Board of Trustees


Board Members

Discover professional experience, education, and community service by clicking each member!

Robert C. Esch
Chairperson | Bradford, PA
Professional Experience
- Retired, Vice President, American Refining Group, Inc.
Education
- Bachelor of Science, St. Bonaventure University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Chairman of the Board for Futures Rehabilitation Center, the former ARG Federal Credit Union
- Vice-Chair and Past Chair of the North Central Workforce Investment Board
- Vice-Chair of the Bradford Landmark Society Board
- Member and Vice-Chair of Bradford Sanitary Authority
- Past Chair of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Association
- Past President of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Executive Board for the North Regional Planning and Development
- Collaborated with multiple levels of government to communicate and support issues representing our most vulnerable citizens

Jamie Evens
Vice Chairperson | Port Allegany, PA
Professional Experience
- Regional Director, Hospitality and Operations, UPMC North Central Region
Education
- Master of Business Administration, Marist College
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Society for Human Resource Management - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
Volunteer and Community Service
- Lector and Eucharistic Minister, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
- Former Board Member and Treasurer, NW Pennsylvania AHEC
- Former Board Member and Treasurer, Potter County Education Council
- Former Board Member, NC Pennsylvania Workforce Investment/Workforce Solutions
- Board Member and President, Port Allegany Youth Basketball Association
- High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach

Henri (Hank) LeMeur, Jr.
Secretary | Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- President and CEO of Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.
Education
- Master's in Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon University
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Cornell University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, Executive Committee
- Warren County YMCA, Board Member, and past President

Ryan Betts
Board Member | Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Vice President, Betts Industries, Inc., Warren, PA
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Management, Jamestown Business College
Volunteer and Community Service
- Betts Industries, Inc., Board of Directors
- Family Services of Warren County, Board of Directors
- Warren-Forrest Hi-Ed, Board of Directors
- Warren County Crimestoppers, Board of Directors
- Richard T. Betts Family Foundation, Treasurer, Board of Directors
- General Advisory Committee, Warren Country Career Center, Member, Former Chair

Kate Brock
Board Member | St. Mary's, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director, Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron Counties, St. Marys, PA
Education
- Master of Public Administration, Pennsylvania State University
- Concurrent Certificates in Policy Analysis/Evaluation and Human Resources
- Bachelor of Arts, History/Art History, Bloomsburg University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Board Member, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, June 2014-Present (current Chair)
- Board Member, North Central PA Workforce Development Board, July 2017-Present (Committee Chair)
- Board Member, Penn Highlands Healthcare Elk Hospital, July 2017-Present
- Board Member, Elk County Council on the Arts, June 2011-December 2018 (Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary)
- Board Member, PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations, January 2016-December 2019

Adrienne M. Dixon
Board Member | Erie, PA
Professional Experience
- Sarah A. Reed Children's Center
- Edinboro University, Associate Professor (Tenure)
Education
- Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Gannon University
- Post Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, St. Vincent Health Center/Gannon University
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, Gannon University
- Bachelor of Arts, Thiel College
Volunteer and Community Service
- Erie Migrant Head Start Advisory Board
- Erie County Community Development Board
- Greater Calvary Human Service Board
- Children’s Advocacy Center Board
- Cambridge Springs Prison
- Erie County Prison

Heather Evans
Board Member | Erie, PA
Professional Experience
- Human Resource Manager, Port Erie Plastics
Education
- Society for Human Resources Professionals Certified Professional Credential (SHRM)
- Professional in Human Resources Credential (PHR)
- Master of Business Administration, Gannon University
- Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Human Resource Roundtable Member at the Manufacturer’s Association
- Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Autism Society for Northwestern Pennsylvania
- Former Member of the Society of Human Resource Management, Local Chapter HRMA
- Former Member of the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (2004-2008)

Jennifer Gesing
Board Member | Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director of Beacon Light Behavioral Health System
Education
- Master of Education, St. Bonaventure University
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
Volunteer and Community Service
- Warren County CJAB
- Warren County Probation Association
- Previous Member Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber Operations Committee
- Previous Member United Fund of Warren County
- Previous Member Chautauqua Tapestry
- Graduate Leadership Warren County

Jessica Herzing
Board Member | Emporium, PA
Professional Experience
- Commissioner Chair, County of Cameron, Emporium, PA
- Sr. Staff Accountant, Judd A. Schager, CPA, Emporium, PA
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Central Penn College
Volunteer and Community Service
- Project Coordinator, Cameron County Project, Community Heart and Soul Initiative
- Board Member, Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron Counties Member/Alternate
- Board Member, Pennsylvania Humanities, Audit Committee Chair
- Board Member, Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library
- Board Member, North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning Commission

Justin Leventry
Board Member | Camp Hill, PA
Professional Experience
- Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Scott Hutchinson
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Finance Option, Millersville University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Lower Susquehanna Archeology Society, Member
- Hampden Township Planning Commission, Past Member/Alternate
- West Shore Kiwanis, Past President

Kimberly Rees
Board Member | Austin, PA
Professional Experience
- Superintendent, Austin Area School District
Education
- Ed.D. in Education Leadership, California University of Pennsylvania
- Letter of Eligibility, Edinboro University
- K-12 Principal Certification, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
- Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Gannon University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA)

Amy Shields
Board Member | Kane, PA
Professional Experience
- Executive Director, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Kane, PA
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Volunteer and Community Service
- Member of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council
- Member of the State Implementation Committee for the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Board member and past Treasurer for the Lumber Heritage Region
- Member of the Allegheny Forest Alliance
- Member of the Pennsylvania Project Learning Tree advisory committee
- Past President, secretary, and treasurer of the St. Marys Public Library

Aaron Singer
Board Member | Wellsboro, PA
Professional Experience
- President\CEO, MetalKraft Industries Inc. Wellsboro, PA
- President Keystone Automatic Technologies, Emporium, PA
Education
- Bachelor of Science Business Management Shippensburg University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Director, C&N Bank
- Board Member, Bingaman & Son Lumber
- Member, Laurel Health Foundation Investment Committee
- Eucharistic Minister, St Peters Roman Catholic Church
- Finance Council Member, St Peters Roman Catholic Church
- Former Trustee, Mansfield University
- Former President, Wellsboro Area Youth Soccer
- Former Assistant Coach, Basketball, Soccer, Track & Field, and Softball, Wellsboro Area Schools

Kat Thompson
Board Member | Oil City, PA
Professional Experience
- Membership & Education Manager, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce
Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Spring Arbor University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Board Member – Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP)
- Board Member – Friends of Oil Creek State Park
- Co-Chair – Organization Committee, Oil City Main Street Program
- Youth Committee, Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board (PA WDB)
- Counselor Advisory Committee, Venango Technology Center
- Membership Committee, Future Leaders’ and Entrepreneurs’ Exchange (FLEX) Past Vice President/President
- Ambassador – Be Here Venango

Duane Vicini
Board Member | Warren, PA
Professional Experience
- Retired, Chief of Staff, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
- Retired, Superintendent of Schools, Forest Area School District
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Mansfield State College
- Master's of Science in Education, University of Pittsburgh
- Master's of Science, Education Administration, St. Bonaventure University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Served on the Middle States Association of College and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools, Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee
- Served as President of the Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Board Emeritus Members

Discover professional experience, education, and community service by clicking each member!

Dr. Richard “Dick” McDowell
Bradford, PA
Professional Experience
- President Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA
- Former Associate Professor of Biology, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford PA
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Biology - High Point University (NC)
- Master of Science, Biology - St. Louis University
- Ph.D. Biology - St. Louis University
- Honorary Doctorate, High Point University (NC)
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)
- Founding Trustees of the Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny
- Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award
- Athletic Hall of Fame, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

Ed Pitchford
Boalsburg, PA
Professional Experience
- Former President and Chief Executive Officer, UPMC Cole
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Pennsylvania State University
Volunteer and Community Service
- Former Board Member, Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA)
- Former Board Member, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC)
- Community Volunteer, Pennsylvania State University
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