Below is a listing of the dedicated staff at NEED, followed by a listing of our Board of Trustees.

paceSylvester 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.

 

arleneArlene 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, maintaing 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.

 

gloriaGloria 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 memeber 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.

 

anthony2

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.

talissa

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.

marypat

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 Viginia 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 Alph Sorority, Inc.

loretta ellis

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

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

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. 

deidre

Deidre Lesesne, Project Coordinator

Deidre Lesesne is a native of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from the east end area. She graduated in 2003 with a BA in Communications and a minor in Speech Communication from Clarion University. She also is a NEED recipient.

In January 2004 she obtained her first job as a temporary employee at the UPMC Health Plan as an Administrative Assistant. Deidre moved within the UPMC system from 2004 to 2006 working throughout a wide range of departments such as medical records, employee health, medical billing, resident anesthesiology, and human resources. It was in 2007 that she decided she wanted more than temporary employment and decided to explore the non-profit arena. In April 2007, she landed a job in non-profit development.

It was in non-profit where Ms. Lesesne soon discovered how much her college degree could be maximized. There she learned the raw basics of marketing, advertising, and fundraising. During her tenure, she established on-going relationships with local and corporate businesses and helped maintain many of the functionalities in the Development Department. Her love to help people that experience life-changing results is a constant reward and reminder that “what a difference a day makes.”  

amanda

Amanda Samko, Executive Assistant

Amanda Samko received her Bachelor’s degrees in International Business and Marketing from Penn State Behrend University. After graduation she put her educational skills to use in the real world through a career that began as an administrative assistant at a small engineering company, and grew to a position as the Director of Administration for a fast-growing non-profit organization. She gained experience along the way in sales, marketing, and human resources, through several positions with start-up technology companies. Amanda is also currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management at Robert Morris University.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Amanda feels a strong connection to the non-profit organizations that exist in this beautiful city. She enjoys the fact that her career allows her to interact with the many faces of Pittsburgh’s non-profit world on a regular basis. When she’s off the clock, Amanda enjoys exercise of all kinds, reading novels, and spending time with friends and family.  

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.

 

Chairperson 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
Michael Langley, Allegheny Conference
Chris Pike, KDKA TV
William Strickland, Jr., Manchester/Bidwell
Jake Wheatley, Pennsylvania State Representative

CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CHAIR
Kimberly Tillotson-Fleming, Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.

DIRECTORS EMERITUS
Seymour Baskin, Esq.
Helen S. Faison, Ph.D.

 



NEED is designated as an EIO through PA's EITC program. We thank the following donors for contributing through this program:

Allegheny Technologies
Bank of New York Mellon
Dollar Bank
Equitable Resources
(now EQT Corporation)
Highmark
UPMC

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FAFSA Applications available after January 1, 2010. Deadline for PHEAA Grant Applications May 1, 2010

NEED 47th Annual Benefit Dinner
March 15, 2010 Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers

Quick Reminders!!

NEED Board of Directors Retreat Jan. 30, 2010 9am-2pm Baywood Country Club

For free personal income tax/FAFSA preparation offered by United Way
Click Here!!

FAFSA Workshop Schedule:
Allderdice
6:30pm-8:30pm
Jan. 20, 2010

CAPA
6pm-8pm
Feb. 3, 2010

Allegheny K-5 School
10am-3pm
Feb. 6, 2010

Brashear
6pm-8pm
Feb. 9, 2010

Oliver
6pm-7:30pm
Feb. 10, 2010

Langley
10am-3pm
Feb. 13, 2010

Pgh. Obama at Reizenstein
10am-3pm
Feb. 20, 2010

Carrick
10am-3pm
Feb. 27, 2010
Perry
6pm-8pm
Mar. 9, 2010

Peabody
6-7:30pm
March 18, 2010


Warner Centre
332 Fifth Avenue,
1st Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

 

       
 
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