Gov.-elect Tom Wolf Thursday announced the individuals tasked with reviewing state agencies, commissions, and various issue areas. These individuals will work with the outgoing administration to better understand the issues and challenges that face the executive branch.
"It is important that I understand the issues and challenges my administration will face," said Gov.-elect Tom Wolf. "Today I am pleased to announce this outstanding group of individuals who will review state agencies and provide insight into issues that will allow me to have the knowledge necessary to hit the ground running on January 20."
The list of leaders includes:
Aging
Everette James currently serves as the director of the Health Policy Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Previously, James served as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2008 to 2010.
Agriculture
Russell Redding has served as the dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College since February 2011. Previously, Redding was the secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
Banking
Hilary Hunt is a nationally recognized education consultant with more than 15 years of experience in the field of financial education. Under Gov. Ed Rendell, Hunt served as director of the Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education from its inception in 2004 until 2009.
Corrections (co-chairs)
Reverend Dr. Damone Jones serves as the senior pastor at Bible Way Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Dr. Jones devotes much of his time to working with at-risk youth and reducing crime in the community.
David Spurgeon is a deputy district attorney with the Allegheny County Office of the District Attorney. Spurgeon is also an adjunct professor at the Duquesne University School of Law and at Point Park University.
Conservation and Natural Resources
Caren Glotfelty is the executive director is the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. She previously served as the director of environmental programs at Heinz Endowments. Glotfelty also was the first deputy secretary of water management for the Department of Environmental Resources under Gov. Robert Casey.
Drug and Alcohol Programs
Bob Donchez is the mayor of the City of Bethlehem. He is a retired educator who taught American Government for 35 years in the Allentown School District. Previously, Donchez served on Northampton County’s Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Community and Economic Development (co-chairs)
Rob Wonderling is the president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. From 2002 to 2009, Wonderling served in the State Senate.
Dennis Yablonsky is the CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliated organizations. Prior to joining the Allegheny Conference, Dennis served as secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development from February 2003 to October 2008.
Environmental Protection (co-chairs)
Christina Simeone is the deputy director of the Kleinman Energy Policy Center at University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Simeone was senior member of the PennFuture Energy Center staff.
Robb Fox is a partner at the law firm Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox LLP. Fox is known nationally for his work under the federal Superfund law, including handling many high-profile Superfund matters
Education (co-chairs)
Pedro Rivera is the superintendent of the School District of Lancaster. Prior to his time in Lancaster, Rivera spent 13 years in the Philadelphia Public Schools in various capacities, including principal, assistant principal, classroom teacher, and human resources director.
Dr. John J. "Ski" Sygielski became Harrisburg Community College's seventh president in 2011. His previous appointments include president of Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, and president of Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, Virginia.
Fish and Game
Dan Surra served as a senior advisor to the Pennsylvania Wilds in the office of Gov. Ed Rendell, and he led Rendell’s Council on Fishing, Hunting and Conservation. Surra served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1991 to 2008.
General Services (co-chairs)
Don Siegel is the international vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker’s third district office, which covers Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Andy Toy is the managing director of the Eastern Tower Community Center in Philadelphia. Toy currently serves on Mayor Michael Nutter’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.
Health (co-chairs)
Dr. Rachel Levine is a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine and vice chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Karen Hacker is the director of the Allegheny County Health Department. Prior to her appointment here, Dr. Hacker was executive director of the Institute for Community Health. She also served as an associate professor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health.
Higher Education (co-chairs)
Connie Williams is chair of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees. From 2001 through 2008, she was a State Senator, and from 1997 to 2001, she served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Leslie Anne Miller is a Philadelphia attorney. She also serves as an advisor to Mayor Michael Nutter. Previously, she was general counsel to Gov. Ed Rendell and was acting president of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Housing
Tina Nixon has served as the chief executive officer of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg since 2004. She has worked with the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg since 2000.
Insurance
TJ Rooney served seven consecutive terms in theHouse of Representatives. As a member of the House, Rooney served on the Rules, Consumer Affairs, and Insurance Committees. He also held various House leadership positions, including chair of the subcommittee on Public Utilities and chair of the subcommittee on Federal State Relations.
Labor and Industry (co-chairs)
Matthew Paules is the business manager and financial secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 229 in York. Paules is also the secretary of Local 229’s five-year Pennsylvania State Registered Joint Apprenticeship and Training program.
Ron Klink served four terms in the U. S. House of Representatives representing western Pennsylvania.
Military and Veterans
Frank Sullivan served as the deputy director of the Joint Program Integration Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sullivan is also a retired brigadier general in the United States Air Force and retired commander in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Emergency Management
Margaret M. O'Sullivan is the executive director of Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia. O’Sullivan had a 15-year tenure with the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania, where she held several positions, including chief program officer and interim chief executive officer.
Public Utility Commission
Brent Alderfer is CEO and co-founder of Community Energy, a clean energy company. Alderfer served as a former Colorado Public Utility commissioner and is well known in the renewable energy industry for his leadership in markets for new and renewable energy technologies.
Human Services
Michael Rashid recently retired after serving as the chief executive officer of AmeriHealth Caritas since 2010. Rashid worked with the company for 20 years.
Revenue
Rick Gray was elected mayor of Lancaster in 2005. He also serves as first vice chair of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.
State/Commonwealth (co-chairs)
Scott Cooper is an attorney in Harrisburg and an active member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ). He is also chairman of PAJ’s Legislative Policy Committee and serves on both the Executive Committee and Board of Governors.
Pedro Cortes served as secretary of the Commonwealth under Gov. Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2010.
State Police
Rick Vilello is the mayor of the City of Lock Haven. He has owned Vilello Building Products since 1997.
Transportation (co-chairs)
Kathy Dahlkemper took office as Erie County executive on January 7, 2014. Previously, Kathy served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she held positions on the Agriculture, Science and Technology, and Small Business Committees.
Eric Menzer currently serves as the president and general manager of the York Revolution. Previously, Menzer was senior vice president at Wagman Construction, and before that, he served as director of economic development for the City of York.
For more information, visit the Wolf Transition website.
