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2016 PEDA SPRING CONFERENCE – SPEAKER BIOS

Janet Ady, President & CEO, Ady Advantage

Janet Ady is an experienced marketing strategist who knows how to reach expanding and relocating

companies, talent, and stakeholders with compelling messages that promote business investment and

growth.

Janet’s passions are business-to-business marketing and economic development. As president of Ady

Advantage, she has led marketing initiatives for a wide range of organizations. Ultimately, her work helps

to strengthen existing businesses, enhance the quality of life, attract new and expanding businesses, and

retain and attract talent.

Janet’s background is in marketing research and strategy development. In that capacity, she has conducted

over 2,500 in-depth qualitative interviews with business and technical decision-makers across a broad

swath of businesses. Her knowledge of multiple industries allows her to provide value to individual

businesses as well as communities and regions targeting specific sectors.

She also brings an in-depth knowledge of the site selection process, especially in terms of understanding

what factors are evaluated during each step along the decision-making process and how to optimally

position places and develop compelling, differentiating messages. In this way, Ady Advantage brings

both the science and the art to economic development marketing.

Janet consults on many aspects of economic development marketing, including agribusiness strategies,

rural economic development strategies, marketing planning, economic development branding, and

websites.

Janet authored The Rural Economic Development Toolbox in 2014 and regularly speaks and teaches on

economic development business and marketing strategy. She is a member of the faculty of the Heartland

Economic Development Institute and OU EDI, a member of the Board of The Howard Company (a

Wisconsin-based manufacturer), and a member of several state and regional economic development

groups, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, the Mid-America Economic

Development Council, the Indiana Economic Development Association, and the Professional Developers

of Iowa.

Carrie Amann, Executive Policy & Grant Specialist, Department of Corrections

Carrie Amann began her career in workforce development administering sector-strategies at the local and

state level managing nearly $30 million in funds. Mrs. Amann became Special Assistant for the

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry on the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA),

where she oversaw the Department's planning and implementation activities for the +$100 million in

special ARRA funds. At the conclusion of the ARRA funding, Carrie moved to the Pennsylvania

Department of Corrections as Executive Policy and Grants Specialist. She directly oversees the

Department's grant activities and was the driving force in planning and writing the largest grant award in

the Department's history with a $1m grant from the US Department of Education to implement career

pathways behind the prison walls. Carrie has an undergraduate degree in Policy Studies from Dickinson

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College and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University. She

currently resides in South Central Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter.

Gerald J. Blinebury, Executive Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Gerard J. Blinebury, Jr., joined Cushman & Wakefield in 2001 and currently serves as an Executive

Director of the Industrial Brokerage Group and Partner in Cushman & Wakefield’s Industrial Advisory

Group (IAG), specializing in the Industrial Asset Class throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Blinebury

has a broad range of experience working with institutional owners and corporate users throughout the I-81

and I-78 corridors as well as the Suburban Philadelphia Industrial Markets. This experience includes

agency leasing, building sales, land sales, tenant/ buyer representation and the marketing of investment

grade industrial buildings and industrial parks. Mr. Blinebury is a current member of Cushman &

Wakefield’s Global Industrial Executive Committee. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Mr.

Blinebury was associated with Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower, a full-service real estate firm in State

College, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Blinebury is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science

degree in both finance and real estate. During his tenure at Penn State, Mr. Blinebury co-founded the

Penn State Real Estate Club and was elected President. Under his direction, the club was voted “Most

Improved Organization” in the Smeal College of Business.

Patrick Clancy, Special Advisor, Department of Human Services

Patrick is currently the Special Advisor to the Secretary of Human Services for Employment and Training

Programs. In this position, Patrick has played an active role in assisting the Governor’s Policy team and

other agencies develop a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan. Prior to this

position, Patrick has over 20+ years of experience developing and managing workforce development

programs for local Workforce Development Boards in Southeast PA. Patrick was also the Executive

Director of the TAACCT I grant awarded to the Community College of Philadelphia from the US DOL.

Prior to joining the State of PA, Patrick was the Director of Workforce Initiatives for the Goodwill of

Delaware and Delaware County. Patrick is a graduate of La Salle University with a BS in Human

Resource Management.

Mark Condon, Business Development Manager & Global Data Specialist, Datamyne

Mark Condon is a Business Development Manager and Global Data Specialist with Datamyne. His role at

Datamyne is to assist export organizations, economic development organizations, foreign trade zones, and

state and local governments in using global trade data to their best advantage. Mark is a native of

Charleston, South Carolina and has a 30 year background in international trade and economic

development as director of the South Carolina World Trade Center Charleston, Board Member of the

World Trade Centers Association in New York and in business development for global data providers. He

has a BA in political science from the College of Charleston.

Paul Cooney, Director of Business Development & Loan Programs, Altoona-Blair County

Development Corporation

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Paul M. Cooney is Director of Business Development and Loan Programs with the Altoona-Blair County

Development Corporation. He is responsible for promoting and underwriting the various loan programs

offered by ABCD Corp. throughout Blair County Pennsylvania. In addition, he markets the SBA 504

program across Central and Western Pennsylvania. In the fall of 2015 Paul received certification as an

Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) from the National Development Council.

Mr. Cooney joined ABCD in 2004 after working 15 years with M & T Bank where he served in a number

of capacities including commercial lending and credit analysis.

Paul is a graduate of Penn State University with a BS in Finance.

Dennis M. Davin, Secretary, Pennsylvania DCED

Prior to his appointment, Secretary Davin served for more than a decade as Director of the Allegheny

County Department of Economic Development (ACED), where he was responsible for establishing and

executing the economic development strategy for Allegheny County. He managed funding from local,

state and federal sources to implement economic development activities such as site development, new

job creation initiatives, community development, and affordable housing for approximately 1.25 million

citizens in 130 municipalities. He also served as Director of the Allegheny County Redevelopment

Authority and Executive Director of the Industrial Development Authority, Hospital Development

Authority, Higher Education Building Authority, and Residential Finance Authority.

Secretary Davin is a former board member and treasurer of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, a

former member of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Partnership, Three Rivers Workforce Investment

Board, International Economic Development Council, and National Association for Industrial and Office

Parks, and a Carnegie Mellon University Center for Economic Development Fellow.

Felix DiCamillo, Director of sale & Client Engagement, The Rochester Group

Felix DiCamillo is a graduate of Alma College in Michigan whose technology career has included

working for such notable companies as Toshiba and Panasonic. Felix is currently the Director of Sales

and Client Engagement at The Rochester Group. In this role, he has the opportunity to work with

economic development organizations across the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, helping them to put in

place technology that empowers team members and supports the introduction of new initiatives.

Technology can not only increase efficiency, but also drive the ability to use metrics to manage, measure

– and improve –operations and the outcome of growth initiatives.

Charles R. Everett Jr., C.M., CMC®, Executive Director, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority

Mr. Everett is the Executive Director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which owns and

operates a three-airport system, including Lehigh Valley International and Queen City Airports in

Allentown and Braden Airpark in Forks Township, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for overall mission

accomplishment, which includes generating $23 million in annual operating revenues and progressing a

$30 million airports capital improvement program.

During his prior tenure with the Federal Aviation Administration, he worked as a Congressional Liaison

on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC advising staff and members of Congress on airport issues. While

serving as the Manager of the National Planning and Environmental Division of the Office of Airports at

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FAA, Mr. Everett provided policy and technical guidance to airports in the national system. He has also

worked for various engineering, management consulting firms and municipal organizations involved with

planning, operations and development of transportation infrastructure.

Mr. Everett is a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives, a Certified

Management Consultant (CMC®) by the Institute of Management Consultants USA and a member of the

Boards of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania and Airports Council International - North America.

Mr. Everett graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania with a

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and a major concentration in Transportation Planning.

He retired from the U. S. Air Force Reserve in 2008 with a military career in logistics.

William S. Fontana, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Downtown Center

Bill took the reins as PDC Executive Director on May 1, 2000, ushering in an exciting period of renewal

for the organization. Prior to joining PDC, Bill served for two and a half years as executive director of the

Rahway Center Partnership, a New Jersey special improvement district. He also served as Chairman of

the Rahway Historic Preservation Commission. From 1979 to 1997, Bill worked on redevelopment efforts

in western Pennsylvania, including time with the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and the

County Departments of Planning and Economic Development. His roles during those 17 years included

Commercial Revitalization Coordinator, Enterprise Zone Coordinator and Senior Planner. He was

instrumental in laying the groundwork for the "Waterfront" project that stretches across the communities

of West Homestead, Homestead and Munhall. In 2015, Bill was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory

Board on Community Development and elected to the National Main Street Center’s Executive Council.

Bill holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of

Pittsburgh.

Scott Gray, Airport Executive Director, Washington County Airport

Mr. Gray serves as the Airport Executive Director for Washington County Airport and brings nearly 22

years of experience to the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington team. Experience

includes all facets of airport management, administration, operations, development and planning. Mr.

Gray previously served the Director, Airport Management Services, with L.R. Kimball, an engineering

and planning firm, for nearly two years and as the Aviation Director for Scottsdale Airport, AZ for ten

years after performing as Airport Administration Manager for two years. Mr. Gray developed and

implemented the first Airport Financial Plan in 2002 for Scottsdale Airport, which resulted in the

Aviation Enterprise Fund becoming completely self-sufficient within one year. Mr. Gray has developed

and implemented numerous enhancements to rules, regulations, minimum operating standards, and

through-the-fence agreements resulting in an efficient and safe airport and airpark operating environment.

Mr. Gray has administered an extensive Pilot/Community Outreach Program to educate pilots and citizens

about security, safety, noise abatement and airport development.

Previously, as an airport consultant, he conducted over 30 airport master plans, FAR Part 150 studies, and

Environmental Studies throughout the country. He has also conducted Military Base Reuse Studies as a

result of the Base Realignment and Closure process. He has provided on-call airport consulting services to

numerous commercial service and general aviation airports, including grant administration, development

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alternatives, Part 139 evaluations and PFC evaluations. Mr. Gray is very comfortable in dynamic and

challenging environments with strong analytical skills and working knowledge of FAA regulations.

Sonia Huntzinger, CEcD, President, Kaydon Consulting Group

Huntzinger began her career with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce as the event coordinator for

downtown Bethlehem. Her position grew to include the oversight of six Main Street© managers in

seventeen downtown districts throughout Lehigh Valley, PA. Her enthusiasm for her job came from

cultivating sustainable relationships with merchants, other organizations, and municipal officials – all in

the interest of bettering the communities she served.

Following her time in the Lehigh Valley, Huntzinger served as director of a visitors and conference

bureau in Central California where she crafted long-range tourism marketing strategies and managed all

public relations and communications for a burgeoning wine destination. Upon returning home to

Pennsylvania, she served as marketing and communications manager for a residential developer to gain

experience with the community side of economic development.

She has since returned to her primary passion, working with downtown districts and residential

neighborhoods, strengthening local economies through revitalization, small business development, and

destination marketing.

In 2013, Huntzinger earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the

International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This national recognition denotes a mastery of

principal skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and

professional growth.

Daniel J. Kennedy, Vice President, Funding Strategies, Delta Development Group, Inc.

Dan Kennedy oversees and manages Delta’s private corporate incentive projects and clients. In this

capacity, he secures local, state, and federal incentives for companies that are making new business

investments. Prior to joining Delta, Dan held several senior management positions with the Governor’s

Action Team, where he was instrumental in helping more than 300 businesses expand or locate in

Pennsylvania. Some of the businesses he worked with include Lockheed Martin, Sony Electronics,

Starbucks Coffee, and Cabela’s.

Carol Kilko, Special Assistant, Agency Development Initiatives, Pennsylvania DCED

Carol joined the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in June of 2015 as the

Special Assistant, Agency Development Initiatives for the Executive Office. In this capacity, Carol serves

as the agency liaison for all workforce development issues and is the training coordinator for all DCED

staff professional development. Carol is responsible for the strong working relationship with all DCED

partners to ensure business workforce development needs are identified and addressed.

This is Carol’s second term with DCED as she worked with the Governor’s Action Team and DCED’s

Business Retention Program from 2000-2006.

Most recently, from April 2006 until June of 2015, Carol served as the Director of Training Services for

the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS). As the Director, Carol managed

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an extensive training program providing local government officials education in all aspects of their daily

responsibilities.

Carol holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelors of Public Policy from Penn State

University.

Stephanie Larkin, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board

Stephanie Larkin currently serves as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development

Board. Ms. Larkin was appointed to the position in May 2012 and serves at the will of the governor.

Ms. Larkin previously served as Government Affairs Director for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’

Association and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, where she lobbied the General

Assembly and administration on issues of concern to the associations’ varied business members. Her

primary issue responsibilities were taxation, labor policy and education issues.

Ms. Larkin holds a B.A. in Political Science/International Studies from York College of Pennsylvania,

and an A.A. in Communications from Harrisburg Area Community College.

Kim J. Lentz, Manager, Workforce Development, York County Economic Alliance

Lentz began her career in advertising, as a media buyer and account executive, where she honed her skills

in market research and analysis, team leadership, public speaking, sales and strategic planning.

Her next fifteen years were with an urban redevelopment firm. As Marketing Manager and Project

Coordinator, Lentz managed all marketing, communications and public relations for the firm and their

real estate development projects. Here, she earned respect for her ability to create positive and effective

working relationships with a broad range of clients and business partners, including luxury condominium

buyers, small retail tenants, international firms, design and engineering teams, contractors and elected

officials.

It was in this role that Lentz gained a passion for community service and a specific interest in downtown

revitalization. She has held multiple leadership positions on community boards and committees and

played a key role as the Main Street Board President, leading a merger with the Business Improvement

District, to strengthen the organization and multiply the impact of their work under the umbrella identity

of Downtown Inc. Lentz continued her involvement in downtown revitalization, serving additionally as

chair of the Downtown Inc Board of Directors as well as chairing or serving on committees. Lentz

currently also serves on the YWCA Board of Directors.

Today, Lentz is Manager of Workforce Development at the York County Economic Alliance. She leads

the talent recruitment and retention effort, working with local employers and partnering with York

County’s community organizations and York’s flourishing Creative Class to develop and incorporate new

strategies for attracting talent, from the millennial market as well as more seasoned professionals, to live

and work in the York community.

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Michael P. Markman, President, BET Investments, Inc.

BET Investments is a real estate management and development company that owns, manages, develops

and leases shopping centers, office buildings and apartment complexes throughout the United States. The

Horsham, Pennsylvania company and its affiliates’ portfolio own more than 7 million square feet of

commercial property and over 4,000 apartment units.

As President, Michael Markman oversees acquisitions, leasing, financing and development for the firm.

Mr. Markman was formerly general counsel of a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange real estate

investment trust (REIT) with over $500 million in assets where he managed all legal matters.

He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the Temple University School of Law and

is member of the Pennsylvania Bar. He is a Commissioner in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, past

chairman Abington Township Planning Commission, a member of the Board of Directors of the John A.

Robbins Company and serves on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Redevelopment

Authority.

Leo Miller, Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor

Leo joined the US Department of Labor (DOL) in 2000, after serving as the Deputy Director for

Workforce Development in a five county economic development agency in rural Pennsylvania. While in

this position, Leo guided the region through the legislative transition required by the Workforce

Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), and coordinated the opening of four one stop service centers. He joined

DOL to assist states in their efforts in transitioning from the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to WIA,

and spent two years working with states to resolve transition issues. Leo has spent 15 years working with

grantees in the areas of performance and financial compliance, program innovation and design, and has

led several national workgroups aimed at infusing the system with innovative and customer focused

practices. Leo also served as the Director for Discretionary Investments for the DOL Philadelphia Office,

supporting the work of nearly 200 discretionary grants aimed at youth, ex-offenders, older workers, and

individuals facing serious barriers to employment. Much of this work has involved coordination with

partners outside of DOL. Leo is currently the Regional Administrator for the DOL Employment and

Training Administration’s Philadelphia Regional Office.

Pablo Monzon, Co-CEO, CTO & Co-Founder, GIS Planning

Mr. Monzon co-founded GIS Planning Inc., one of the fastest-growing 5,000 private companies in the

United States, according to Inc Magazine. As developer of the first GIS-based website for economic

development, Mr. Monzon is an entrepreneur, innovator and technology professional.

With over 15 years of experience developing location-based applications and GIS based websites, he has

received multiple awards in both the field of Economic Development and Geographic Information

Systems. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC News, and numerous GIS-related

publications. Mr. Monzon has lectured about Internet GIS in Europe, the United States, and Latin

America.

Mr. Monzon was a Fulbright Scholar, during which time his pioneering mapping tools and research

included affordable housing, urban growth, disaster recovery costs, and economic development. Mr.

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Monzon has a Master’s degree in City Planning from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil

Engineering. In 2011, Planetizen selected Pablo Monzon as one of the top 25 leading thinkers in Urban

Planning and Technology.

Sue Mukherjee, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Educational Intelligence Office of the Chancellor,

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education

Sue is the Executive Director for Program Alignment and Policy Development for Pennsylvania's State

System of Higher Education. Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, with its fourteen

universities, is one of the largest providers of higher education in the commonwealth. Sue's charge within

the State System is to implement a program alignment plan that helps universities increase their

individual and collective impact on Pennsylvania's economy by identifying their regional intersection of

industry/business, occupations/jobs, and people/talent.

Prior to this, Sue was the Director of the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis within the

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Sue has served as the State Lead for Pennsylvania's

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Initiative for the National Governor's Association

(NGA). Over the past decade, she has worked on multiple workforce-education initiatives including

linking workforce-education data, performance management across workforce agencies, Prior Learning

Assessment, etc.

Sue received her Bachelors of Science in Economics and Mathematics. She has a Master's in Public

Administration and a PhD in Administrative Leadership Studies.

Rick Novotny, Executive Director, Corry Area Redevelopment Authority

Rick Novotny serves as the Executive Director of the Erie County and City of Corry RDA along with the

Corry Area Industrial Development Corporation and the Corry Industrial Benefit Association’s (501-C3).

When Rick first assumed this role, the Community had just experienced significant plant closings and

layoffs and was looking for leadership in reversing the downward economic trend. Rick, through the

assistance of the PA DCED (in particular, the Enterprise Zone Program), has been able to create new

employment opportunities for several thousand area residents while growing the industrial base of the

community. Rick’s day-to-day responsibilities include managing multiple projects, a small staff of 7,

budgets, and continual board and client interaction. Rick has a unique ability to find opportunity in the

midst of adversity and then, using creative approaches, turn those opportunities into community and

economic successes.

In 1992, Rick was hired as the Economic Development Specialist for the Corry RDA and was put in

charge of filling a newly built, near vacant (24,000 sq ft) industrial incubator. Soon after that, he acquired

an Enterprise Zone Designation for the Corry Area and grew the revolving loan fund to over $8 million in

8 years. The economic activity caught the attention of the newly elected County Executive who

encouraged Rick to take his expertise countywide. Rick was appointed Executive Director of the Erie

County RDA in 2003 and the county provided an $8 million grant to launch a county-wide revolving loan

fund. These loan programs have grown to over $22 million and industrial real estate holdings exceeded

200 acres and nearly 1 million square feet of leasable space. The ability to carry out these programs with a

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small dedicated staff has enable the combined organizations to be operationally self-sufficient while

playing a significant role in the growth of the economic base of Erie County.

Prior to joining the Erie County and Corry RDA, Rick was employed in the Northwest Pennsylvania

Regional Planning and Development Commission and, before that, owned and operated a franchise

restaurant.

Rick earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Application and Information Systems from

Clarion University in 1986 and completed a majority of credits towards an MBA at Clarion University.

Joseph G. Riper, Shareholder, Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco

Joseph Riper is a shareholder in the Exton, Pennsylvania law practice of Riley Riper Hollin & Colagreco.

He joined with Buck Riley in 1984 to help found the firm. His practice areas encompass business, real

estate, land development and financing projects on behalf of local, regional and national developers and

lending institutions. His specialties include business law, land use and zoning, and real estate.

In addition to the hundreds of residential and commercial projects that Joe has successfully advanced on

behalf of his firm’s clients, he has extensive experience with public and private road, water, and sewer

infrastructure projects.

Joe is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and earned his law degree at Dickinson School of Law.

He practices law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Drew A. Romanic, Associate Principal, Commercial & Mixed Use, The Martin Architectural Group,

Inc.

The Martin Architectural Group is a Philadelphia-based architectural and land planning firm that

specializes in commercial and residential markets. Drew Romanic heads Martin’s commercial division,

managing a spectrum of retail and mixed-use commissions from grocery anchored strip fit-outs to overall

master planning and design of regional lifestyle centers.

Over the past twenty years, Drew has produced a diverse portfolio that includes the much publicized,

highly successful partial demolition and redevelopment of an indoor mall into the Hunt Valley Towne

Centre in Northern Maryland; McHenry Row, a Live/Work/Shop neighborhood in Baltimore; the office-

and retail-lined Main Street at South River Colony in Annapolis; the Village at Waugh Chapel in Crofton,

Maryland, a master-planned mixed-use community; and the build-to-suit commercial components of

Water's Edge Business Park (Bel Air, MD).

Drew maintains a hands-on approach with his projects – from design and construction documents through

construction administration. His duties specifically entail client representation during construction and

leasing efforts. In addition to the composition of Lease Outline Drawings, Tenant Manuals, and tenant fit-

out permit and construction documents, he can provide tenant coordination between fit-out and shell

documentation as well. Drew graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

He remains active with the International Council of Shopping Centers and has presented Case Studies on

the Run at their annual CenterBuild Conference.

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Fred Sembach, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Mike Folmer

Fred is Senator Mike Folmer’s Chief of Staff, where he has guided many initiatives into law. Senator

Folmer is chair of the Senate State Government Committee. Fred has also served on numerous boards in

various capacities, including the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA), which

owns/operates Harrisburg International, Capital City, Franklin County, and Gettysburg airports; he was

chair when he left SARAA at the end of 2015. Prior to joining the Senate, Fred was Vice President of

Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry where he led legislative,

regulatory, and political initiatives on behalf of the business community.

Wanda Speight, Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Philadelphia Industrial Development

Corporation

Wanda Speight is Senior Vice President, Financial Services, at PIDC, Philadelphia's public-private

economic development corporation. She is a financial services executive with over 25 years of experience

in business development, underwriting, and management positions. Ms. Speight leads a team responsible

for the development of strategy, underwriting, and execution of financial transactions. Prior to joining

PIDC, Ms. Speight served as an Executive Vice President with Opportunity Finance Network (OFN),

managing OFN’s strategic financing division. Her responsibilities included the design and

implementation of new financing strategies, products, and systems for the community development

financial institutions (CDFI) industry.

Frank Thompson, Deputy Director, Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission

Frank has been with the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission since 1998 and

has served as the Northern Tier Workforce Board Director for the past 13 years. The board is responsible

for the region’s one-stop system, Workforce Investment and Opportunities Act, Department of Human

Services training programs and multiple state workforce projects. He previously served in economic

development as the program manager for special projects and the business calling program.

Frank earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English and History from Bucknell University. Prior to coming to

the Northern Tier, he worked at Lehigh University.

Frank serves on the boards of directors and advisory boards for the Pennsylvania Workforce Development

Association, Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, and the occupational advisory committees for

numerous school districts and career and tech centers.

Steve Willems, Business Director, Principal, SIOR, NAI Keystone Commercial & Industrial, LLC

Steve co-founded NAI Keystone Commercial & Industrial, LLC in 2002. From 1992 to 2002, he served

as VP of the Commercial Division of Century 21 Advance Realty. Prior to that, he owned and operated

Omega Management, Inc., a real estate consulting firm serving clients in Pennsylvania and Maryland and

spent eighteen years as VP of National American Corporation, a nation-wide sales and development

company where he oversaw 14 projects in 9 states.

Mr. Willems has sold buildings as large as 1,150,000 SF and has completed land development

transactions that support hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Along with being the Managing Partner

for the firm, Willems is an active broker with an industrial focus.

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David Zellers, Jr., Field Services Specialist, Pennsylvania Downtown Center

A native of Berks County, Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania and

went on to Miami University of Ohio where he earned a graduate degree, co-authored research on the

American presidency, and interned at the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs. Upon

returning to Pennsylvania, Dave interned with the Pennsylvania Department of State and also worked for

a local workforce investment board. In recent years, his professional development has included positions

with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Northwest

Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. These opportunities have allowed Dave

to work with entrepreneurs, business owners, elected officials, and citizens as well as local and regional

community, economic, and workforce development organizations. Most recently before joining PDC,

Dave was the coordinator for NW PREP. While in Northwest Pennsylvania, he developed grant funded

projects that secured over a quarter million dollars in project funding for the region and authored a report

on regional economic and workforce development collaboration.

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2016 PEDA SPRING CONFERENCE – SESSION OVERVIEWS Agenda is subject to change

Keynote Presentation

See Janet Ady’s bio for additional information.

Regional Talent Attraction Depends on a Vibrant Urban Core

Are the companies in your region satisfied with the local talent pool? National socio-economic trends are

pointing to a dramatic shift in the workforce of tomorrow and downtowns and urban centers are playing a

major role in where that workforce will decide to locate. This session will focus on ways local and county

economic development agencies can partner to connect the dots between a vibrant downtown and a strong

workforce. In this session, participants will gain tactical strategies that your community can implement to

ensure you are building a “third place” environment that will appeal to the talent your regional companies

seek.

Learning Objectives:

1. The importance of a vibrant downtown to the workforce of the next thirty years

2. How to connect the dots between downtown revitalization efforts and the broader business

community

3. How economic development agencies can work together to attract and retain a strong employee

base

Regional Airports as Economic Drivers

Pennsylvania Act 52 eliminated the 6% sales and use tax on parts and services for fixed-wing aircraft.

With the tax exemption, Pennsylvania can attract more of the maintenance, restoration and overhaul

(MRO) segment of the Business and General Aviation (BGA) market, creating more jobs. Additionally,

more airports are engaging in real estate development as air service is viewed as an advantage in the

choice of location. This session will provide first-hand experience and advice to economic development

professionals looking to help grow development around their regional airports.

This tax exemption is relatively new and, though it could have large scale impact on the BGA market in

Pennsylvania and on economic development around regional airports, it is not very well publicized at the

current time. This panel will help raise awareness of the tax exemption and the advantages of

Pennsylvania as a location for BGA MRO business and services in the Northeast U.S. There are a few

airports and regions around the state paving the way for this growth and attendees will learn methods and

projects that have worked for the airports and regions already growing their air service industry and

developing the commercial real estate around their airports.

The Dying Mall: Reinventing Shopping Malls to Revitalize the Community

All shopping malls can’t be winners, but what do you do if your mall loses? With the changing

demographics and evolving landscape of department store anchors, many malls and strip retail centers

find themselves becoming outpaced by newer lifestyle centers or power centers. The loss of traditional

anchor stores can compound the problem. When this happens, these particular properties have a sincere

need to reinvent or recreate themselves to remain relevant to their communities. Join a panel of experts to

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discuss what is working, how it has been implemented, and what catalysts created the reinvention of

failing or failed malls into once again viable properties. Most of the lessons learned could apply to

abandoned or underutilized industrial and commercial properties as well.

Trends in the Industrial and Office Market 2016

The economic environment in 2016 should support continued job growth. The shift toward online

shopping will continue to be a leading demand driver for the industrial sector and requirements for big-

box space are common among e-commerce tenants, but there is also growing demand for smaller- and

mid-size buildings. The national forecast is for net absorption to continue to outpace new supply in 2016.

On the office front, though job growth has slowed in recent months, job openings remain strong and

should bode well for future office space demand. Find out how these national trends affect Pennsylvania

and your community.

Revving up the Regional Economic Engine

In this session, Sue Mukherjee (Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education) will present the

imperative on promoting effective dialogue between business and education around jobs that will drive

Pennsylvania's economy and the state's future workforce and business needs. Using her experiences in the

fields of workforce and education development, Sue will share ideas on practical ways to enhance

alignment of business needs and education supply to help rev up the regional economic engine.

Pennsylvania DCED Update

This session will address a variety of issues pertaining to DCED.

Legislative Panel

Back by popular request, this session will feature panelists who are deeply involved in the day-to-day

efforts to develop and pass legislation pertinent to economic development professionals and the

communities they serve. Presenters will discuss the prioritization of key initiatives and legislation as well

as progress toward key objectives and how members of the profession can make most effective use of

their advocacy efforts.

Transformative Strategies, Economic Vitality, and Civic Engagement in Pennsylvania’s Downtowns

and Neighborhoods

Beginning in 2016, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (in conjunction with the National Main Street

Center) is participating in the roll out of a renewed emphasis on Economic Vitality as part of

transformative community revitalization strategies. For Pennsylvania’s core community, adopting

transformative strategies that cut across the central tenants of community revitalization (Design,

Promotion, Organization, Economic Vitality, and Safe, Clean, and Green) presents an opportunity for

greater economic advancement by creating a more competitive state and allows for place-specific

solutions to economic, community, and workforce development challenges while enhancing civic

engagement, inclusiveness, and prosperity. The Pennsylvania Downtown Center, as the designated

statewide coordinator for Pennsylvania’s Main Street and Elm Street programs, has provided technical

assistance to Pennsylvania communities and the Department of Community and Economic Development

for almost thirty years and is working with local, state, and federal government partners as well as with

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non-profit and private sector stakeholders to promote a renewed emphasis on sustainability, inclusiveness,

and community revitalization in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Tools for Economic Development Partners

The range of tools available to amplify the meaningful work done by Pennsylvania’s economic

development organizations is wide and varied. However, many economic development practitioners are

not aware of the array of resources available to them. The goal of this session is to introduce and discuss a

sampling of tools developed with their needs in mind. Through the utilization of these tools, partners

throughout the state can position themselves to carry out their missions as efficiently and effectively as

possible.