Our Team

The Allegheny Conference staff works from the direction of board leadership on the day-to-day activities that move the Conference’s agenda forward.

If you are a smart, civic-minded individual who is invested in a bright future for the Pittsburgh region, why not join our team.

Senior Management Team

Cecelia Cagni

Meet Cecelia

What do you do?
I serve as the organization’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. In this capacity, I oversee the development and delivery of marketing and communications strategies and products that support the Conference and its affiliated organizations.

What do you like best about your position?
Pittsburghers are not afraid to do the work! Across our private, public and academic sectors – we tackle challenges, solve hard problems and pioneer solutions to make our region and world a better place.

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Cecelia Cagni

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
412.392.4555 x3110
ccagni@alleghenyconference.org

Missy Demme
Melissa Demme

Executive Assistant to Stefani Pashman
412.392.1031
mdemme@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Vera

What do you do?
I am responsible for coordinating all quantitative and qualitative research, championing the use of data and information across the organization, and framing the messaging around the state of the Pittsburgh region’s economy.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I am passionate about the Pittsburgh region because of its natural beauty, incredible resilience, strong commitment to a better future and amazing people.

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Vera Krekanova

Chief Strategy & Research Officer
412.281.4783 x3136
vkrekanova@alleghenyconference.org

Majestic Lane
Majestic Lane

Chief Equity Officer

mlane@alleghenyconference.org

Willy McKain

Meet Willy

What do you do?
I oversee the internal operations of the Conference, including Human Resources, Investor Relations, Information Technology and Facilities Management, as well as management of the work plan

What do you like best about your position?
I work with talented and energetic leadership staff that support the Conference’s mission. In addition, it is very rewarding to see our board and members bring many shared experiences and expertise to collaborate on shared projects and initiatives. Lastly, there is no typical day which makes the job stimulating, demanding and fun.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
People in the Pittsburgh region care. They work together to solve problems and get things done for the betterment of the community and do so in a humble way. There is a famous quote that I believe accurately describes the spirit and success of the Pittsburgh region: “It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”

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Willy McKain

Chief Operating Officer
412.392.1083 x3134
wmckain@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Stefani

What do you do?
On October 2, 2017, I became the Chief Executive Officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliated organizations – the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh, LLC and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
Frick Park.

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Stefani Pashman

Chief Executive Officer
412.281.4783 x3125
spashman@alleghenyconference.org

Janel Skelley

Meet Janel

What do you do?
I am the Chief Financial Officer overseeing the accounting, finance, human resources and information technology departments, as well as facets of operations including facilities management.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
Pittsburgh’s city landscape, the friendly people and the perfect place to raise a family. The sense of pride I feel when a visitor approaches the end of the Fort Pitt Tunnel and gasps at what is at the other side. It is the place I grew up and will always be my home.

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Janel M. Skelley

Chief Financial Officer
412.281.4783 x3113
jskelley@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Matt

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I am passionate about our city’s ability to collaborate and partner, across party lines, between labor and business, and across the region, on critical issues impacting our future.

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Matt Smith

Chief Growth Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development
412.281.4783 x2032
msmith@pittsburghchamber.com

Staff

Meet Karen

What do you do?
Manage the day to day financial operations.

Karen Adkins

Vice President of Finance and Controller
412.281.4783 x3111
kadkins@alleghenyconference.org

Dan Alwine

Vice President, Government Affairs
412-246-4150
dalwine@alleghenyconference.org

Jennifer Baldwin

Meet Jen

What do you like best about your position?
I enjoy providing a support system for our staff and the constant variety in my work.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I’m fascinated by the growth and evolution that has taken place in my lifetime. And no matter where I’ve lived or traveled, this region is always home.

Jennifer Baldwin

Human Resources Specialist
412.281.4783 x3144
jbaldwin@alleghenyconference.org

Alisa Balestra

Sr. Director, Economic Development Research & Strategy
412.471.1489
abalestra@alleghenyconference.org

Christine Battyanyi
Christine Battyanyi

Director of Finance

cbattyanyi@alleghenyconference.org

Oliver Beasley
Oliver Beasley

Senior Director, Inclusive Economic Growth

obeasley@alleghenyconference.org

Alexandra Bennett
Alexandra Bennett

Strategy & Research Associate

abennett@alleghenyconference.org

Eric Chaikowsky

Art Director
412.392.4555 x4542
echaikowsky@alleghenyconference.org

Lauren Connelly
Lauren Connelly

Vice President, Local Government Political Affairs & Advocacy

lconnelly@alleghenyconference.org

Phil Cynar

Meet Phil

What do you do?
I’m part of a team that conveys the amazing stories and news of a Pittsburgh region-reborn to a broad audience including the Regional Investors who have kept our organization running for nearly 75 years, our many partners across the region to companies looking to grow, and talent seeking a “soft landing” loaded with opportunity. And there’s the media, too – another important communications vehicle with which I work closely to report on how Pittsburgh, and Pittsburghers, have been making the world a better place for 250+ years.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
Pittsburgh is right-sized for me. It’s a big, small city where I feel like I’ve found my place. My husband and I appreciate and value Pittsburgh’s rich history and unique character, its accessibility on so many levels and the diversity of people who make this a friendly, safe and welcoming place.

Philip Cynar

Senior Director, Media and Public Relations
412.392.4555 x4573
pcynar@alleghenyconference.org

Kelly Dunbar-Jones

Meet Kelly

What do you like best about your position?
What I like the most about my position is being able to interact on a daily basis with staff, clients, vendors and being the main contact person for the organization.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I love all of the newly renovated shops, condos, restaurants that are currently in process or will be will complete with in the next few years. I also love how we all come together in good times and bad to help each other.

Kelly Dunbar Jones

Office Associate
412.392.4555 x4531
kdunbarjones@alleghenyconference.org

Sarah Dunlap
Sarah Dunlap

Communications Manager

sdunlap@alleghenyconference.org

Bill Flanagan

Meet Bill

What do you do?
As I have done for more than 40-years, I tell the story of the Pittsburgh region through my role as producer and host of “Our Region’s Business,” a weekly business public affairs broadcast television program produced in partnership with WPXI, and develop and implement related programming to advance the Allegheny Conference agenda and raise regional awareness of important issues and opportunities..

Bill Flanagan

Special Advisor
412.281.4783 x3123
bflanagan@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Leslie

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
The Pittsburgh region is where I was born and raised. I’ve seen the city evolve from the old “steel town” to the emerging technology center that it is today.

Leslie Freeman

Financial Analyst
412.392.4555 x3119
lfreeman@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Jim

What do you do?
Serve as a regional resource for economic, demographic and business information.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
It’s the perfect combination of big city assets and small town values.

James Futrell, CERP

Vice President, Market Research & Analysis
412.392.4555 x1023
jfutrell@pittsburghregion.org

Ellen Gaus

Meet Ellen

What do you do?
If Google were a girl, that would be me. I assemble data about people, jobs, industries and more in the Pittsburgh region and beyond to tell an impactful and meaningful story, as well as attract and retain businesses. I lead on manufacturing and other key sector requests as well as international requests.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
Pittsburgh and the people that live here are unlike any other in the world. Working for an organization that is so invested in the success of the region is a thrill and an honor.

Ellen Gaus

Market Research Manager
412.392.4555 x1020
egaus@pittsburghregion.org

Cody Gill
Cody Gill

Manager, Business Investment

cgill@pittsburghregion.org

Austin Grbach
Austin Grbach

Member Relations Manager

agrbach@alleghenyconference.org

Stephanie Gumbert
Stephanie Gumbert

Marketing & Communications Associate

sgumbert@alleghenyconference.org

Meet Deb

What do you like best about your position?
I enjoy working with the Business Investment and Investor Relations teams. I find the work interesting and as a group we make a great team.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I love the Pittsburgh region mostly for its people. Having many hiking trails and beautiful lakes is just a bonus.

Debra Harshaw

Coordinator, Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
412.392.4555 x4539
dharshaw@alleghenyconference.org

Mike Henderson

Meet Mike

What do you do?
In my role with the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, I am responsible for client contact, information gathering, and project management for companies from around the region and around the world that are considering southwestern Pennsylvania for new and expanded facilities.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I moved here from New Jersey to be part of the dramatic transformation of the Pittsburgh region, from one largely based on manufacturing to the diversified economy that it is today, and I want to do my part to accelerate that transformation.

Michael Henderson

Senior Director, Business Investment + International Investment Inquiries
412.392.4555 x4536
mhenderson@pittsburghregion.org

Meet Kaitlyn

What do you do?
I provide project support to various departments across the Conference, primarily focusing on research and communications, in order to grow and improve our region.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
I love the sense of community and friendliness that the people project, how the city has stayed on the cutting edge, and the food!

Kaitlyn Hendrickson

Acting Vice President, Investor Relations
412.392.4555 x1086
khendrickson@alleghenyconference.org

Molly Hobba
Molly Hobba

Manager, Business Investment

mhobba@pittsburghregion.org

Patty Horvatich

Meet Patty

What do you do?
With the help of my colleagues and partners, I promote the 10-county Pittsburgh region for the purpose of creating jobs and capital investment through business attraction and expansion.

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
The people. Pittsburghers have a ‘roll up your sleeves, get it done’ attitude that helps to cope with current times and plan for the future, all while respecting our strong heritage.

Patty Horvatich

Senior Vice President, Business Investment
412.392.4555 x4543
phorvatich@pittsburghregion.org

Jordan Jasper
Jordan Jasper

Business Investment Manager

jjasper@alleghenyconference.org

Karly Keppel-Webb
Karly Keppel-Webb

Investor Relations Associate

kkeppel-webb@alleghenyconference.org

Rachel Leige
Rachel Leige

Manager, Business Investment

rleige@pittsburghregion.org

Johna Lingelbach

Meet Johna

What do you like best about your position?
Challenges. Life never gets boring with technology always changing.

Johna K. Lingelbach, MCSE, MCP, A+

Senior Director, Information Technology
412.281.4783 x2028
jlingelbach@alleghenyconference.org

Eric McAllister
Eric McAllister II

Manager, Inclusive Economic Growth

emcallister@alleghenyconference.org

Jenna Mihalcin
Jenna Mihalcin

Marketing & Communications Manager

jmihalcin@alleghenyconference.org

James Myers
James Myers

Senior Director, Business Investment

jmyers@alleghenyconference.org

Mike Palmer
Mike Palmer

Manager, Business Investment

mpalmer@alleghenyconference.org

Shyam Patel

Market Research Intern

spatel@alleghenyconference.org

Mihir Prakash

Sr. Director, Economic Development Research & Analysis
412.392.2414
mprakash@alleghenyconference.org

Benjamin Pratt
Ben Pratt

Regional Economic Competitiveness Officer
412-246-4151
bpratt@alleghenyconference.org

Nova Rubio

Meet Nova

What do you do?
Provides administrative support to management and staff.

What do you like best about your position?
Meeting talented people and knowing I am a part of making our region “Great!”

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
Pittsburgh has a nice city feeling. Not too little and not too big.

Nova Rubio

Finance Coordinator
412.281.4783 x3101
nrubio@alleghenyconference.org

Jennifer Span
Chrissy Savinell

Web Developer
412.281.1890 x1082
csavinell@alleghenyconference.org

Josie Schultz
Josie Schultz

Vice President, Policy & Advocacy Communications

jschultz@alleghenyconference.org

Bob Shark
Bob Shark

Special Advisor, Business Investment
412.392.1015
bshark@pittsburghregion.org

Laura Sohinki
Laura Sohinki

Senior Director, Government Affairs

lsohinki@pittsburghchamber.com

Zivya Sutton

Government Affairs Associate

zsutton@pittsburghchamber.com

Kristen Turner

Events Director

kturner@alleghenyconference.org

Rhonda Walters

Meet Rhonda

What do you like best about your position?
I love that I get the opportunity to lead, support, and serve amazing & talented employees each day!

Why are you passionate about the Pittsburgh region?
The “sense of community”, the feeling of belonging and that what happens to one happens to us all!

Rhonda Walters

Vice President, Talent Management
412.281.4783 x2029
rwalters@alleghenyconference.org

Katlyn Weiser
Katlyn Weiser

Manager, Public Policy and Government Affairs

kweiser@pittsburghchamber.com


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