Our Board of Directors is made up of a group of 10 dedicated members who set the agenda for the redevelopment of East Liberty. While our staff serves on the front line, our board works behind the scenes to establish policies, create programs, and provide leadership to not only the staff but also to dozens of volunteers who serve on our six standing committees and countless ad-hoc initiatives. These members take pride in their work and take their commitment seriously.
Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy
President
The Reverend Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy is the Associate Pastor for Mission Ministries at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Patrice served 19+ years as the Director of Mission Ministries at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, and is the liaison to the East Liberty community. She currently serves as the Board President of the East Liberty Development, Inc. and Vice-President of the Board of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Patrice is also a member of the Pittsburgh Clergy Consortium and the newly formed Pittsburgh Unites. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the East End Growth Fund, the Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Support Association of Oikocredit and Oikocredit USA, and as a charter board member of the Community Theater Project Corporation, Inc. (Kelly-Strayhorn Theater).
Patrice was honored in 1999 by being accepted as one of 50 individuals from across the country to participate in the second annual Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute for Church-based Community and Economic Development; chosen as a result of her committed work in the East Liberty community. She has served on the ELDI board since 1998.
Charles Peterson
Vice President
Mr. Peterson has served on the board since 2010. He is currently an independent community development consultant and has worked in community development and community planning for over 30 years. He also serves as a program reader for the Community Development Financial Institution Fund.
Jack Pelles
Treasurer
Mr. Pelles has served on the board since 2004. He is currently a senior banker at Citizens Bank where he has gained extensive knowledge and experience in retail and commercial deposits, investments, and lending. His broad knowledge of finance and marketing contribute greatly to East Liberty Development, Inc.
Nora Sullivan
Secretary
Ms. Sullivan has been a resident of East Liberty since 1975 and has served on the board since 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Seton Hill University and a Master’s Equivalent from Duquesne University. Her passion for East Liberty has led her to be the founding member of the Negley Place Neighborhood Alliance. Ms. Sullivan also has over 25 years of real estate experience with Northwood Realty.
Chad Restori
Board Member
Chad Restori joined the board in 2016. He is a Vice President and a CFP® Practitioner with Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. As a financial advisor, Chad works with individuals and families to provide guidance in the areas of investments, retirement planning, tax, insurance, charitable giving, and estate planning. In addition to his work with individuals, Chad also works with small to mid-sized businesses to establish or improve their company retirement plan, provide employee education, and counsel owners and executives on incentive programs.
Chad and his wife Katie live in East Liberty with their cat Ollie. After moving to East Liberty in 2013, he got involved with ELDI as a way to be actively involved in the growth and positive change happening in the neighborhood.
Quianna Wasler
Board Member
Ms. Wasler joined the board in 2012. She is currently the mainstreets development specialist at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. Her work at the URA includes the marketing, promotion, and implementation of façade improvement programs across the City of Pittsburgh.
Pamela Collier
Board Member
Pamela Collier is the founder of the Lord Marketing Group and a tenured public relations and community development professional. With over a decade of experience, her firm offers strategic PR campaigns, communication planning, media outreach, event planning, and community development services. She joined the ELDI board in 2003 after living in Philadelphia and DC. Witnessing the urban renewal occurring there, she was excited to become a part of an organization that actively makes a difference in the lives of community members.
Lenore Williams
Board Member
Lenore Williams is a senior vice president of affiliate operations and compliance at the American Urban Radio Networks. She takes pride in being an active member of the East End community, also serving as a chairperson of the Baum Centre Initiative and an elder at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
Marie Wilkerson
Board Member
Marie Wilkerson is an administrative research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. East Liberty has been her home since 1971, and she has been a homeowner in East Liberty since 1995. After attending several public community meetings, Ms. Wilkerson desired to become a member of the East Liberty Community Planning Committee in 2014 and subsequently joined the board in 2016.
Donna Jackson
Board Member
Donna M. Jackson is a resident of the Lincoln and Lemington area and a retired telecommunications officers for the City of Pittsburgh. She developed a passion for community engagement and revitalization after witnessing disinvestment in many low-income communities as well as the growing disparity of access to quality affordable housing, services, education, well-being, and economic opportunities within her own neighborhood. As one of the leaders driving sustainable change in Larimer through the Larimer Consensus Group, she played a key role in positioning the organization to win the competitive $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. She continues to work with the Larimer community to engage residents in a process to create a green, sustainable neighborhood where families can thrive while simultaneously serving on the ELDI board and sharing her expertise.