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Anna Brendle Kennedy is the Executive Director for Touchstone Foundation. Anna holds a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of California- Irvine, and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Penn State University. Anna brings 20 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit management.
Anna serves as the Pennsylvania Health Funders Collaborative co-chair, on the Board of the Partnership for Public Health, as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Lancaster, PA (and past president), and on the Coalition for Common Health steering committee. She is a founding member of Let’s Talk, Lancaster: changing the conversation about mental health. Anna also volunteers as Girl Scout troop leader.
Shanece Bowman is the Programs Manager for Touchstone Foundation. She graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and recently graduated with her master’s degree in social work. She is a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School.
Shanece brings 14 years of experience including past roles as Clinical Assistant at WellSpan Philhaven, Case Aide at Bethanna Foster Care and Adoption, and CNA/Nurse Aide Team Leader at Conestoga View Rehabilitation Center.
Shanece is passionate about mental health for children and families. She is also dedicated to reducing stigma for those with mental healthcare needs, and equipping providers to serve them well.
Amy Swanger is the Operations Manager for Touchstone Foundation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Project and Supply Chain Management from Penn State University and her MBA from Penn State University.
Amy contributes to our team with a wealth of experience, leadership, and project management skills from her career in the U.S. Air Force. She has previously served as an Independent Duty Medical Technician, Clinic Manager, and as Operations Coordinator in the Defense Attaché Offices at the U.S. Embassies in Niger and Russia. Amy serves as a Committee Person on the Hempfield Area Democratic Committee.
Board Chair
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
Carrie Smith serves as our Board Chair and as a member of our Talent Pipeline Committee. As associate professor of sociology, Carrie studies sex and gender, medical sociology, mental health, reproduction and birth, and community-based research.
Since 2020, she has served as the coordinator of the Center for Public Scholarship & Social Change at Millersville University. In 2022, she received the Public Sociology Award from the Eastern Sociological Society. She earned her PhD in Sociology from Vanderbilt University.
Board Vice Chair
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR SCHOOL-BASED OUTPATIENT THERAPY, COMMUNITY SERVICES GROUP, LANCASTER
Amanda Katchur also serves as Chair of our Access Committee. Amanda completed her doctorate in psychology through Marywood University, where she continues to work as an adjunct instructor. As a clinician, Amanda has provided care in various settings including community mental health, community-based programs, and inpatient and outpatient settings. In her current role, Amanda supervises outpatient and school-based outpatient therapists and provides treatment to individuals and families. Amanda is an LGBTQIA+ affirming clinician and has a special interest in school-based mental health and in perinatal mental health. Amanda has completed the Competence and Confidence Partners in Policymaking for Families of Children in Early Intervention (C2P2-EI) through Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities. Amanda is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at West Chester University.
Amanda enjoys yoga, reading, watching hockey, and spending time with her husband and two children. In both her professional life and in her personal life as the parent of a child diagnosed with Autism, Amanda has a passion for advocacy and inclusion. Amanda also serves on the Board of Aaron’s Acres.
Board Secretary
RETIRED
Dr. Pat Anderson serves as our Board Secretary, and he serves on our Talent Pipeline Committee. Dr. Anderson was a family physician at Lancaster General Health Physicians/Penn Medicine (Red Rose Family Physicians and Oxford Medical Center) from 1987 until his retirement in 2021. From 2018-2021 he was Managing Physician of the practice. Previously, Dr. Anderson served as a United States Air Force Flight Surgeon.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Delaware and a medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship at Community Hospital of Lancaster, followed by training as a flight surgeon at the U.S.A.F. School of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Anderson then returned to Lancaster to complete his residency in Family Medicine at Community Hospital of Lancaster and entered private practice.
At various times throughout his career, Dr. Anderson held positions at Community Hospital such as Chairman of Family Practice Department; Medical Executive Committee; Joint Advisory Committee; Board of Directors; and Credentials Committee. He was also President of the Lancaster Osteopathic Medical Society.
Treasurer
Chief financial officer, Lancaster County Community Foundation
Wayne Groff serves as our Board Treasurer, and he serves on our Audit Committee, as well as on our Finance & Investment Committee. Mr. Groff currently serves as Chief Financial Officer with the Lancaster County Community Foundation. Prior to that, Mr. Groff worked as Audit Manager for Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP and KPMG LLP. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Messiah University and maintains his CPA license. He was Board Treasurer of Lancaster Central Market and is a 2013 Leadership Lancaster graduate. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In his free time, he enjoys the beach, ultimate frisbee, Christmas, and spending time with his friends and his Springer Spaniel, Baxter.
Board Member
TRUIST WEALTH ADVISOR
Arthur Ace serves as Chair of our Finance & Investment Committee and as a member of our Audit Committee. As a Wealth Advisor with Truist, he has a recognized history of working in the financial services industry. Arthur leverages strong analytical consulting and relationship management capabilities to help clients in investment and asset management, succession strategies, estate planning, and administration.
Arthur is a member of the Lancaster County Estate Planning Council and Civil Air Patrol. He graduated with a degree in Finance from Spalding University in Louisville, KY.
Arthur is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. Arthur and his wife, Rachel, enjoy life with their Yorkie, Kingston and just welcomed their first child, a daughter.
Board Member
FAMILY FIRST HEALTH, HUMAN RESOURCES & TALENT DEVELOPMENT
Kimberly Fletcher has a 20-year tenure in human resources development, including strategic management, recruitment, employee relations, training, on-boarding, benefits administration, professional development administration, and special events coordination. She serves as the Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Development at Family First Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides high quality health services to improve lives for all people.
Her experiences include working with people from diverse economic, academic, and cultural backgrounds. Kimberly’s broad career as a human resource professional has been enriched through experiences in childcare, secondary education, and college administration. She is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College.
Board Member
OWNER, SOLIMAN PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
Sam Soliman is a professional digital media creator with experience in photo, film, content creation, and project development. He is known for his adaptability and creative solutions. Sam works as a freelance digital media creator and consultant, on social media campaigns with partners such as Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, and the City of Lancaster. He has created original film and photo content for generating online presence for businesses and other professional entities. His portfolio includes an Extra Give Music Video in 2022.
Sam also works as a photographer and videographer with Photole Photography, assisting in creation of digital marketing collateral for entities such as the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce and High Industries. He is also the co-founder and Creative Director of The Hood Hippie Love Yourself, where he produces marketing strategies and content for clothing products. Sam’s notable works include Times Square Billboard for an Artist, Worldwide Wednesday, Culliton Park Promotion for the City of Lancaster, and the Rise Above youth summit with Touchstone Foundation. Sam is a 2016 graduate of JP McCaskey High School.
Board Member
PARTNER, APPEL, YOST, AND ZEE llp
Bill Zee serves on our Access Committee and is Chair of the Appel, Yost, and Zee’s Education Law Group. He has represented public and private schools, intermediate units, higher education institutions, and community benefit organizations throughout Pennsylvania for over 18 years. Bill has a special focus on trauma-informed and restorative practices, student mental health efforts, and public-school policy.
His recent community involvement includes board member and president of Aaron’s Acres, and board member of Leadership Lancaster. Bill received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers, a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. His bar admissions include state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the United States Supreme Court.
Board Member
RETIRED
Phil Hess served as President of WellSpan Philhaven and Senior Vice President of the WellSpan Health System from 2016 until his retirement in 2022. As a senior administrator in the WellSpan health system, Mr. Hess led all phases of behavioral health care related strategy, operations, regulatory compliance, new business development, budget development, and fiscal management. Mr. Hess began his career at Philhaven in Mount Gretna in 1988 and previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer before leading the affiliation and integration of Philhaven into WellSpan Health system.
He earned his BA in Biology from Goshen College and his Master of Health Administration from Duke University. Mr. Hess also serves on the Board of the Lebanon County United Way, Ephrata Area Social Services, Garden Spot Community, and the Ephrata Area Education Foundation. Previous Board service includes Advanced Metrics, LMC Legacy Foundation
Board Member
TEACHER, CONESTOGA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Ramon Rivera teaches middle school life science at Conestoga Valley School District and has taught at the School District of Lancaster previously. Mr. Rivera has dedicated his 28-year career to serving all students in public schools, leading field trips, serving in leadership roles, and spearheading initiatives to support marginalized students. He has mentored staff members and promoted science literacy programs in his career.
Ramon is a collaborative, supportive educator who focuses on empowering others to foster self-sufficient, capable, contributing members of our community. He has served on the Manheim Township Policy Advisory Committee and coached basketball and soccer for the Manheim Township Parks and Recreation Department. He is a bilingual English/Spanish speaker and enjoys spending time with his wife and their five children.
Board Member
CLINICAL SPECIALIST
AND PRIMARY COUNSELOR, BLUEPRINTS FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY
Jacquelyn
Palm serves on our Access Committee. She works to support clients in addiction
and mental health treatment designed for recovery at Blueprints for Addiction
Recovery. She has worked as a counselor at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric
Institute, Advancement in Recovery Program. She has worked in restaurants,
insurance and billing in mental health care, and she has held positions on
ethics and trauma informed care committees.
She has
participated in Touchstone Foundation programs and services and is currently a
Mental Health Careers Scholarship recipient. Jacquelyn is pursuing a Human
Services degree at Elizabethtown College with an anticipated graduation in May
2024.
Board Member
SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER, THE HERSHEY COMPANY
Chris Lesser is currently the Senior Marketing Manager for The Hershey Company’s International Commercial Growth Office. Over his successful 16-year career in professional marketing, including 9+ years at The Hershey Company, he has focused on unlocking new opportunities rooted in consumer insights, developing brand strategies, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver top and bottom-line growth.
Chris received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from The Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona and his MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
