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Our Aunts and Uncles
Maureen Barden & David Othmer
davidothmer@aol.com, 215 292 2727
maureenbarden@gmail.com, 215 287 4238
David and Maureen moved to Philadelphia in 1984 for David’s work in public broadcasting. Until 2000, he was station manager for WHYY television and radio, after which he consulted for public broadcasting stations nationwide. He has been a pro bono consultant for local nonprofit organizations for more than a decade. Maureen worked as a federal prosecutor before becoming active in prisoner reentry initiatives and serving on the Pennsylvania Parole Board.
Nancy Barness
nbs45@aol.com , 215-805-6886
Nancy has been involved with the arts in PA for many years, including volunteer work at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, PAFA, and National Liberty Museum and serving on the PA Council of the Arts. She helped with the start up of her daughter's company Purely Elizabeth, healthy gluten free foods.
Sophie Bronstein
sophylynn@comcast.net, 215.514.5782,
Aunt Sophie has lived in Center City along with husband Ed Bronstein since 1966. She is a psychotherapist and Diversity Consultant.
Jean Brubaker
MicetroBru@msn.com , (215) 990-5176
Starting as a professional cellist, Jean has devoted her career to arts administration - from National Public Radio to moving to Philadelphia to be Director of Marketing for The Philadelphia Orchestra, in addition to a concurrent pursuit as a photographer. Besides biking and working out, I love to cook and explore all the political and cultural offerings in and around Philadelphia. I have been very involved in grant making and volunteering for local non-profits. And I now work as a guide for the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Julie Jensen Bryan
Town phone - 215.922.4946 Julie - 215.805.4635 Robert - 215.370.6276
Emails: julie.jensen4@comcast.net, robert.bryan34@comcast.net
Sandy Cadwalader
sandycad@hotmail.com Phone: 215.985-1062
Sandy was born in Philadelphia and has lived in Center City since the 70's, serving on many boards, including the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, The Library Company, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Volunteer lawyers for the Arts, and is currently a board member of the Fabric Workshop and Museum and Chair of the Board of Visitors of the Temple Libraries. She loves traveling and living in other countries, cooking, and entertaining.
Jolley Christman
With her good friend Eva Gold, Jolley Christman founded Research for Action as a way to combine public education activism with scholarship. She lives in Center City, is retired and civically engaged in organizations such as Fleisher Art Memorial and Philadelphia Public School Notebook.
Eleanor Davis
Eleanor is a RN Certified Nurse Anesthetist, BSN Penn, Retired; Board of Overseers - Penn’s School of Nursing; Past Trustee - University of the Arts & Connelly Foundation; Past Chair -Mainline Art Center & Breast Cancer.org. Eleanor has also had the opportunity to review entrepreneurial projects presented by graduate students at the University of the Arts Corzo Center.
Mary Felley
mlfelley@yahoo.com , (570) 575-7006
Mary recently retired from running an adult program at Settlement Music School. Prior to that she was director of a small land conservancy in northeastern PA. She volunteers with her local watershed association and with the League of Women Voters.
Holly Flanagan
hollyeflanagan@gmail.com 215-964-0397
Holly is Managing Director of Gabriel Investments, an investment firm focused on early stage technology companies. She is a board member of women-focused financial newsletter, DailyWorth and frequent advisor / mentor to young entrepreneurs. She has lived in Philadelphia for 15 years, is mother to 2 precocious daughters, and is about to be mother to a puppy!
Susan and Bill Firestone
Steering Committee Member (Susan)
susanfirestone7@gmail.com 215.327.4461
wilfires@gmail.com Bill 215.595.6498
Susan is the founder and former owner of Siw Thai Silk, a fair trade and B Corp certified textile company that worked with low-income village co-ops in Thailand. She is now making one-of-a-kind wall hangings and looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities. Bill is phasing out as professor of educational leadership and policy at Rutgers University where he has studied and taught about leadership and program evaluation. He enjoys music, reading and hiking.
Vanessa Gennarelli
Vanessa is Director at GitHub Education, helping the next generation of software developers. She's been a member of the co-working community IndyHall for 10 years, has experience leading teams through conscious leadership, and designs patterns under the handle "Hanky Jawns." She lives in South Philly with her cat, Dotfile.
John M. Gerber
john.gerber@unlawyer.com , 215-687-0932
John is the founder and principal of Unlawyer Inc. (www.unlawyer.com), a legal services firm that helps companies grow. Through Unlawyer, John works with startups and growing companies, often in a role that includes serving as their general counsel.
After practicing at two large law firms, John worked in key legal and management roles with a number of early stage and growth-oriented companies. As a result, John brings to his firm’s clients his professional experience as a corporate attorney, executive manager, and business builder on a job that links with his other key passion - enhancing economic development through support of entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
Lindsay Gilmour
indsaygilmour@comcast.net, 215.696.9780
Lindsay is the owner of Organic Planet LLC and plays 2 roles professionally as a chef and culinary educator specializing in healing foods, and as a regional food systems consultant. She was a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Network and Fair Food Philadelphia.
Barbara Grabias
grabias@verizon.net 215-923-3411 (H)
215-913-0259 (C)
Barbara worked at the University of Pennsylvania as Coordinator of the Annenberg Scholars Program, and in 2001, became the librarian at St. Malachy School in North Philadelphia. Barbara has been a member of the Catholic Peace Fellowship, and has served on the Outreach Committee at St. Peter Episcopal Church. She enjoys the arts and spends her time reading and traveling.
Bernadine Hawes
Steering committee member
bhawes@dvirc.org 215-435-8056
Bernadine is the board chair of the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center DVIRC, which supports small and mid-size manufacturers in our region. She is also Vice Chair of the National Advisory Board NIST-MEP.
Kate Houstoun Founding Co-chair
Kate Houstoun is a Program Officer at The Barra Foundation, where she manages grants in health and human services. Previously, Kate served as managing director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and as deputy director of Ready, Willing & Able Philadelphia, where she oversaw fundraising, business development, and social enterprise. Kate lives in Wyndmoor.
Chrissy Kind
chrissykind@gmail.com , 215-480-7174
Chrissy is an active church member at Epiphany Fellowship in North Philadelphia where she serves in children's ministry & on the education team. She also serves on the board of Called to Serve, a community development corporation in the Tioga neighborhood and volunteers weekly at Tanner Duckrey Public School in North Philadelphia. Chrissy is a trustee of the Patricia Kind Family Foundation. Chrissy’s proudest accomplishment is being the mother of three wonderful (and finally) adult children.
Ted Lebow
ted@kitchentableconsultants.com, 610.324.6973
Ted co-founded Kitchen Table Consultants in 2009, a local management consulting firm that helps passionate farmers and food artisans build lasting, profitable, locally-focused businesses; AND an Entrepreneur's Best Nightmare. Ted resides in Bala Cynwyd, is an avid fly-fisherman, a "from-scratch" wood-worker and serial entrepreneur.
Marsha Levell
marshalevell@gmail.com
Marsha is a proud NYC public school graduate, an alum of Stuyvesant High School, Skidmore College, and Temple University’s Executive MBA program. Her career spans over 25 years in marketing, sales, and logistics across industries such as publishing, higher education, healthcare, retail, and venture capital.
For the past 11 years, Marsha has focused on supporting small business owners in the Philadelphia region. As part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, she served as an alumni manager, business advisor, and facilitator, leveraging Babson College’s curriculum to drive sustainable growth for entrepreneurs.
Now semi-retired from 10KSB, Marsha leads Polymath Consulting, providing strategic planning, coaching, and operational guidance to business owners through partnerships with MV CDO Summit, PIDC, and the Circle of Aunts and Uncles. Her mission is to empower businesses to achieve sustainable growth and lasting success.
Laura Kind McKenna
lmcKenna@comcast.net , 215-815-0585
Laura, a family nurse practitioner, served as the Managing Trustee of the Patricia Kind Family Foundation from1998-2016, which provides grants to health and human service organizations in the Philadelphia area. Currently Laura is a Board Member of the van Ameringen Foundation, located in NYC, and volunteers weekly as a nurse practitioner at a free medical clinic in Kensington because she strongly believes in giving back to the community both financially and through direct service to those in need.
Suji Meswani
Steering Committee
smeswani@comcast.net, 267-275-6865
Suji is a Philadelphia lifer. She worked as a retail buyer, both in fashion and home, most notably for the Anthropologie brand where she was the home buyer. She left Anthropologie to launch her successful home fragrance brand, Skeem Design, which together with her husband, she owned and operated for 20 years. She recently sold the business and retired at 50. Suji is an intrepid traveler, food enthusiast, art lover and adventure seeker.
Jane Pepper
janegpepper@gmail, 610.566.2747,
Jane is past President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. She is on the board of Longwood Gardens and the Natural Lands Trust.
Lucille Pilling
Lucille’s passion is access to quality health care, particularly for women. She managed primary health care programs in Africa and Latin America and provided short-term technical assistance around the world. Lucille is a hospice and bereavement volunteer and is actively involved in local outreach programs. She loves to travel, fly fish, hike and kayak.
Dianne and Ted Reed
dereed@reedresort.com
treed@reedgroup-research.com
Dianne – 215-796-4974, Ted 610-909-6554
Dianne, Retired, is the President of the board of 1616 Latimer Fund, and serves on the board and finance committee of Germantown Friends School and Friends in the City. She is a former budget director of the City of Philadelphia and senior manager in the national public sector managing consulting practice of KPMG.
Ted is the Semi-retired president of Philadelphia based reed |group, a marketing research firm specializing in customer satisfaction and B2B market surveys. Ted is on the board of and is the immediate past president of Friends Center City. He currently serves on the boards of Friends Center City-Riverfront (board treasurer), Cliveden of the National Trust (former board chair). Ted was a founder of Mt. Airy USA, a non-profit community development corporation in Mt. Airy.
Merrily Williams and Rick Summers
Merrily Williams and Rick Summers have lived in Philadelphia for over 40 years. Rick is CEO of PGA Magazine Group and a former CPA. Merrily was a teacher of German to adults and a volunteer working with children on reading skills at two public schools. She taught knitting at an after-school club for years and is presently teaching it at a library.
Heather Thomason Aunt & Technical Consultant
heather@primalsupplymeats.com , 347-837-1324
As the Founder of Primal Supply Meats in Philadelphia, Heather earned accolades for her pioneering business approach to sustainable butchery. She is a known authority on regional meat supply chains and whole animal butchery, and remains deeply committed to advocating for a more equitable and regenerative food system. Through her writing, education and advisory engagements, and community outreach, she continues to champion the principles of sustainability, transparency, and ethical sourcing, inspiring others to join her in building a healthier future for food.
Steve Weinberg
stevwei@aol.com , 215-753-6788
Steve believes in the power of sustainable business to transform our economy, serving people and protecting the planet. He ran a founding B Corp, was a principal in a solar developer that pioneered Power Purchase Agreements, and presently works as Sustainability Leader for IKEA Supply Chain Operations, North America. Steve helped build Philadelphia's Sustainable Business Network over 7 years, and co-founded Mt Airy Green Network and Sustainable Mt Airy.
Justin Turner
JustinLeeTurner@gmail.com , 215-913-1862
Justin is an angel investor and entrepreneur with a focus on social impact. His current project is Wonderland Fishtown, an immersive sculpture garden whose mission is to fight modern isolation. He formerly worked as an engineer, wall street quant, and real estate developer.
Judy Wicks
Founder/Steering Committee Member
judy@judywicks.com, 215.901.8817
Judy is an author, activist and retired entrepreneur best known as founder of White Dog Cafe. She also founded the non-profits Fair Food Philly, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, Circle of Aunts & Uncles, and All Together Now PA.
Sharon Wilson
s.wils@att.net, (215) 985-4566
Sharon is a transactional attorney specializing in trusts and estates. She spends most of her day helping people successfully plan and deal with some of the most difficult issues they face in life and loves every minute of it.
Sherley Young
frenchriver39@gmail.com, 215-828-4119
"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.” Aristotle
Sherley radicalized girls teaching HS history, started non-profit abortion clinic 5 months after Roe v. Wade, started The Birth Center- now called Lifecycle WomanCare in Bryn Mawr, lead 14 international builds for Habitat for Humanity, and is currently on board of school for vulnerable girls in Tanzania.
Partner Organization
The Enterprise Center
Della Clark
President; dclark@theenterprisecenter.com
Inja Coates
Loan Fund Manager;
icoates@theenterprisecenter.com
Former Circle Members
Mignon Adams
mignon.adams@gmail.com, 215-605-3660
A college librarian in small towns for many years, Mignon came to Philadelphia in 1985 as the library director at the University of the Sciences and discovered that she is a city person. Now retired, she spends many hours planning events for Friends in the City, an organization of those who have chosen to retire in the city.
Lucinda Ayers
laayers@aol.com, 215.806.5636
Lucinda came to Philadelphia to go to Bryn Mawr College, and joined the growing restaurant scene in the ‘70s as a professional cook, eventually owning her own restaurant in Old City, The Belle Aurore. In 1984 she joined Campbell Soup Company, becoming Vice President of Campbell’s Kitchen, retired in 2009, and now spends her time traveling, cycling, reading and serving on the Board of The Food Trust.
Alfonso Clark
alclarkdds@hotmail.com , 215-224-6171
Alfonso has been a dentist in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia and owner of a family practice for thirty-two years.
Terry Gillen
Terry has extensive experience in economic development, political campaigns and community organizing. She has served in various senior positions in city and state government and currently is Director of the Pay For Success program for national LISC.
Sara Gordon and Scott Janzen
saragrdn792@gmail.com, sjanzen@me.com, 215.817.9315
Sara is enjoying the search for her next professional adventure after careers in advertising and education. She is also the Volunteer Coordinator at The Attic Youth Center, "the only organization in Philadelphia exclusively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.” Scott has over 30 years experience in real estate investments and owns a real estate advisory and consulting company that advises owners and lenders of commercial real estate. He is also a direct investor and developer of commercial and apartment buildings.
Kathy Herman
khermanphilly@gmail.com, 267-634-3739
Kathy has lived in the Callowhill section of Center City since she graduated from law school in 1986. Kathy currently practices in the Corporate and M&A group of Blank Rome LLP, where she is involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives, and particularly enjoys working with B Corps and mission-driven businesses. Kathy is also excited to have been elected as the Judge of Elections in Ward 5, Division 25.
Connie Jacobs
cjacobs123@gmail.com, Home 267.639.2597 , Mobile 917.856.4878
Connie recently relocated to Philadelphia after 23 years in NYC. She is a financial planner/wealth advisor with an emphasis on socially responsible investing. She is looking forward to getting involved supporting local sustainable businesses, doing volunteer work in financial literacy and becoming involved in the community.
Risa and Bob Lavizzo-Mourey
Bob And Risa moved to Old City in 2013. Risa (MD) is President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Bob (PhD), is a former Professor of Sociology and currently a semi-retired Private Investor.
Rachel LeWitt and Kelsey Thomas
Email: rlewitt@gmail.com and kelseyelizabeththomas@gmail.com
Phone: 610-888-6866, 360-927-1355
Rachel grew up in the Philadelphia area and is now a managing director at CRA | Admired Leadership. She works with mission-driven for-profits, where she advises leaders on how to communicate better. Kelsey is a writer and editor who focuses on public policy and solutions-oriented journalism. She also works with a wide range of organizations to help them tell better stories. They live in West Philly and enjoy walks in the woods with their spirited puppy Skyler, exploring new places, and searching for their next best meal.
Lauren Priori
lauren@lpriorijewelry.com
Lauren is the owner of L. Priori Jewelry, a by appointment custom jeweler. Lauren grew up in South Jersey and moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband.
Clemens Pietzner
cp@triskeles.org
Clemens leads the Triskeles Foundation, providing an innovative donor advised fund aligning philanthropic interests and impact investing. He also guides Triskeles Inc, which offers a comprehensive set of experiential programs for at-risk children, youth and young adults focusing on the emerging green economy, sustainable agriculture and community engagement.
Paul Rathblott
paulrathblott@gmail.com
Paul graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law. Prior to founding ERC Dataplus, Inc., a human resource technology company in 1993, Paul worked as an attorney at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius; the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Xerox Corporation; Avis Inc. and Baker Industries.
Scott Rosen
scott.rosen@rosengroup.com, 856-816-3812
Scott is a life long resident of the South Jersey / Philadelphia area. He continues to actively own and manage a staffing firm called The Rosen Group which specializes exclusively in the contract and direct hire placement of Human Resource Professionals . Scott is interested in finding meaningful ways to give back in his areas of strength which include Business strategy, Sales and Marketing . He is married with college age twins, and loves reading, traveling, music, nutrition and exercise.
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
roxanne@shepelavy.com
Roxanne is a Philadelphia-based journalist who is Executive Editor/Co-Executive Director of The Philadelphia Citizen, which combines solutions-based reporting and events with calls to action with the goal of jumpstarting citizenship in Philadelphia. Prior to The Citizen, Roxanne was an award-winning writer on a range of social, health and women's issues for national magazines. She is passionate about Philadelphia, a city she loves and worries over in equal measure.
Dan Shepelavy
dan@shepelavy.com
Dan works as a commercial & fine artist, writer, and advertising executive. He spent his early career amidst the collapsing scenery of the pre-Internet music business. In 2001 Dan began working in advertising as a designer at Gyro Worldwide; a few years later he helped establish the agency 160over90, then served as the Executive Creative Director at the Brownstein Group until 2017. He’s currently the proprietor of Universal Exports of North America, which functions as an imprint for various publishing & art projects and as a creative consultancy. Artwise, Dan makes pulpy, realist gouache paintings and drawings. Frequent collage work. Occasional photography. He lives in South Philadelphia.
Ralph Smith
ralphs@aecf.org
Ralph is Senior Vice President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and has served on the senior leadership team of the Foundation since 1994.
Louise and David Strawbridge
louisestrawbridge@gmail.com, cell 215.990.9517, home - 215.574.4964
David is a magistrate judge in the federal court following a long career as a lawyer at Cozen O'Connor. He is the former board chair/ current board member of Bethesda Project serving the homeless, and has long served breakfast there each wednesday. Louise is an artist who showed her work at Rosenfeld Gallery for 12 years. She is involved with WIL whose mission is to give grants and micro loans to women in 3rd world countries.
Jeremiah White
Jeremiah White is the principal of Jeremiah J. & Associates, cofounder and president of iPraxis, and Chairman of the Board at the Community College of Philadelphia. Jeremiah’s leadership has made a positive and enduring impact on quality of living for thousands of citizens residing in low to middle-income multicultural communities throughout the region.