Board Members

Peter Kennedy, Board President

Peter Kennedy has attempted to focus community resources on the needs of people who are underserved. As a creator of innovative programs and services in the area of employment, independent living, adult day care, care management and out patient medical rehabilitation, he has provided opportunities for people with disabilities for over thirty years.

Mr. Kennedy is a self-proclaimed “501-3c follower” and has held positions of Operations Director at Goodwill Industries of Delaware, Regional Director for Easter Seal Society of Del-Mar and Vice President of Programs for the greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National MS Society.

His true calling is that of an outdoorsman, amazed at all nature has to offer, as well as a student of Taijiquan and Zen.

Katherine Reim, Vice President/President-Elect

Katherine Reim, CSPPPD Program Manager /AT Coordinator for UCP of Pittsburgh/CLASS, provides service coordination to consumers in seven surrounding counties who are enrolled in the Independence,OBRA or CommCare waiver. In addition, she provides outreach and assistance to consumers with disabilities and their families about AT/ PATF.

Prior to joining UCP of Pittsburgh, Ms. Reim was a Service Coordinator Supervisor for Three Rivers Independent Living Center (TRILC) in NW Pennsylvania.

In the summer of 2001, Ms. Reim was awarded the Mental Health Advocate Award for exemplary service to people with mental/physical disabilities.

Ms. Reim lives in Erie, and she and her husband are the parents of four children.

Christine McGinley, Treasurer

A La Salle University graduate, Ms. McGinley has been employed with an Investment Firm for over ten years as Vice President of Investments/Portfolio Manager. Ms. McGinley is a certified financial planner and she serves as the Treasurer of the PATF.

Kimberly McBane, Secretary

Kimberly McBane has been employed by Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania (formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern PA) for over ten years. She currently serves as Program Operations Director, overseeing the daily operations for all the programs operated by UCP.

Mrs. McBane is on the PATF Board because she sees what assistive technology can do for peoples’ quality of life as well as the doors that AT can open. She believes that cost is the largest obstacle and hopes to improve the avenues/opportunities available to purchase equipment that is needed by people with disabilities.

Mrs. McBane received her M.S. in Special Education from Slippery Rock University and she lives in Washington with her husband.

Additional Directors

Derek Baker

Derek Baker is a partner at Reed Smith, LLP, Philadelphia, specializing in commercial reorganization and bankruptcy law. Mr. Baker is on the steering committee of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference and is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Marian Baldini

Marian Baldini has extensive professional experience in serving older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities, as well as having close personal experience with issues that affect people with disabilities. She has worked for over 25 years in the field and is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Home, Health & Work Services at JEVs in Philadelphia. Ms. Baldini also administers a personal assistant / home health and attendant care program that serves 10 counties in Pennsylvania. Ms. Baldini has an MBA with a concentration in health care, a M.S.in psychology, and a PHR certification in human resources.

On a personal level, Marian was highly influenced by a family who has a positive "can do" attitude with an emphasis on valuing everyone. This attitude, and the experience of growing up with two members of her extended family who have physical disabilities, and more recently assisting her father-in-law who is diagnosed with MS, has inspired Marian to work in this field where her personal and professional knowledge can have a positive impact on so many people.

Ms. Baldini lives in Delaware County. She is married with two children, a son and a daughter, and one dog.

Rick Cole

Rick Cole has worked in the medical equipment supply business for over twenty-five years. Currently Mr. Cole works at Webb Medical Services. Prior to working in this business, Rick Cole was a supervisor for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Mr. Cole has an MA in rehabilitation counseling from Penn State University.

Donald Davis, Sr.

Donald Davis is an advocate for people with disabilities. Mr. Davis became an AK/BK bilateral amputee the first week of March, 2001, and was told that it would take him 8 – 10 weeks to learn how to walk again. But, given his determination and hard work, Mr. Davis left the rehabilitation hospital walking in two weeks.”

In 2002, Don Davis co-founded, and was chair until 2005, the amputee support group that meets at HealthSouth Reading Rehabilitation. In 2005, he became an active member of the Amputee Coalition of America and has lobbied policymakers in both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. on insurance parity for prosthetic devices. In 2005, Mr. Davis joined the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund’s adaptive First Volley tennis program and has since become chair of their support group. In 2008, Don Davis was recognized by the Civil Justice Foundation for his community service.

Prior to his disability advocacy work, Mr. Davis spent about 20 years in the purchasing field with IBM, Metropolitan Edison, Bechtel Construction, Medley Tool and Die and Videotec; and then in retail sale for fifteen years with Rickel’s Home Improvement and Home Depot.

Mr. Davis graduated from Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. with a BS in math. He is also a proud father and grandfather.

George E. Ferrey, Jr.

George Ferrey, prior to retiring in 2001, spent 44 years in hospital, healthcare and human service administration, with varying degrees of responsibilities in finance, public relations, marketing, fund development, strategic planning and executive administration. As UCP Central Executive Director and a UCP PA Board member, George was instrumental in helping establish the foundation for PATF. Since retirement, George has continued to be very active and committed to his Church Council, service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis), several United Way Advisory Groups, and his family.

Tom Giamoni

Tom Giamoni has been in banking for over 34 years and has been with The Bryn Mawr Trust Company for the past 16 years. Mr. Giamoni is the Vice President of Small Business Lending and is also a licensed Investment Consultant with the Bank.

Besides his duties at the bank, Tom is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Harcum College, where is currently the Vice-Chair and head of two committees. Mr. Giamoni is also the long-standing President of the Consumer Lending Society of Philadelphia.

Tom’s interests include golf, travel, reading, gourmet cooking, and he’s an avid fan of the Phillies and Eagles.

Liz Healey

Liz Healey is the founding Executive Director of the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center. Her experience as an advocate for children with disabilities and special health care needs began with the birth of her daughter.

Ms. Healey founded the PEAL Center in 2005. The PEAL Center is designed as both the Parent Training and Information Center by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, and the Family to Family Health Information Center for PA by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.

Liz Healey previously worked for ARC Allegheny and the Children’s Project, PA Protection and Advocacy, Inc. Liz works on systems reform to improve education, health and community services for children with disabilities. She currently serves on the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families and the City of Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Task Force on Disabilities.

Ms. Healey believes that if others see disability as a natural part of the human experience, then her daughter and other children and youth with disabilities will always have a place in our communities.

Ronald Kim

Ronald (Ron) Kim is a Vice President of Information Technology with the Exelon Corporation, the parent company of PECO. PECO is Pennsylvania’s largest utility, serving 1.6 million electric and 491,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. PECO has about 2,500 employees. Ron has responsibility for all Information Technology activity at PECO and has additional responsibility at Commonwealth Edison in Chicago, another Exelon utility company. Prior to joining Exelon in 2008, Ron was a Partner with Accenture, a global I.T. consulting firm. Mr. Kim has an MBA and Computer Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and he lives in the Main Line area outside of Philadelphia with his wife, Dr. Pamela Kim, and their three children.

MaryLou Knabel

MaryLou Knabel is Assistant Vice President of In Home Services for Allied Services in Clarks Summit, PA. As the Administrator, Ms. Knabel oversees the Agency’s services of providing attendant care, personal care and financial management services to people with physical disabilities and seniors in 22 counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

Ms. Knabel is chair of the Resource and Development Committee and co-chair of the Program Committee for the Pennsylvania Providers Coalition Association. She is also a co-writer and presenter of the PA-PCA by-laws; and on the steering committee for Services My Way, the PA Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Long-Term Living Cash & Counseling Home and Community-Based Services waivers. MaryLou is a member of the Training Advisory Committee for the Long Term Living Training Institute, P4A, Department of Aging and Office of Long-Term Living.

Ms. Knabel is the musical director for St. Mary’s Teen Youth Group and is a musician at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish. MaryLou is also the parent of nine children and several grandchildren.

Timothy McNulty

Timothy McNulty is Associate Vice President for Government Relations at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, Mr. McNulty worked for eight years in the Ridge/Schweiker Administration – serving in the Department of Community and Economic Development as Executive Deputy Secretary, Acting Secretary, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor for Technology Initiatives. Mr. McNulty assisted in the design and implementation of Governor Tom Ridge’s Digital and Life Sciences Greenhouses.

Mr. McNulty led the Pittsburgh Regional Revitalization Initiative in 1994 for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. He directed a technology development consortium at Argonne National Laboratory, and was also the Executive Director of the Council of Great Lake Governors.

Mr. McNulty earned his B.A. from Indiana University and his M.A. from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Mr. McNulty is a member of the SciTech Festival and the Pennsylvania Learning Network.

George J. Morton

George Morton brings with him a diverse background to PATF which includes journalism, business, counseling, ministry and independent living.

Mr. Morton is the executive director of the Center for Independent Living of North Central Pennsylvania. He is also the past President of the PA Council on Independent Living (PCIL) and was a board member on the PA Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) He also serves as pastor of an independent Bible church in his hometown of Jersey Shore, PA.

Being a person who has had a lifelong experience with a disability, Mr. Morton is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA., where he earned his B.A. and his M.A. in 1991 and 1992, respectively, after returning to school at the age of forty-two.

Mr. Morton was able to see first-hand how PATF works when he purchased a Dodge minivan with the Braun Entervan wheelchair conversion. “It was a wonderful experience to access the funding for my vehicle through PATF. Not only did the knowledgeable folks at PATF make the entire process simple and smooth, but I was able to maintain my daily independence with their assistance in providing a low-cost loan to purchase the van.”

Mr. Morton’s personal life has been nurtured by an understanding wife, three daughters and two grandsons.

Laura Schwanger

Laura Schwanger recently retired from United Spinal Association, formerly Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, where she ran the Pennsylvania programs for US veterans with spinal cord injuries and/ or dysfunctions. Laura continues to be an advocate for individuals with physical disabilities promoting full inclusion and access. Laura serves on numerous non-profit boards, locally and nationally, serving individuals with physical disabilities. She is a 3-time Paralympian and continues to be active in sports for the disabled. Laura received her BA in Political Science from Rowan University and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Immaculata College.

John M. Tassone

John Tassone is the Director of Operations for the Schuylkill Transportation System. Mr. Tassone is also the Immediate Past President of the Self-Determination Housing Project (SDHP), an organization that promotes self-determination and control in housing for all people with disabilities. SDHP also manages the PA Accessible Housing Program in counties that do not have a contract with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.

Mr. Tassone and his wife live in Schuylkill County. John Tassone is also a borrower from the PATF program.

Gary Woodring

Gary Woodring sustained a spinal cord injury in 1973, which lead to his involvement in the assistive technology field – as both a user and a professional in the rehabilitation field. Mr. Woodring has accomplished many things in his life. He was inducted into the Crayola Hall of Fame for the “1997 True Blue Hero Contest” for being a hero and a role model. He has competed in many wheelchair basketball events both in the U.S.A. and internationally, wining two Paralympics gold medals and four U.S.A. national championships. Mr. Woodring has been appointed to many disability groups, committees and advisory councils. Gary Woodring’s past employment experiences have been as a rehabilitation equipment specialist. Currently, Mr. Woodring is the Chief of Prosthetics & Sensory Aids at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.