Honors
The City & State PA 2026 40 in Their 40s
Meet the PA millennials making an impact
Michael Barley, Asim Haque & Dixieanne James Pace-O-Matic; PJM Interconnection; Jefferson
Ask Pennsylvania's 40-something leaders about their frame of mind entering midlife, and you’ll keep hearing the word “intentional.” Starting out in their 20s, they might have said “yes” to every opportunity, but two decades in, they have a firm sense of priorities – around work-life balance, personal and professional causes, and where their energies will have the most impact. For evidence of that impact, read on and get to know City & State PA’s 2026 40 in their 40s.
Please join us on Thursday, July 30, at the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg to celebrate the honorees.. Buy your tickets here.
Angie Armbrust
Angie Armbrust spent the first decade of her career cultivating connections and learning the ins and outs of state government. Twenty-five years in, she characterizes her 40s as being “about leveraging the deep institutional knowledge I’ve gained and the bipartisan relationships I’ve developed,” all of which makes her an effective government affairs specialist at McNees Government Relations.
Now 48, Armbrust is in demand from clients who know she’ll position them as credible voices on complex policy issues – and help them engage early and effectively in the policymaking process.
Raised in Camp Hill, she studied history and political science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she also earned a master’s in public administration. Health policy – from healthcare and economic development to transportation and procurement – is her particular specialty, honed over years of representing healthcare provider associations and mastering issues related to professional licensure and broader health care policy.
This past year, Armbrust helped secure passage of the landmark Midwifery Modernization bill, expanding access to maternal healthcare across the commonwealth.
“As I settle into my 40s, I realize more and more that success and my identity aren't defined by any single aspect of my life, personal or professional,” she reflects. “I care deeply about the work that I do and the clients that I serve – but I'm equally committed to my family, my friends, and the life I've cultivated here in Central PA.”
Matt Barbee
Home healthcare specialist Matthew “Matt” Barbee brings 15 years of industry and business experience to the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, where he is the senior director for regulatory affairs and programs.
“At the PA Homecare Association, I’m able to make a huge impact across the entire state – making sure seniors, adults living with disabilities, and medically fragile kids are able to remain safely at home, where everyone wants to be,” he says.
Barbee, 41, has worked at some of the nation’s largest multi-specialty home health care providers. In his most recent role at HouseWorks, he led a successful expansion through the opening and acquisition of new locations, making the Philadelphia-based organization the No. 2 non-medical home care provider in Pennsylvania. Previously, at BAYADA Home Health Care, he guided the transition to fully electronic documentation for over 10,000 employees.
Barbee received his bachelor’s in health care management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from The Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University.
“As I’ve grown in my career,” he reflects, “I’ve begun to lean into and appreciate mission-driven organizations that have a higher purpose behind the work they do.”
Michael Barley
The name Michael Barley invariably comes up in any conversation about skill games in Pennsylvania, where the industry is a hot topic among policymakers and a sticking point in the annual state budget. As the chief public affairs officer for Pace-O-Matic, the nation’s leading skill game developer, Barley is the spokesperson for a company in the political crosshairs, managing a 70-strong team of lobbyists in a dozen states and Washington, D.C.
“My professional life has only become busier and more interesting – just the way I like it,” says the 46-year-old from Hummelstown. “I travel four to five days a week, every week, to Washington, D.C., or state capitols around the nation.”
And he is highly effective: Barley helped lead the effort to pass skill game legislation in Wyoming, the District of Columbia and Virginia, formalizing the legal standing for Pace-O-Matic skill games and implementing additional regulations for the industry. In Pennsylvania, Barley has successfully fought to establish the legality of skill games and positioned Pace-O-Matic in key discussions around legislation to establish a regulatory structure for the sector.
Barley is also a partner in Right Way Strategies, working with federal, state and local candidates, and is active with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry. “I am consistently involved in high-level issues,” he says, “which forces me to always stay alert and engaged.”
John Battaglia
From software upgrades to responsible AI integration, John Battaglia helps organizations modernize their technology and bolster their bottom lines at Judge Consulting Group, where he is president and chief technology officer.
Battaglia, 48, leads large-scale transformation initiatives across commercial and public-sector organizations. He spearheaded the development of Judge’s Government Services division, which supports local, state and federal agencies through mission-focused technology solutions; he also recently oversaw the acquisition of Copley Consulting Group, expanding his firm’s market position.
“Throughout my career, I have focused on helping clients leverage emerging technologies to drive growth, improve operations, and create lasting value,” he says.
A Collegeville native, Battaglia studied management science and information systems at Penn State University, and built a career at the intersection of business and technology, joining Judge nearly two decades ago. While he measured success early on by technical wizardry and short-term results, he now regards “the impact I create through others” as paramount. “The rise of AI has reinforced the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility.”
Battaglia models that balance through his support of community organizations throughout Greater Philadelphia, including his local school district and fire department and, with The Judge Group, through philanthropic initiatives benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the ALS Association and the American Heart Association.
Kimeka G. Campbell
Educator and community leader Kimeka Campbell is a dynamic civic voice in Harrisburg, where she is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Young Professionals of Color of Greater Harrisburg, which she founded. She is also an organizer with Affordable Pennsylvania, an advocacy group, and spearheaded Harrisburg’s annual Juneteenth celebration, now in its seventh year; together, these initiatives bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact to the Capital Region.
With a background in technology and education – including a dual doctorate in adult education and comparative international education from Penn State – she serves as an AI readiness trainer and membership chair for the South Central PA IT Industry Partnership. And on the airwaves, Harrisburg audiences are already accustomed to hearing Campbell foster regional dialogue on her multimedia talk show.
For her contributions, Campbell, 45, received the Catalyst Award from the Regional Chamber in 2024. “I feel more confident than ever about my role in the community – and one reward of this is recognition by my peers for my work,” she says. “I thank the Greater Harrisburg region for teaching me about being in meaningful community and working towards the good of the whole.”
Alex Charlton
Political strategist Alex Charlton was drawn to politics early. The Springfield native studied history and political science at West Chester University, then managed a congressional campaign and worked as district director and chief of staff for two senators before diving into politics himself – representing the 165th state House District in the General Assembly.
Now 46, he draws on three decades of policy insights at Constellation Energy, where he is the senior manager for state government affairs, representing the company before elected and regulatory officials in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey.
“In my 20s, I was a bit more of an idealist,” says Charlton, who is also a former president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve grown to be more pragmatic – and now in my 40s, I enjoy the politics of policy.”
He is especially proud of his work in the General Assembly, where he passed legislation to fund spinal cord injury research and to protect consumers from lead in drinking water. He was also part of the team of advocates who brought the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 back online as the Crane Clean Energy Center.
Charlton’s priority has always been people – from professional colleagues to his family, including three children he is raising in his own hometown. “I still have mentors and continue to learn from so many, but also find myself mentoring others,” he says. “Dedication to your family, your career, your community are all important. But balancing them is certainly difficult.”
Megan Dapp
For nearly two decades, Megan Dapp has helmed communications and advocacy strategy, as well as economic development initiatives, for Harrisburg-based public affairs firms – including at One+ Strategies, where she is the public affairs lead.
In her current role, she steers the firm’s communications practice and co-leads its economic development practice. Recent highlights have included lobbying for the landmark Clean Indoor Air Act and the successful creation of the Mixed-Use Revitalization Fund in the 2026 state budget, both of which are complex and ambitious policy initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Dapp, 43, served as state advocacy director for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, representing the organization before the General Assembly. She holds a political science degree from Dickinson College.
Her approach has shifted over time from “How fast I could climb the corporate ladder,” as she recalls. “I thought being in charge equated to my success. I now focus more on the actual work I do, and put my efforts into projects and clients where I have specified interest.”
The secret to balancing full-time work with two busy teenage children – a common thread of this demographic – is volunteering where the kids are, Dapp says. “I volunteer with my children’s organizations to maximize my time with them, and stay involved.”
Matt Darragh
As chief of staff for America250PA, the commonwealth’s planning commission for America’s big birthday party, Matt Darragh is guided by a lifelong love of American history and the stories he grew up with in his Southeastern corner of Pennsylvania.
The 41-year-old is devoted to ensuring that the state’s festivities reach all 67 counties – “and help Pennsylvanians see their own communities, stories, and traditions reflected in this historic milestone,” as he says.
For Darragh, going #AllinfortheSemiQuin represents the capstone on decades of service to the commonwealth. A Philadelphia native and longtime denizen of the city’s Northeast, he has worked for the state Department of Auditor General and in communications and administration at the Pennsylvania Senate. In 2016, he was then-President Barack Obama’s pick for a state House seat (he ran as a Democrat, and lost to the incumbent).
In his previous role as chief of staff to then-state Sen. Jimmy Dillon, Darragh is proud to have helped secure nearly $30 million in grant funding for his Northeast Philadelphia district. But supporting the commonwealth’s efforts to make 2026 epic is a challenge he’s been preparing for all his life. “I’m focused on doing work that makes a meaningful difference for Pennsylvanians,” Darragh says.
Scott Davis
At a pivotal moment for the state’s digital evolution, Scott R. Davis plays a key role as president and chair of the Cybersecurity Association of Pennsylvania, and as the director of IT for Dauphin County Technical School, his alma mater.
A nationally recognized cybersecurity leader, Davis, 44, has led technology initiatives for organizations across the country, specializing in infrastructure, risk management and operational strategy. “By my 40s, my professional life evolved from technician to executive leader,” he says. “Today, I focus more on strategy, mentoring, organizational leadership – and helping shape the next generation of technology professionals.”
Davis advances cybersecurity awareness, technology education and workforce development across the commonwealth. He has built cybersecurity and IT strategies for more than 200 organizations, including HIPAA, and is proud to have led technology modernization and cybersecurity initiatives to support his former school.
At 44, his work-life balance has tilted toward family, with side roles with Boy and Girl Scout troops and youth softball and baseball teams. “I take great pride in supporting my children as they stay active in theater, sports, scouting and community,” he says. “Those experiences have reinforced the importance of leadership, teamwork, discipline, and service — values that carry over into all sides of my life.”
Lisa Diamond
From her childhood in Mechanicsburg, Lisa Diamond went on to live in Spain and France, become fluent in French and Spanish and, while in Paris, earn a master’s degree in international relations. Now she’s back in her Central Pennsylvania hometown, bringing a global perspective to Info-Matrix Corporation, where she is president and CEO.
At 41, she is also a new mom to daughter Sophia – and a role model for accomplishment. Diamond counts among her proudest achievements becoming a business owner and executive at age 40, and graduating summa cum laude and valedictorian of her class at the American Graduate School in Paris.
A certified project manager, she built a career in IT project management in the healthcare sector, working for Highmark and, later, for a pharmacy benefit manager. “I spent most of my 20s trying to find my path … and trying to learn as much as I could,” Diamond reflects. “Now my role is to lead others, and give them the tools and opportunities to be successful.”
However much she mentors, Diamond knows some lessons only come through decades of experience. “Nobody can do everything,” she affirms. “You need a good support system, and you need to know when to delegate. Balance is extremely important.”
Shannon Dickerson
A passionate steward of communities, Shannon Dickerson helps lead Humane Action Pennsylvania’s statewide efforts to advance animal protection and environmental responsibility.
Dickerson, 41, is known for transforming ambitious ideas into impactful programs and policy. On the global level, she has contributed to the United Nations High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment; closer to home, she received the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for her work managing the Swissvale Community Pollinator Garden project.
She also helped advance Philadelphia’s proposed foie gras ban, building on Pittsburgh’s landmark victory and expanding humane food policy efforts in the commonwealth. In her spare time, she volunteers as a clinic escort at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and founded The Hanktuary, a farmed-animal sanctuary.
A Western Pennsylvania native, Dickerson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and earned a master’s in communications from the University of Colorado. She taught college-level communication for years and remains passionate about the power of storytelling “to inspire action and build stronger communities,” she says. Before joining Humane Action, she used that power as an effective sales and marketing strategist, earning the inaugural President’s Award from Media Star Promotions, her employer at the time.
In her 40s, Dickerson says, “I still try to do a lot – but I’ve learned to focus on the people, causes and opportunities that matter most.”
Asim Haque
A litigator by training and a recognized expert in the energy and utility sectors, Asim Haque brings extensive political and industry experience to PJM Interconnection, where he serves as executive vice president for governmental, and member services.
Haque, 46, helps PJM navigate the commonwealth’s power grid through various political and logistical minefields – including the energy strains imposed by the growth of data centers and the AI sector. In the role, he serves as a liaison to state and federal legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders across the energy supply chain – including testifying before Congress on the state of the power grid.
He draws on his experience regulating the energy and utility sectors in Ohio from 2013 to 2019, a job for which he was tapped by then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich. “The older I get, the more the idea of ‘what’s really important’ creeps into the ether. I’m still a workaholic, but I have an understanding that there is more to life than work,” he says. That includes service as board chair of the Philadelphia Education Fund, which facilitates equitable access to opportunities for Philadelphia students: “In particular,” he says, “I need to make sure that I’m raising upstanding young people that can contribute to this world.”
Dan Hayward
Dan Hayward isn’t just one of Pennsylvania's best-known political strategists; he’s also the architect of Novak Strategic Advisors’ government relations and public affairs divisions, driving legislative successes in Harrisburg, Washington, and the court of public opinion.
At 48, Hayward has spent more than two decades at the firm, where he is a managing partner. He grew up in Milford and was passionate about politics early on, graduating summa cum laude from Shippensburg University. By 25, he was already the executive and victory director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, managing a budget of nearly $30 million and overseeing more than 100 field operatives.
Today, many of his races are on the road, including triathlons: Hayward is an avid sportsman. He brings both athletic and advocacy prowess to his efforts to combat Type 1 diabetes, serving on the boards of organizations including BreakthroughT1D, Running for Rachel and Riding on Insulin.
On the road or in the office, Hayward describes success in his 40s as being intentional about pacing. “Life has slowed down while building a firm and hiring the best and brightest colleagues,” he says. Family life is part of that work-life balance: “Being connected is still very important, but understanding how to disconnect is even more important – for family, kids and to recharge.”
Sara Jann Heinze
Pennsylvania’s literal future is the work of Sara Jann Heinze, who, as senior director of policy and advocacy at Maternity Care Coalition, advocates on behalf of babies and their parents. Heinze leads the Thriving PA Perinatal Health Advocacy Campaign and helps guide the Family Care Coalition, which advocates for a statewide paid family and medical leave program.
A native of Downingtown, Heinze began her career as an actor and took a detour into academia, earning a master’s degree in political science and international relations from the University of Delaware. With a background in public benefits access, she is particularly passionate about the intersection of maternal and child health and economic security.
Her leadership has included successful advocacy for a 12-month postpartum Medicaid extension, Medicaid coverage for doula services, and the establishment of Pennsylvania’s Perinatal Behavioral Health Consultation and Access Program. She is particularly proud of her organization’s role in the Family Care Coalition, pushing for statewide paid family and medical leave.
On that topic, at 42, “I’ve come to believe that you can have it all, but not all at once,” she reflects. “That’s meant accepting that balance isn’t about doing everything equally all the time; it’s about making sure your energy is going toward what matters most right now.”
Heather Hiester
At the intersection of technology and local government, Heather Hiester has led statewide cybersecurity and strategic partnership programs supporting all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Since February, she has carried out her work at KPMG, where, as a client relationship executive, she leverages her expertise to help municipalities modernize services, improve efficiency and address emerging challenges – from youth development to AI. The Mechanicsburg native, 41, previously spent 14 years with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, where she most recently served as director of technology programs and partnerships.
“I am passionate about bringing people together to solve complex challenges, mentoring emerging leaders, and helping organizations navigate change and innovation,” she says.
Her accomplishments include Pennsylvania’s County AI Collaborative, which Hiester launched by convening local technology leaders to focus on responsible AI governance and training. Her work has strengthened county-level cyber resilience through collaborations between local governments, state agencies, federal partners and private-sector organizations, and she is a sought-after speaker and advisor on cybersecurity, innovation, and emerging technologies.
Beyond technology, Hiester is also a self-described “softball mom,” “helping young athletes build teamwork, confidence, and leadership,” as she says. “Success is measured by the positive impact we leave – how we show up for others, support our communities, and positively impact the lives we touch.”
Jamie Hopkins
At the intersection of law, banking and financial well-being is Jamie Hopkins, who serves as chief wealth officer for WSFS Bank and CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management. He is also the founder and president of FinServe Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting financial literacy and cultivating the next generation of financial professionals.
Hopkins joined WSFS in 2023 as director of private wealth management for its Bryn Mawr Trust division; its parent company, WSFS Financial Corporation, is among the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest banks, with some $90 billion in assets under management as of 2025.
Hopkins, who lost his own father at a young age, cites his career inspiration as the understanding that “money is never really about money, but meaning,” as he puts it. He emphasizes the joys that money helps enable – fine cuisine, travel, the arts – and aims to give back by cultivating talent through his foundation and, until recently, by counseling Fortune 500 companies on retirement planning through his own consultancy.
A specialist in retirement finance, Hopkins earned a political science degree from Davidson College and both a law degree and an MBA in business law from Villanova University. He also has a master's in financial planning from the American College of Financial Services, where he has taught taxation and retirement planning and served as director of retirement research.
Nicole Hudson
At the University of Pittsburgh, Nicole Hudson directs strategic connections and opportunities at the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Small Business Development Center, where she leads the Center of Excellence in Supply Chain. A trusted connector across Pennsylvania, she works closely with entrepreneurs, corporations, and public-sector leaders to expand procurement opportunities and support small-business growth.
A highlight, she says, has been leading supplier readiness and procurement initiatives, including the UPMC Essentials for Success program, which expanded into multi-state programming and connected hundreds of businesses to institutional opportunities. “I was honored to be recognized as Pennsylvania SBDC’s May 2026 Employee of the Month for supporting statewide supply chain and procurement efforts,” Hudson says.
The 44-year-old recently served on Pittsburgh’s 2026 NFL Draft Source Council to help recruit local businesses for contracting opportunities. She holds an undergraduate degree in management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
“I’m proud of helping grow entrepreneurship and community-based programs that continue supporting businesses in underserved communities throughout the region,” says Hudson. “I’ve learned that success is not only about personal achievement, but also about helping others grow and creating opportunities for the people around you.”
Dixieanne James
Dixieanne James brings more than 20 years of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth to her role as regional president of Jefferson Health, a nationally ranked Top-15 not-for-profit health system and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions.
In her role, James oversees day-to-day operations across a $3.3 billion region in Philadelphia, including Jefferson’s flagship, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital; Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation; and multiple ambulatory surgery centers. Her leadership is instrumental in advancing Jefferson’s mission to expand healthcare access and advance health equity across the region.
Beyond her executive responsibilities, James is deeply involved in the community and in creating opportunities for women and underrepresented communities. She serves as board chair for Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger-relief organization, and as board secretary for America’s Essential Hospitals, a national association focused on equitable, high-quality care. She also sits on the boards of the Philadelphia Foundation, which promotes philanthropic civic investment, and the Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia’s independent good-government organization.
James holds a bachelor’s degree in health systems management from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Loyola College. Her achievements have earned recognition from organizations including the Alice Paul Institute, the Philadelphia Business Journal and the Philadelphia Tribune.
Cody Jones
Public affairs veteran Cody Jones, 41, leads government affairs at Triad Strategies. Over a 15-year career, he has secured hundreds of millions in funding for critical commonwealth sectors, particularly healthcare and education.
Before his current role, Jones served as senior director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, leading state and federal Medicaid advocacy on behalf of 700 providers. Before that, as chief strategic relations officer for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, he managed external relations across 14 universities – securing landmark higher education reform legislation, $175 million in one-time funds and nearly $100 million in new recurring state funding.
The Lexington, Kentucky native is particularly proud of his role in the passage of a 2020 bill stabilizing the financial future of six of Pennsylvania’s public universities – “the opportunity to positively impact institutions of public good, from public higher education to Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program,” he says.
He began his career managing campaigns for congressional, gubernatorial, and attorney general races and held roles in the offices of the Kentucky Senate President and the West Virginia Attorney General.
Entering midlife, “our priorities shift from building a foundation to leaving a legacy,” he says. Now the father of an infant daughter, he has a concrete legacy to focus on: “She is 11 months old," he says, “and has no idea how much she drives every decision I make.”
Jamal Jones
Dedicated to making his hometown a thriving place of opportunity, Jamal Jones brings two decades of local leadership to his role managing regional initiatives at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation.
A 2024 PennLive “Trailblazer and Trendsetter,” Jones fosters strategic partnerships, secures funding and implements programs that revitalize communities across the region.
Jones has directed business development for the City of Harrisburg and managed programs for the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. He also spent nearly a decade as a South Central PA director with Pennsylvania CareerLink, where he expanded youth programs from two to five counties.
“Over 20 years, my professional journey moved from human services to education and ultimately into economic development, while keeping a commitment to helping people at its core,” says Jones, 48.
A graduate of Georgetown University, where he studied English and writing, Jones remains active with the school’s Black Alumni Council. He is also a volunteer basketball coach and serves on numerous local community boards, particularly those focused on youth programs.
“I believe that people are called into leadership, and I’ve done my best to answer that call,” he notes. “Though the roles evolved, the purpose stayed the same: empowering people to succeed.”
Bridget Meacham Kowalski
Growing up as a cellist with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony, Bridget Meacham Kowalski spent hours watching the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Today, at 42, she steers her hometown orchestra’s fortunes as its senior vice president and chief financial officer.
“For the last 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of combining my passion and my vocation (in) executive leadership at an organization that has been a part of my life for almost 40 years,” she says of her role.
The Pittsburgh native earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Notre Dame, becoming certified as both a public accountant and a fraud examiner. She worked in litigation and business advisory consulting and won the Barbara McNees Spirit of ATHENA Scholarship to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s Leadership and Negotiation Academy for women investigating fraud, from local organizations to international headliners like Bernie Madoff.
But it’s the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra that is dearest to Kowalski’s heart. She lives in the city’s Highland Park neighborhood and became CFO in 2024; she still performs as an amateur cellist. “It is a privilege to use my professional skills to improve an organization that makes the world a more beautiful place, and impacts the community in such a profound way,” she says.
Antoinette Kraus
As the founding executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Antoinette Kraus has nurtured the growth of the state’s largest consumer-driven organization – and become a force in the commonwealth’s movement for broader healthcare access.
Now 44, she was just 26 when she took the reins of the fledgling organization in 2008, dedicated to bringing quality, affordable health care to Pennsylvanians – and building a healthier state in the process. From “a small organization with a few staff,” as she recalls, the outfit has grown to 17 staff members – and doubled its budget.
Along the way, Kraus became one of the acknowledged leaders of Pennsylvania’s healthcare landscape. She has advised the transition teams for the last two governors and sits on the board of Pennie, the state’s healthcare marketplace.
Kraus grew up in Buffalo and studied English at Allegheny College before pivoting her career to political action and health advocacy. Over the years, she has led numerous campaigns to rally support for increased access to healthcare and to advance consumer protections and health reforms.
Devoting her career to a single cause and organization has proven fruitful for Kraus. In her 40s, she has learned to “focus on doing what matters most,” she says. “It's important to be intentional about work-life balance – and always make sure you leave time for travel.”
Bill LaMon
Across Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic, Bill LaMon connects government clients with wireless and digital solutions as a senior manager for T-Mobile for Government. In the role, he specializes in public-sector accounts throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia.
LaMon has built his career at T-Mobile, which he joined 20 years ago, managing state and local government and business accounts across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Before his current role, he was a major account executive for mid-market clients in the T-Mobile for Business unit. Throughout his career, he has focused on leveraging technologies to meet the unique needs of clients in specific sectors – providing the digital tools that improve operational efficiency, drive growth and enable connectivity.
He earned a bachelor of science in professional studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Kathleen Lee
With a background spanning medicine, engineering and innovation, Kathleen Lee spearheads progress at the University of Pennsylvania Health System as its associate chief transformation officer. She leads an interdisciplinary team responsible for new care models and platforms that yield enterprise-wide impact.
The Philadelphia native, who also teaches emergency medicine at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, studied engineering at Princeton University and earned a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. She began her career with a social services nonprofit, Thread, and served as senior director of medical and strategic initiatives at Comcast NBCUniversal before joining Penn.
Published in both the Harvard Business Review and the New England Journal of Medicine, Lee, 41, is proud to have brought her systems engineering approach to healthcare, “turning clinician-led ideas into durable, scalable care delivery models,” as she puts it. She is equally invested in the healthcare transformation workforce, “investing in the people who will carry this work forward.”
Earlier in her career, Lee says she was drawn to the black-and-white challenges of engineering: “clear inputs, measurable outputs and optimizable constraints.” But her years at Thread “shaped how I think about community-based change,” she added. “Today, I bring both of my former worlds together, harnessing the power of technology and the people behind it to solve healthcare's hardest challenges.”
Bryan Lowe
Based in Harrisburg, Bryan Lowe directs state government relations for Cardinal Health, where he leads efforts in lobbying, tracking and engagement for all 50 states. He came to Cardinal from Walgreens, where, as regional director for state government affairs, he represented the pharmacy giant across the mid-Atlantic region.
That role wasn’t always easy. “Leading state engagement in an eight-state region during the COVID-19 pandemic was, at the time, miserable – but in hindsight, a highlight,” Lowe says of his time with Walgreens, where he collaborated with government officials to set up testing sites and plan immunization clinics.
Another career highlight was “learning the ins and outs of lobbying through my mentor, Chick Tulli, while at Greenlee Partners,” the Harrisburg firm where Lowe was an associate. “That was invaluable, and provided lessons I use to this day.”
Lowe has also led state government affairs for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, representing a national trade association’s membership before state legislatures throughout the country. He holds an undergraduate degree in public administration from Shippensburg University and has long served on its Council of Trustees.
At 40, “my professional life is defined much more by leadership, strategy and impact,” he says. “Rather than simply contributing, I am responsible for helping shape direction, build partnerships, mentor others – and navigating increasingly complex policy and business challenges.”
Drew Lyons
Over the years, political strategist Drew Lyons has led efforts to make school bus rides for students safer, secured critical funding for deaf and blind students at Pennsylvania’s specialized charter schools, and championed legislation that expanded access to casino gaming.
Lyons is an associate at the public affairs firm of Malady & Wooten, which he joined in 2011. He has represented clients in fields as varied as human services, municipal finance, education, commercial gaming and industry associations.
Among his prouder accomplishments are securing annual budget appropriations for nonprofit clients that serve the commonwealth’s deaf and blind population, and helping enact a law to enforce school bus stop-arm violations through safety technology now in some 9,000 buses throughout Pennsylvania.
Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Lions earned a political science degree from West Chester University and spent four years learning the political ropes as an aide for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' GOP caucus.
Now a father of three, the 41-year-old balances his advocacy for Pennsylvania's youth with cheering on his own – coaching his children's youth basketball, baseball, soccer and flag football teams. “People always tell you that time will fly when you have children – and they are right,” he says.
Christine Medina
Christine Medina drives company strategy and helps clients leverage solutions in the buzzy AI sector at Deloitte in Philadelphia, where she leads the US Healthcare Solutions Plan division for the firm’s AI & Engineering practice. At 41, she’s leveraged technology to guide some of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations through complex, industry-pioneering transformations.
“Growing up in Philadelphia, I developed an appreciation for the challenges that our underserved communities face, and the critical role that public and private sectors play in addressing those disparities,” says the Southeast Pennsylvania native. “Being able to serve out that mission in a leadership capacity for one of the largest global consulting firms is an honor.”
Medina joined Deloitte nearly 20 years ago after studying information technology at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County. “The scale, complexity, and impact of the decisions I make have increased exponentially,” she reflects, noting that she loves “helping influence change for topics I am passionate about.”
Nowadays, on any given week, Medina might travel to multiple cities and countries in different time zones. She keeps herself centered with mixed martial arts and rows on a competitive dragon boat team, and makes sure to be home for “big and little moments with loved ones.”
“Balance is incredibly important,” she says, “and bringing your best self to each aspect of your life, whether it is professional or personal.”
Luc Montminy
Canadian-born Pittsburgh transplant Luc Montminy knows he makes a difference for the people and organizations in his adopted home. Over a two-decade career in government affairs consulting, he has secured tens of millions of dollars for clients, turned programmatic and capital needs into real outcomes and helped nonprofits grow into pillars of their communities.
“A good global citizen starts in their own community and with their family,” said the father of three.
Montminy currently directs global government affairs at Duane Morris Government Strategies, specializing in the nonprofit, technology, defense, healthcare and energy sectors. He helps companies at every stage – from startups to established organizations – and is known as an expert in international trade and federal appropriations.
He began his career at an ambitious pace, working 80 hours a week in political operations while writing his master's thesis. “I thought stamina was the most important part of the job,” he recalls. “In my 40s, the work is long-term and deeper. It is about impactful policy, relationships built on mutual respect, and solving large problems over time.”
Apart from work, Montminy volunteers with local food banks, libraries, his children’s school and their swim team. “I engage with think tanks and policy forums in support of democracy and individual freedom. But meaningful engagement matters just as much close to home,” he notes.
Jalila Parker
At the service of the thousands of people commuting between Philadelphia and Camden is Jalila Parker, a longtime public servant and the current deputy CEO of the Delaware River Port Authority. Along with managing a staff responsible for government relations, information services, procurement and strategic planning, she also organized the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ben Franklin Bridge on July 11.
Parker, 45, draws on her extensive state-level experience with the administration of former Gov. Tom Wolf – most recently as deputy chief of staff, managing the state’s public safety portfolio. She also directed the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs and served as deputy director of the Governor’s Southeast Regional Office.
A highlight of her tenure, she says, was working on executive orders for police transparency and reform after the death of George Floyd. She has also long taken pride in her role “supporting women of color in their professional journey in government and politics,” adds Parker, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a trustee of Lincoln University, an HBCU.
In her 40s, “I am more aware of time, and the worth of my time,” notes the Philadelphia native. “I have learned that a lot can be accomplished in 30 minutes. In my 40s, I am reclaiming my time.”
Kelly Sanders
From her corner of the Lehigh Valley, Kelly Sanders curates outreach and education around the clean-energy transition, leveraging her 20-plus years of community advocacy experience.
As vice president at the Regenerative Energy Initiative, she advances mission-driven initiatives such as the Nonprofit Energy Makeover Contest – a partnership with Family Promise to advance energy efficiency.
In addition, after the loss of her brother to cancer at age 35, Sanders founded Cars & Cookies for Colon Cancer, an annual fundraising and awareness event to advance colorectal cancer education and prevention efforts.
Originally from Fogelsville, Sanders has a background in museums and began her career as a curator after studying history at Ramapo College of New Jersey and earning a master’s in museum profession from Seton Hall University. “A highlight early in my career was curating exhibits that showcased historically significant artifacts, while telling meaningful stories that brought history to life,” she recalls.
“A career isn’t a path, but a journey,” she adds of her transition from exhibits to energy and cancer advocacy, where she employs many of the same techniques around engagement and outreach. “Success becomes less about doing everything perfectly, and more about making thoughtful choices that reflect your priorities.”
Nikil Saval
As a state senator, Nikil Saval represents his Philadelphia district. But as a member of a new, progressive generation of Democrats, he has garnered national attention for his efforts to upgrade Pennsylvania’s housing stock and to make homes, education and other priorities more accessible.
The 43-year-old is best known for spearheading Pennsylvania’s acclaimed Whole-Home Repairs Program, a comprehensive resource for home repairs that, since 2022, has helped low- and moderate-income Pennsylvanians upgrade nearly 4,000 homes. The program is now poised to go nationwide in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
Saval didn’t originally set out to make policy around infrastructure. After growing up in California as the son of Indian immigrants, he earned a doctorate in English from Stanford University and is the author of two books on architecture.
Having settled in Philadelphia, Saval earned a reputation as an effective organizer during Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign and, in 2020, was elected to office himself – the first Asian American to win a seat in the Pennsylvania state Senate, where he chairs the Philadelphia delegation.
“I still write, but much less frequently,” reflects Saval. Both writing and legislating, he notes, are about “meeting new people and learning what drives them, and analyzing the systems in which we move.”
Brendan Schubert
At 42, Brendan Schubert has already made a considerable impact on his Allegheny home region, most recently as a partner with the government affairs firm of ERG Partners.
Indeed, over a decade in advocacy, Schubert has secured more than $150 million in economic development and infrastructure funding for municipalities, public authorities and private-sector clients across Pennsylvania. Before joining ERG Partners, he was a senior associate at Triad Strategies.
The Pittsburgh native holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and began his career as a legislative assistant at the state House of Representatives. He deepened his knowledge of local government over the years by working in zoning for the City of Pittsburgh and managing external affairs for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
“Those experiences taught me how decisions are made, how projects move forward, and how to build relationships,” notes Schubert.
More recently, he led successful efforts to modernize Pennsylvania’s Liquor Code, helped advance a measure allowing public water utilities to replace lead service lines and secured $55 million for critical water infrastructure. Schubert is also a longtime advocate for first responders and labor organizations, worker’s compensation reforms, and funding for the Fallen Firefighter Memorial.
“In my 40s, my role has evolved from participant to leader,” says Schubert. “The focus has shifted from learning government to helping clients successfully navigate and influence it.”
Mark Schottinger
It wasn’t always clear that Mark Schottinger would, by age 40, become one of the nation’s preeminent legal experts on solar energy expansion. As president and chief legal officer for Solar Landscape, he pioneered the commercial rooftop solar lease structure that has become the industry standard.
Schottinger spent his twenties playing in a traveling rock band; two of his bandmates, lifelong friends, eventually became his current business partners. He also worked as a parking lot attendant, went to law school, spent long hours at a big law firm, and moonlighted building smartphone apps – all while continuing to make music.
“Creative thinking and open-mindedness have made for a rewarding career,” reflects the onetime music lawyer, now 41.
The Wall native earned both his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Virginia and originally practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C. Today, his insights are in demand not only on the solar industry’s commercial development, but also on the energy policy front, and he speaks regularly to real estate industry audiences.
Fittingly for someone who built his business with lifelong buddies, Schottinger finds meaning not only in facilitating the clean-energy transition to meet America’s evolving power needs, but also in creating “more jobs for great people,” as he puts it.
“A recurring career highlight is our annual summer party, where all our employees bring family and friends to spend the day together,” he notes. “I look at professional, personal and community responsibilities through the lens of how I can be helpful.”
Patrick Spero
At 48, Patrick Spero is among the commonwealth’s most passionate historical scholars. Currently CEO of the American Philosophical Society, he has published widely on the American Revolution era and Pennsylvania’s role in the nation’s founding, authoring four books and garnering numerous awards.
After growing up in Wynnewood, Spero graduated from James Madison University and earned his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He thought his career was complete when he joined the faculty at Williams College: “I was a pure academic, researching and writing,” he recalls.
But after achieving his goal of becoming a professor, he gradually realized that his passions lay elsewhere. “During that period, I learned that my career goals were more focused on working at institutions that actively support research, hold collections and educate the public,” he said.
Indeed, he now counts his appointment at age 36 as librarian of the American Philosophical Society, “one of the leading and most distinguished research libraries in America,” as among his proudest achievements.
Spero later served as director of the George Washington Presidential Library before returning to the Philosophical Society in 2024 as its chief executive.
He is an elected member of the Royal Historical Society in London; the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Lyon, France; and the American Antiquarian Society – a cosmopolitan career that would certainly have made Founding Fathers like Benjamin Franklin proud.
Jesse Topper
With a background in athletics, ministry and music performance, Jesse Topper, 44, brings a confident presence to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he is the Republican leader. His pragmatic, conservative voice has been instrumental in both the state budget process and securing long-sought GOP policy initiatives, such as ushering the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Homeschooled in Bedford – where he still lives and coaches the high school football team – Topper is a music graduate of Frostburg State University. After college, he worked as a professional baseball umpire and a music minister at his church. After serving on the Bedford Borough Council, he was elected to the state legislature in 2014, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, limited government and economic growth.
Grounded in faith, family (he is a father of two sons) and his belief in Pennsylvanians’ potential, Topper takes pride in securing performance-based funding for state-related universities and championing initiatives that attract and retain talented students to the commonwealth. And he remains active in athletics, serving as an official with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
“So long as you remain true to yourself, and remain open to the possibility of change, your professional life can be incredibly rewarding,” he says of life in his 40s.
Iulia Vann
Dr. Iulia Vann directs public health for the Allegheny County Health Department, leading a team dedicated to improving the well-being of some 1.2 million residents of the Pittsburgh region. “I am proud of advancing public health initiatives focused on prevention, health equity, data-driven decision-making, and addressing the factors that shape community health,” she says.
“My journey from practicing physician to public health leader,” says Vann, 40, “has reinforced my passion for building partnerships across sectors and developing innovative solutions that create healthier communities.”
Vann leads strategic priorities, including a community health initiative that spans physical, behavioral and environmental health. She is a member of the American Public Health Association and the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
Now 40, she came to the commonwealth after holding several positions in North Carolina, including as president of the North Carolina Public Health Association and public health director for Guilford County. Vann studied medicine in Bucharest, then earned a master’s in public health from East Carolina University.
“Leadership has taught me the importance of building strong teams and developing partnerships,” said. “My definition of success has evolved from what I accomplish individually to the impact we create together. Success is rarely achieved alone.”
Lenore Wetzel
Over two decades as a design strategist, Lenore Wetzel has earned a reputation for her talents selling everything from shoes to snacks to democracy. Wetzel, 45, is currently the design director at the Pittsburgh-based firm Fifth Influence, leading numerous influential campaigns on behalf of progressive politicians, issues and communities.
A native of Northumberland, she studied design and began her career in a number of commercial design roles, “saying yes to every opportunity that came my way,” she recalls.
In 2024, she brought her talents to politics – managing digital communications for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, including during the 2024 election cycle. More recently, she masterminded the campaign for Vote Local PA, a pioneering state party campaign program.
At Fifth Influence, she draws on experience spanning marketing, digital media, advocacy and public engagement to help mission-driven organizations connect, mobilize constituencies and make an impact.
“In my 40s, I’ve become more intentional about where I invest my time and energy,” says Wetzel. “Experience has given me the confidence to trust my instincts, focus on work that aligns with my values, and recognize that success is about more than personal achievement.”
Drew Whiting
Barely 40, Drew Whiting has already left a significant imprint on Erie. He’s the CEO of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation; the owner of 1000 State Street, a downtown Erie development; a partner in Swing Project Erie; and a franchisee of Five Iron Golf locations in Western Pennsylvania and Western New York State.
Whiting also chairs the Erie Chamber’s ICE Angel Fund, serves on the board of directors of Erie’s Black Wall Street and chairs the Walk to End ALZ Executive Leadership Team for Northwestern Pennsylvania.
His career has roots in Chicago, where he earned a law degree from Loyola University after studying business at the University of Notre Dame. Chicago is where he built a law firm and launched a venture capital fund, honing the skills that have yielded so much success in his adopted hometown.
“The move from Chicago to Erie has changed my life as much as the growth in my relationships and skill set,” he notes. “I’ve become a stronger identifier of opportunities and more resilient in the face of challenges.”
Settled in Erie with second-grade twins and a toddler, he says that “when passions and purpose align, the boundary separating labor from leisure dissolves. We are part of the community we’re helping to build, working towards a future that everyone can find purpose in.”
Lindsey Williams
At 42, state Senator Lindsey Williams is still passionate about the causes that motivated her 20 years ago, when she started in politics.
“I’m still trying to share the stories of working families and disadvantaged populations to try and help make the system and the laws better,” she says of her Allegheny County district. “The difference is that now I am often in front of the camera, instead of behind it.”
The Wyoming native earned a political science degree from Dickinson College, then a law degree from Duquesne University. Drawn to advocacy, she held roles with the National Whistleblower Center, the Teamsters and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers before winning election to her current office in 2018.
Since then, she’s proud to have championed legislation for universal free breakfast for Pennsylvania students, paid internships for school-based mental health professionals, and renovations to community pools and parks.
Twenty years in, Williams says she’d still prefer to work behind the scenes. “But I have learned that using my platform is a privilege,” she explains, “and not everyone is brave enough to do it.”
Svetlana Yazovskikh
Some of Philadelphia’s most ardent cheerleaders, including Svetlana Yazovskikh, are the transplants who have adopted the city as home. A native of Yekaterinburg, Russia, she leads global tourism at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, positioning the city on the world stage and driving its economic growth through tourism.
As chief of global sales and marketing across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, Yazovskikh manages a multimillion-dollar tourism portfolio, an international sales team, and 10 offices worldwide. She expanded Philadelphia’s international tourism program from 10 to 25 global markets and led its recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the city outperformed national recovery benchmarks.
Under her leadership, visitors have more ways than ever to get here: Yazovskikh championed new flight connections between Philadelphia and global markets, including Doha, Dublin, Budapest, Naples, Nice and Mexico City. Her strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives have helped attract more than 1 million international overnight visitors annually, generating over $1 billion in economic impact, supporting 8,600 jobs, and contributing $361 million in income for Philadelphia residents.
Since she was in her 20s, Yazovskikh has seized “every opportunity to turn travel partners into Philly fans,” she says.
“I still feel that same passion and purpose. The difference is that today, I measure success less by what I accomplish myself – and more by the opportunities I create for others.”
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