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 

Jenn Beer, President and CEO, Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc

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.


June 21, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING

9:00am - 11:00am

July 19, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING

9:00am - 11:00am
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."

www.amazon.com

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.
Journey Gunderson, Executive Director, The National Comedy Center
The National Comedy Center is the United States’ congressionally designated cultural institution dedicated to presenting the story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations. Located in Jamestown, NY, the Center’s exclusive collections, world-class exhibits, and cutting-edge technology are featured throughout the 37,000-square-foot attraction. Visitors are educated, inspired, and entertained by more than 50 immersive experiences as they take an interactive journey through comedy history, from early vaudeville to the latest viral memes.

The National Comedy Center also operates the nearby Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and presents the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, which, for over thirty years, has showcased rising young comedians and comedy legends including Jerry Seinfeld, Lily Tomlin, Trevor Noah, Joan Rivers, John Mulaney and Ellen DeGeneres.​

Since opening in 2018, the National Comedy Center has been named by TIME magazine as one of its “World’s Greatest Places,” selected by People Magazine as one of “100 Reasons to Love America” and designated by the U.S. Congress as the United States’ official cultural institution dedicated to comedy. Its leader, Journey Gunderson, was named to the List of 50 Museum Influencers Worldwide in 2020.

comedycenter.org
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. 

womenwhorock.info
Melinda Colaizzi, Founder, Women Who Rock 

August  16, 2023 - VIRTUAL MEETING

9:00am - 11:00am