Pennsylvania Downtown Center Board of Directors welcomes Donn Henderson as a new board member as of July 1, 2015. As Borough Manager in Charleroi since 2011, Donn uses his life and work experiences, his abilities and skills to enhance communities through public service. He has served locally and regionally and is committed to the concept of core communities as the driving force in Pennsylvania.
The other new board members are:
- Kim Barnes: Kim began employment with the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission in 1982 as the Housing Coordinator, and assumed the position of Community Development specialist in 1984. Since 1993 Kim has served as NTRPDC’s Deputy Director, responsible for directing the efforts of Community and Economic Development division.
- Lisa Keck: For the past seven years Lisa has served as Elm Street Manager and is responsible for the overall operation of the City of Bradford’s state designated Elm Street Programs. She has worked closely with The Office of Economic and Community Development to institute the fundamentals of community revitalization through civic pride and engagement as they relate to the Elm Street Concept.
- Stephanie McIlwee: Since 2008 Stephanie has served as Elm Street Manager/Senior Program Administrator Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs Inc. in Gettysburg, PA. Her background is Real Estate Management, Marketing and Sales and Emergency Services with the American Red Cross.
- Linda Nitch: Linda has been the Executive Director of the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation since 1999. With over twenty years of economic development/finance experience through career positions including Licensed Financial Consultant with A.G. Edwards & Sons and Director of the City of New Castle’s Community Development Director Linda has been a long-time resident of New Castle.
- Maureen Safko: A planner and practitioner, Maureen writes grant applications and administers all phases of project implementation for the Huntingdon County Planning and Development Department where she specializes in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program administration for over twenty years.
- Clyde Stoltzfus: Since 2000 Clyde has served as Program Manager and Director, Procurement Technical Assistance, for Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. Prior to that time he worked for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in Juneau, Alaska, and was a self-employed attorney.
In addition to these new board members, PDC seated a new set of officers for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The officers include:
- Larry Newman: Larry will serve as PDC’s Board Chair for this fiscal year. He is Executive Director of the Diamond City Partnership in Wilkes-Barre. Larry is an architect by profession and has a long history of community revitalization in northeast PA.
- Naomi Naylor: PDC’s Vice-Chair for this fiscal year Naomi is the current Main Street Manager and Executive Director of Quakertown Alive! in, of all places, Quakertown, Bucks County, where she has served since 2008.
- James Rodriguez: James will serve as PDC’s Treasurer for the 2015-2016 fiscal year and is a business consultant and the WEDnetPA Coordinator with the Small Business Development Center at Kutztown University.
Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to build and support the capacity of local nonprofit organizations, municipalities and individuals to enhance the overall well-being and sustainability of Pennsylvania’s core communities.
www.padowntown.org