Kim Kerrigan, Founder & CEO Pinnacle People & Leadership Solutions

Kim is an unshakeable optimist, and her passion is adding value to others. She believes together we can achieve the Pinnacle of success, no matter what size or type of organization.

Described as “a caring and inspirational coach/leader with a rare ability to connect with differing personality styles”, Kim has devoted her life to help advance a vision of the world where leaders and teams work together to achieve a common goal while adding value to each other.

Kim is an extremely capable leadership professional with more than 20 years of progressive human resources management experience in both public and private sectors. Additionally, she has a strong desire to help leaders, aspiring leaders and HR professionals attain the skills necessary to be successful and organizations reach their goals.

Kim is the Founder & CEO of Pinnacle People & Leadership Solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Human Resources Management from Colorado Technical University and a Master of Business Administration and Leadership Degree from Post University. Kim is also a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member specializing in Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching, Group Coaching, Professional Development, DISC Training and DISC Consulting.

Kim has trained, coached, and mentored thousands over the years and understands the value of personal development in becoming an effective leader. As a servant leader and advocate for continuing education, she has served on multiple boards of HR and Management non-profit organizations.

Panelists

Maddy George, SHRM-SCP

Maddy George is a recruiter for High Companies, focused in the High Real Estate Group portfolio, recruiting for High Hotels and High Associates. Prior to her role with High Companies, Maddy was an HR Assistant at MGS, Inc. (Denver, PA) for 2.5 years (7/2019 – 2/2022) and a Pre-Hire Administrator at Sheetz, Inc. (Claysburg, PA) for 1.5 years (1/2018 – 7/2019). 

Maddy was born and raised in Lancaster County, attending Garden Spot High School. Upon graduation in 2014, she accepted an athletic scholarship for Volleyball from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. In December of 2017, Maddy graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She obtained her SHRM-CP Certification in February of 2021 and is currently working towards obtaining her MBA in HR Management from Lebanon Valley College. 

Outside of work, Maddy enjoys weightlifting and spin classes, exploring new bike trails in the warmer weather, and vacationing at her favorite beach – Ocean City, New Jersey! 

Tim Strawser

Tim Strawser holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College and a PHR certification from HRCI.  He currently serves as Business & Human Resources Manager at COBYS Family Services.  Prior to COBYS, Tim served in a medical billing company for 31 years, holding positions of Customer Service Manager and later as Client Service Executive.  After some downsizing at the medical billing company, Tim decided it was time to look for another job.  He felt it was an opportune time to make a complete career change by becoming an HR manager.  His years in Customer and Client Service have provided him with the needed skills to use in Human Resources for the past 5 years at COBYS.  Tim is very motivated by people, which is one of the reasons he is also an Indoor Cycle and Circuit Workout Instructor for the YMCA.  He serves as a board member of a local community theater group, The Promise Players, and enjoys serving on the Evangelism and Outreach Committee at his church.  He is a big fan of Mr. Rogers, which is why he strongly believes in treating all people with kindness and dignity.  Tim will be married 37 years on November 9^th to his wife Rose, and they have 3 grown children, and 1 precious grandson.  They reside in Lampeter, PA.

Darryl Gordon

Darryl Gordon is responsible for Human Resources for High businesses and resource units as
well as Benefits and Compensation, Environmental, Health and Safety, and Talent, Organization &
Development and Training. He was promoted to this role in 2012.

Previously, Darryl was Corporate Director of Human Resources / EEO Officer, a position he held
starting in 2007. His previous roles included SAP Core Team Member – HR/Payroll/Benefits Core
Team Member and, before that, Director of Human Resources for High Steel Structures LLC. He
joined High as Manager of Human Resources for High Concrete Group LLC in 2000. He came to
High from Case New Holland, the predecessor to CNH Industrial N.V., where he was Plant Human
Resources Manager.

Darryl earned an MBA from the Purdue University Krannert School of Management and a BS in
Operations Management from the Smeal College at The Pennsylvania State University. He is a
member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Darryl is Board President of the Lancaster County Career and Technical Center Foundation
and has served as a board member since 2003. He served as a member of the United Way of
Lancaster County Resource Investment Team Member and as Past Account Executive. Darryl is
a member and past chair of the steering committee for the annual Martin Luther King Breakfast
supporting the Crispus Attucks Community Center of Lancaster.

Become a mentee or mentor!

Kevin M. Ressler, M.Div has spent his life seeking ways to bring about an equitable peace and justice for all. These endeavors started as early as elementary school speaking against bullies, through Middle School where he disrupted a semester-long Revolutionary War history simulation (having been made Governor of Pennsylvania, he demanded freeing slaves as part of the Declaration of Independence), through forming Peace Club in High School.

Kevin’s personal journey increasingly interacted with the realities of poverty and the negative historical and social repercussions beginning with a learning tour to Nicaragua at fifteen years of age with Witness for Peace to visits to his mother’s homeland in Eastern Africa during formative years, to a month-long trip to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe during Mennonite World Conference and eventually studying a semester in the Middle East while attaining his B.A at Eastern Mennonite University. His first post-college job was a year-long volunteer year in Oakland, California with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service living with an intentional community before returning to Lancaster for an AmeriCorps VISTA year with Community First Fund when he bought a house in an economically distressed part of Lancaster City, where he and his wife, Melissa, still reside while raising their daughters Acacia and Iriana as active participants in the neighborhood and SDOL.

Kevin earned a Master of Divinity through Lancaster Theological Seminary, hoping to integrate his spiritual and moral concerns with the professional activities he could engage in through non-profit leadership. He spent 5 years growing Meals on Wheels of Lancaster and joined United Way of Lancaster County on January 1, 2020. His volunteer work includes board and committee work as Board President of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster, Board Chair of Everence Federal Credit Union, and at large member of Landis Quality Living, UPMC Lititz Hospital, United Way of Pennsylvania, Conestoga Valley Education Foundation, Partnership for Public Health and a variety of community steering committees including Hunger-Free Lancaster County and the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition. He also enjoys public speaking and preaching, writing, and acting.

We are thankful for the resources our community partners offer! Please read more about United Way of Lancaster, Church World Services, Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, OVR, Spanish American Civic Association, and the YWCA of Lancaster, and take advantage of this networking opportunity!

United Way of Lancaster – Kevin Ressler

We set the stage for progress by connecting innovative people with new and existing opportunities to create, fund, advocate, and volunteer to help remove barriers for people by increasing nonprofit organizations’ capacity to do good work and helping businesses more actively participate in this work so more people can live healthier, happier lives.

From the creation of the Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness years ago to implementing the collective impact model at scale to bring about countywide change in how social services are offered, United Way has always been on the forefront of developing new and better ways to serve the people of Lancaster County by creating numerous partnerships, coalitions, and other initiatives and by continuing to financially support those with proven track record of success.

We also know that a good idea can come from anywhere, and we’re recommitted to listening to residents, community leaders, and business leaders as we continue into our next 100 years of improving the education, financial stability, and health of every person in every community. 

Church World Services – Alain Martinez

Church World Service Lancaster is committed to showing welcome to refugees, immigrants, asylum-seekers and other uprooted people within the United States who are seeking safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

For more than 30 years, Church World Service Lancaster has welcomed thousands of new neighbors from around the world to our beautiful country. Through partnerships with faith groups, organizations and individuals, we empower our newest neighbors to build new lives in peace and security, providing up to 5 years of service and support.

Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition – K. Foley

At Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, we are committed to building a supportive and enriching community abundant in opportunities for LGBTQQIA+ individuals and those with a stake in creating a more inclusive Lancaster County.

Our mission is to build supportive and enriching opportunities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual individuals, along with others who identify with the LGBTQ+ community

K. Foley, MA, LCPC (she/they) 

K. Is a somatic psychologist and specializes in trauma and the LGBTQ+ community. They launched Trans/Queer Yoga in 2015, Lancaster Pride Week in 2016 and then in 2019 became one of the founding members and Executive Director for the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition. 

In February of 2021 the Coalition launched their Homelessness Emergency Assistance and Response Team program (HEART), a subsidized communal housing model that provides a supportive home where LGBTQ+ community members can truly thrive.

They also started Lancaster Queer Health Consortium along with Dr. Sharee Livingston and Dr. Adam Lake to identify and connect LGBTQ+ proficient providers, conduct and influence research for all intersections of the LGBTQ+ community. 

The Coalition’s latest initiative is the launch of Central PA’s first LGBTQ+ community hub: The Loop, at 117 E. Chestnut Street. The Loop serves as the home for Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition and functions as a co-working space for all targeted communities to coalesce towards progress. The next initiatives for the Loop include an LGBTQ+ health clinic and stage for local artists. 

K. is a 2022/23 Baldwin Fellow and a 2020 YWCA Woman of Achievement Award Recipient, and honored to be amongst so many LGBTQ+ warriors in the 2022 City & State PA Pride Power 100. 

Occupation Vocational Rehabilitation – Susan Richeson

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a Financial Needs Test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual. Also, by law, OVR customers receiving Social Security benefits for their disability (SSI, SSDI) are exempt from OVR’s Financial Needs Test.

Statewide there are 21 District Offices staffed with trained, professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors who serve Pennsylvania in all 67 counties. The Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown provides vocational training and comprehensive rehabilitation services to people from across the state. OVR’s Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services provides specialized services to blind and visually impaired individuals. These services are designed to increase an individual’s independence and employability. OVR’s central administrative offices in Harrisburg provide technical assistance to local district offices in order to improve service delivery.

Susan Richeson is currently the District Administrator for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.  She has 30 years of experience working for the Commonwealth in a variety of vocational rehabilitation positions.  She holds a Bachelors degree in rehabilitation counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from The George Washington University.  She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Spanish American Civic Association – Marlyn Barbosa

SACA uplifts and restores marginalized communities through human, economic, and social services, while supporting cultural identities. Communities supported by SACA are all-inclusive, empowered to prosper through sustained social and economic transformation, and the belief that diversity is to be embraced and celebrated

YWCA – Jessi Purdy

YWCA Lancaster honors the rich diversity of our community. Our culture is the result of our mission and our personal commitments to bringing it to fruition as members of staff, Board, residents, clients and supporters. We each have a role to play.

We respect each other in all aspects of our identities including race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, refugee status, national origin, disability, age, employment or education status, socioeconomic status, marital or family status, veteran status or religion.

We are dedicated to creating a workplace that reflects the communities that we serve and benefits from collaboration, sharing perspectives courageously and continued learning.

We believe diversity is our superpower and creates the ideas of the future. All of you is welcome here, just as you are.

YWCA Lancaster stands on our history but looks ahead to remain on the forefront of social change. We are committed to listening, learning and leading to bring real change to the fight for racial equity and gender equality.

Our focus on meeting immediate needs while creating long-term solutions uniquely positions YWCA Lancaster to achieve its mission. This continuum of response from direct service to issue education to advocacy keep us poised and ready to meet some our community’s biggest needs.

Jessica Purdy’s desire for a more inclusive and accepting workplace led her to found FIC Human Resource Partners, LLC so that she could help organizations do better and be better for their employees and the communities they serve.  She relies on a combination of her personal and professional experiences combined with a mindset of ‘bringing people in’ to build bridges and navigate the difficult work of creating inclusive cultures of belonging.

She was a founding member of the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, former board Chair of the Lancaster Pride Association, and a former  Keystone Business Alliance Board Member.  She is currently a commissioner on the City of Lancaster’s Human Relations Commission and a YWCA Lancaster board member.  She has also engaged in various political advocacy work, including discussions in support of the PA Equality Act and expansion of Aging Resource Programs to include LGBTQ+ initiatives .

We are excited to report that LSHRM raised $800 for PAWW during our July Program!

PAWW is an independent statewide non-profit 501©(3) organization providing support to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Veterans in Crisis, and their families.

https://www.pawoundedwarriors.org/

Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Inc. was founded on one major goal – to help over 1000 veterans and families each year with over $1,000,000 in assistance.  They provide emergency financial assistance to veterans to help pay for housing, utilities, transportation, medical and other expenses.

They pay directly to landlords, vendors and creditors.

Pennsylvania’s veterans have served their nation in every conflict. Many of these men and women are recovering physically, mentally or emotionally at a military hospital, Veteran’s Administration medical facility or with their families at home – and are in need of financial support. Through generous donations, they are able to assist our Pennsylvania veterans.

Theresa Mongiovi, Esq. and Jodi Wilenzik, Esq. of Post & Schell, P.C.