Below is a listing of the dedicated staff at NEED, followed by a listing of our Board of Directors. Sylvester Pace, President and CEO Sylvester joined NEED in 2000 with a dedication for educational excellence.  In his leadership role, he strategically transferred the organization into a nationally recognized college access program by following NEED's mission “providing career and college access services which empower all youth from the Pittsburgh region to aspire to, learn about, prepare for and complete higher education”.  He uses innovative programs and services by implementing and executing college preparedness and college readiness; financial support and resources; and workforce development. Sylvester received his undergraduate degree from Cheyney University.  He then earned a Master's degree in Counselor Education and a Certificate in Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh.  He graduated from a Leadership Pittsburgh Class VIII and an educational advocate for public policy through the Institute for Community Leadership in Education.  He currently is a candidate for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Educational Leaders at Duquesne University. Being committed to the spirit of a learning environment, Sylvester is involved in the following board and advisory committees: A+ Schools; the Pennsylvania ACT State Advisory Council; The Center for Family Excellence; California University of Pennsylvania's President's Advisory Board; Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise Advisory Board; Spiritan Division of Academic Programs at Duquesne University; Technology Leadership Institute; Diversity Advisory Board for the School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh; and West Penn Minority Junior Golf Association. Arlene Tyler Holland, Student Services Manager Arlene is a symbol of commitment and service as she has been affiliated with the organization for over 30 years.  She is a 1973 NEED reciepient, joined the staff as a student employee and became a full-time employee in 1975.  As the student services coordinator, her duties are many, including counseling students in matters of application and financial aid paperwork, visiting various regional schools to discuss college and NEED's services, maintaining the student database, tracking and matching all grants and respective recipients, assisting in financial aid workshops and being NEED's primary point of contract for approximately 1,700 students annually. Arlene is pursuing her undergraduate degree in information technology from Carlow University.  She received her associate's degree fromt he Community of Allegheny County.  She serves as secretary/treasurer for Financial and Moral Supporters, a charitable organization providing support and encouragement to Allegheny County youth.  Gloria Brown, Controller Gloria joined the NEED staff in 2003 as an  independent contractor providing services in the area of accounting and fiscal management.  She is responsible for all accounting activities, including policies/procedures, cash management, and budgeting and financial reporting.  She works directly with the president and chief executive officer in developing and monitoring statistical and financial reports to provide high-quality management information. Gloria has an undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration from Alabama A&M University and a master's degree in public policy and management and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Pittsburgh.  She serves as a member of the board of directors of Working Women with Disabilities and held the treasurer position for seven years.  Gloria is also the financial consultant to Addison Behavioral Care and UMOJA African Arts Company.  Terri Snoe, Workforce and Diversity Internship Consultant Terri joined NEED in 2007 as the 44th Annual NEED Benefit Dinner's special events consultant.  Her relationship continues as the Workforce and Diversity Internship Program Consultant.  Her primary focus is to inform strategic partnerships with regional companies to secure internship opportunities for students that lead to the retention of talented African-American college students in our region.  Terri utilizes her entrepreneurial talents from operating her own special events company that specializes in non-profit fundraising and product promotional events. Prior to her work at NEED, Terri was a human resources generalist for WQED and a program administrator for the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence.  She has a certificate in business management with a concentration in human resouces, an associate's degree in marketing, and is currently furthering her education in organizational development at Geneva College. College Advisors/Consultants Anthony R. Johnson, College and Career Advisor/Consultant  Anthony has been a NEED college access advisor since 2006.  In this role, he is responsible for assisting and guiding high-school students at Oliver High School and University Prep with planning and preparing for college education and career opportunities.  He also directs NEED's African-American Male Mentoring Initiative. He has a broad skill set that encompasses many disciplines, such as leadership, fund raising, development, training and marketing.  He was the administrative assistant and district liaison to the late Honorable K. Leroy Irvis, Speaker of the House, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's House of Representatives.  Mr. Johnson's accomplishments included raising $2.5 million for the UNCF's training, education and scholarship planning for numerous organizations throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Anthony received his bachelor's degree in political science from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a master's degree candidate at Geneva College in organizational leadership.  Arthur W. Terry, College and Career Advisor/Consultant Art has eighteen years of experience in helping youth in their developmental progression.  He is a former project coordinator charged with managing intervention and evaluation activities and modules for a consortium of at-risk youth service providers.  Art now interfaces with school personnel at Allderdice and Peabody High Schools with preparatory services for college-bound students as well as career advisement. He also is the owner of a consulting business for three years offering contract services in project/program design, implementation, supervision and management.  Other consultation experience includes organizational development, human resources, conflict resolution and diversity training. Art earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.  He received certifications from the National Youth Employment Coalition and the National Training/Technical Assistance Center.  Talisa Reed, College and Career Advisor/Consultant Talisa is responsible for college and career advising at Brashear and Langley High Schools.  As a former guidance counselor for the Pittsburgh Board of Education, she understands first-hand how NEED's college and career services help to circumvent many of the problems that students and families encounter when preparing for college. She earned a Bachelor's of Art in Liberal Arts and a Master's of Education in School Counseling from Duquesne University where she currently utilizes her counseling expertise in treatment modalities and assessments for crisis intervention.  In addition to being an academic advisor and graduate assistant at the university, Talisa was a subsitute teacher at many elementary schools within Pittsburgh Public Schools. Talisa is a member of the American School Counselors Association, the Pennsylvania Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota, an international counseling, academic and professional honor society.  Mary Pat Ware, College and Career Advisor/Consultant Mary Pat is a former assistant principal and administrator practitioner at Peabody High School.  She has been a NEED college and career advisor for one year at the Creative and Performing Arts and Schenley High School. She has an extensive career in education spanning 35 years including academic counselor, pupil affairs specialist, lead teacher/teacher on special assignment to the superintendent of schools.  Other areas of expertise are facilitation training, conflict resolution, crisis intervention and educational problem solving. Mary Pat received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Virginia University and her master's degree in K-12 counseling education from the University of Pittsburgh.  She also earned an elementary and secondary principal certification in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.  Her professional affiliations include the National Counselors Association, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, Phi Delta Kappa and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Loretta Ellis, College and Career Advisor/Consultant Received an Associates' Degree from CCAC in General Studies and is currently working on receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Teachers Education as a part of CCAC's transfer program with Slippery Rock. Before joining the NEED staff, Loretta worked with the Pittsburgh Public School District for four years as the Program Coordinator for the Science and Math Academy that was located at Westinghouse High School. She is currently serving the students of Imani Christain Academy as the NEED Advisor where she is helping students to reach their goals of attending either a post secondary college or vocational school upon graduation. Jackie Dandridge, College and Career Advisor/Consultant Jackie is a graduate of Westinghouse High School. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Chatham University and a Masters in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Pittsburgh. Jackie is a former Pittsburgh Public School teacher. Before retiring in 2008, she had a rewarding career that included classroom teacher, Instructional Teacher Leader, director of federal a gifted grant and Gifted Resource Teacher. Jackie has been the coordinator of the School Home Communication Course for teachers with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers for several years and is also a National Trainer for Family Involvement. Jackie is presently the College/Career Advisor at Pittsburgh Carrick and Perry High Schools. Adrienne Walkow, Administrative Support Specialist For two years, Adrienne has been an important part in NEED's administration. Her duties as a support specialist has allowed her the capability of being versatile within the organization.  Her responsibilities consist of maintaining the efficiency of information through databases, relaying information to program directors, as well as providing support and information to NEED's candidates, recipients, and related parties. Adrienne's affinity towards community and educational improvement, through non-profit organizations, have contributed to her enjoyment working for NEED.  NEED Board of Directors Following are the board members that make up the NEED organization. We would like to thank all of these individuals for their hard work and dedication in making the NEED scholarships and grants possible.
Chairman of the Board Doris Carson Williams, African American Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Sylvester Pace, NEED Founders Marion Jordon * Florence Reizenstein * Founding President Rabbi Harold S. Silver *deceased	Governing Board TiAnda Blount, Mel Blount Youth Home Scott Brown, Citizen's Bank Candi Castleberry-Singleton, UPMC John Coyne, PPG Industries Christine Y. Curtis, Mary Kay Cosmetics William Holtz, ABARTA, Inc. Ann Hoover, Bayer Material Science Stephen Johnson, CNX Gas Corporation Claudette Lewis, Allegheny County Emily T. Lewis, Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C. Eric K. Mann, YMCA of Pittsburgh Michele Reuss, Giant Eagle Gregory Spencer, Randall Enterprises LLC Eustace Uku, Exico, Inc. Aaron Walton, Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Seldon V. Whitaker, Jr., Ed.D., Retired Educator Peter Mendes, KPMG Advisory Board Robert Agbede, ATS Engineers Esther Bush, Urban League of Pittsburgh Ronald Cowell, The Education Policy and Leadership Center Chris Pike, KDKA TV William Strickland, Jr., Manchester/Bidwell Jake Wheatley, Pennsylvania State Representative CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CHAIR Kim Tillotson Fleming, Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. DIRECTORS EMERITUS Seymour Baskin, Esq. Helen S. Faison, Ph.D.