thank you to our 2025 board of directors

Our Board of Directors is composed of diverse, influential, passionate, and knowledgeable leaders throughout our city and region. Each director brings unique value to our organization, including specialized skills, connections to networks, access to resources and personal experience and passions. We thank you for your service and for sharing your talents and expertise.

Joel Burstein
CEO and Co-founder, BEAM Collaborative

Abigail Horn
Director, Office of Community Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Sallyann Kluz,
Executive Director, Shiftworks4

Catherine Murray
Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

Joshua Pollard
President & CEO,Omicelo

David Serafini
Senior Vice President and Market Manager, PNC Community Development Banking

thank you to our staff

The Neighborhood Allies staff shares an authentic and underlying purpose of making life better for all Pittsburghers–each coming from a diverse background and bringing our personal experiences, knowledge and expertise to our organization. We are committed to embodying the best practices in our field. Above all, we strive to be self-reflective, compassionate and hold the highest ideals of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and all that we do.

Leadership and Administration Staff:
• President and CEO: Presley Gillespie
• Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer: Stephanie Miller
• Chief Financial Officer: Violet Graham
• Senior Program Manager of Fund Development & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: DeOndra Parker
• Executive Assistant and Office Manager: Ben Emswiler

Equity Staff:
• Senior Director of Public and Private Partnerships: Shad Henderson
• RISE HIGH Internal Team: Shad Henderson, DeOndra Parker, Demi Kolke, Glenn Grayson, Tamara Emswiler, Itha Cao, Robin Sheffey

Communications Staff:
• Senior Director of Knowledge Management and Communications: Talia DePasquale
• Senior Manager of Data, Evaluation, and Strategy: Mike O’Toole
• Program Manager for Communications and Outreach: Chelsea Eicher

Community Mental Health/Steel Smiling Organization-In-Residence Staff:
• Founder Emeritus: Julius Boatwright
• Managing Director: Courtney Abegunde
• Program Manager of Wellness Services: Robin Sheffey
• Program Manager of Steel Healing: Shawn Thomas
• Program Coordinator: Cheyenne Campbell
• Program Coordinator: Meleak Potter
• Program Coordinator: Jamilah Lahijuddin

Real Estate Staff:
• Vice President of Real Estate Services: Matt Madia
• Director of Community Investments: Demi Kolke
• Senior Program Manager for Real Estate Development: Glenn Grayson Jr.
• Program Manager of Real Estate Services: Tariq Williams

Social Impact Design Staff:
• Senior Program Manager for Social Impact Design: Tamara Emswiler
• Social Impact Designer: Jordan Swartz

Digital Inclusion Staff:
• Senior Program Manager for Digital Inclusion and Innovation: Karen Lue

Economic Opportunity Staff:
• Vice President of Economic Mobility: Sarah Dieleman Perry
• Senior Program Manager of Empowerment and Outreach: Toni Corinealdi
• Senior Program Manager of Economic Opportunity: Ashley McLean
• Program Manager of Economic Opportunity and Investment: Javier Janik

To all of our supporters, volunteers, funders, and investors, we are grateful for your generosity and trust. Without you, we could not work towards our vision for all neighborhoods to be thriving, resilient, and equitable for all.