Board of Directors

Steven Albert, Ph.D.

Department Chair and Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
As leader of the public health and aging effort at Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health, Dr. Albert and his team are working to determine how the aging services network and related clinical services can function as a public health intervention. Current areas of focus include primary prevention of falls in a state-wide pragmatic clinical trial, assessment of end-of-life decision making among the very old and prevention of late-life mood disorders. Prior to joining the university in 2005 Dr. Albert served as associate professor of Public Health (Sociomedical Sciences), associate professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and Neurology and assistant research scientist at Columbia University. He is a member of numerous local, national and international professional organizations, including the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging's Advisory Council, the American Cancer Society's Study Section and the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Albert received his doctorate from the University of Chicago.

Jennifer S. Brach, Ph.D., PT

Dr. Brach is a physical therapist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh.  For the past 20 years, she has been studying mobility and developing new interventions to improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults.  Dr. Brach is currently funded by the Patient-Center Outcomes Research Institute to examine the “On the Move” intervention to improve mobility.

Ms. Audrey Burgoon

Chief of Staff (Assistant Secretary)

James S. Harper

David Johnson

President
Thomson, Rhodes & Cowie, P.C.
Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1977, David's practice areas include hospitals and physicians, toxic substances, employment law and more. He has served as lead counsel in more than 110 jury trials in both state and federal court in Pennsylvania and several other states. David is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Healthcare Attorneys of the Hospital Association, a fellow of th e Pennsylvania Bar Foundation and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Wanda McGarry

Wanda McGarry is a retired chemist, having worked for Vista Chemical Company where she was a Project Chemist in an industrial chemical plant and also for Fisher Scientific where she was a Technical Service Specialist. Since settling in Pittsburgh, she has contributed her time with numerous, local volunteer organizations and remains extremely active at Ingomar United Methodist Church in the north hills. Wanda has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Richard Purnell

(Board Treasurer) 

Rev. Paul D. Taylor

Pittsburgh District Superintendent, Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

Martin Siefering

(Board Chair)
Principal
Perkins Eastman
Martin has extensive experience in the design of residential care environments for aging adults. Since he joined the firm in 1990, Martin’s responsibilities have included planning, design, construction, supervision, and project direction for some of the firm’s most challenging senior living projects. Martin has led projects across the full continuum: supportive housing, CCRCs, assisted living, long-term care and chronic-care hospitals. His approach to architecture is based upon the integration of nature, sensitive site design, and sustainable building design. Martin has been active in the culture change movement in long-term care – leading pioneering projects for clients such as Hebrew SeniorLife|NewBridge on the Charles in Boston, The Jewish Home and Hospital in New York, St. Ann’s Community in Rochester, New York, The Overlook at Northampton in Massachusetts, and Albright Care’s Riverwoods Community in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Philip Sweeney

Phil is the Executive Chairman of Omniplex World Services Corporation, a  security services business focused on personnel security and protective services, primarily for federal government customers. He is also a Senior Advisor with Altamont Capital Partners, a Palo Alto-based middle market private equity firm and the majority investor in Omniplex. Phil provides strategic, growth, human capital and operational guidance and support to the Board, Investors, CEO and Management Team and works collaboratively with all stakeholders in building the business.
 
Phil is a high integrity/tone at the top leader and has a 20+ year track record of success as a Corporate Director, Business Advisor and C-Suite Executive within the business services, education, government contracting, healthcare and high-tech sectors. He is also a Board Member or Senior Advisor to small businesses and non-profits including Celtic Healthcare, and The Winchester Thurston School.  Phil built his business career with a variety of companies to include Westinghouse, US News and World Report, DynCorp and Altegrity/US Investigations Services, where he was a Co-Founder, CFO and SVP of Corporate Development for over 13 years.
 
Phil is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, and completed Executive Education and Financial Management programs at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford Business School, and Harvard Business School.

Mr. Richard Zahren

(Board Secretary) 
Richard Zahren is retired from PPG Industries where he was vice president of automotive coatings. Rich also held executive positions in planning, purchasing and compensation/benefits during his career. Since retiring, he has been active on boards of several non-profits whose missions relate primarily to children. He and his wife live in Mt. Lebanon. Rich has a BS in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. John J. Zanardelli 

(Ex officio)
President & CEO
United Methodist Services for the Aging
John has worked for the United Methodist Services for the Aging as president and CEO of Asbury Heights for over 20 years. He has a special interest in evidence-based medicine and in improving the management of not-for-profit organizations. John earned his B.S. in education from California State College in Pennsylvania, an MPH with a major in health care Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate in accounting also from Pitt.