Author: PSATSAdmin
Julie Brooks
Julie manages grants and special projects for Bellefonte Borough and has been working in borough administration in all areas for the past two years. She just received her Certified Borough Official Designation from PSAB. Julie has also served Bellefonte Borough as the Assistant Superintendent of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and as the Public Works Assistant Superintendent. She previously worked at Penn State University, for the City of Lancaster, and for the PA Department of Environmental Protection Outreach Program, helping rural municipalities with planning, training, state regulations and state funding.
Julie holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a certificate in Public Budget and Finance from Penn State University. With many years of experience in municipal operations in all areas, especially budget and long-range planning, she has strong experience in water and wastewater utility management and all borough and municipal operations. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Julie dedicates time to volunteering at and organizing community events in Bellefonte and leads a group focused on servant leadership studies, where she mentors new leaders.
Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson has served local government for over 30 years. She was recruited by her former principal and then council president for Westfield Borough. Lori graduated from the Pennsyvania State University with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration/Insurance. Prior to serving as Secretary/Treasurer for Westfield Borough, Lori was a customer service rep. for North Penn Gas Company and a copy writer for the Valley Dollar Saver.
Lori is an auditor for Ulysses Township where she resides and is a board member for the Ulysses Library. Past service includes 8+ years as secretary for the Tioga County Association of Boroughs, board member for the Westfield Child Development Center, Cubmaster for Boy Scouts, and volunteer for Ulysses youth baseball.
Lori is married, has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys taking walks, playing trivia with friends, and spending time with family.
Education has always been important. She first attended the PAMA Conference in 2017 and earned her CGA in 2022. The duties of a municipal secretary are many and varied; there is always something to learn and knowledge to offer to others. PAMA is a great tool to exchange that experience and knowledge.
Lisa Kroner
Lisa moved to Centre County in 2013 while continuing to work as a secretary/treasurer for a municipality in a neighboring county. In 2016, she accepted a position at Potter Township in Centre County as she wanted to give back to her local community by listening to the residents and responding to their needs.
She has three children, and a new granddaughter named Ellorie. Lisa enjoys gardening, camping, family trips and making others smile. Lisa also owns her own family entertainment business and is a professional clown.
What makes her happy is making others happy. This motivation carries into her daily interactions with residents and coworkers.
Lisa worked for 10 years in an administrative role with PennDOT Maintenance prior to her time in local government. Since making her career switch from state to local government 21 years ago, education has been a priority for her.
Lisa attended her first PAMA conference in 2021 and this year earned her CGA certification. In a world of constant change, continuing your education is not an option. PAMA provides the opportunity to do just that through its professional development conferences. The connections she has made with the staff and by networking with other municipalities will always be invaluable.
Amber Zwierzynski
Amber moved to Ohio Township with her husband, who was a lifelong resident, in 2017. They were married in 2018 and have three dogs – Lulu, Winston, and Olive. Amber enjoys traveling, riding UTVs, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. She was born in West Virginia and raised in Ohio before moving to Pennsylvania as an adult. She attended the Community College of Allegheny County and obtained an Associate of Science in Accounting. Prior to her time in local government, Amber worked in an administrative role in the private sector.
Amber began her career as the Administrative Assistant for Ohio Township in February of 2022. Although she had no prior experience in local government, she chose to accept the position because she was a resident, and contributing to the continued success of her community was important to her. Amber wanted to be a positive influence on the decisions that directly affect residents, ensure that their voices are heard, and that their concerns are properly addressed.
Amber attended her first PAMA conference in the same year and she found it to be a wealth of knowledge for someone as inexperienced in their position as she was. Now, approaching her fourth conference, she realizes that this association is a valuable resource that directly influences her day-to-day tasks and provides her with a network of other individuals in the same types of administrative roles.
Lisa Vallimont
Lisa has worked in local government for 26 years. She began her 20 plus year career at Greene Township as an office assistant. Lisa then spent 12 years as the zoning administrator before being elected Supervisor and appointed secretary. Following that, Lisa went to Girard Township and spent 2 ½ years there as secretary/zoning administrator. When a fellow secretary announced her retirement, she went to work a little closer to home as Secretary for Summit Township.
Lisa attended her first PAMA conference in 2014, was appointed to the board in 2021 and obtained her CGA designation in 2022. Lisa is PAMA’s newly appointed Secretary. She finds the education and networking at the conferences priceless.
When she is not working, Lisa and her husband enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, going to camp, and riding ATV’s.
Jennifer Snyder
Jennifer Snyder (JEN) was born and raised in Logan Utah. She currently lives in the small village of Madisonburg in Centre County, with her husband Tom. They have been married 33 years. Jen moved to Pennsylvania in 1997. She has one daughter, three sons and two adorable grandsons. They all live in Northern Utah.
Jen graduated from the University of Utah in Parks and Recreation Management. She was also a 4-year letter winner as a Lady Ute Swimmer. She swam distance freestyle and backstroke.
Her career in municipal government began at Gregg Township as the secretary/treasurer in 2011. In 2019, after the retirement of Mary Wilson, Jen was blessed to be hired as the Assistant Township Secretary for College Township, where she is currently employed.
Jen received the Certified Governmental Administrator credentials in August of 2015. She also earned the Administration Certification through the PSATS Municipal Government Academy in 2023. She has served on the PSATS Secretary-Managers Committee, Resolution Committee (Chair 2018), and currently on the Rules Committee. She has been the Secretary/Treasurer of the Centre County Association of Township Officials since 2015. Additionally, Jen is an expert at the Right-To-Know law. Ask her about it sometime.
Jen loves being a small part of local government and looks forward to serving on the PAMA Board.
Susan Rutherford
Susan has been in her current role as Secretary/Treasurer of East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, since 2021. She was drawn to this position as having worked previously in municipal government in Viriginia as Municipal City Clerk and Clerk of the School Board. Her career has spanned 40+ years in business management and development in the non-profit, education, manufacturing, and business sectors.
East Nantmeal Township is rural, with just 16.39 square miles and a population of 1,832. Things, for the most part, are quiet here, but recently you may have heard that East Nantmeal Township was ground zero for one of the most intensive manhunts in PA history when the escaped murderer was on the loose in our Township! It was a trying time, and she thought about the PAMA conference session, Communicating in an Emergency, several times that week. Needless to say, we extended our greatest appreciation to the PA State Police, and all the other agencies assisting, for their protection and safe capture of the fugitive.
As a past member of the (VMCA) VA Municipal Clerks Association and the (IIMC) International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Susan is now proud to be part of the PA Association of Municipal Administrators group. I appreciate the opportunity for professional development, continuing education and getting to know my counterparts in local government. As a board member, she hopes to increase membership and contribute to the enrichment of programs and services offered by PAMA.
Cheryl Matesich
A graduate of Bradford Business School’s secretarial co-op program, I worked for 17 years in the financial industry before taking a few years off to raise my children. Soon after moving to Centerville Borough, the position of Secretary/Treasurer was advertised for the fifth time in about four years. I was selected and must be doing something right since that was 23 years ago and Council recently named me Borough Manager.
Along with my current position as a PAMA Board Member, I am also a member of the PSAB Board of Directors and several of its committees, the Borough Planning Commission Secretary, a member of the Centerville Parks Committee, and a certified Notary. I take all these positions seriously and actively participate.
I enjoy continuing to learn and participate in as many webinars as I can. I feel I benefit a lot by attending PAMA and PSAB conferences to network and learn. I was honored to become a Certified Borough Official through PSAB and a Certified Government Administrator at the 2023 PAMA conference.
Personally, my husband of 40 years and I live on 43 acres, most of which are fruit orchards. We have two adult sons, a lovely daughter-in-law, one adorable granddaughter, one farm cat, a flock of chickens, a gaggle of geese, and an energetic rescue lab. In my free time, we enjoy traveling to and hiking in National Parks all over the country. I am also a long-time season ticket holder at the Washington Wild Things and look forward to baseball season each year.
Pamela Beard
Township Secretary
Rostraver Township,
Westmoreland County
Pamela Beard has been employed by Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County since 2002. She started her career as the Township Clerk and was appointed to the position of Township Secretary in 2005. She attended her first PAMA conference in 2005, the organization was then known as the PA Local Governmental Secretaries Association (PLGSA). Her Township had been sending the Township Secretary to this conference, and she was grateful to find out why. Pam finds the conferences to be informative, very helpful in fulfilling her
duties, fantastic resources of reference, and relationship building.
Rostraver Township has become her home. Pam grew up in Cochranton, a small rural town in northwestern Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, she attended California University and received a B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting. Her husband, Dennis and she raised two children Erica and Corey in the Belle Vernon Area School District. They are each married now. Pam has a wonderful granddaughter, Peyton. Pam’s home is currently ruled by two German Shorthair Pointer dogs Chase and Diesel.
Theresa Pogson
Theresa Pogson started as an Assistant Secretary with Cranesville Borough in 1999 and moved up to Secretary/Treasurer in 2010. She attended her first PA Local Governmental Secretaries Association’s (former name for PAMA) Conference in 2001. Theresa received her Certified Governmental Secretary designation (later changed to Certified Governmental Administrator) in 2007. She became a Notary Public in 2009 and a member of PAMA’s Board in 2015.
Kandy Ferguson
Kandy is married to her husband, Blaine, and is mom to three beautiful daughters, Jessica, Abigail and Brooke. She is also known as “Mimi” to her three precious grandchildren, Kinleigh, Luca, and Teddy. Kandy enjoys reading, relaxing by the pool, flamingos, and all things “hot air balloon” related.
Kandy has worked at Sayre Borough since 2014 as the Administration Office Coordinator. She has collected over $1.5M in delinquent sewer campaigns, managed the Borough’s Hometown Hero’s Banner program since its inception in 2016, and most recently acted as Interim Treasurer during a 4-month absence.
She attended her first PAMA conference in 2018. In 2021, she passed her CGA exam and was elected as a member of PAMA’s Board for Eastern PA. She was also re-elected in 2022 for an additional 2-year term.
Kandy is now President-Elect of PAMA.
Lindy Platz
Lindy Platz
Lindy Platz has worked at Girard Township since 2006, starting out as a Clerk. She is currently Secretary/Treasurer as well as Township Supervisor. She has been a PAMA member since she started working for the Township.
The first conference Lindy attended was held in Erie and she has been attending almost every year for the last 12 years. She finds that the conference and being part of PAMA is a great asset to all Municipal Administrators. The classes are very informative, and the networking is amazing!
Lindy passed her CGA exam in 2015 while attending the conference in Bethlehem. That same year she was elected to the PAMA Board for Western PA. She currently holds the office of President-Elect and will become President at the end of the 2023 Annual Conference, July 30 – August 2 at the Wyndham Garden in Boalsburg (near State College).
Sandy Conrad
Sandy Conrad is from Gettysburg, PA, and has served in the capacity of Secretary/Treasurer for the Borough of Littlestown since 2001. In addition to her Secretary/Treasurer duties, she also serves as the Borough’s IT administrator.
Throughout the years she has earned her AAS in Computer Network Systems, BA in Accounting, Certified Borough Official (CBO) through PSAB, and Certified Governmental Administrator (CGA) through PAMA. She is also currently working on obtaining her Certified Municipal Clerk certification (CMC) through IIMC.
Sandy also serves on many committees as an advisor for the Borough of Littlestown and serves as the Secretary to the Adams County Boroughs Association (ACBA).
Stacy Milo-Kratzer
Stacy C. Milo-Kratzer is a native of Pennsylvania and grew up in Monroe County. She now lives in Berks County with her husband, Rich, in the log home that he built. Stacy began her municipal career by working for the City of Bethlehem. She also gained experience by working for Hanover Township – Northampton County and the County of Lehigh.
Upon completing her MPA, she looked closer to home and found her current position as Borough Manger for the Borough of Topton, which will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2026. Stacy attended Dickinson College, The American University, and Kutztown University. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Policy with a Focus in Economics and a Master of Public Administration degree.
Stacy has experience in grants management, finance, and compliance and enjoys working with not-for-profit organizations and environmental issues. Stacy finds working for local government challenging and rewarding. She was previously a member of PLGSA and is back as a proud member of PAMA. She looks forward to getting to know the new group and serving on the Board.
Neil Lovekin
Neil has over 20 years of government experience in many facets of public administration. In local government Neil gets to wear many hats, which he sincerely enjoys about the job. He thrives in an environment where no two workdays are the same.
Neil obtained his undergraduate degree from Millersville University, his graduate degree from Saint Joseph’s University, and several certifications during his tenure. He now has his sights focused on earning his CGA designation.
He has been an active member of PAMA since 2016, and the local chapter known as the Chester County Secretaries in Government Association. He serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the Chester County Municipal Managers’ Consortium, and is an active member of PSATS, APMM, and the national association – ICMA.
He is proud to serve as the Township Manager for East Marlborough Township in Chester County (home to Longwood Gardens) and humbled to serve the Board of Supervisors and its residents.
When not working for East Marlborough Township, he enjoys exploring new destinations with his family and seeing their smiling faces as they try new things.
Linda Szoke
Linda Szoke
Linda Szoke is currently the Borough Manager for White Haven Borough, Luzerne County. Prior to her appointment to this position in 2012, Linda served on White Haven Borough Council for two terms. In addition, she has over 20 years of experience in all levels of tourism. This includes project management, event planning, marketing, and sales. She has also trained and mentored employees and interns/students from local colleges in hospitality management.
Linda has made presentations for many professional groups and was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce. She has served on committees with the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau. She has volunteered with Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, St Patrick’s Church, and the White Haven Community Library.
Linda has been married to her husband, Thomas, for 34 years, they have three daughters and grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys taking her grandchildren on adventures, driving her mustang convertible, and traveling.
2010 Photo Gallery
Barb Passes Good Luck Horseshoe & Gavel to Current President Linda 
Board Members-Bonnie, Lisa, Diane & Timm 
Officers Cindy, Jan Cathy, Barb & Linda 
Glenn, Gloria & Kristen with Foreign Exchange Student 
Secretary Cindy & Husband, Richard 
Executive Director Mary & Former Director Bob 
President Barb, Past Presidents Julienne, Thelma & Tamra 
30 Year Service Award Recipients – Lynda Phiel & Julienne Giuliani; 40 Year 
25 Years Service Award Recipients – Frances McClain, Colleen Pifer & Karen Ahlgrim 
Service Award Recipients – Kathleen Brumfield, Elizabeth Fice & Marie Incorvati 
Linda from MRT & Jim from Wilkes-Barre 
Chester County Secretaries 
Brenda from PRINT & Past President Marie Incorvati 
Speakers Ed Troxell & Shelley Houk 
James Getty as Abe Lincoln 
President and Grandson
