Past Speakers for the CCLDE

Robbe Healey is an accomplished fundraising generalist with more than 35 years experience in non-profit management and development. Robbe Chaired the Board of Directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals International (AFP) in 2009-10, and currently serves as the organization’s Immediate Past Chair.

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Mark Gleason is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia School Partnership, an organization that raises philanthropic funds and invests them to create and maintain great schools in the City of Philadelphia. Mark has worked extensively in media and marketing over his 20 year career, and has significant experience in fundraising, partnership development, and strategic planning.

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Christine M. Costello has extensive background in political fundraising and currently serves as the Finance Director for the Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate, Dominic Pileggi.  Over her career, Christine has been an invaluable advisor and consultant for numerous candidates and elected officials across Pennsylvania at the local, county, and statewide levels.

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Robert Powelson serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. He is also a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Board of Directors. Powelson previously served as President of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, a 1,600- member business organization.
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Rip Tilden is a partner at Markarios Consulting, LLC.  He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group, a non-profit professional association of senior executives that fosters career fulfillment, business development, and professional and personal growth.

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Bob Schena is the Chairman, CEO, and cofounder of Rajant Corporation, a pioneering company in the technology industry.  Mr. Schena was appointed to the State of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Technology Board by Gov. Ridge in 2001 and reappointed by Gov. Rendell in 2004 and 2008.

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Colleen Morrone is the President and CEO of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, Inc. She has been elected to the Board of Supervisors in Concord Township, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and currently serves as a member of Delaware County Council.
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Former Governor Ed Rendell served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania, from 2003 to 2011. From 2008 to 2009, Rendell was the Chairman of the National Governors Association. As Governor, Rendell worked to energize the state’s economy, enacted Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive measure to substantially reform the local tax system, and spearheaded initiatives encouraging the use of alternative and renewable energy. Please note: Governor Rendell will be participating by Skype. Read full bio.

Former State Senator Robert Jubelirer served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate for nearly 21 years, the longest time any member has ever held that position.  Jubelirer also served eight terms (1975-2006) representing the 30th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate, providing leadership on major issues such as economic development, job creation, open government, and education reform. Jubelirer also serve as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.
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Beth Zenuk is the Chief of Staff for State Representative Stephen Barrar. She manages his legislative staff and resolves state-related issues for constituents, businesses, and municipalities. A former Upper Chichester Township Commissioner, Beth was appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett as a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, supporting economic and civic opportunities for women..

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Peter A. Luukko is President and Chief Operating Officer of Comcast-Spectacor, the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm which owns the Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center. As Chairman of Global Spectrum, Luukko also creates new business opportunities for Comcast-Spectacor in facility management, sports ownership and operation, food and concessions, and consulting.
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Keith Wyche is the President and CEO of ACME Markets. He has more than 30 years of corporate experience with some of America’s most notable companies, including Pitney-Bowes, Ameritech, AT&T, and IBM. Keith’s leadership has been profiled by Black Enterprise, Ebony, and Diversity MBA magazines. He is an inductee of the MLK, Jr. International Board of Renaissance Leaders.

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Karen Buchholz is the Vice President of Administration for Comcast Corporation. She is responsible for leading a variety of corporate responsibili­ties, including facilities, real estate, corporate services, security, aviation, and diversity. She now serves as the executive in charge of Comcast’s new Cor­porate Headquarters, the Comcast Center.

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Tad Decker is the CEO of one of the nation’s largest law firms, Cozen O’Connor. He concentrates in corporate law with an em­phasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and alternative dispute resolu­tion. Tad has more than 25 years of corporate management and general counsel experience.

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Darlene Daggett is the founder and Executive Director of Ikatu International, a non-profit that creates opportunities for youth employment. She successfully launched her entrepreneurial career at age 29, and pioneered the exponential growth of QVC, Inc., one of the world’s largest e‐commerce retailers. As President, QVC U.S. Commerce, she was responsible for strategic development, new business initiatives, and critical customer insight.

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Bill Covaleski is the President, co-Founder, and Brewmaster of Victory Brewing Company. Bill and his childhood friend, Ron Barchet, founded the company in 1996 using Bill’s row home as collateral on a loan. Today, Victory’s craft beers can be found in 29 states and three countries and have won medals at The Great American Beer Festival and The Great British Beer Festival. Bill maintains board positions on the Brewers of Pennsylvania, the Brandywine Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, and the Downingtown Main Street Association.

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Melinda F. Emerson, is America’s #1 small business expert. She is an author, speaker and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda develops audio, video and written content to help her Fortune 500 clients engage small business customers.

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Ann Thornton Field is a member of the Cozen O’Connor firm, vice chair of the Commercial Litigation Department, a member of the Management Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. Ann's practice is focused on general litigation, aviation, and products liability matters. She has been lead counsel for numerous matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
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Larry Kane has been one of the nation’s most respected TV journalists for more than 43 years and has recently marked his 51st anniversary in broadcasting. Kane, is current host of the Voice of Reason program on The Comcast Network and is also a special contributor for CBS’s KYW Newsradio, and is a consultant for Comcast Sports Group and entities of the Comcast Program Group, now part of NBC Sports.

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Rob McCord took office as the 45th Treasurer of Pennsylvania on January 20, 2009. Today, as chief executive of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, Treasurer McCord helps invest more than $80 billion per year, and he oversees a broad variety of operations designed to improve the economic security of Pennsylvanians. He has brought unusual financial acumen to his elected office and works innovatively to provide strong financial returns for all Pennsylvanians.

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Fran Pierce has been Chairman, CEO and President of Data Systems Analysts, Inc. since 1991. Under her management, the company has become a leader in enterprise-wide, mission critical information technology solutions. She joined the company as a System Design Analyst, having worked for RCA Corporation and Ford Aerospace, where she designed and developed communications projects.

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Senator Dominic Pileggi was elected Majority Leader by his colleagues in November 2006, 2008 and again in 2010. He has represented the Ninth Senatorial District, which includes portions of Chester and Delaware Counties, since winning a special election in October 2002. As Majority Leader, Senator Pileggi determines legislative priorities, manages the Senate calendar, builds consensus on legislation to be voted, and serves as one of the chief negotiators of the annual state budget.

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Nick Sakiewicz, a native of Passaic, New Jersey, acquired his soccer education playing in the diverse ethnic clubs throughout the northeast. Now, 17 years after joining Major League Soccer as a founding executive, Sakiewicz is the CEO & Operating Partner of Keystone Sports and Entertainment LLC. It is his insight, passion and expertise that founded Keystone, Philadelphia Union and created the environment that enabled the club to build Philadelphia Union’s home, PPL Park.
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Practicing law in Pennsylvania for over 36 years, attorney Donald J. Weiss, Esq. has the experience, the knowledge and personal relations within the legal community to successfully be your legal advocate. Having one of the most impressive résumés in the Delaware Valley, Mr. Weiss has one of the most successful and long lasting records of legal service in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

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