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Board of Directors of The Arc of Pennsylvania

Our board represents a cross-section of our community and has a passion for our organization and those we serve. The members work hard to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization and oversee that the funds raised directly affect those in need.

 

Officers | Board of Directors

Officers

Lucille Piggott-Prawl

Lucille Piggott-Prawl

Co-President – Monroe

Lucille Piggott-Prawl is a Special Education/ Disability Rights Advocate. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/Urban Studies from Rutgers University. Presently she is working on completing her Masters in Community Economic Development at Penn State. Lucille has certification from Temple University in the fields of Grant Writing and Nonprofit Fundraising.

Her professional experience includes Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities, State and Federal Government, Education, Intensive Case Management, and Housing. Lucille serves on the boards and committees of the Pennsylvania Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP), Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, Monroe County’s Women’s Commission, Pennsylvania Right to Education Task Force, Local Right to Education Taskforce IU 20 and 21 – Past Co Chair, Co-Founder Pleasant Valley School District Diversity Task Force, and the United Way of Monroe County PA – Funds Distribution Committee Member.

Lucille Piggott-Prawl resides in Kunkletown with her family.

Sara Wolff

Sara Wolff

Co- President - Lackawanna

Ms. Wolff has been involved with The Arc since 2004. She is the coordinator of Self-Advocacy Services for The Arc of Northeastern PA. Ms. Wolff serves on the Board of Directors for the National Down Syndrome Society. She is Secretary for The Arc of Northeastern PA Board of Directors.

Ms. Wolff, as a self-Advocate, specializes in Public speaking. She has been a public speaker since high school. Ms. Wolff brings a strong passion to her public speaking engagements. Her passion was born of a strong family support system that made inclusion a priority from her birth, her pre-school experience, through high school and college.

Julie Gerhart-Rothholz

Julie Gerhart-Rothholz

Co-Vice President - Montgomery

Julie Gerhart-Rothholz is a pharmacist, Medical Affairs professional, diversity and inclusion professional, The Arc of Pennsylvania board member, and Arc Alliance Foundation Board Vice President. Her most important role is mom to 7-year-old Evan, who has Down syndrome. After receiving Evan’s post-birth diagnosis, which focused on symptoms and expected medical problems rather than on possibilities, Julie became an advocate for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Julie has engaged in “hill days” with her US representatives and senators and has visited her state representative and senator to educate them on the needs of individuals with disabilities. She also worked to connect US and state senators and representatives’ staff with her school district. Julie led the global Merck capABILITIES Network, one of 10 employee business resource groups that focuses on diversity and inclusion. Julie also leads social media engagement for the Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition.

In her spare time, Julie enjoys watching Evan’s soccer games, running her Buddy Walk Auction/Raffle, and reading.

Josh Stranix

Josh Stranix

Co-Vice President, Schuylkill

Don Broderick

Don Broderick

Treasurer - Lackawanna

Mr. Broderick joined the board of The Arc of PA in June 2018 as a presidential appointee. He recently retired from The Arc of North Eastern PA after serving that chapter for 46 years, 40 as Executive Director. Don holds degrees in Psychology and Rehab Counseling, both from the University of Scranton. He has been a respected and tireless advocate for the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at home, in Harrisburg, in Washington D.C., and across the nation.

Don and his wife, Rosemary, live in the Clarks Summit area of North Eastern PA. She is President and CEO of Summit Peak Associates, a consulting firm. They have two children, Stephen, 29, Washington D.C., and Sara, 26, London, U.K.

Zach Hicks

Zach Hicks

Secretary, Dauphin

Zach Hicks became a member of The Arc of PA Board of Directors in March 2019. He is a self-advocate from the Harrisburg Area who enjoys telling his story so that he can help others in the disability community. He works part-time at Hershey’s Chocolate World and has been seeking additional employment through the disability system.

Zach has been active in Special Olympics for many years and has been trained to be a Global Messenger or spokesperson for Special Olympics. He has also been trained to be an Athlete Representative and currently is the Athlete Representative for our local Area M program which services over 2000 athletes.

In January 2019 Zach was appointed to the Governor’s Commission for Employment 1st for people with disabilities.

Josh Leik

Josh Leik

PCE Representative, York

Josh began at The Arc of York County as a high school student working at Camp Pennwood in 1984. He began working as a full time employee in 1987. Since that time, Josh has held several positions including Director of Recreation, Employment Training Specialist, Penn Employment Coordinator, Director of Supported Employment, and Director of Operations. He was named Executive Director in October of 2017.

Board of Directors

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson

Philadelphia

​I have been the legislative advocate for The Arc of Philadelphia since 2015. In addition, I organize conferences and meetings with policymakers. I also help with the HealthMeet program, an initiative of The Arc of the U.S. to conduct trainings to medical professionals to provide information and increase awareness of health issues that impact people with disabilities.

I received my Associates degree in journalism from Edinboro State University. I live in my own home, and I enjoy sports, politics, and spending time with my family and friends.

Dee Barbour

Dauphin

Michael Dever

Michael Dever

Pittsburgh

Jeanne Downey

Jeanne Downey

Erie

Jeanne Downey is a speech-language pathologist and provides early intervention speech therapy in the Erie area. She received her master’s degree in speech pathology from Clarion University. She has been an advocate for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Jeanne has completed two terms as President of The Arc of Pennsylvania and begins a new term on The Arc Board. Her youngest daughter has Down syndrome and this has been a driving force for Jeanne’s focus on families and people with disabilities. Jeanne especially loves spending time with her two young granddaughters who live in Erie.

John Goryl

John Goryl

Dauphin

Mr. Goryl has a long history of working in the world of disabilities. While spending 15 years in the Pennsylvania Senate, he was involved in many pieces of legislation involving people with disabilities. While working with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), he worked closely with the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to design programs to help provide homeownership opportunities for people with disabilities. Through Mr. Goryl’s participation, loan programs designed to retrofit homes for persons with a disability resulted in them being able to remain in their own home.

Mr. Goryl retired from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in 2013 but continues to work with them on a part-time basis. As an attorney, he has worked in private practice as well as with the Pennsylvania Senate. He received his Juris Doctorate from Dickinson School of Law and his Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Gary Horner

Gary Horner

Allegheny

Gary K. Horner is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the ACHIEVA family of organizations. He has 36 years of experience in government and the non-profit sector as an executive and manager. He has served on many non-profit boards and committees including The Arc of the United States and its Budget and Finance Committee and the National Conference of Executives of The Arc (NCE). He was named the Chief Financial Officer of the Year for Non-Profits for 2012 by The Pittsburgh Business Times. Gary has a B.S. in Administrative and Management Science and Social Science from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters in Business Administration from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pat Leo

Pat Leo

Philadelphia

Throughout Pat’s 25+ year career in disability services, she has provided direct service, supervision, management, and leadership, delivering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the support and services required to realize their goal and right of self-determination.

Pat Leo joined The Arc Alliance in 2006 and since that time has performed a critical role as President of the Pennsylvania Conference of Executives. As Chief Operating Officer for The Arc Alliance, Pat is an integral executive, involved and providing oversight in management and service provision for The Arc Alliance. Pat demonstrates the utmost of integrity, exemplified by her simple yet profound question at every level, “What is the right thing to do?”. Pat has shown herself to be a tremendous advocate for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is not uncommon for her to be working weekends and after hours with individuals who receive guardianship services from The Arc Alliance. Pat Leo also serves as a board member for The Arc of Pennsylvania, the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance, and the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council, which is a citizen advisory board for The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Michael Owens

Michael Owens

Delaware

Mike Owens has supported and advocated for individuals with disabilities for the last 40 years across the state of Pennsylvania. His accomplishments include coordination and development of a prototype of what is now known as the IM4Q, facilitation of the first self-advocacy group in western PA, facilitation of 6 parent groups supporting school-age students with disabilities, and chair of the Montgomery County local “Right to Education” taskforce. In addition, he has been involved in individual and systemic advocacy with Achieva and The Arc Alliance over a 20 year period. He has given national presentations for TASH in areas of sexuality, self-advocacy, and outcome-based monitoring. His work experience includes direct service, a program manager in a variety of residential settings, support coordination, and an adult and education advocate with local Arc chapters.

Karen Shoemaker

Karen Shoemaker

Lehigh-Northampton

Karen Shoemaker has served as the Executive Director of The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties since 1999 and has over 34 years of experience in management positions of non-profit disability organizations, with expertise in the areas of Board relations, programs and services, personnel, development, finance, and administration.

Karen is currently the Chair of the National Conference of Executives of The Arc of the United States (NCE) and serves on The Arc of PA Board in this capacity. She is invested in the mission of advancing the independence of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and has a deep commitment to advocating for people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of their lives. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, and a Master of General Administration in Health Care Administration from the University of Maryland Graduate School in College Park, MD.

Catherine Siris

Catherine Siris

Dauphin

Catherine Siris has been advocating for children with disabilities and supporting families throughout Pennsylvania for the past 8 years. She has served as the parent co-chair for Early Intervention Connections (the Local Interagency Coordinating Council for Cumberland, Perry, and Dauphin Counties), started the Special Education Parent Advisory Council in Derry Township, and has participated in numerous speaking engagements for promoting family engagement. Her passion for disability rights stems from her experiences with her own child with Down Syndrome. Catherine holds an MBA from the George Washington University and a BA from the University of Virginia.  In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing with her husband and 3 children.

Vicki Wertman

Vicki Wertman

Sunbury

Board member Vicki Wertman leads by example. She lives independently, has worked at Knoebels Amusement resort for five years in catering, and has been a part of The Arc Susquehanna Valley’s Self-Advocacy Group for over 8 years. Vicki brings lived experience to The Arc of Pennsylvania’s Board of Directors. Vicki enjoys being with people, so The Arc is a great fit. Vicki is very proud to serve! She loves the entertainer Tony Orlando, she’s attending her 10th Tony Orlando concert this winter. (Vicki is featured in the photo attending a Halloween dance).

Ken Oakes

Ken Oakes

Director-Board Member The Arc US - Philadelphia

Mr. Oakes has been involved in The Arc movement since he became a volunteer leader in The Youth Arc movement while in college. His career in special education spans 39 years and includes many different leadership roles in the disability and special education communities. He is past president of The Arc of Philadelphia.

Mr. Oakes is currently an Adjunct Faculty member in the Education Department, School of Graduate Studies at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He is also a Special Education Consultant for Foundations, Inc.. Before that, Mr. Oakes was a Special Education Director at the School District of Philadelphia, a Consultant with PaTTAN, and a special educator.

NEW Module Just Arrived - Trauma-Informed Care. Visit our E-Learning Module Series. This series provides information and strategies for teachers, families, and paras to support the education of all students.

The Arc of Pennsylvania’s Making Employment Work course is an ACRE Basic Certification Training. In order to receive certification, participants must attend a 3 day, in-person training and then complete a self-paced, online curriculum. Completing this certification course will qualify individuals to provide Supported Employment services with Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Office of Developmental Programs. Our training combines lessons learned from traditional Supported Employment and Customized Employment techniques.

Arc Discovery Employment Transitions (ADEPT) is The Arc of Pennsylvania’s customized employment program. The Arc of Pennsylvania supports individuals with significant impact of disability to seek and maintain customized employment in their community. As a result, The Arc of Pennsylvania’s consultants are trained and nationally certified by Marc Gold & Associates, a national leader in customized employment, to provide Discovery, Customized Employment Job Development, and Systematic Instruction to individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania who are seeking employment. In addition to providing customized employment services, The Arc of Pennsylvania hosts several certification courses with Marc Gold & Associates for individuals and organizations interested in national certification in Discovery, Job Development, and Systematic Instruction.

Include Me is a new model for inclusive education and gaining meaningful employment for Pennsylvania’s students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc of Pennsylvania and Include Me believe all individuals with significant impact of developmental and intellectual disability deserve equal educational and competitive employment rights. Our mission, build and strengthen the inclusive education capacity for all public-school students, and discover meaningful employment opportunities meeting Pennsylvania employee and employer needs. Include Me strives to ensure all impacted students have equal access to all aspects of life and the community throughout their lifespan.

Include Me is an initiative that was part of the agreement on final terms between the plaintiffs and the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the Gaskin Settlement Agreement. We were initially assigned to work with school districts with the lowest inclusion rates. After the initial success, we have grown in reputation among school districts. Currently districts voluntarily chose our services, which are provided free of charge to the district. In addition to our School Age services, we offer transition-age services to help teams plan a path to customized employment for students transitioning from high school.

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Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time. But if you must cancel your recurring donation, please notify us.

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