught the political bug in 2008, when I realized the government can improve people’s lives and expand opportunity,” notes Gutshall. “That moment sparked a lasting commitment to public service, strengthening how the government works for the people it serves.”
Dan Hagan
Few government affairs roles are quite so pivotal as the one capably occupied by Dan Hagan: As public strategy lead for Marcellus Shale Coalition, he represents the interests of many of the commonwealth’s most powerful natural gas producers – at a moment when energy dominates the global and national discourse.
But Hagan, 34, brought a wealth of policy experience to the job, which he started last year. His résumé includes leadership roles with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, the House Republican Campaign Committee, and the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee, where he served as executive director; Hagan’s accomplishments include helping flip numerous seats in the state legislature.
The Pike County native was drawn to politics early, studying political science and communications at East Stroudsburg University. “I’ve always wanted to be involved with the legislative process in some way,” he recalls. “I thought that meant going to D.C., but that changed when I took a trip to Harrisburg during my sophomore year of college. I fell in love with our beautiful Capitol building.
“The fact I got to work directly in the Capitol every day is something I will cherish forever,” he adds. And while his new home is a few hours further west in Pennsylvania’s energy hub, Harrisburg and the Capitol remain key to his professional life: “I’m still a frequent flyer.”
Emily Hatfield
Her age is 33, but Emily Hatfield’s life is best described in twos: She has masterminded successful tourism campaigns in two states, and she is the mother of two children.
Indeed, Hatfield, VisitPITTSBURGH’s marketing and communications chief, speaks of her career in deeply personal terms. “As a working mother, I’ve developed a leadership style rooted in empathy, resilience, and delivering results in high-pressure environments,” she said.
Before she brought her talents to the service of tourism growth in the Steel City, Hatfield served under two governors in West Virginia, including as deputy secretary of tourism (if you’ve seen the “Almost Heaven" campaign, you’ve seen her statewide rebrand in action). Most recently, she played a key role in the 2026 NFL Draft and led efforts around Pittsburgh's new Forge On campaign.
Hatfield always knew she’d be a professional communicator. “I was drawn to this field by a recognition of my God-given talents: my ability to clearly articulate ideas and connect with diverse audiences,” she says. She earned a bachelor’s from Wheeling University and a master’s from Johns Hopkins University, both in communications, and began her career as a deputy press secretary in the West Virginia Governor’s Office.
Her experiences since have only reinforced that calling, she says – “demonstrating how effective communication can inspire action, strengthen communities, and elevate places in meaningful ways.”
Siddiq Kamara
When he took office as Delaware County sheriff in January, 30-year-old Siddiq Kamara became the youngest American currently serving as a sheriff – and the first African immigrant to hold the role in Pennsylvania.
Kamara is also a former Yeadon police officer, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and a former agent with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, where his mission was to protect then-Attorney General (now Gov.) Josh Shapiro. He is also a nonprofit founder, having spearheaded the Fanta Bility Foundation to honor the life and legacy of his 8-year-old cousin, Fanta Bility, who was tragically killed in 2021.
Through all of these experiences, Kamara draws on a steadfast belief in his adopted country. “America is the greatest country on earth. I am proof of that,” he says, given that “at age 30 and from immigrant descent, I’m serving as the youngest sheriff in America.”
Raised in Upper Darby, Kamara ran on modernizing the sheriff’s office and improving community engagement and outreach. He also plans to continue his longstanding advocacy for police training and safety reforms to help prevent similar tragedies to that of his cousin.
“Law enforcement is noble,” says Kamara. “I strongly believe that, and I want to protect and serve the public honorably.”
Kevin F. Kane
In 2013, as Kevin Kane reached the finish line of the Boston Marathon, bombs exploded, gravely wounding hundreds of his fellow runners. At the time, Kane was a pre-medical student at Boston College. But the marathon bombing sparked his interest in politics and national security – and set Kane, now 32, on the path to his current role, directing legislative strategy for the Commonwealth Foundation, a free-market think tank.
His efforts on behalf of school choice have helped secure a $330 million increase in tax-credit scholarships since 2021, benefiting hundreds of thousands of students (and perhaps someday his own daughter: Kane recently became a father). He also worked to block $33 billion in tax increases, lower the state’s corporate net income tax, and promote Pennsylvania's energy independence. After the coronavirus pandemic, he helped pass a first-in-the-nation constitutional amendment limiting a governor’s emergency powers.
The Delaware County native began his policy and advocacy career interning at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., after graduating magna cum laude from Boston College; he has also worked with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Today, he also serves as executive director of Commonwealth Action, leading the organization's advocacy initiatives – and, he says, dedicating his career “to advancing legislation that promotes human flourishing.”
Joseph Kerwin
Just 27 when he was first elected to the state House of Representatives, Republican Joseph Kerwin credits his impressive résumé to his family’s example.
“My family instilled in me the value of selfless service,” says Kerwin, now 33. “My parents were responsible for teaching me the values of hard work, discipline and respect – which have led me to succeeding in my legal practice, military service, and elected service.”
In his third term representing Dauphin County, Kerwin already has multiple successful pieces of legislation to his credit, along with millions in state funding secured for his district. Among his most satisfying achievements in office, he says, is a 2024 law creating a permanent memorial on Capitol Grounds honoring Gold Star service members and their families.
Kerwin himself serves as a U.S. Army National Guard officer, bringing his total military service to 14 years, including an overseas deployment. He is also a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and earned his law degree from Dickinson University and a master’s of public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
An attorney since 2019, he is admitted to practice before the state and U.S. Supreme Courts. But despite all he has accomplished more recently, Kerwin says his proudest moments came during his military training and service, and “getting elected to the state House at 27,” he adds – leaving observers to wonder what fresh challenges he’ll tackle in his 30s.
Gina Lavery
In 2020, Gina Lavery became the youngest principal at Econsult Solutions, a Philadelphia-based economic consulting firm. Six years later, she served as executive vice president, leading projects around economic development, real estate, and public policy – including both Philadelphia-area redevelopment efforts and nationally impactful initiatives.
“I’m proud to have worked on redevelopment projects across Pennsylvania, but especially proud of supporting major investments in Philadelphia's economic infrastructure – including at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Bellwether District,” says Lavery. In the process, she has helped expand Econsult's economic development footprint beyond the Mid-Atlantic into the Southeast, the Midwest, and New England.
The Southeast Pennsylvania native studied political science at the University of Pennsylvania, where she then worked coordinating government and community relations – a role she calls formative – and earned a master’s in city planning.
Today, outside of Econsult, Lavery helps shape her city with the Urban Land Institute - Philadelphia, co-chairing the Women's Leadership Initiative and sitting on its national Placemaking Product Council.
“Growing up in the Philadelphia region, I watched neighborhoods and waterfronts sit underutilized for decades – full of potential that felt just out of reach,” recalls Lavery. Her career, she adds, “has given me a way to be part of changing that – connecting the dots between data, policy, and investment to help places realize what they're capable of.”
Kristie Lowe
At 37, Kristie Lowe has built her career at the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, the 92-year-old financial services entity she joined after graduating from Shippensburg University (she returned to Shippensburg to earn her MBA in 2017). “I’ve been fortunate to grow my career with the credit union,” says Lowe, who is currently vice president of strategic finance and planning for the credit union.
In this role, she leads PSECU’s balance sheet strategy and manages future planning while balancing financial risk in uncertain economic times. A highlight of her decade and a half there, she says, has been her key role in expanding the finance team – recruiting, training and coaching new employees.
Lowe initially thought she’d major in marketing at Shippensburg, but a required junior year Finance 101 class made her “fall in love” with the subject. “That class changed my direction,” recalls Lowe, who ended up graduating with a finance and marketing degree.
Now a certified treasury professional and a busy mom of two daughters, she credits her swift rise in no small part to mentoring from PSECU’s CFO, Gina Seibert: “She has consistently encouraged me to continue learning, grow my skills and challenge myself.”
Emily Malmstrom
A leading figure in Philadelphia’s sports and entertainment sector, Emily Malmstrom serves as vice president, chief of staff and communications chief at Comcast Spectacor; she also serves in a leadership role with Philadelphia Soccer 2026, helping make the city’s hosting of this year’s FIFA World Cup a successful venture.
At Comcast Spectacor, “I’ve led a comprehensive transformation of the Philadelphia Flyers’ communications strategy,” explains Malmstrom, “by breaking down long-standing silos between business and hockey operations and creating a more open, unified way of connecting with fans, media and internal stakeholders.”
The 29-year-old is also proud of helping guide the organization through pivotal leadership transitions and maintaining trust and stability during moments of significant change. Outside the office, Malmstrom is active with Flyers Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Philadelphia Flyers, and has served as an assistant coach of the Special Olympics since 2012.
In both professional and civic engagement, she credits Comcast Spectacor CEO Dan Hilferty as a mentor. “Dan’s leadership has directly influenced how I lead and run a team,” she reflects. “He seamlessly navigates any industry … while maintaining a 360-degree lens on day-to-day operations. And most importantly, he inspires those around him to give their all.”
Diana Martin
As a tenth-generation Lancaster County resident, “my roots here go deep, and this community is in my DNA,” says Diana Martin, 36. “I've always felt inspired to be part of the solution, to improve life for my neighbors, and give back – because I've had so many opportunities.”
Most recently, Martin has been giving back at the High Foundation, a Lancaster-based charitable organization where she oversees impact. She also serves as the executive director of Partners for Environmental Stewardship and Lancaster Housing Works, leading initiatives around environmental action and affordable workforce housing in Lancaster County.
These include a new $40 million environmental center and 70-acre nature preserve, the City of Lancaster’s first, due to break ground in 2027, as well as the launch of a nonprofit housing developer.
Martin previously held leadership roles at Rodale Institute, where she helped launch a new certified organic food label, and at the Lancaster County Community Foundation, where she spearheaded an annual event that has raised more than $120 million for local nonprofits. She holds a journalism degree from Syracuse University, an MBA in Sustainable Leadership and a master’s in sustainable food systems from Prescott College.
“My community has poured into me,” reflects Martin, “and I want to keep creating positive opportunities for everyone else around me.”
Ryan McNally
WellSpan Health’s recent growth owes a debt to Ryan McNally, who, as senior director of strategy execution, is tasked with translating organizational goals into measurable results. At just 32, he’s earned the confidence of WellSpan executives – and has a place at the civic table as well: McNally serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and for Leadership Susquehanna Valley, among others.
McNally earned a BS, magna cum laude, from the University of Mount Union – and knew early that he wanted to direct his insights toward healthcare. “I chose a career in healthcare strategy to help with finding a better way to drive real outcomes that improve lives,” reflects McNally.
He achieved that over nearly a decade at WellSpan's Evangelical Community Hospital, leading the Miller Center for Recreation and Wellness and Community Health initiatives, and serving as the founding executive director of a joint venture between the hospital, the Miller Center, Geisinger Health System, and the YMCA.
Along the way, McNally earned an MBA in healthcare management; most recently, he has supported WellSpan’s executive leadership in developing WellSpan 2030, a strategic plan. All of it furthers his goal “to make systems work better – both for our patients and for the people of our broader community.”
Catherine McParland
At just 32, Catherine McParland has earned her place as one of Pennsylvania’s most trusted political fundraisers, having coordinated finance for Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Sen. Bob Casey, Judge Timika Lane and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, among others.
In 2024, McParland joined Rittenhouse Political Partners as a principal, launching the firm’s federal practice, which generated over $1 million within weeks. Two years previously, she launched a successful consultancy that raised over $1 million for Helen Gym’s Philadelphia mayoral campaign and oversaw fundraising for the successful re-election campaigns of U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and Delaware County Council Chair Monica Taylor.
As finance director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party during the 2020 election cycle, McParland led efforts that raised over $23 million, more than doubling the previous presidential-year total.
Her passion for campaigns was born in 2015, when, as a college student, she interned with Shapiro’s re-election campaign for Montgomery County Commissioner, supporting both field and finance operations. “I quickly fell in love with the fast pace of campaigns, and specifically with fundraising,” McParland says.
Nowadays, in addition to coordinating finances for tomorrow’s candidates, she also helps future pols learn the ropes by leading candidate training for LeadPA and The Movement School. Fundraising, she notes, “plays a critical role in ensuring a candidate’s vision is effectively communicated to a broad audience.”
Hale Milano
Accenture’s Harrisburg presence owes a great deal to Hale Milano, a management consulting manager and deputy client account lead for the global consultancy’s Pennsylvania Public Service team.
Milano, 35, has nearly a decade of experience leading large‑scale technology and operations transformations for state and local government clients, health services providers, and technology companies. He has led initiatives to modernize technology, enable AI and upgrade the user experience, and has been recognized for advancing responsible innovation in the public sector.
Milano’s early career was spent as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. “After serving in the military, I wanted to continue leading with purpose – by expanding my impact in the private sector,” he says. “I spent several years building experience across technology and health provider organizations before I got the opportunity to return home to Pennsylvania.”
At Accenture, he played a key role in launching and operationalizing the Harrisburg office, expanding partnerships that support the goals of the commonwealth and building a team of experts across AI, technology and public service.
In the end, Milano says, it was individual mentors who affirmed his path – and people remain the motivation for his work. “Working alongside dedicated leaders … solidified my commitment to serving Pennsylvania, developing local talent and giving back to the communities where I live and work,” he affirms.
Nina Miranda-Miller
Growing up as one of four children, Nina Miranda-Miller was inspired by her single mother’s example of caring, resilience and strength. Today, she brings that ethos to her public health career – serving as program director for JeffCARES, Jefferson’s neighborhood outreach program within the Office of Community Health & Impact.
In the role, Miranda-Miller unites colleagues across the Jefferson enterprise to make a meaningful impact through community engagement initiatives aligning with Jefferson’s strategic goals.
Armed with degrees in chemistry and global public health, she developed Jefferson's state-accredited 16-course Community Health Worker Academy curriculum, which strengthens the healthcare workforce and expands access to care in underserved communities.
Miranda-Miller also played a key role in launching Jefferson’s INSPIRE Network, a coalition of Jefferson leaders that coordinates health and outreach partnerships with faith-based communities. Relatedly, Miranda-Miller is the founder of Luminous Wellness, a faith-based education and advocacy initiative around chronic disease prevention and management.
At 36, she remains guided by her mother’s early example. “I witnessed my mom sacrifice endlessly to provide for us,” Miranda-Miller says. “Her resilience, work ethic and selflessness inspired me to pursue a field where I can uplift others, just as she did for our family.”
Joanna Montas
For over a decade, Joanna Montas has worked to expand opportunities for women, small businesses and underserved communities across Pennsylvania. She currently heads programs and compliance at Philadelphia’s Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, propelling women toward financial success through access to business training, financial education, and capital.
Montas’s interest in financial empowerment was shaped by her own family’s experiences as immigrants to the U.S. “Witnessing the barriers my parents faced when we first came, I saw firsthand how difficult it can be to access capital, financial guidance and opportunities,” she says. “That led me to focus my career on building programs and partnerships that support economic stability.”
It also informs her off-hours commitments with Philabundance, the nutrition philanthropy; at her church’s food drives and holiday toy drives; and leading a team of volunteers with Sembrando en Corazones de Niños, a charity that organizes school supplies for children in the Dominican Republic.
In her current role, Montas, 39, spearheaded an innovative grant-loan initiative for small businesses and redesigned a training program, resulting in a 90% completion rate. A graduate of Holy Family and LaSalle universities, she began her career in financial roles, and brings that perspective to programs that bridge economics and social mission – “supporting entrepreneurs and families in building long-term financial stability,” she says.
Michelle Mowrer
As vice president of retail services at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, Michelle Mowrer keeps her focus on people and communities.
“My professional path has been shaped by a lifelong desire to serve others, which began with my first job, as a cashier,” recalls Mowrer, 37. “That experience showed me the value of building connections and meaningfully helping people in everyday moments.”
Mowrer has carried that mission into every job since – including her current role, where she supervises 500 associates responsible for member service and engagement across 60 retail bank branches.
She’s proud of strengthening leadership across the organization by training new colleagues and bringing coworkers up to speed on new systems and processes. She also supported the bank’s first spin-off merger in Williamsport, retaining 100% of associates and 90% of members.
While earning her MBA in Strategic Leadership from Penn State, Mowrer demonstrated strategic leadership by supervising 100 associates across 10 bank branches. Outside work, her people-centered approach is evident in her leadership roles with the Children’s Aid Society and YWCA of Hanover.
“I’m grateful to serve members through financial guidance, support associates through leadership and development, and give back to the communities we serve,” she says.
Cynthia Onorevole
From her home base at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Hospital, Cynthia Onorevole orchestrates the details that improve thousands of lives. There are the free car seats and pack ‘n plays for postpartum patients, secured through a grant she obtained; the transportation resources she’s organized for other patients; and the emergency-department methadone program she coordinated.
All of these initiatives, and others, have approved outcomes at the University of Pennsylvania health system, where Onorevole, 34, serves as the hospital’s social worker manager. In that role, she has cultivated a larger, more effective social work team at Pennsylvania Hospital, including a pipeline of up-and-coming licensed practitioners.
Onorevole draws on a background that has prepared her through diverse work environments, including foster care, outpatient oncology and inpatient hospital social work. A licensed clinical social worker, she earned her master’s from the University of Pennsylvania.
Earlier, as an undergraduate at Juniata College, Onorevole realized she wanted to mentor and educate, but out in the community, not in a classroom. “That evolved from volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters to working with youth in foster care to volunteering for a street outreach team in Pittsburgh,” she recalls. What drives her, she adds, is “compassion for humanity and empathy for others' hardships. I wanted to intercept people during those pivotal, life-changing times.”
Ernest Owens
Award-winning journalist Ernest Owens serves as the president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, the region’s most prominent advocacy organization for media professionals of color. He is also the CEO of the Ernest Media Empire, the independent media company he founded to empower his myriad journalistic ventures, including podcasting, public speaking, books and social media.
Owens is the executive producer and host of the hit podcast “Ernestly Speaking!,” as well as the author of “The Case for Cancel Culture” and the upcoming book, “Divided We Stan,” due out in 2027. He also teaches media and communications at a community college and an HBCU, and serves on the boards of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ mid-Atlantic chapter, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
As an openly gay Black journalist, Owens has made headlines for speaking frankly about intersectional issues in society regarding race, LGBTQIA issues and pop culture – issues that have absorbed the journalist since his undergraduate days at the University of Pennsylvania, when the complex social dynamics of West Philadelphia “inspired me to eventually change my major and pursue a career in journalism,” he says. “I've never looked back.”
Gretchen Panchik
Of all her accomplishments so far, perhaps the highlight of attorney Gretchen Panchik's career came when her own father, Judge James J. Panchik, swore her in to practice law in Pennsylvania.
The elder Panchik – who retired earlier this year as president judge of the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas – “was instrumental in supporting me to become a lawyer myself, and served as a key role model,” affirmed his daughter, now 34 and an associate at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, where she co-chairs the Pittsburgh office.
Indeed, Gretchen Panchik’s own accomplishments are a credit to her father’s example. As her firm’s co-office chair since 2023, she works closely with the Member in Charge to organize key meetings and events. Panchik has also been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star for the past two years.
She grew up in Worthington, where her father was then a Kittanning attorney. After earning an English degree from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe (she now serves as secretary for the college’s Law Society), she enrolled in Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Panchik honed her post-graduation legal skills clerking for the Honorable Michael Clark of the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas and working for the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. Since joining Eckert Seamans in 2019, she has focused on insurance recovery and civil litigation, defending personal injury cases and business disputes.
Steve Preston
Like many of his generation, Pittsburgh native Steve Preston was drawn to politics by Barack Obama, organizing for the former president’s 2012 reelection campaign.
At the time, he was studying international relations and Spanish at Duquesne University. “I planned on joining the Peace Corps or moving abroad after college,” Preston recalls. After joining the Obama campaign, however, “I became inspired by the power of organizing and what a community can do by working together.”
His career is proof of that. At the William Penn Foundation’s new Democracy and Civic Initiatives program, Preston oversees grantmaking, managing the distribution of over $7 million annually to support voter participation, fair redistricting, and more responsive local governments.
A veteran of numerous campaigns and advocacy efforts throughout the Northeastern U.S., Preston is especially proud of helping pass Philadelphia's historic beverage tax – which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for pre-K and community infrastructure – as deputy chief of staff to then-Mayor Jim Kenney.
More recently, as the chief program officer at Share Food Program, he led organizational efforts that grew the program into the largest-distributing food bank in the region
At William Penn, “I'm new to philanthropy,” Preston notes. “But I'm excited to use my knowledge of some of the things I do know about – organizing and government.”
Gabriel Procaccino
It’s little wonder that Gabe Procaccino ended up working at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where he is the officer of investor relations. The South Philadelphia native is heavily invested in efforts to bolster his hometown – including as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, an alumni board member at The Philadelphia School and, most recently, a member of Leadership Philadelphia’s Core Class of 2026.
As passionate as Procaccino is about Philadelphia, it wasn’t inevitable that public service would be his path. That, he says, was inspired by an interview he watched years ago with then-Congressman (now U.S. Sen.) Adam Schiff, in which the California politician reflected on leadership, public life, and mentorship as a Big Brother.
“That interview influenced my decision to pursue a path rooted in service,” recalls Procaccino. “I became a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters, later worked in campaigns and then Congress … and ultimately returned to Philadelphia to support my hometown.”
He met his wife while working on successful midterm congressional campaigns in 2018, then served as a staffer for former Congressman Max Rose. Over the past five years, he is proud to have led the Chamber’s membership and investor relations efforts: “I'm focused on strengthening the business community and advancing economic opportunity across Greater Philadelphia.”
Tyler Rutter
If it hadn’t been for an undergraduate excursion to Wall Street, Tyler Rutter might well have ended up in the New York finance world. But after touring a half-dozen investment banks with a contingent from the College of William and Mary, Rutter realized he’d rather work with numbers in a more personal and meaningful way.
“That experience shifted my focus from finance to accounting, as I enjoyed my accounting classes – and envisioned public accounting as an opportunity to bring together my love of numbers and working with people,” he recalls. “Being able to do both every day gives me a strong sense of purpose.”
At 37, Rutter leads the Audit and Assurance team at Wouch Maloney in Philadelphia; trusted by clients for his expertise in both audits and risk mitigation, he is also responsible for developing internal training programs and updating accounting standards. And he maintains that commitment to personal engagement as a mentor, developing talent through "Tech Time with Tyler," a weekly one-on-one with colleagues.
Rutter has been recognized with the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Young Leader Award and, this spring, with his own firm’s 2026 Tax Season Excellence Award. “The feeling of helping a client meet a challenging deadline – and providing critical information for management to make informed decisions with confidence – never gets old,” he says.
Jon Scheuren
Jon Scheuren always knew he wanted to work in sports. “However, I didn't know my industry existed until a mentor, Joe Reid, referred me for my current job,” he admits.
That referral proved to be pivotal. Scheuren joined Valley Forge Tourism in 2017, when its sports department was just coalescing; over the past decade, he has helped guide its evolution from 20 events a year to more than 100 events annually, with an economic impact of nearly $75 million – five times what it was in 2017.
Scheuren studied sports and fitness administration and minored in business at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, he held a variety of roles with local sports organizations, including the YMCA, before joining Valley Forge Tourism.
Since then, he has cultivated a sports team that has broken its own economic impact records for four straight years, yielding over $500 million in benefit to the Commonwealth – and, in particular, Montgomery County – during his tenure.
“At the core of that growth is my commitment to building genuine relationships and trust – skills that have shaped our partnerships and long‑term success,” says Scheuren, who is currently the vice chair for PA Sports. “Together, we approach sports tourism from every angle to bring new events to Montgomery County.”
Gregory Scott
Becoming the first Black magisterial district judge in Montgomery County in 2015 remains a highlight of state Rep. Gregory Scott’s career. Just 28 at the time, Scott also made history as the youngest sitting judge in Pennsylvania.
Now 39, Scott has an unusually long record of achievements that reflects both his early start and his notable determination. In that early role on the bench, he championed criminal justice reform, helping create Montgomery County’s EPIC Program (Eviction Prevention & Intervention Coalition) and its Pretrial Program.
The Norristown native was set on a political career early on, following a trajectory inspired by none other than former President Bill Clinton. Scott was a Norristown sixth grader when Clinton came to speak; he remembers “shaking the president’s hand, asking him about healthcare and education policies, and challenging the president to put his money where his mouth is.”
The impression was evidently mutual, because shortly thereafter, President Clinton returned to announce an education initiative at Norristown High School – hard proof, reflects Scott, of “how government could work for the people.”
Still in his teens, Scott became Norristown’s first junior Borough councilmember, as well as a volunteer firefighter and EMT – experience he drew on during the COVID-19 pandemic to mobilize large-scale testing and vaccination efforts (Scott also co-chairs the state House Fire and EMS Caucus).
Three years ago, he became the first representative elected in Pennsylvania’s newly created 54th District, where he continues to focus on public education, healthcare access and criminal justice reform – priorities that date back not only to his judicial days, but as far back as that presidential handshake.
Jeff Serra
It was an internship with Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. that convinced Jeff Serra he, too, wanted to make a difference in his city through legislative action.
As legislative director for Philadelphia City Councilmember Rue Landau, Serra, 32, is realizing that goal. His work has facilitated successful efforts to expand the city’s pandemic-era outdoor dining program, reduce barriers to affordable housing for Philadelphians, and secure over $2.9 million in public and nonprofit funding for city and community projects.
Serra studied public relations and psychology at Temple University, then held a series of marketing jobs before entering the public sector. After his internship, he worked as state Rep. Morgan Cephas’ constituent services director and for the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus.
He has also led several successful city primary campaigns, worked as a grant writer for Temple University, and, along the way, earned an MBA from Temple’s Fox School of Business.
At City Council, Serra is known as a practical problem-solver. He’s proud of his role in promoting fair-chance hiring, expanding workforce access, and leading consumer protection and renter-affordability measures.
Kara Spanswick
Kara Spanswick’s effective administration at Lehigh Valley Health Network – especially throughout its recent merger with Jefferson – has garnered her numerous recognitions: the 2023 Guldin Award for Efficiency and Innovation and, in 2025, the Early Careerist Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives - Eastern Pennsylvania, among others.
As of last year, Spanswick, 37, serves as vice president of operations at the 256-bed Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg. She brings expertise honed in management roles at four health systems, including experience redesigning Lehigh Valley’s Spine Program to broaden patient access, as well as over a decade of mentorship of healthcare colleagues.
“I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare,” says Spanswick, “but after taking a biobehavioral health class at Penn State, I realized that health comes in many different forms – and supporting those delivering care can be just as meaningful as being at the bedside.”
Today, Spanswick remains a proud Penn State fan; she also earned a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Cincinnati and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Outside work, she’s a busy mom of two young children – and continually gratified by a career that improves outcomes for people and communities. “The interconnected pathways of health, biology and psychology have fueled a growth mindset,” Spanswick says, “which I have leaned into for the last 20 years.”
Logan Stover
Just a few years out of Lebanon Valley College – where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in politics – Logan Stover has already made a significant impact on the commonwealth’s communities.
Since 2023, he has directed policy and legislative affairs for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, where he has successfully championed state measures raising compensation for borough officials – the first such increase in 30 years – and allowing boroughs to fill vacancies more quickly. The 29-year-old has also fought for legislation to alleviate unfunded mandates for local governments, and to reform antiquated public-notice requirements.
Stover previously served as legislative coordinator for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, where he supported updates to the state’s business corporation law.
It was during college, where he played both football and baseball, that Stover discovered his niche. As a summer intern in the offices of then-Auditor General Eugene, Stover worked closely with the legislative affairs director, Dan Meyers, “and became infatuated with Pennsylvania's legislative process and advocacy work,” he recalls.
“I would be remiss if I didn't also thank my mentor, Fred Cabell – the former director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Bar Association – for teaching me the intricacies of lobbying.”
Chris Sukhu
The twin threads of Chris Sukhu’s healthcare administration career – human needs and business practice – are reflected in his academic degrees: a bachelor's in economics from Georgetown, and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago.
They were also the specialties of his own parents: Sukhu's father was a healthcare actuary, and his mother was a nutritionist who worked with low-income populations. "That gave me an early view into both the system level and human sides of healthcare, " recalls Sukhu, who is now vice president for Medicare strategy execution at AmeriHealth Caritas, the multi-state health insurer.
His doctoral research focused on well-being in aging populations – a natural segue into a career focused on Medicare strategy. At the maternal health startup Cayaba Care, he worked on programs to reduce rates of preterm birth and postpartum depression. At Independence Blue Cross, he helped guide quality initiatives to secure a top Medicare performance ranking.
Now 38, Sukhu brings over a decade of strategic and analytic experience to AmeriHealth Caritas' government insurance programs. "I've been inspired by both my academic work and my early exposure to healthcare," he says, "leading me to focus my career on improving outcomes in both Medicare and Medicaid."
Shayna Varner
Barely out of college, Shayna Varner was the youngest gubernatorial press secretary in the country under then-West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, for whom she served as the primary spokesperson and lead statewide communications strategy.
However precocious, the role wasn’t a coincidence. “Growing up in West Virginia, I had a front-row seat to public service through my father’s work in the West Virginia House of Delegates,” recalls the Mountain State native. “I saw firsthand how thoughtful leadership and commitment to community could make a difference in people’s lives.”
Now 38, Varner brings nearly two decades of political and strategic know-how to the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, where she leads advocacy for the long-term care industry as vice president and chief of staff. She led strategy around the association’s 2022 efforts to secure a historic 17.5% increase in Medicaid funding for Pennsylvania's nursing homes – nearly $515 million in state and federal monies, the first investment of its kind in more than a decade.
Warner holds a master’s in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. She joined the PCHA nearly seven years ago after a series of communications roles, including with The Bravo Group.
“While I ultimately chose a path other than elected office, I’ve always viewed my career path as its own form of public service,” says Varner, “helping organizations connect with people, elevate important issues, and drive positive change.”
Dion Wiles
Dion Wiles’ banking career began when, at age 16, he took a part-time teller job at Commerce Bank.
“As a kid, I remember watching the steady flow of customers and transactions at Commerce Bank whenever I went with my parents to cash a check,” Wiles recalls.
“People are always left with a smile – partly because of the money, of course, but also because of the service. I realized then that I wanted to learn the ropes of banking.”
Today, he is the vice president and financial center manager II for Fulton Bank’s Philadelphia flagship location, a block from City Hall. He oversees $1 billion in deposits, manages an eight-person team and keeps the bank focused, he says, on "changing lives for the better."
Known affectionately by colleagues as "The Mayor" for his deep community ties, Wiles leverages his personal experiences of representation and resilience to provide culturally competent service to Pennsylvania’s top clients – and to raise awareness of the economic hardships faced by many Americans.
That same sense of mission also fuels his volunteer work with Horizon House, where he serves on the board of directors, as well as with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and New Hope Temple. Notes Wiles: “I’ve always been good at making people smile.”
Samantha Williams
Whether working with evicted tenants or accused felons, the Hon. Samantha J. Williams’ career has been committed to fairness and opportunity. As a judge on Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas, she is assigned to the Major Trials Team of the Criminal Trial Division.
Williams, 38, had already distinguished herself in several arenas before joining the bench. As a legislative director for Philadelphia’s City Council, she helped advance laws on eviction protections, criminal-record screening, and the creation of Philadelphia’s Citizens Police Oversight Commission. She also previously served as an assistant Philadelphia district attorney, advocating on behalf of crime victims.
The lifelong Philadelphian was inspired by her own father, attorney and civil rights activist Leon Williams. “My childhood was spent in courtrooms of Philadelphia City Hall, watching him staunchly defend his clients,” recalls the younger Williams. “I learned that success isn’t just what you make of yourself, but how you make your community better.”
She went on to earn dual degrees from Temple University, where she served as an adjunct with Temple Law’s National Trial Team.
Being elected as a judge at age 35 began “what had long been a dream,” reflects Williams. It is also a tribute to her father: “I’m continuing the journey he started by ensuring justice, dignity and fairness in our court system.”
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