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Emerald Asset Management names new CEO

Scott L. Rehr
Scott L. Rehr

Leola-based Emerald Asset Management announced that Scott L. Rehr has been appointed the new CEO, succeeding Emerald’s founder Joseph E. Besecker, who will assume the new role of nonexecutive chairman.

David A. Volpe was named the company’s new president, and Mark F. Schlegel takes over as chief marketing officer. Rounding out the senior leadership team at Emerald are Chief Investment Officer Kenneth G. Mertz II and Chief Operating Officer Richard Juliano.

“As Emerald approaches its 30th anniversary managing client funds, I’m proud of our team and of these longtime leaders moving into these new roles,” Besecker said in a release.

Rehr co-founded Emerald Advisers in 1991. He served as chief operating officer of Emerald since 2012, where he has been responsible for all noninvestment-related functions.

“We’re excited to continue to bring ‘The Emerald Advantage’ to our clients in the years to come, working to provide an exemplary client experience and grow Emerald in a strategic fashion,” Rehr added. “We’re thankful for the path Joe has led us on and will continue to rely on his guidance and experience.”

Emerald Asset Management PA LLC is a diversified investment management holding company that operates through subsidiaries Emerald Advisers LLC, Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust, Emerald Separate Account Management LLC and EmStone Advisers LLC. Assets managed by these companies totaled approximately $3.9 billion as of June 30. Beyond the Leola global headquarters, Emerald and its subsidiaries maintain offices in King of Prussia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

State restaurant association names new president/CEO

Joe Massaro.

The Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association announced Wednesday that its board of directors has appointed hospitality executive Joe Massaro as the next president and CEO, effective July 25.

He succeeds John Longstreet, who’s retiring.

Massaro has more than three decades of hospitality and management experience, most recently serving in dual roles as regional director of operations for Greenwood Hospitality and general manager of the Hilton Harrisburg. A release noted that he directed the Hilton Harrisburg’s renovation, including the development and launch of onsite restaurants 1700 Degrees Steakhouse and Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar.

Massaro also was responsible for establishing Harrisburg’s social club The Hill Society.

His appointment as the association’s leader climaxes a four-month national search process.

“Joe’s proven leadership ability in the hospitality and tourism sectors, coupled with his service in hospitality and business organizations, gives him an ideal background to lead an association like PRLA,” Tom Neely, chairman of the board, said in the release. “His professional experiences provide him with a unique perspective on how all sectors of our industry are interconnected and intertwined with the overall health of the economy and consumers’ quality of life.”

Massaro added: “The opportunity to serve in a leadership role with a topflight organization like PRLA does not come around often. PRLA has been an invaluable resource to the industry, particularly over the last two years, and I look forward to working with our team and our members to continue advancing it forward.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer.

ASSETS names new chief executive officer

Jaime Arroyo. PHOTO/PROVIDED

The ASSETS board of directors appointed Lancaster native Jaime Arroyo as the nonprofit’s new CEO, it was announced Tuesday.

He will take over June 20, succeeding interim CEO Jesse Casler.

ASSETS, which focuses on transforming the community through business, offers training and financing for entrepreneurs, and partners with established businesses to improve their social and environmental impact.

”After an extensive search process, the board is thrilled to have Jaime as the next CEO of ASSETS,” Liz Martin, board chair, said in a release. “We are confident that Jaime will be a great
leader as ASSETS continues to do amazing work in our local community.”

Arroyo was most recently chief strategy officer at Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, an anti-poverty organization, where he led the agency’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative and leadership development for emerging leaders.

From 2017 to 2019, Arroyo was ASSETS’ director of community lending, helping the organization become one of the top micro-lenders in Pennsylvania. He coached and advised on
the finances and business plans of small business owners, including women, immigrants and people of color.

“It is an incredible honor for me to serve this great organization and our community in this role,” Arroyo added. “I follow exceptional leaders before me and a committed ASSETS team
who have built the organization that it is today. … I look forward to shepherding ASSETS in building an equitable economy and inclusive entrepreneurship in Lancaster County.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Fulton appoints community affinity banking director

Joel Barnett. PHOTO/PROVIDED

Lancaster-based Fulton Bank named Joel Barnett to the new position of senior vice president, director of commercial affinity banking, where he will build relationships with businesses owned by people of color, women and veterans.

Barnett will be headquartered in Philadelphia. He has more than 30 years of experience in banking and was most recently senior vice president and business banking market executive at a Pittsburgh-based bank.

“As a veteran myself, I’m a big believer in working together to build-up our communities,” Barnett said in a release. “I look forward to engaging these potentially underbanked organizations so that together, we can build successful businesses and drive economic empowerment in our communities.”

William “Smokey” Glover, Fulton’s executive vice president, director of fair and responsible banking, added: “At Fulton Bank, our purpose is to change lives for the better and in this position, Joel will help us do just that. This new role is focused on ensuring that we are reaching out to and meeting the needs of affinity businesses in our communities. By assigning enterprise-wide responsibility for building these relationships to one person, we can ensure a concerted effort on this outreach.”

The commercial affinity banking director position is part of the bank’s Fulton Forward initiative, which is focused on building vibrant communities with programs, products and services focused on affordable housing and homeownership; job training and workforce development; financial education and economic empowerment; and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania names new president 

Dr. Charles E. Patterson. PHOTO/PROVIDED

The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has named Dr. Charles Patterson as Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania’s next president. 

Patterson has served as the university’s interim president since June 30, 2021. He took the interim role following the departure of Dr. Laurie Carter, who left the school in July to lead as president of Appleton, Wisconson-based Lawrence University. 

Patterson was previously president of Mansfield University in Tioga County beginning in July 2019. Prior to Mansfield, he was senior advisor for outreach at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. 

Shippensburg’s new president has a PhD in biochemistry and molecular bioscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 

“As interim president of Shippensburg University and former president of Mansfield University, Dr. Patterson has demonstrated that he is the right person to lead the university forward,” said Board Chair Cindy Shapira. “We believe his commitment to working with students, faculty and staff will help guide Shippensburg on its mission to provide an affordable and high-quality education. We are confident in our choice of Dr. Patterson to continue the great work that’s happening at Shippensburg.” 

 

TransGard welcomes new CEO

Greg Burkholder. PHOTO/PROVIDED

York-based TransGard LLC, a designer and manufacturer of equipment that protects utility substations from animal intrusions, has hired Greg Burkholder as CEO.

Burkholder will oversee operations, sales, product development and other facets of the business. He replaces Bill Reichard, who will become executive chairman of the board.

“After an extensive search, we discovered the ideal candidate to build on our recent success,” Reichard said in a release. “Greg brings to TransGard the ideal blend of leadership experience, operations expertise and long-range vision. We’re excited to have him on board.”

Burkholder most recently served for nearly a decade as CEO at a mid-cap building products company, where he expanded market reach and penetration, oversaw a rebranding effort, and navigated an acquisition and integration that resulted in 100% revenue growth.

TransGard products have been widely adopted, the release noted, and deployed at nearly 4,000 locations.

Ortega to step down as education secretary

Noe Ortega. PHOTO/PROVIDED

Department of Education Secretary Noe Ortega will resign his position April 29, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday.

The governor said he will name Eric Hagarty as acting secretary.

“Noe is a dedicated advocate for all students and I’m grateful for his service to our commonwealth, Wolf said in a release. “He led the department through unprecedented times, ensuring a safe return to in-person learning and providing access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines. His successful efforts to diversify our educator workforce and improve opportunities for students to obtain postsecondary education opportunities will undoubtedly continue to impact our learners for years to come.”

 Prior to becoming secretary, Ortega was the Education Department’s deputy secretary and commissioner for the Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education. 

Eric Hagarty. PHOTO/PROVIDED

Hagarty currently serves as Wolf’s deputy chief of staff responsible for implementing the governor’s priorities and policies relating to education, including the “Level Up” program to invest more in Pennsylvania’s chronically underfunded schools, the COVID-19 vaccine initiative for teachers and the safe return to in-person learning, regulatory reforms to the state‘s charter school system, and generational investments in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Bloomingdale to retire as state AFL-CIO president

PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale. PHOTO/PROVIDED

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO announced that Rick Bloomingdale will retire as president of the federation of labor unions when his term ends May 31.

President since 2010, Bloomingdale began his union career in 1977 with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, where he worked as a project staff representative of Local 449 and then as assistant director and state political/legislative director of AFSCME Council 13.

He was elected secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO – which represents 700,000 workers from 51 international unions and 1,422 locals, covering the state’s 67 counties – in 1994.

“For 45 years, I have been fortunate to serve the union movement, and I am leaving with great hope for the future,” Bloomingdale said in a release. “In these last two years, I have seen a resurgence in unionism across this commonwealth and the country. In my 12 years as Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President, I have had the privilege to work for unions and their members to fight for good jobs, safe workplaces and fair wages.”

Secretary-treasurer Frank Snyder added: “I’ve witnessed his passion firsthand. He has been a mentor to me and to many others. This is one of the benefits of union membership – being able to retire with security and dignity. Rick earned it.”