Cassandra Colemen

America250PA – Executive Director

The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial  (America250PA) appointed Cassandra Coleman as Executive Director for the America250PA initiative in September 2019, making Ms. Coleman the longest serving state 250th Director in the nation.

Prior to her appointment, Cassandra served as Special Advisor to Governor Tom Wolf and Director of Governor Wolf’s Northeast & Central offices. In this role, she was responsible for intergovernmental and constituency services on behalf of the Governor in 28 counties. 

In 2014, Ms. Coleman founded and served as President of Coleman & Associates, a company engaged in charitable, private, and political creation of fundraising networks and community and political event planning. Coleman & Associates maintained a client base of state, county and local political candidates, large and small companies, and non-profit organizations.

Ms. Coleman has spent a lifetime in public service beginning at a very young age. At the age of twenty, Cassandra was appointed Mayor of her hometown of Exeter Borough to fill her late grandfather, Mayor Joseph Coyne’s unexpired term. Following her appointment, Cassandra was re-elected Mayor twice.

Ms. Coleman was one of the youngest female mayors in the history of the United States. She was featured in Oprah Magazine in a segment titled “Women Who Defy Age.” Cassandra was also featured in a national NBC segment called “The Smart Woman”. The Times Leader Media Group honored Cassandra twice for her accomplishments; in 2008 as a Top 40 under 40 recipient and named her in 2019 as one of 14 Distinctive Women. In addition, she has been chosen one of Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business, named by City & State PA as a Top 40 under 40 in PA and Impact Awardees and honored with the Young Professional Women’s Leadership Award by Athena International.

In her community, Cassandra serves on the Board of Directors for her alum, King’s College, where she chairs their Red & Gold Gala Committee, Leadership Northeast, Children’s Service Center and Junior League of Wilkes Barre. She has also previously served as President of the Wyoming Area Foundation. 

Ms. Coleman is a 2010 graduate of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre where she earned a degree in Political Science and was chosen to receive the 2018 Leo Award which is bestowed upon an alumnus/alumna within fifteen years of graduation who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in his/her professional or community activities. Named for the King’s mascot, it suggests the energy, pride, and sense of purpose which the recipient personifies. 

She is a proud 2006 graduate of Wyoming Area High School in Exeter, PA where she created a scholarship in honor of her grandfather for graduating seniors pursuing careers in public administration or government.

Cassandra is the proud mother to Jimmy IV, age 11, and continues to reside in Exeter, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

The Honorable Stacy Garrity

Pennsylvania Treasurer

Republican Candidate for Governor

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, businesswoman, and our Commonwealth’s 78th Treasurer, Stacy Garrity has lived a life of service to her nation, her Commonwealth, and her community.

In uniform, Stacy rose to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving three deployments in defense of our nation: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

While prisoner abuse scandals raged, it was Stacy Garrity who emerged as a national leader in managing internment camps for enemy combatants. She kept the camp secure and American troops safe without a single complaint of abuse from Iraqi soldiers interned on her watch.  Stacy was twice awarded the Bronze Star and received the Legion of Merit, being hailed as the “Angel of the Desert” for her service.

At home, Stacy Garrity emerged as a groundbreaking Pennsylvania business leader, rising from accountant at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. to becoming the first of two female vice presidents at the company.

Now as our Commonwealth’s Treasurer, Stacy has focused on cutting waste, eliminating taxpayer abuse, and bringing transparency to Pennsylvania’s government. She understands first-hand the challenges hardworking Pennsylvania families face, and she brings the same commonsense that people use to manage their own finances to the Treasurer’s office.

Stacy works every day to protect more than $170 billion in state assets, serving as a fiscal watchdog for programs like Pennsylvania’s 529 College & Career Savings Program, where she has saved account holders nearly $17 million.  For her leadership in spearheading the PA ABLE Savings Program for individuals with disabilities, Stacy was elected the inaugural Chair of the national ABLE Savings Plans Network by her fellow State Treasurers.

Stacy’s work as our Treasurer has directly touched the lives of millions of Pennsylvania families, with more than $1 billion returned to its rightful owners and nearly $10 million returned to Pennsylvania taxpayers through the Treasury’s Money Match program.  Each year, the Treasury saves Pennsylvania taxpayers nearly $50 million by identifying overpayments and duplicate payments to the Commonwealth.

As a veteran, Stacy is also focused on returning the hundreds of military decorations being safeguarded in the Treasury’s vault, returning more than 450 military decorations to the veterans who earned them or their families, including 11 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars.

Now Stacy Garrity is running for Governor to continue her service to Pennsylvania as our Commonwealth’s 49th Governor.  She will apply the lessons she’s learned and experiences she’s encountered as a successful businesswoman, soldier, and public servant to make Pennsylvania the Keystone State to grow a business and raise a family.

For all that Stacy has accomplished, Stacy’s never forgotten where she came from.  A native of Bradford County, Stacy is a graduate of Sayre High School and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, later receiving a certificate from the Cornell University Business Management Institute.  Stacy serves on the board of Bradford County United Way and is a trustee of Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. Stacy resides in Bradford County with her husband Dan and worships at Christian Life Church.

Representative Arvind Venkat  (D-30th)

Rep. Arvind Venkat, an emergency physician, was elected to serve his first term in the state House of Representatives in November 2022. He is the first Indian American to be elected to the state House and the first physician to serve in the General Assembly in nearly 60 years.

He serves as State Representative for the 30th Legislative District, which includes part of Hampton Township, and all of McCandless, Franklin Park, Ohio Township, Emsworth, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, and Kilbuck.

Rep. Venkat is a fighter for accessible and affordable healthcare, investing in our first responders, protecting reproductive rights, curbing gun violence, expanding access to the ballot box for all voters, and getting more people back into the workforce.

His parents immigrated to the United States, and it was their hard work and commitment to service that inspired him to become a physician.

Rep. Venkat completed his undergraduate and graduate education at Harvard University, his medical education at Yale University, and his emergency medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati/University Hospital. He served as a member of the Board of the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority and is a former president of the state emergency physicians organization.

Rep. Venkat currently lives in McCandless with his wife and three children.