I serve as Vice Chair of the Narberth Shade Tree Commission, a volunteer effort by residents of Narberth PA to plant trees and restore the native tree canopy in our borough. We're part of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Tree ReVitalize effort, and we plant every November and April.

I am delighted to be back with the inspiring Mighty Writers! A decade ago I spent several years volunteering and now I thank my lucky stars that I get to contribute to this extraordinary change agent AND read, laugh, and create with the students again."Each year at Mighty Writers we teach more than 4,500 kids to think clearly and write with clarity so they can achieve success. We host writing workshops in Philadelphia, in Chester County, PA, and in Camden, Atlantic City and Newark, NJ. Since the start of the pandemic, we've been distributing groceries and other essentials to families in our communities."

See into an inspiring world at www.cherp.research.va.gov. We disseminate progress and results of research led by health services research investigators in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to improve equity and quality of health and health care for Veterans and vulnerable populations in the U.S. CHERP has 2000+ followers on Twitter. Join us!On our Research Development team, I write letters of support and sections of grants for 5 - 10 major submissions each in December and June. For my work with young staff who dream of going to medical school, moving up in academic research, or identifying and fulfilling on personal goals, I received the Catherine E. Reynolds Award for Excellence in Mentoring 2012 and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) national award for Mentor of the Year 2013.

My tenure at the top-notch, nationally honored University of Pennsylvania Health System took place in two stints. Earlier in my career I worked my way up from Manager of Publications to Director of Marketing Communications at Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH). I managed a staff of 11 with a portfolio of marketing communications, advertising, public relations and the very first web site content. I was accountable for an annual expense budget of $2 million, which was a lot more money in those days.Loyalty and love of a new challenge lured me back to UPHS several years later, when I collaborated with hospital executives and physicians to identify newsworthy topics and stories to pitch to the media and include in internal communications. I coached senior staff and doctors for media interviews and wrote speeches, presentations and employee messages during turbulent times in the local healthcare marketplace.

Joining Steege/Thomson Communications altered my expectations of what’s possible for non-profit organizations when they have clear, cost-effective and powerful marketing communications. I managed accounts for clients in health care, higher education, public advocacy and civic improvement. With the company owner, I fostered relationships with new clients, resulting in long-term engagements that broadened the firm’s portfolio and customer base. And I got to work with the smartest team I’ve ever known. www.steegethomson.com