Meetings
Thank you for your interest in the Community Bridge-Building Network. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please email cbridgebn@aol.com and provide your name and company.
Registration is required to attend the meeting.
Scroll down to view our upcoming meeting dates as well as an impressive listing of Past Network Presenters!
Past Presenters
Trish Adlesic, Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning producer and director
Maria Caruso, Founding Director, Bodiography
Jonnet Solomon, Founder and Executive Director, National Opera House
Daniel Little, CEO, involveMINT
Terry O'Reilly, President & CEO Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation
Katie Blackley, Digital Editor/Producer, Internship Coordinator, 90.5 WESA
Andy Masich, President & CEO, Senator John Heinz History Center
Elizabeth E. Barker, Executive Director, The Frick Pittsburgh
Mark Oppenheimer, Author of "Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood"
Carlos T. Carter, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
Dr. Jeremy Goodman, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium President and CEO
Dr. Ken Gormley, President, Duquesne University
Anne Madarasz, Director of the Curatorial Division, Chief Historian, and Director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Dr. Erica Nuckles, Director of Learning, Engagements and Partnerships, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Hayley Haldeman, Executive Director, Mattress Factory
Zachary Rutter, professional artist and muralist
Andrés Franco, Executive Director, City of Asylum
David Finegold, President, Chatham University
Nathan Darity, Executive Director, The Global Switchboard
Ashley Lynn Priore, Founder, President and CEO, Queen's Gambit Chess Institute Pittsburgh
Amy Baldonieri, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Rivers of Steel
Bobbi Watt Geer, President and CEO of the United Way of Southwestern PA
Dr. James Johnson and Pamela Johnson, Founders, Executive Directors, Afro-American Music Institute
Rosemaria Cristello, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Latino Community Center
Laura Zurowski, author, artist, Mis-Steps.com: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh's City Steps
Deon Deshields, Founder, Lounique Financial Group LLC
Louise Sturgess, Executive Director, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
Vic Walczak, Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union - PA
Ken Gormley, President of Duquesne University, Professor of Law
Eric Lindey, Executive Vice President of Adult ID Pennsylvania, Imperium, Inc.
Bill Flanagan, Chief Corporate Relations Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Erica Knuckles, Director of History and Collections, Fort Ligonier & Braddock Battlefield History Center
Bonnie Baxter, Founder/Executive Director of DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh
Steve Turner, Marketing Manager of Turner Dairy Farms
Natalie Bencivenga, SEEN Editor/Ask Natalie Advice Columnist, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rick Sebak, film director/producer, WQED Mulitmedia Pittsburgh
Brian O'Neill, author, columnist for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bill Fuller, President and Corporate Chef, Big Burrito Restaurant Group
Rossilynne Culgan, Author of 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die and Director of "The Incline"
Therese Rocco, the City of Pittsburgh's first female Assistant Police Chief
Tim Hindes, Principle and CEO of Trailblaze Creative, designer of STRONGER THAN HATE logo
Carol Shrieve, Executive Director, Carnegie of Homestead
Leah Lizarondo, CEO and Co-Founder of 412 Food Rescue
Dr. Jessie Ramey, Director of Women's Institute, Chatham University
Mila Sanina, Executive Director of PublicSource
Anita Buzzy Prentiss, Buzzy Photography
Dr. Bethany Barone Gibbs, Associate Professor of Health and Physical Activity, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Weida of Virginia Weida Designs.
Pete McQuillin and Laura Faessel, Penn Forest Natural Burial Park
Indea Herndon, August Wilson Center
Mike Priganc, Network Member
Melanie Linn Gutowski, Author, Kaufmann's Department Store and Pittsburgh’s Mansions
Cody McDevitt, Author, Pittsburgh Drinks: A History of Cocktails, Nightlife and Bartending Tradition
Sam Gottesman, Holocaust Survivor
Lauren Bairnsfather, Director, Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh
Joe Zgurzynski, Owner, Operator, Master Beekeeper, Country Barn Farm
Matt Webb, Urban Bird Conservation Coordinator, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Emily Catalano, Founder, Good Food Pittsburgh
Cynthia Caul, Center for Regional Agriculture, Food and Transformation (CRAFT) at Chatham University
Regina Able, Deputy District Director, Small Business Administration, Pittsburgh District
Dr. Sarah Tambucci, Director, Arts Education Collaborative
Therese McShea, My Write Tool
Melanie Patterson, “The Good Ol’ Days House,” America’s first Nostalgic Guesthouse
Vivien Li, President and CEO, Riverlife Pittsburgh
Felicia Richards, Creative Beyond Control Photography
Meg Pryor, Director, Henry Mancini Academy at Lincoln Park
Kim Adley, Owner and Custom Tour Designer, Passport to Pittsburgh
Helen Wilson, Vice President, Squirrel Hill Historical Society
Wasi Mohamed, Executive Director, The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
Cory Van Horn, Owner/Head Guide, Food Guy Adventures
Adam Nelson, Director and Founder, The City of Play
Wendy Long, Owner and Operator, Solutions for Independence
Pat Clark, Managing Partner, Jackson/Clark Partners
Matthew Craig, Executive Director, Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
Robert Messner, Director, Braddock’s Battlefield History Center
Rich Salvante, Yard to Table Garden Builders
Judi Vitale, Astrologist and Author
Todd Wilson, Author, Pittsburgh's Bridges
Fred Thieman, Esq., President of Buhl Foundation
John Fetterman, Mayor of Braddock and Candidate for United State Senate
Patricia McElligott, Author, Irish Pittsburgh
Wendy Lydon, Vice President/Business Coach, ThistleSea Business Development
Sarah Mayer, Partner, UpToKnowGood
Carrie Pavlik, Owner, Steel City Grazers
Arthi Subramaniam, Food Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Eric Sloss, Principal, Creative Strategist for SHIFT
Keri Rouse, Allegheny Land Trust
"Homestead Jenn" Tompkins, Founder, Rent the Chicken
Douglas Heuck, Founder, Editor and Publisher of Pittsburgh Quarterly Magazine
Dana Brown, Director, Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics and Public Policy at Chatham University
Patricia Penka French, Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational Cultural Center
Robin Nicholson, Director, Frick Art & Historical Center
Laura Zorch, one of the authors of Food Lovers' Guide to Pittsburgh
Leslie Bonner, BonnerSpahr Consulting
Richard Piacentini, Executive Director, Phipps Conseratory
Emil Heintzinger, Small Business and Group Benefits Specialist, Legal Shield
Mark Valenti, Director of Education and Coaching, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative
Jim Bonner, Executive Director, Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Tracy Certo, Founder and Publisher, NEXTpittsburgh
Etty Reut, Therapist who practices John F. Barnes Myofascial Release and Mind Body Therapy
Michele de la Reza, Managing Artistic Director, Attack Theatre
Denys Candy, Consultant to schools, businesses, and organizations interested in creating sustainable communities
Arthur P. Ziegler, Co-Founder and President, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
Michael Sriprasert, Real Estate Development Projects and Initiatives, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
Melanie Linn Gutowski, Author of Pittsburgh's Mansions
Amanda Priebe, CFP, Associate Wealth Planner, PNC Wealth Management
Barney Oursler, Executive Director, Pittsburgh United
Angela Garcia, Deputy Director, Global Links
Drew Goldstein, PA Brew Tours
Kate Dewey, Executive Director, Forbes Funds
Matt Gaston, Co-Founder and Trustee, Awesome Pittsburgh
Mike Schiller, Executive Director, Green Building Alliance
Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh
Cindy Howes, Morning Mix Host, 91.3 WYEP Pittsburgh
Abby Goldstein, General Manager, 91.3 WYEP Pittsburgh
Cynthia Pulkowski, Executive Director, ASSET STEM Education
Louis Butler, The Pittsburgh Pie Guy
Peter Greninger, President, Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group
Bruce Klein, Founder, Photo Antiquities Museum of Photographic History
Hoddy Hanna, Chairman and CEO, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
Al Condeluci, Executive Director, UCP/CLASS
Maura McCall, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Research
Jennifer Antkowiak, KDKA TV News Anchor, Author
Rick DiClemente, Astrologer, Author of The Exquisite Zodiac
Julie Ann Sullivan, Author, Facilitator of Enhanced Learning, Learning Never Ends
Bradley Hilbert, Owner, Three Rivers Wealth Management Group
Mary Lou Bradley & Joe Groom, Owners, Paint Monkey, a BYOB Painting Studio in Lawrenceville
Chris Anthony, Owner, Chris Anthony Fitness
Lynn Figgins, Director of Business Development, Eyetique
Dr. Guy Caruso, Western Coordinator, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
David L. Donahoe, Executive Director, Allegheny Regional Asset District
Hilda Pang Fu, Founder and President, Luminari
Mary Gregg, Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti Inc. and winner of 2012 Jefferson Award for community and public service in America
Barbara Johnstone, Carnegie Mellon University Linguist Professor and Expert in Pittsburghese
Brian O'Neill, Author of The Paris of Appalachia and Lifestyle Columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MaryLynne Pitz, Reporter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Erika Peterson, Owner, Green Circle Farms
Bob Firth, Founder, Informing Design
Deb Mortillaro, Owner, Palate Partners and Dreadnaught Wines
Bobby Zappala, Chief Executive Officer, Thrill Mill
Dottie Coll, Owner, Two Men and a Truck Moving Company
Lisa Brown, Executive Director, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
Mike Kaus, Curator, Soldiers and Sailors Museum
Bob Bruce, formerly WPXI TV News Anchor, currently with Integrity Wealth Consulting
Heather Walsh, Co-founder, Living Pittsburgh
Deborah L. Acklin, President and Chief Executive Officer, WQED Multimedia
Scott Bricker, Executive Director, Bike Pittsburgh
Dorit Brauer, Teacher of Meditation and Author of Girls Don't Ride Motorbikes: A Spiritual Adventure Into Life's Labyrinth
Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive
Tony Norman, Columnist, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Harish Saluja, Founder, Silk Screen Asian Arts and Cultural Organization
Linda Benedict-Jones, Curator of Photography, Carnegie Museum of Art
Bill Flanagan, Host of Our Regions Business, Executive VP Allegheny Conference
Scott Leib, President of the Board of Directors, Preservation Pittsburgh
Janet McCall, Executive Director, Society for Contemporary Crafts
Georgia Berner, President and CEO, Berner International Corporation
Heather McElwee, Executive Director , Pittsburgh Glass Center
Bill Peduto, City of Pittsburgh Mayor
Registration is required. Email cbridgebn@aol.com and provide your name and company. A link to participate in the virtual meeting will be sent to you upon registration.
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www.communitybridge-buildingnetwork.com
Community Bridge-Building Network
A network unlike any other professional network
Pittsburgh skyline photo credit: Joyce Scott-Kliber
Serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Greater Pittsburgh area
We want our virtual meetings to have the feel, as best we can, of our in-person meetings, which we had been doing for years. Therefore, we have a specific protocol to get the most out of our Network. Here are some important things regarding our meetings:
1. You need to submit an RSVP to attend; we then will send you the link for the meeting.
2. You are encouraged to invite a guest; your guest will need to submit their own RSVP directly to us.
3. If you submit an RSVP that you will be attending, we do expect to see you at the meeting. Our meetings are designed around the attendance.
4. Since this is a networking group, when you join us on Zoom, we do expect to see your face, so have your camera on when you join us.
5. We also expect you to be able to stay for the entire meeting, unless we hear from you prior to the meeting. This is very important for our networking sessions.
April 19, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING
9:00am - 11:00am
Jenn Beer joined Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. (LPInc.) as President & CEO on June 13, 2022. Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. "is the foremost multi-disciplinary leadership identification, enrichment and networking organization in Southwestern Pennsylvania dedicated to developing a robust pipeline of diverse civic leaders to serve the region." LPInc offers programs that focus on developing a diverse network of community leaders who are highly informed, skilled, and committed to making our region a better place to live and work. Their motto: "We open eyes, minds and doors."
Prior to joining LPInc., Ms. Beer served the region for fifteen years at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development where she most recently was vice president for government affairs. In that capacity, she supported the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce by directing state and regional public policy issues that aligned with the strategic priorities of the organization. Ms. Beer has been a re-occurring guest representing the business community on “Our Region’s Business”, a weekly Sunday-morning business affairs program co-produced by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and WPXI-TV.
Ms. Beer is a native Pittsburgher. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a concentration in Russian Studies. She also has a Graduate Certificate in Political Management from The George Washington University.
Jenn Beer, President and CEO, Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc
May 17, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING
9:00am - 11:00am
An award-winning historian and USMC Veteran, JaQuay Edward Carter is committed to serving others. Mr. Carter has a long history of community service, military service, and human services advocacy.
He began his post-secondary education at the Community College of Allegheny County, earning an associate degree in Ethnic and Diversity Studies. Soon after, he enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his undergraduate degree in History Education/Africana Studies. Mr. Carter was directed back to Hazelwood through his passion for history and neighborhood pride. He founded the award-winning Greater Hazelwood Historical Society (GHHS) and Cultural Center in January 2018 with its mission "to preserve pillars of the community's past."
Through his work and passion, Mr. Carter has built relationships and partnerships. GHHS continues to contribute scholarships and historical research to artists, developers, students, residents, stakeholders, and the community-at-large.
Mr. Carter is also known for creating the Black History Society of Western Pennsylvania, which is dedicated to the research and repository of our region's African American experience.
Ja'Quay Edward Carter, Founder, President and CEO of Greater Hazelwood Historical Society of Pittsburgh
June 21, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING
9:00am - 11:00am
July 19, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING
9:00am - 11:00am
Melinda Colaizzi, Founder, Women Who Rock
Women Who Rock™ is a female founded brand on a crusade to champion women in music and women’s health awareness. Women Who Rock™ connects through the power of music and helps to educate, support and fund women-centric health and music endeavors.
"Female musicians and women in the music industry still face an uphill battle for recognition and respect. It is our mission to lift up women and female-identifying artists, bands, singers, instrumentalists, producers, writers, DJs, and more to celebrate their talent."
After working for over 15 years both as a singer-songwriter fronting a rock band and as a music business executive, Ms. Colaizzi experienced the gender disparity found in the music industry. "With so many talented female musicians both locally and nationally, the need for an event and organization like Women Who Rock was clear, and my vision was born.
Chris Whitlatch, Author, Notorious Pittsburgh
"Notorious Pittsburgh is a collection of my favorite notorious stories from Pittsburgh's past that I have been telling for several years now. The book features more than 20 stories, including the first bank robbery, a famous jailbreak, as well as several stories from our former red light district as well as the prohibition era. Along the twists and turns, there are several chases, appearances of organized crime, and even my prediction for a potential notorious event in Pittsburgh. The book features the infamous Dante "Tex" Gill, Vice King George Lee, and Richard Henkel, Pittsburgh's serial killer that preyed on the rackets."
Chris Whitlatch is an author, game creator, and nonprofit marketer, but he likes to be best known as a storyteller. For the past several years, he hosted two walking tours in downtown Pittsburgh, telling stories of Pittsburgh’s Notorious past. He collected those stories as well as several more of his favorites into this book. He has a journalism degree from New York University but grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania and returned to the area in 2000. Look for current and future titles at christopherwhitlatch.com.
