2024 CAAP Conference

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Speakers

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2024 CAAP Conference • Speakers •

Presenters & Speakers

  • Lindsay is a licensed social worker with a master’s degree in Social Work from Widener University. She has been with Community Progress Council for 13 years, and for the last 6 years, stepped into the Director of Intake and Coaching position that has allowed her to focus more on strategic planning and program and organizational development. Lindsay was part of the collaborative planning team in developing and launching the Centralized Intake and Coaching departments that are at the core of CPC’s comprehensive service delivery model and now serves over 2000 individuals per year. Lindsay’s most recent project was focused on creating an external and internal referral system workflow to allow for seamless entry into CPC services in conjunction with an integrated, agency-wide data system that has established an internal process for coordination of care.

  • Carly holds a bachelors of science in Dietetics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She just celebrated 15 years with Community Progress Council where she spent her first 7 years as a Nutritionist prior to transitioning into various coordinator roles and now serves as the WIC Program Director.   The CPC WIC program serves over 5,800 individuals throughout York County.  Under the direction of Carly, The CPC WIC program was recently one of 36 programs nationwide to receive a WIC Community Innovation and Outreach grant, focused on bringing awareness of WIC services to the eligible population in York County.  In addition, Carly recently debuted a new mobile WIC clinic which will serve eligible participants throughout York County.

  • Tammy has over 25 years of experience working in and with grant-funded organizations. She has trained nationally in the areas of OMB Uniform Guidance, Head Start Act and HSPPS regulations, ERSEA, In-kind, parent/volunteer involvement, organizational development, HR, leadership, and management. In helping clients make changes to impact their communities, she has engaged in organizational and culture initiatives, process design/implementation, analysis, and change management (including coaching).

  • Rhiannon Noecker is the Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster. She has been responsible for Vision Alignment, Program Development and Administration, Compliance/Data, Professional Development/Culture, Partnership Building and Strategy Alignment. She has more than 19 years' experience in results-driven leadership, people and organizational development, directing initiatives, and innovative problem-solving. Rhiannon completed her Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University and is a certified nonprofit professional. Over the course of her career, she has had the opportunity to identify community, customer, and organizational needs and develop successful initiatives to address them. While at CAP, she has also worked to identify and create solutions to the barriers our systems create for people to attain a thriving future.

  • My name is Melissa Pohlit, I am the Weatherization Programs Manager. I live in Somerset County, with my husband of thirty-two years in Friedens, PA.

    I started working for Tableland Services, Inc. in 1994 through an employment and training program doing paperwork and helping to answer the phone. I got hired full time in 1995 as the receptionist. Tableland moved to our current location in July of 1997.

    In 2002 I began working in the Weatherization department. I completed Penelec’s PCAP applications and applications for the USDA grant program. In 2010, PCAP was moved to a central application center with Dollar Energy in Pittsburgh, PA. and USDA had funding cuts and decided not to have us complete their applications.

    As the Weatherization Programs Manager, I complete paperwork for the DOE, DOE BILL, Work Readiness, LIHEAP Weatherization, LIHEAP unit clean & tunes, The Furnace and AC Crisis repair Program’s. I handle Penelec’s Warm weatherization program and Clear Results Warm Plus weatherization program that serves client’s income from 150% and lower. I do applications for Columba Gas’s CAP Program, and Warm Wise Weatherization program. In addition, I do applications for Dollar Energy’s $500.00 Grant Program for utilities. I also help with Identigo fingerprinting clients when needed.

    I am dedicated and have worked here for the last 30 years. I love my coworkers and enjoy helping people anyway I can. I am proud to be a part of the Community Action Partnership/Tableland Service, Inc. and hope to continue working with the Weatherization team.

  • Melanie Sheeler is a Business Analyst with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) with the goal of constant improvement in the way work is performed.  This includes working with Hancock for an improved user experience, as well as other reporting tools which aid agencies in their work.

  • Desireé Chang serves as the Director of Education & Outreach for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Desireé has been with the PHRC for over four years. Prior to becoming the Director of Education & Outreach, she worked as a Civil Rights Mediator with the PHRC Mediation Division. During her tenure at the PHRC, Desireé has received the Director of Excellence Award (2020), PHRC Social Justice Team Award (2021) and the Employee of the Year, Central Office (2023). Most recently, she was recognized as one of the 2024 PA City & State Above & Beyond honorees. She is a graduate of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Institute (2021) and the Commonwealth Leadership Institute (2023). Desireé has been recognized for her participation on several committees and community social justice collaborative efforts. She currently serves as co-chair on the Equity Advisory Council for HEAL PA. Desireé’s educational acquisitions include an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Legal Studies from Drexel University. Much of Desireé’s professional career has been in roles that include assistance for, or advocating of, special interest groups. Her passions are married at the PHRC with the ability to educate Pennsylvanians and actively work towards eradicating discrimination both inside and outside of the Commonwealth.   

  • Kim Dolan is Director of Housing Development Legal Services at Regional Housing Legal Services, a non-profit law organization that provides legal representation and technical advice to developers of affordable housing and community commercial space.  Ms. Dolan represents nonprofit community developers of affordable housing and works closely with those clients to help empower residents to improve the physical, economic, social, cultural, and educational aspects of their own communities.  Ms. Dolan has closed deals involving a wide variety of public financing, including LIHTC, PHARE, DCRP, FHLB-AHP, HOME, RAD, NSP2, and other Federal, Pennsylvania and local loan and grant programs.


  • Diana Fishlock shares information about the PA ABLE Savings Program throughout the state as the PA ABLE Outreach Specialist for the Pennsylvania Treasury’s Bureau of Savings Programs.   

    Diana’s mother and older sister worked with individuals with disabilities throughout their careers, so Diana grew up hearing about disability issues, and has been passionate about disability topics for many years. Before coming to the Treasury Department in 2018, Diana created publications for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and covered the disability community as a newspaper reporter.  

    She is the mom of two young adults with disabilities. 

  • Stephen Fowler is currently The Housing Programs Coordinator at The York County Planning Commission and serves on the UCC Board of Appeals.

    Steve joins us with an immense background in residential construction management and leadership with over 30 years working in the private, public and non-profits sectors. This includes all aspects of residential construction from design to finish, building envelope testing, building science and energy efficiencies.

    Over the years Steve has recruited and hired hundreds of quality contractors/subcontractors and maintains a very high rate of retention.

    Steve has recently accomplished a lifelong dream of his! He spent almost every night and weekend over the past 2-1/2 years constructing a new home for his family.

  • Kelly Stewart is the Founder of The Positive Business, improving strategic planning and implementation by helping to foster innovation and align actions to outcomes through strengths-based, generative conversations. Kelly is also a certified Conversations Worth Having trainer and Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator. She facilitates strategic planning workshops and teaches people how to have more productive and meaningful conversations because better results begin with better conversations. She works with businesses and non-profit organizations that are purpose-driven and making a positive impact on people and the planet. She is also co-founder of the Conversations Worth Having Institute, Inc. offering resources and training opportunities for organizations that want to support productivity, invite engagement, and nurture strong relationships through conversation. Kelly has a natural desire and proven ability to bring out the best in an organization. This comes from a long background of leadership experience in Client Services, New Business Development, and Marketing where she was both the "face of the company" and the "voice of the client." She is grateful and humbled to support Community Action Agencies in having conversations that enhance their ability to reduce poverty, promote self-sufficiency, create opportunities for people to thrive, and strengthen communities.

  • Cindy is the Director of Community Development Initiatives at Regional Housing Legal Services, a position she has held since May 2017. This is Cindy’s second engagement with Regional Housing. From 1986 – 2004, Cindy was a staff attorney representing community organizations engaged in the development of affordable homes. She also staffed the PA Housing Law Project, a support center for the state’s legal services programs on issues including evictions, foreclosure, manufactured home communities, and homelessness.

    From 2004 to 2017, Cindy was the Policy Director at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania where she worked on initiatives to increase resources for affordable homes and to address vacant and abandoned properties. Among the legislation enacted while Cindy was with the Housing Alliance were the creation and funding of the state housing trust fund known as PHARE, the expansion of the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act, the Blighted and Abandoned Property Conservatorship Act, and the Land Bank enabling statute.

    Early in her career, Cindy worked at Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services in East Frankford, Philadelphia as the Homeownership Coordinator.

    Cindy graduated from George Washington University and the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

  • Karin VanZant is the Vice President of National Social Determinants of Health & Health Equity at Clearlink Partners. Karin has an extensive background in establishing strategic partnerships between managed care and community-based organizations focused on social care models and coordinating efforts within safety net programs. She leads the efforts to assist state, health plan, and provider partners to integrate SDOH & health equity into all aspects of their care model designs at Clearlink.

    From 2015 to 2022, Karin led the national strategy for SDOH at CareSource and the full integration into its population health model. She built Life Services®, CareSource’s brand of SDOH partnerships, programs, and pilots. The largest program of the Life Services brand is JobConnect™, a workforce development program that assists CareSource members with full-time, permanent employment. The program has a 26:1 return on investment across multiple state-funded programs. For every 1,000 CareSource members who become employed, there is an annual $83 million in savings in taxpayer dollars.

    Prior to CareSource from 2005 to 2015, Karin was the co-founder and Executive Director of Think Tank, Inc., helping organizations, communities, and system leaders who were addressing issues of poverty in noncollaborative and interdisciplinary ways that involved individuals with lived experience and focused on relationships vs. deficit models.

    Karin has an MPA in Public Administration (2008) and a BA in Social Work (1998) from Wright State University. She is an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University (2009 – present) on subjects including US Hunger and Poverty, Justice and Equity, Introduction to Human Services, Grant Writing, Gender & Multicultural Issues in Healthcare, and Emotional Intelligence. She lives with her husband and two boxer dogs in Springfield, Ohio and is a mom to one son and grammy to one precious granddaughter.

  • Phil joined PolicyMap in 2008 and is responsible for tech support and customer service. Given his level of engagement with PolicyMap users, Phil is an integral part of product development, testing, and quality assurance. Phil has a degree in Architectural Design and Computer Application Development from the University of Oregon and is a certified MCAS and CCNP.

  • As the Policy Analyst with RHLS, Vanessa analyzes local, state, and federal affordable housing policies and data with an eye toward equity for Pennsylvania’s most marginalized groups. Her work has spanned multiple issue areas, including VAWA housing protections, COVID-19 housing recovery programs, tenant debt solutions, re-entry housing solutions, and statewide housing assistance spending. She earned both her BA and MPP from Rutgers University. She enjoys exploring PA state parks with her dog in her free time.

  • Ashley Seburn is a graduate of Shippensburg University and has been employee with the Commonwealth of PA for over 16 years.  She started working in the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in 2010 during the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  She works on the administrative/programmatic side of WAP and LIHEAP.  Her favorite work activities include budget modifications, annual reconciliations, and the reviewing and compiling of various data and statistics.

  • As Manager of Strategic Projects, Tam oversees both the marketing efforts and the execution of technical projects at the Clean Energy Center, ensuring seamless integration and success across all initiatives.

  • Ronnessa Edwards is a proud human rights' advocate, and proponent of equitable access to mental health services. She has spent most of her career as a civil servant in Pennsylvania State Government. Ronnessa currently serves as an Investigatory Supervisor with the PHRC Philadelphia Regional Office where she supervises a team of human relations representatives that process and investigate complaints. She also facilitates trainings to educate the private and public sector about implicit bias, unlawful discrimination, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ronnessa graduated from Eastern University with her Master of Arts in Counseling. She recognizes the existing disparities in access to mental health services and the deleterious implications it has on BIPOC populations. Ronnessa aims to combine her career in human and civil rights advocacy with her education in clinical psychology to highlight the intersection between fighting for social justice and addressing trauma related needs in response to social injustice.  

  • Minette C. Galindo serves as the policy, data, and evaluation branch chief for the Division of Community Assistance, focusing on the administration of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). In this role, she provides strategic leadership in support of policy development and implementation; data collection and reporting; evaluation; and performance management.

    Prior to joining OCS, she served as a senior public health advisor with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services where she oversaw the Behavioral Health Integration Initiative (BH2I). I She created two new grant programs totaling $7.7 million which aimed to assess, plan, and implement the national Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) throughout tribal communities with the goal of increasing access to care to American Indians and Alaska natives in the contiguous 48 states.

    Prior to HS, Ms. Galindo worked as a public health advisor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Center of State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support in Akron, OH.

    Ms. Galindo holds a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, a master’s degree in public administration and policy from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in communications and public relations from the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. She is a proud mother of two and resides in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with her husband and children.

  • Nic Horting is the Director of the Center for Residential Reinvestment Programs within DCED’s Office of Community Affairs and Development, where he oversees the Department’s state-wide administration of the Weatherization Assistance Program, LIHEAP Crisis Heating Program, and the Whole-Home Repairs Program.  With more than 13 years of federal and state program management experience with DCED, Nic has served as the Director of Loan Underwriting for DCED’s Office of Business Finance, and Administrator of the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority prior to moving into his current role as Center Director.

  • Mike McMonigal brings more than 20 years of experience in workforce and career development and non-profit administration. Most recently, Mike served as the Supervisor of Adult and Post-secondary Education at Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology. At the Clean Energy Center, Mike leads the development, marketing, and implementation of the Center’s workforce recruitment and retention efforts for the residential energy efficiency and building performance industries. 

    Outside of work, Mike serves as Scoutmaster for his local Boy Scout troop and is active with the Rotary club of Lewistown. He enjoys backpacking, hunting, and fishing and lives with his wife and their two boys in Central PA.

  • Dr. Nathaniel Woods, Jr. (known as Nate) is a Senior Executive at Pennsylvania College of Technology, serving as the Special Assistant to the President for Inclusion Transformation. Before serving at Penn College, Nate served as the Interim Dean of Workforce Education and Tenured Professor for the Human Services Program at Grays Harbor College. While at Grays Harbor, Nate became a certified Master Trainer for the Hope Squad, QPR, and Mental Health First-Aid. In addition to the Hope Squad, Nate serves as a board member on multiple boards and believes in philanthropic work. He is the Managing Partner and co-founder of DOT Service LLC, a leadership development firm. His clients include Southeastern University, Every Nation’s 10-Days missions group, University of Alabama - Birmingham, Controlled Contamination Services, Polk County Schools, Grays Harbor College, Hope Squad, and Grays Harbor County Schools to name a few. Dr. Woods earned his Doctorate of Strategic Leadership (DSL) from Southeastern University. His Master’s degree in Human Services: Marriage and Family Therapy is from Liberty University, and his Interdisciplinary studies degree is from Winston-Salem State University. Before earning his doctorate, Nate released his first book on Amazon, titled: “Developing Others Through Service: Starting with ME!” 

  • Dr. Esther Hio-Tong Castillo, PhD, is a mental health and social justice advocate with nearly two decades of experience in education and community advocacy. With a Ph.D. in Sociology, she specializes in survey development and conducts nuanced qualitative and quantitative analyses. Her true strength lies in driving impactful systemic change through narrative change efforts and community engagement strategies, particularly excelling in engaging diverse communities, including immigrants and BIPOC.  

  • Rachel Dickey, an attorney and business strategist, is the Development Director for The Prosperity Agenda, an organization dedicated to helping human services organizations create pathways out of poverty for the individuals they serve.  A recent addition to the team, Rachel is charged with expanding the organization’s partnerships and cultivating funding to increase access to its innovative training opportunities and resources.

  • Michael Drumheller Deputy Director of Energy Programs for the Berks Community Action Program, Inc. Administering the Weatherization Assistance Program for DCED, DOE, DHS, LIHEAP, UGI gas utilities and the Berks County Area Agency on Aging. 41 years of experience starting as an Installer and moving onto Crew Leader/Auditor/Energy Technician/Coordinator/Weatherization Director to my current position has allowed me to provide aid for hundreds of households in energy conservation and much more. Received certifications from Princeton Energy Partners, Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, WACC/Penn State College of Technology and Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. Looking forward to retirement and spending more time on a beach with family and friends.

  • Mandy Welty Zalich graduated from St. Vincent College with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and she gained her Master’s Degree in Counselor Education at Duquesne University.  After working in direct practice with children and families for a number of years, she moved into non-profit management. The transition to Chief Executive Officer of Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) in April 2019 was a significant step in both personal and professional growth for her.  Working in this dynamic community organization, Mandy is able to see impacts made on the lives of individuals across all stages of life, as well as throughout the entire county; thus, making a bigger impact in the lives of her neighbors. In her free time, Mandy enjoys spending time with her friends and family, husband Nick, son Noah and dog Daisy, often visiting nearby Mammoth Park.  

  • Kay Sohl has provided training and consultation for Executive Directors, CFOs, and Boards of Directors of over 8,500 nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. Kay focuses her work on rethinking strategies for financial sustainability, Board financial oversight, compliance with federal funds management requirements, and the challenges of nonprofit accounting and financial reporting.

    Kay has worked extensively Community Action Agencies and with CAPLAW and the Community Action Partnership. She has authored multiple financial management toolkits for CAAs and other nonprofits, including resources for cost allocation, financial reporting, dashboard development, and the 2020 revisions to the OMB Uniform Guidance.

  • Rich is a Weatherization Monitor Supervisor with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).  His goal is to provide quality technical assistance to the agency’s most challenging questions.  He has 23 years of work supporting Energy Efficiency and construction improvements within multiple states.  He has been licensed as a Quality Control Inspector (QCI) since 2015 and has assisted many end users with quality answers and various training needs.  Prior to working for DCED, Rich has held various positions in construction management.

  • Maria Welch is a Director of Community Health and Social Needs with the Geisinger Steele Institute for Innovation. Maria has been with Geisinger for over 10 years and currently leads the clinical and health plan organization’s Social Determinants of Health strategy, that includes the identification of social needs, connection to local community resources and the creation of new programs to support members and patients. Additionally, Maria leads the Health Equity strategy for the Geisinger Health Plan. to A native of Pennsylvania, Maria earned her B.S. in Biology from Juniata College and her M.P.H. from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.


  • Dave Young is a 2003 graduate of Shippensburg University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Mr. Young entered the human services field shortly after in 2004, working primarily with adjudicated youths and children suffering with Mental Health disorders.

    Mr. Young began working at Schuylkill Community Action (SCA) in 2010, as a Case Manager, and was responsible for providing direct services to low-income Schuylkill County residents.  In 2016, Dave was promoted to Director of Planning where he was responsible for grant preparation, developing the agency’s Strategic Plan, overseeing the Community Needs Assessment, agency risk assessment, Annual Report preparation and social media outreach efforts.   Mr. Young was promoted by the SCA board of directors to the role of Executive Director in September 2020 and has served in that capacity since.   

    Mr. Young has received Certification through the Association of Nationally Certified ROMA Trainers, allowing him to provide training to Community Action Agencies statewide. Currently, he serves on the Schuylkill County Local Housing Options Team, Schuylkill Technology Center Advisory Committee, Pennsylvania Housing Advisory Committee, Weatherization Assistance Program Policy Advisory Committee, Pottsville Area Development Company Board of Directors-Vice President, the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania Board of Directors, and serves as Chairperson of the Eastern Pa. Continuum of Care Funding Committee.

  • I have been with Tableland since 2009. Before coming to Tableland, I was the National Sales Mgr. for Fleetwood Folding Trailers (known prior as The Coleman Company – RV division)

    I am a PA WAP certified auditor

    I am BPI certified

    I also am co-owner of Your Home Inspections, a home inspection company where I am a PA certified home inspector. I hold both ICA and InterNACHI home inspection certifications.

  • At RHLS, Esteban is a Staff Attorney and PLAN Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow working on the development and preservation of affordable housing and other community development efforts. He is especially interested in equitable development practices and the role of government in the affordable housing space. Esteban holds a J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Rochester.

  • Megan Bair is the Chief Executive Officer at Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. (CSO). CSO is the Community Action Agency for Columbia, Montour and Northumberland Counties as well as a provider of workforce development services in a nine-county area in the Central Region. Megan has over 22 years of experience at CSO in a variety of direct service and leadership positions. Megan has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to finding collaborative and innovative program services to meet the needs of the local community.

  • Joe Cuozzo is the Director of Development for the Bucks County Opportunity Council.  Over the last nine years, Joe has led the fund raising efforts of BCOC by building a diverse group of funders including individuals, businesses, religious organizations and private foundations.  Joe has over 25 years of experience fundraising for many different organizations in the greater Philadelphia area, Milwaukee, WI and New York City.  Joe earned his Certified FundRaising Executive designation in 2010 and is one of the founders of the Bucks County FundRaisers Group.

  • Meet Heather Holloway, the founder of Holloway Media Services and the creative force behind the SCOPE Social Media Marketing System. With a background in radio and television broadcasting and extensive marketing experience (over 2 decades!), Heather is a sought-after expert in social media marketing. 

    Passionate about empowering businesses to post with a purpose, Heather has led her team to create successful campaigns for renowned brands, helping businesses of all sizes build solid followings and achieve marketing success. Today, Heather offers us the unique opportunity to learn her exclusive SCOPE system, which gives you an inside track on using organic social media to grow your organization's reach and influence. 

  • Angela Leopold is Co-Owner and a Senior Partner of Novak Strategic Advisors. A savvy businesswoman and an accomplished community leader, Angela knows people and gets results. At NSA, Angela directs top to bottom grassroots campaigns, earned and social media strategies, and coalition-building activities. For the past 20 years, she has worked on state and national issues such as healthcare, taxation, and energy. Angela co-leads the Public Affairs & Issue Advocacy division at Novak and oversees several of Novak’s leading government affairs clients as well.

    Early in her career as a political fundraiser, Angela developed creative, direct approaches to navigating grassroots campaigns that included issue-based forums, consensus building, and reputation management. Today, she utilizes this experience and continues to cultivate her well-established relationships and strong, broad-based coalition networks. Angela has successfully managed several local races drawing on her impressive organizational skills and ability to mobilize grassroots armies at the local level. From circulating petitions to building relationships with local business and community leaders, Angela leveraged her connections in creative ways, which ultimately led her candidates to victory in these local elections.

    Angela is the past board chair of the Central PA Chapter of the American Red Cross, and in 2016 graduated from the Leadership Harrisburg Area Executive program. When Angela is not pulling it all together at work, she is pulling together ways to support nonprofits, including the Midwest Food Bank, D.R.E.A.M. Partnership, and Members 1st FCU. Angela has received several recognitions including the Central Penn Business Journal 40 under 40 in 2021, Susquehanna Style’s Women in Business in 2021, and the Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence in 2023. 

    Angela is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Angela lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Joe, and son, Mark. In her spare time, Angela loves to explore the corners of the world, the culinary arts, and reading historical fiction.

  • Will is the Vice President and Regional Manager for Citizens & Northern Bank. Will has over 11 years of banking experience working with Penn Community Bank, BB&T and 3rd Federal Bank.  He holds a degree from Bucks County Community College and serves as a Board Member for Vita Education Services and Potential Inc, both non-profits located in Bucks County.

  • Carrie currently serves as the Legislative Director of the Pennsylvania State Grange the largest rural advocacy organization in Pennsylvania. She represents the Grange in the Capitol on all issues affecting rural Pennsylvania and speaks to rural community groups throughout the state.

    As part of the Novak team, Carrie applies her signature dedication, hard work, and appreciation for personal service to her projects and clients, just as she has throughout her career.  She served as House Speaker Sam Smith’s Constituent Affairs/Outreach Director for ten years and upon the speaker’s retirement, put her knowledge of legislative issues and her deep roots in York and Adams Counties to work as State Representative Kate Klunk’s district office manager.  Carrie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and is a 2008 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series. Prior to her career in state government, she worked for the British Embassy in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade office, where she helped with Hong Kong’s transition to China.  She currently holds leadership positions on many boards in Adams County, including Rotary, the Economic Alliance Board, and True North Wellness Board.

  • Ryan Peasley is a highly respected leader in Wipfli’s national nonprofit, government, and education practice, where he helps organizations align their technology and cybersecurity strategies with their overall goals. With extensive experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing these sectors, Ryan is a trusted advisor and sought-after thought leader. He regularly speaks at conferences, sharing his insights on the latest trends and best practices. Known for his collaborative and organization-focused approach, Ryan is dedicated to developing customized solutions and building long-lasting relationships to ensure the success of those he works with.

  • Jamee E. Boone, trainer, coach, strategist, consultant, helps transform people, processes, and workplaces through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Jamee meets individuals and organizations where they are and develops customized plans to guide leaders and teams through strategies that embed DEI in their DNA. Jamee has over 35+ years of for-profit and nonprofit work experience). Jamee is a Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Senior Certified Professional. She acquired a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University. She holds a Master of Science degree in Human Services from Wilmington University where she serves as adjunct instructor for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; College of Business/Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Science degree (Magna Cum Laude), from Wilmington University in Human Resources Administration. Jamee was awarded a certificate of completion by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute’s Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership, Jessie Ball duPont Developing Excellence in Leadership Institute. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Brandywine Chapter’s Board of Directors, Governance Committee, and Chair of the AFPB Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA) Committee; President of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) Delaware Chapter; member of Wilmington University Human Services Advisory Board, former member of the Inclusion Council for United Way Worldwide. She leverages her broad background, formal/informal education, unique blend of skills, expertise and lived experiences to execute on strategies that, at their core, help to improve holistic outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and organizations. To learn more about Jamee/Eddee Boone Consulting LLC, visit eddeebc.com

  • My name is Jeremy Oester and I am a Program & Social Media Specialist with 10+ years of working for a wide array of non-profits and have been with Tableland Services, Inc. for almost 2 years. I specialize in helping members of the community overcome barriers to employment, responsible for educating those on various job skills, life skills, resume building,  & interview preparation. I have a degree in business management & recently completed the Certified Recovery Specialist Training and will be certified upon completion of the examination. 


    I'm also involved with The Pardon Project of Somerset County, assisting residents of Somerset County with the application, obtaining documents from the clerk of courts, reviewing completed applications with an attorney, sending out the applications, and educating community members about The Pardon Project through various outreach initiatives. I also network with surrounding counties about Pardons and the importance of this project and how it benefits the community.  I was paramount in setting up connections for The Pardon Project of Bedford County to start, after networking with my contacts in that area and in November will be meeting with my contact in Indiana County to hopefully bring this exciting project to their county!  I have been involved with The Pardon Project and it's committees for approximately 1 year, as it is something I am truly passionate about. I also work closely with Cambria County Pardon Project, as residents in Somerset County often have records in surrounding counties. These multi-county convictions have also caused me to reach out to surrounding clerk of courts offices to obtain documents, explaining what my role is and educating their offices contacts on this project.  Not having a criminal record myself, however, being an active member in the recovery community, many of my peers do. I have witnessed first-hand what a criminal record can limit a person from achieving and work hard to bring this project to all residents in Somerset County. 


    Another role I have at Tableland Services, Inc. is being responsible for all their social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, & LinkedIn, increasing followers and awareness about the various services that are offered here through community action. I currently sit on the Pardon Project Steering Committee and its Outreach subcommittee, and most recently being asked to serve on their Statewide Pardon Project Executive Committee. I also sit on the  Health & Welfare Council of Somerset County, & Somerset County Drug Free Communities Committee.  I am a powerful force in the workplace and use my positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. I enjoy my various roles as I have always had a passion for helping others and here at Tableland Services, Inc. I get to help people and change lives everyday through community action.

  • Director of Community Services funded programs to include Housing & Homeless Assistance, Weatherization and Utility Assistance, and Employment & Training Workforce Development. Lead grants writer responsible for 4 million dollars in department grants and the development of future program expansion. Strategic planning leader for the organization tasked with leading the strategic planning work group comprised of Board of Director's, a diverse group of staff members as well as community members who represent the community and those we serve. Community educator responsible for the promotion of programs, services, initiatives and the mission and vision of the organization. Facilitates various community outreach educational sessions on topics including: overcoming poverty, finding safe housing and fair housing practices, STEPS - Steps Toward Employment Progress Success and stabilization services and your client. Guest Speaker at various events including CAAP Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission Workforce Development Board Meeting, Somerset Chamber of Commerce Leadership Somerset County Program.

  • Community Action Partnership is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization and boasts a service profile that interrupts generational poverty with programs that assist families at every age and place in life. As Chief Strategy Officer, Amanda leads strategy development across the organization and identifies new opportunities and innovations to further the agency’s vision.

  • Charles Chear is a Statistician with the Policy, Data, and Evaluation Team, Division of Community Assistance. Previously, he was an Assistant Teaching Professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work. Charles worked in various social work roles in Philadelphia, Boston, Tucson, Tohono O’odham Nation, and Cambodia. Charles has lived experienced as a member of the Cambodian refugee community in Philadelphia.


  • Pam is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Clean Energy Center at Penn College. She is responsible for overall direction and leadership of the Clean Energy Center’s business development, outreach, and information system capacities to meet emerging clean energy sector workforce needs. With a career spanning 20 years, she has consistently demonstrated a passion for innovation and a commitment to driving positive change. Pam is especially proud of her team’s involvement in launching groundbreaking projects that are at the forefront building tomorrow’s clean energy workforce.

    Pam holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from Kennesaw State University; her areas of expertise include marketing strategy, business development, and product management.

    When Pam isn’t working, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her family, preferably near a body of water.

  • Jason Embick is the Executive Director at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Clean Energy Center. He is responsible for the overall leadership and vision for the Clean Energy Center's infrastructure, program areas, and technical assistance services. Jason’s background includes instructing Commercial and Residential courses, public speaking, instructional design, earning multiple industry certifications, and proctoring. He is experienced at collaborating with a diverse array of educational institutions, government, industry, and non-profits.


  • Frank joined the Grudi Associates team with an extensive depth and breadth of telecom and IT experience. His industry expertise and client focus enable him to offer optimal, high-value solutions addressing voice, data, internet, cloud, hosting, security, backup, disaster recovery and other technologies and services. Throughout his career, Frank has partnered with customers to deliver innovative approaches and bottom-line results. Prior to Grudi Associates, Frank held a variety of account executive, management and sales positions with leading technology companies in Central PA and beyond. His client experience spans commercial industries, government, education and more. Frank attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a Master’s degree in Information Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction in Communication and Psychology. He holds industry certifications and is active in the Palmyra community.

  • Kathy Rulli is a graduate of Penn State University and after working various jobs from waitressing and teaching Kindergarteners to job coaching she started at the Commonwealth of PA as a social worker in 1999.   She is currently employed at the PA Department of Economic Development and has been working in the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and LIHEAP Crisis for over 15 years.  Both programs focus on helping low-income households in need of assistance which a central theme in Kathy’s various jobs.  She started with WAP in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) days and has seen the program through a focus on production, quality and energy savings to the realization that Pennsylvania’s housing stock needs to be restored/improved before it can be made energy efficient.  Energy savings, quality and production are still a focus but ensuring the household member’s health and safety is of equal importance. 

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