James G. Staples

Chair

Jim Staples is the Principal of Jim Staples Consulting, which helps small-to midsized professional services firms retain, grow, and acquire clients through better marketing and business development. Prior to launching his own firm, Jim served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Fox Rothschild, Cozen O’Connor, and Miles & Stockbridge.

Anne Wilmerding

Vice Chair

Anne has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. She was president of the board of HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, and was chair of the board of the Community Partnership School in Philadelphia, an independent elementary school in North Central Philadelphia. Anne also works as a director for Altus Partners, Inc., a risk management and insurance brokerage firm.

Bradford Paul

Treasurer

Bradford Paul is the owner of M&B Automotive Group, overseeing Ardmore Toyota, Central City Toyota, and Paul Bros Auto Body. Beyond his automotive ventures, Brad chairs the Land Committee for Coskata-Coatue on Nantucket, contributing to environmental conservation. Additionally, Brad serves on the Development Committee for The Benchmark School in Media, PA.

Michael S. Jackson

Secretary

Michael Jackson is Chief Legal Officer at Strother Enterprises, Inc., a cross-industry food service provider and partner. Prior to joining Strother Enterprises, Inc, Michael was a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, LLC, served as outside general counsel for Powell Steel Corporation, and in private practice provided legal support for closely held companies, individuals in the entertainment industry, non-profits, and small businesses.

Chris Ciatto

Chris Ciatto has served as the Chief Executive Officer of several high growth healthcare companies during the last 25 years. Chris and his children attended grief support groups at Peter’s Place in the early 2000s after the death of his first wife and is excited to learn how the organization has grown and evolved since and to leverage his experiences to help achieve the organization positively impact the lives of more children and families.

Dawn Harrell-Crowder

Dawn Crowder is a practicing corporate attorney and the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer of Olimax Manufacturing LLC. Dawn has an extensive corporate background working with a wide range of entities including fortune 500 companies, non-profit corporations, and start-up ventures. She was recently asked to serve on the Fiduciary Trust Advisory Board and also sits on the Boards of the Joseph Campbell Foundation and Merion Cricket Club.

Catherine Fries, LCSW

Katie Fries is a social worker and registered play therapist through the Association for Play Therapy. Currently she is a Therapist, Owner, and Clinical Director for All of You Therapy where she conducts clinical assessments for children, teens, and adults to determine the most appropriate course of treatment and leads clinical consultation meetings with a team of clinicians to provide clinical mentorship. In addition, she conducts individualized therapy sessions, incorporating relational, cognitive, strengths-based, and trauma-focused treatment modalities.

Christine Helmig

Christine Helmig is the Chief Financial Officer of Hankin Group, a real estate development, construction and property management company. She has been recognized for her professional and philanthropic achievements as a Philadelphia Business Journal’s CFO of the Year award recipient, and currently sits on the board of Meridian Bank. In addition, Christine served on the advisory boards for the Church Farm School Leadership Council and Seedcopa, and was a “Big Sister” for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Chandler Hoopes

Chandler Hoopes is CEO of Commonwealth Capital, a company that provides real estate secured financing for businesses and real estate investors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Baker Industries, a Philadelphia organization that provides jobs and work force training for vulnerable adults in the region, as well as served on the Advisory Council of Peter’s Place. Chandler was a neighbor and friend of Peter growing up, and as a teenager, became a Volunteer Group Facilitator for the youngest age grief groups.

Celeste Johnson, MSS, LCSW, Ph.D.

Celeste is an Associate Professor at the Widener University Center for Social Work Education. She received both her master’s and doctoral degrees from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Her research and publications explore traumatic stress, grief, loss, and resilience across the life span with a particular emphasis on the impact of community violence on underrepresented urban populations.

Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LCSW, MPH

Lara is a clinical social worker and the owner and clinical director at Healing Concepts, LLC, offering counseling, consulting and continuing education related to caregiving, chronic and life threatening illness, grief, living losses, professional compassion fatigue, stress management, transition to college, and trauma. Lara received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and her MPH from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She is a nationally recognized expert on grief, loss, coping with physical illness and professional compassion fatigue.

Leashia Lewis

Leashia Lewis is the Assistant Athletic Director for DEI/Director of UNITAS for Villanova University. She has more than 15 years of experience as a certified school counselor, track coach, (mostly at Conestoga High School since 2004) and has held numerous leadership positions teaching and leading conversations around race relations and gender dialogue. She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Education & Counseling, and is a Board Member of the Varsity Club Hall of Fame at Villanova and a former student-athlete on the women’s track & field team.

Michael Lloyd, Esquire

Michael joined IMC Construction, a professional construction firm, in 2017 as General Counsel. He was recently promoted to Executive Vice President. Prior to IMC, Michael, with 12 years experienced, served as legal advisor at Uber Technologies, Chevron Corporation, and Caplin & Drysdale, in Washington, DC.

Mary Kate Lo Conte

Mary Kate Lo Conte is a Partner at Merz Branding and has earned the respect of clients and colleagues for her strategic thinking and commitment to building and sustaining client brands with long-term, collaborative relationships for over 25 years. Additionally, Mary Kate sits on the Junior League of Philadelphia as their Sustainer Chair Elect.

Thomas B. McCabe IV

Tom has over 15 years of professional experience in the art industry, and currently serves as Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, an auction house in Philadelphia, where he has worked since 2009. He heads Business Development and directly oversees the firms Trusts & Estates, Private Collections, Private Sales and Museum Services departments. Tom also manages the firm’s sponsorships, events, website, online bidding functions and the Main Line office located in Wayne, PA.

Eileen Myers

Eileen Myers is a residential real estate agent for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Fox & Roach Realtors, and is also the wedding planner at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne. Eileen has served as a Volunteer Group Facilitator for Peter’s Place and has been a generous supporter of the organization and its annual Benefit & Auction. Peter’s Place is very near and dear to her heart.

Michael L. Spear, MD, MSEdL

Michael recently retired from his position at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children as the Director of the Palliative Care Program and attending neonatologist. Being board-certified in hospice and palliative care medicine and neonatal/ perinatal medicine, he has been part of neonatal/perinatal palliative care teams at various hospitals. Michael is also a volunteer facilitator at Peter’s Place.

Steven J. Torbeck, CFA

Steve is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs & Co. He joined Goldman’s Investment Research Department in New York in 1991 and moved to Philadelphia in 1996 to join the Private Wealth Management Group. Steve earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1999 and is a member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia.

James. H. Bromley

Emeritus

James M. Buck III

Emeritus

Eleanor Godin

Emeritus

Jane A. McNeil

Emeritus

Andrew S. Walsh, Esquire

Emeritus