A long-time self-advocate and a force within the disability rights movement, Jean has experienced the trauma of institutionalization first-hand. Encouraged by advocates and friends, Jean moved out to assisted living arrangements in 1984, with the help of an agency in Philadelphia. Jean has been employed with both the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP) and the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, where she has been for more than 15 years. Believing it is imperative that the lessons embodied in the Pennhurst campus remain as an example for the future, Jean has become a driving force within the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance.

Graduating cum laude from Yale University in 1970 with a BA in Physiological Psychology, Dr. Conroy began his career doing research on the impacts of the Developmental Disabilities Act of 1970. He received his MA in Sociology/Program Evaluation and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology from Temple University in 1992.  While at Temple University, he was the Principal Investigator and designer of the Pennhurst Longitudinal Study, the largest study ever done up to that time on the topic of moving people with developmental disabilities from institutions to small community homes. Since then, Dr. Conroy has directed more than a dozen similar longitudinal studies in other states. He has been responsible for more than 250 formal research reports to government agencies and foundations, as well as more than 30 articles in scholarly journals and 10 book chapters.

His works have been publicized on CBS 60 Minutes, ABC Nightline, public television, public radio, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.

J. Gregory Pirmann, Senior Vice President

Greg is a life-long resident of Pennsylvania, born in Philadelphia. Mr. Pirmann was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's Office of Mental Retardation for 37 1/2 years, beginning his employment at Pennhurst State School and Hospital in 1969, shortly after his graduation from Villanova University.  During his seventeen years of employment at Pennhurst, Mr. Pirmann served as a caseworker, unit manager, special assistant to the superintendent and as the Director of Planning, Evaluation and Development.  Mr. Pirmann was the Director of Planning, Evaluation and Development at Embreeville Center from 1986 through 1990.  He spent the remainder of his career at the Southeast Regional Office of Mental Retardation in Philadelphia, focusing on the areas of risk and incident management.  He retired in June, 2007.

After reading an article about the Preserve Pennhurst project in Philly.com news, Janet, a board member of both The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of the United States, immediately sought involvement.  Her interest seemed natural, coming from 25 years of disability advocacy including the opportunity to monitor a variety of segregated and community based facilities. Her findings, as well as statistical research lead to numerous oral and written testimonies to government officials and community groups. Janet comes well equipped with an advocate’s historical knowledge of the disability movement and what society did to people by isolating and segregating them from their communities. She will represent The Arc’s interest in this endeavor, “to ensure that we never forget the people who lived and died there and that we never go back”.  The Arc is the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Janet resides in Berks County, PA with her husband of 24 years.  She has five children, including a son with Down syndrome, who is included in all aspects of community life.  

Nathaniel first discovered Pennhurst in 1993, writing in the Pottstown Mercury that the historic campus must be preserved.  Fifteen years later, after gross neglect by the state and a dubious transfer to private ownership that now pushes the site toward oblivion, he again took up the charge, founding Preserve Pennhurst with the intention of establishing an international museum of conscience on this unique, beautiful and meaningful space.  Nathaniel is a 1994 graduate of Pottsgrove High School (Montgomery County, PA), a 1998 magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University (Ithaca, NY).  Currently, he is a JD candidate at the Temple University School of Law (Philadelphia, PA) and a masters candidate in historic preservation planning at Cornell.  In addition to preservation causes, Nathaniel is active with the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County, PA

Bob Mochan, MSW, LSW - Board Member

Bob’s professional experience with people who have developmental disabilities spans four decades and has encompassed a vast array of activities ranging from direct services to people with cerebral palsy to executive management of non-profit organizations with missions to support people with disabilities in the community. He has authored proposals for and managed over 70 successful grants from both public and private sources.  Known for his innovative thinking, Bob created the first supported community living opportunities for people with developmental disabilities in Allegheny County Pennsylvania. He also co-developed and directed the first community-based residential support project for people with head injuries in the country, the first school local tax funded school-to-work transition program involving actual job placements in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a Preschool Inclusion Project which is still being replicated. Bob authored Pennsylvania’s first Medicaid waiver application under the signature of Gov. Dick Thornburg.  He was active in the deinstitutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities from various State Centers and nursing homes. As an advocate, Bob was instrumental in the closure of Western State Center, Southwest Habilitation Center and Laurelton Sate Center and the depopulation of Polk Center. In 2002, Bob received the Jean Isherwood Advocacy Award from the Arc of Pennsylvania for lifetime achievement. 

Liz graduated magna cum laude from Villanova University (2009) with a BA in psychology and will receive her MA in criminology, law and society from Villanova University in 2010. She specializes in the interaction of society and mental illness, which is manifested both in her interest in Pennhurst State school and in her research on racial disparities in psychiatric diagnosis. Her fascination with history is expressed in her work at Eastern State Penitentiary Historical Society (Philadelphia, PA), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, where all proceeds benefits the preservation and stabilization of the National Historic Landmark.

One of the most active and influential attorneys in the disability world, Judith once worked as a secretary at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.  Inspired by the work and the outstanding lawyers there, Judith enrolled at Temple Law School.  Securing her degree, she went to work at PILCOP, and has led the charge in dozens of important lawsuits, including ones to close institutions in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee, and, of course, Pennsylvania.

Mark Friedman, Ph.D. is currently the CEO of Blue Fire Consulting, providing technical assistance to disability organizations on consumer empowerment, disability rights, and technology. He is the former Executive Director of the Middle Tennessee Advocacy Center advocating for people with disabilities living in the community who used to reside in state institutions.

Dr. Friedman served as a volunteer founder and subsequent state coordinator of Speaking For Ourselves, an award winning, self-advocacy organization in Pennsylvania. He served as the Vice-Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. He worked for the Federal Court implementing the Pennhurst court order. He received his Ph.D. degree in the area of Organizational Leadership from the Union Institute and University.

Parent of a child with intellectual disabilities and member of The Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children, PARC, (now The Arc), was instrumental in securing Civil Rights Attorney Tom Gilhool of PILCOP to serve as legal council for The PARC in 1970.  Together they formulated a plan that the best way to deal with abuse at Pennhurst was to gain the Right to Education for children with disabilities in Pennsylvania.  This plan further led to institutional closings and IDEA, the Right to Education for all children with disabilities across the nation.

George Reitnour spent many of his early years at the Water Co just down the hill from Pennhurst, where his father and grandfather lived and worked.  In 1983, he established his law office in Spring City, which later became Reitnour, Mumma and Schwartz (aka Cornerstone Lawyers).  During those years, George tried unsuccessfully to secure a park at Pennhurst in the area north of Commonwealth Drive and to restore passenger rail service along the former Reading Railroad line (paralleling 422 west of Valley Forge).  He and his partners and family served Orion Communities, Citizen Advocacy of Chester County, Open Hearth, and the Camphill movement.  In 2000, George joined National Penn as a trust officer, and for several years has limited his non-work activities to family, Royersford Baptist Church, and poetry.

Mary's professional expertise is broadly recognized in the management of large, complex projects including historic structure assessment, feasibility analysis, development of preservation priorities , and master planning for multi-phased projects and creative approaches to adaptive reuse programming and design.  Currently she also serves on the Board of Partners for Sacred Places, is a past chairman of the Historic Preservation Board of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Paul's father started a community service provider agency in the 1970s, and brought his own brother out of Pennhurst.  Paul worked for that agency in the 1990s and part of this century, then branching out to form his own, more progressive and committed to the most modern thinking in choice and self-determination.  Values Into Action is now operating in two states, and it is the new generation of provider agencies.

Ed worked on the Pennhurst Longitudinal Study as a Site Reviewer, while working for the large provider agency PATH - People Acting To Help - the agency that invited Jean Searle to leave her institution and come home to Philadelphia.  Ed was involved in the same process with dozens of residents from Pennhurst.

Director of Business Development for Wu & Associates, Design Builders and General Contractors specializing in preservation work.  Katherine is a driving force in the green redevelopment of historic property.  She also has a Masters in Psychology and graduated with major concentration in cognitive science.

Nancy has been just about everything in the field of disability rights.  Mother, direct support worker, administrative leader in a provider organization, state director, national consultant and now head of the National Association of Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services.  In this new position, she has become one of the most influential leaders in the nation.

Bill is the president of the Spring Ford Historical Society.  The author of several local history publications, Bill brings a knowledge of the social and geographical context within which our re-development efforts must take place.

Executive Director of the nation's most valued and progressive Developmental Disabilities Council, Dr. Wieck is an essential member of this group.  She has compiled one of the most complete sources of history and progress in developmental disabilities in the world on the Council's websites and DVD.  Her work Parallels in Time is not only a historic tour de force, it is an invaluable training tool for new workers in the field.

Currently the Director of Religion and Disability at the National Organization on Disability in Washington, Ginny has balanced being a parent of a child with disabilities with being the wife of the Governor of Pennsylvania, Attorney General of the United States and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Involved in the Pennhurst story from the very beginning, Eleanor worked tirelessly as an ARC advocate, President of the ARC of PA, PILCOP worker on the Pennhurst litigation, and one of the founders of the international movement to address proper treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Holder of one of our longest resumes, attorney, professor, researcher, head of DPW, first PA Commissioner of Aging, management official at huge state mental hospitals, advocate, journal editor, lawyer for provider agencies during the Pennhurst years and beyond.  Eli is concerned of late with the criminal justice system.

Nancy worked at PILCOP in the Pennhurst years.  She obtained her Doctorate at Syracuse, working with some of the finest of the heirs of Burton Blatt.  Her work in transition, inclusive education, charter schools, and now with the ARC of Massachusetts, testifies to her devotion and activism.  Nancy has a powerful sense of our history in this endeavor, and can contribute precious holdings to our envisioned Archives.

It was Bill Baldini's legendary and groundbreaking 1968 documentary "Suffer the Little Children" that oriented Pennhurst toward its place in history as the epicenter of the human rights movement for people with disabilities.  A watershed moment in the expository journalism and disability rights, Suffer the Little Children and its wake changed the course of our national history.  Upon his retirement 2006, Bill was the longest working television reporter in the city of Philadelphia and in 2005, the Philadelphia City Council declared March 17th "Bill Baldini Day," recognizing his efforts.

Now the Director of the ARC of Philadelphia, Donna worked for a major service provider in Philadelphia for many years before giving birth to her daughter, Alina.  Donna has also served as the Co-President of the National Coalition on Self Determination.  She has a Masters degree in education.

Daughter of Donna Couclier, Alina is a student at the Overbrook School, and participates in trainings on communication and inclusion.  She has Aicardi syndrome and looks forward to a meaningful life.

Chris grew up around Phoenixville and moved to Spring City in 1994.  He has always been interested in history, especially local history. Combing the local historical society only fueled this interest.  A few friends of Chris were former employees of Pennhurst and shared many stories about their experiences there.  In 1996, what would later evolve into El Peecho Productions (www.elpeecho.com or pennhurst.net) was founded.  What started out as a memorial site grew into an online warehouse of historical documentation of the Pennhurst saga.  After the property was sold to a private developer by the State, Peecho was contacted by Nathaniel Guest sparking the beginning of the Preserve Pennhurst project.

Betty Potts - Board Member

Betty was the first person to leave Pennhurst under Judge Raymond Broderick’s Federal District Court order. Betty went to Pennhurst when she was 8 years old, in 1966. She went to Pennhurst because, although her family loved her deeply, they could not take care of her the way professionals said they should – and all the professionals said she would be better off at an institution. But Pennhurst was not at all good for, or to, Betty. She moved out of Pennhurst in 1978, at age 20, after spending part of her childhood and all of her adolescence there. She became an advocate and activist, and helped to start Speaking for Ourselves, one of the first organizations in the nation to be run for and by people with disabilities. Betty has presented in more than 15 states on advocacy, self-determination, and moving out of institutions. She was one of the first people with disabilities in Delaware County to have a home of her own, by obtaining and responsibly using subsidized housing through the housing authority. She also pioneered the supported living program at the agency she was with for over 19 years. She recently appeared on national TV -- in the Travel Channel’s one hour show on Pennhurst. She is a fan of the Ruby Tuesday restaurants, is loyal as both a friend and mentor, and loves kids.

Matthew Diehl - Former Board Member, now Advisory Panel Member

Matthew grew up in Royersford, just on the other side of the Schuyikill River, from the Pennhurst Campus. Always fascinated with local history, Pennhurst had sparked his interest back in 1991 as a teenager. Matt began compiling information on the State School and had spoken with many past employees, which only further sparked his interest. Matt has kept an eye on this property in hopes that someone would save it. In 2008, after hearing that the State would be selling to a private firm, Matt thought all hope of saving the property would be lost. In late 2009, Matt had heard rumors that the current owner planned on opening the Administration Building as a haunted attraction. While researcing this rumor amidst the Internet, he had found the PM&PA Website. Matt contacted Nathaniel Guest for information on the validity of the haunted attraction, And from there joined the PM&PA in their efforts to save the Pennhurst Campus. Currently a construction site superintendant, Matt offers his services in any way needed to benefit the efforts of The PM&PA.

Julie Gannaway

Anita Franchetti

Anita received her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design in the spring of 2008. Her master’s thesis titled “Shades of Green: Improving the Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Historic Buildings” was the culmination of many of her ideas on the relationship between the natural and built environments, resulting from her graduate studies and her time spent in New Zealand in the Summer of 2007 working with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Anita grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and received her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Delaware in 1999. After a year living in and exploring Anchorage, Alaska, she returned to the east coast to work as a research assistant with the architectural firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York City, where she was immersed in all things of and relating to architectural history for five years. It was there that she discovered a way to combine her passions- architecture and history- into a career saving and preserving historic buildings and places. Anita joined the Northeast Regional Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in January of 2009, and serves Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania from the Northeast Field Office in Philadelphia. In her free time Anita loves to travel, and can be found training for triathlons on Kelly Drive in Philadelphia.

Andrew Dinniman

Known by the people of Chester and Montgomery counties simply as “Andy,” Senator Andrew E. Dinniman has been recognized as an advocate for communities and families through three decades in public service.

That vision and leadership led to his 2006 election and 2008 reelection to the Pennsylvania Senate, representing Pennsylvania’s 19^th District. 

Prior to serving in the legislature, Senator Dinniman served for 15 years as a Chester County Commissioner, making him the longest-serving commissioner in county history. As Commissioner, Andy demonstrated a true commitment to the future of Chester County by taking on some of the region’s most difficult issues. He worked to found the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter, the Chester County Gleaning Project and served as one of the principal architects of Landscapes, the county’s award-winning open space plan. Both as a commissioner and a state senator, Andy also has consistently opposed tax hikes and increases in spending.

In the Senate, his priorities include economic security and job growth, local government control over local issues, open space preservation, access to education, health care reform, historic preservation, energy independence and quality-of-life issues.

Senator Dinniman serves as minority chairman of the Education Committee and is a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Communications and Technology, Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure, Environmental Resources and Energy, Local Government, State Government and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.

Gary Smith

Gary W. Smith, a graduate of West Chester University with a MA in Public Administration, began his economic development career in January, 1976, as Assistant Director of the Chester County Development Council. In March of 1979, he was promoted to Executive Director, and in 2005 advanced to President/CEO. Gary also serves as Executive Director of the Chester County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA), the Central and Western Chester County Industrial Development Authority (C&WCCIDA) and both the Chester County Economic Development Foundation (CCEDF) and the Public Safety Training Foundation (PSTF).

Gary has achieved an acknowledged leadership role for the Council by pioneering award-winning programs of reduced-interest financing, agricultural economic development and brownfields redevelopment. Since 1999 alone, the Council secured over $48.6 million in external funding for 185+ projects ranging from workforce development to urban revitalization. Throughout Gary's 32 years at the Council, its programs and services have created over 110,000 new jobs, helped to retain more than 135,000 existing jobs, and acquired $7.5 billion in commercial financing loans. Over 6,500 new businesses have been established in Chester County during this period.

In addition to the many professional services Gary has provided to Chester County during his tenure, he has also furnished his enthusiasm, expertise and untold hours to numerous state and national economic development organizations. In 1986, he created Penn Southeast Council, a nine-county regional association of economic development corporations to promote regional cooperation, facilitate public policy making, and establish innovative financing programs for area businesses.

Over the years, in his efforts to assist the Chester County business community to prosper, Gary has guided the activities of many county organizations. He was Executive Director of the Business & Industry Chamber for Chester County and established the first countywide Chamber of Commerce for Business and Industry. He also founded and directed the Southeastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (SEED Company of PA), a seven county regional cooperative SBA 504 lending corporation. He continues to be active on the Board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Cattlemen's Association. In 1988, Gary was recognized for his commitment to Chester County by being named Chester County Citizen of the Year. He also served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA and many other county organizations.

Gary is a former President and member of CDFA (Council of Development Finance Agencies), CUED (Council for Urban Economic Development), and CII Council (Commercial Industrial Investment Council) of Chester County and the American Economic Development Council (AEDC).

In his spare time, Gary is active in his church and in the Eagle Scout program. He manages his family's farm raising a herd of 45 registered polled Hereford cattle and avidly hunts waterfowl. A devoted family man, Gary is the husband of Victoria Smith and father of sons Bradford and Adam.

Organizations and Awards

• Northeastern Industrial Developers Association (NEDA) Economic Developer of the Year and Legislative Committee Chairman
• Council of Development Financing Agencies (CDFA)
  Legislative Committee Chairman and Member, Board of Directors
• Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED)
  Legislative Committee Chairman
• National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs (NCOSAFP)
• Commercial Industrial Investment Council of Chester County (CII Council)
• Penn Southeast Council President
• Transportation Management Association of Chester County Member, Board of Directors
• Chester County Citizen of the Year, 1988
• NEDA Member of the Year, 1997
• Business of the Year, 2001
• Resource Partner Award from SBDC, 2002
• CCREA Crystal Ball Award, 2004
• Member of State Agricultural Land Preservation Board
• TMACC Chairman's Award, 2005

Peter C. Benton, AIA

Peter Benton is a Principal with Heritage Strategies, LLC, a preservation planning firm recently established by three long-time colleagues that specializes in planning for historic communities, heritage areas, cultural landscapes, and historic properties. Peter a registered architect with thirty years’ experience in the design and execution of architecture and preservation planning projects. From 1984 to 2009, Peter was a Project Manager, Senior Associate, and Associate Director with John Milner Associates, Inc., during which period he had primary responsibility for the firm’s planning work. The primary focus of his work has been the recognition and respect for the character and historical evolution of buildings and the landscapes in which they are located. Peter is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the board of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Peter lives in Birchrunville, Chester County. 

Jeannine G. Speirs

A Senior Community Planner with the Chester County Planning Commission since 1997, Ms. Speirs provides professional local planning services to municipalities for comprehensive plans and land use ordinances.  She is also the Planning Commission's designated contact for municipal assistance with historic preservation planning.  Ms. Speirs has both prepared and, through a review role, offered significant input to diverse plans, ordinances, and publications, including historic preservation publications such as "Brandywine Battlefield Protection Strategies", an award winning document.  Prior to employment at Chester County, she had been an Historic Preservation Planner for the Delaware County Planning Department and was involved in reviews and surveys related to historic resources.  Ms. Speirs has earned a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pittsburgh (1994), with a local planning concentration.  Ms. Speirs also has a B.A. Architectural Studies, B.A. Fine Arts, and B.S. Psychology, from the University of Pittsburgh (1992).

The Mission of Chester County Planning Commission is to provide future growth and preservation plans to citizens, so they can enjoy a Chester County that is historic, green, mobile, and prosperous. The Chester County Planning Commission, a nine-member advisory board created by the Board of County Commissioners, is a professionally staffed planning organization that works in partnership with federal, state, and regional agencies and municipal governments to fulfill a mission that is devoted to preserving and improving the quality of life for Chester County residents and planning for the future of Chester County.

Hopes for the Pennhurst property include: the viable and sound adaptive reuse, economic productivity, and planning for the site, while maintaining a focus on historic preservation and site integrity.

Melinda Higgins Crawford

Melinda Higgins Crawford has worked in historic preservation for 25 years, the majority of that time as Executive Director of Historic York, Inc. and since May 2006 as Executive Director of Preservation Pennsylvania. Her areas of expertise include architectural history, rehabilitation and restoration practices. Crawford has a special interest in the study of the recent past, specifically roadside architecture and the Lincoln Highway.

Jason Duckworth

Jason Duckworth is President of Arcadia Land Company where he leads development efforts in Pennsylvania and oversees Arcadia Development Services.

During Jason’s tenure with Arcadia, the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance has recognized Arcadia three times—more than any other developer—for its Bryn Eyre, The Dreycott, and Sadsbury Park developments.  Jason and Arcadia’s work on the New Daleville traditional neighborhood was featured in author Witold Rybczynski’s 2007 book, Last Harvest.

Prior to Arcadia, Jason had a career in private equity with Crosslink Capital in San Francisco.  Earlier, he was an associate for management consultants McKinsey & Company in New York.  He has an AB in Urban Studies from Princeton University, where he was elected student body president and named to Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.Litt. in geography from Oxford University, England, which he attended on a Daniel M. Sachs Scholarship.  During his studies at Oxford, Jason was a university instructor of economic geography to undergraduates.

Outside of Arcadia, Jason is active with the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), where he co-chaired CNU XV, the national gathering of the CNU held in Philadelphia in May 2007.  Jason is also involved with the Urban Land Institute, where he is a member of the Residential Development Council.  A frequent speaker on Smart Growth topics, Jason volunteers his time to progressive land use organizations throughout the Philadelphia region.  He is a supporter and past board director of the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation. 

Jason resides in walkable Narberth, Pennsylvania with his wife, Angela, and daughters, Amanda and Lucy

Karen Marshall

Karen Marshall holds a Masters Degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a concentration in Preservation Planning from the University of Delaware.  Before joining the CC Department of Parks and Recreation as Heritage Preservation Coordinator, she worked to revitalize one of the oldest milling communities in the mid-Atlantic; Brandywine Village in Wilmington, Delaware.  This concentration stirred her interest in the social and economic vitality of Chester County’s population centers that have their roots in industry.  Her thesis focused on the landscape of country houses extending north from Hagley Museum in Delaware to Route 926 in Pennsylvania.  Preservation of the county’s agricultural traditions, rural countryside and villages, which are the hallmark of the county to many of our residents and visitors, is one of her priorities.

Drawing upon her earlier background in education and communications, Karen is working with park staff to enhance interpretation and heritage planning at Chester County’s five public parks, the Iron and Steel heritage region in northern Chester County and the Brandywine Battlefield National Landmark in southeastern Chester County.  Her office organizes the Town Tour and Village Walk program and the Historic Resources Atlas Project a nationally recognized program currently documenting county historic resources.  Both programs are county-wide.  As Preservation Officer for the County she consults on Section 106 reviews.  Technical assistance to Municipal Historical Commissions and Societies includes guidance related to:

-Education and Outreach programs highlighting area history
-Historic resource protection and restoration-Historic resource surveys and documentation
-Organizational development and membership recruitment
-National Register nominations
-Section 106 and local ordinance application guidance
-Historic Structures Reports & Impact Studies

Kurt D. Zwikl  

Kurt Zwikl has been the Executive Director of the Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area since May of 2003. He is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has worked in the banking industry and was President of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation from 1996 to 2003. Kurt was Chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for seven years and was a founding Commissioner of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Currently he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from of East Stroudsburg University, and received a Masters Degree in American History from Lehigh University.

Kurt is hopeful that future development of the Pennhurst property will have a positive impact on the Schuylkill River land and water trails and the promotion of the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area.