BOARD AND COMMITTEES

We Oversee Five Committees

Making a Difference of Lebanon, PA is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of no more than twelve directors. We are all volunteers dedicated to our mission and giving back to our community. The Officers of the Board are the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Public Relations Secretary. We oversee Four committees: Events/Education, Fundraising, 10 year anniversary, and Community Service & Special Projects.

2023 Board of Directors

Cornell Wilson

Board Member- President

Cornell was one of the Co-Founders of Making a Difference, and he the current President of the Board. Cornell was born and raised in Lebanon, PA. He was a graduate of Lebanon Senior High School and went on to obtain a BA in Sociology at Lebanon Valley College. Cornell has dedicated his life to helping youth and being an active member of his community. In the past, Cornell was a soccer and basketball coach, a foster parent, a Rotary member, a member of St. John A.M.E Church, a Latino Health Fair Committee member, a SARCC board member, and a house parent for Lebanon County Children and Youth. In his profession, he has always worked in social services. Additionally he is a Marketing Consultant for Kapp Advertising. He is a former elected member of the Lebanon School Board and Lebanon City Council.

Sommer VanBrunt

Board Member- Vice-President- 10 Year Anniversary Comm. Chair

I was born and raised in Lebanon and currently reside in North Cornwall with my husband and two teenage sons. I am a Community Banking Officer, Branch Manager with JBT for 15+ years. I serve on the council for Leadership Lebanon Valley and volunteer for various other outreach programs in the Lebanon community. I look forward to continuing to make a difference in a community that has so much to offer.

Michelle Stehman

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Board Member- Co-Chair of Events/Education Comm.

Michelle has been a business owner for 33 years. She also works for Patriot Homes for the last 2 years. She resides in Lebanon and is a mother of two daughters. She enjoys volunteering and being involved in her community.

Mario Nardone

Board Member-

I grew up, mostly, in Lebanon City and now live in Annville with my wife and son. I work in IT and am currently the IT Manager for JBT. I have always loved helping others and giving back to the community and I look forward to continuing that with Making A difference.

Cindy Schlegel

Board Member- Treasurer

Cindy has lived in the City of Lebanon most of her life, along with her husband, two children, and grandchildren. She has been involved in many volunteer opportunities, including the Northside Neighborhood Elm Street Program to coordinate community activities for the holidays, picnics, back to school events, and a community garden.

Mariel Torres Lopez

Board Member-

Community Service Chair

Mariel was born in Mexico and has lived in Elizabethtown for the majority of her life. Throughout her upbringing, she has made it a priority to give back to the communities surrounding her. She has dedicated her time lobbying on the state and national level for awareness of eating disorders with the National Eating Disorder Association, as well as reforms for immigration rights through several organizations. She works for First Citizens Community Bank, which makes her even more eager to better the communities within Lebanon county.

Francy Reigert

Board Member- Co-chair of Events/Education Committee

Francy presently resides in Lebanon with her husband Shannon and two daughters. A Lebanon County resident for her entire life, she graduated from ELCO and went to Lebanon Valley College to pursue education. She has been with the Lebanon School District her entire career and wants to give back to the community who helped mold her into the person she is today. Her core value is positive people produce positive results, and she wants to lead by example for her daughters, Mia and Ozlynde, as well as her students. She looks forward to working on the Events and Activities Committee to bring joy and camaraderie to the community.

Paige Rivera-Fansler

Board Member- Co-chair of Events/Education Committee

I was born and raised in Lebanon County and still live in Lebanon with my husband. I studied Psychology at Shippensburg University and am currently a Branch Team Leader for JBT. I have always loved to volunteer and give back to the community and I look forward to continuing that.

Alisher Aminov

Board Member-Secretary

Alisher has lived in Lebanon city for the majority of his life, working within the community in any way he can. In 2017 Alisher founded, and is currently the director of education for, Yellow Brick Robotics (a 501©3 educational nonprofit based in Lebanon). Additionally, as a commercially license drone pilot Alisher owns and operates a private videography production business based in Lebanon City. To Alisher, the well-being of Lebanon is personal. In his free time he is an activist, volunteer, neighbor, friend, etc... and he wants to make a difference.

Keith Pemrick

Board Member

Keith is a founding member and managing partner of Commonwealth Strategic Partners (CSP), a lobbying firm in both Washington, DC and Harrisburg, PA. Prior to CSP, he spent over 12 years as a senior advisor to former Congressman Tim Holden, including 2003-2012 when the Congressman represented Lebanon County. Keith serves as an adjunct professor in government at American University. Keith settled in South Lebanon Township in March 2021, where he lives with his girlfriend, Carly, and her two daughters. He stays active by going to the Lebanon YMCA and playing tennis and golf and looks forward to giving back to the Lebanon community.

Angela Desendi- Kriner

Board Member- Public Relations Chair

Angela is a Marketing Consultant with Kapp Advertising. She has worked in advertising for the last 5 years, in a variety of mediums including print, broadcast and digital. Angela was raised in Lebanon and has lived in Lebanon County for most of her life. Angela volunteered with the Community of Lebanon Association for several years and served on various committees. She enjoys being a part of organizations, programs and events that help Lebanon County communities grow and thrive.

Board Member

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, he earned a degree in Marketing plus an MBA. He worked at Verizon Dominicana for 15 years as a product development executive. He was the founder, first president and active member of the Dominican Association of Nature Photographers (adfona.org.do), a pro-environmental non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the beauty of that island to raise awareness about the fragile situation of endemic birds. He came to Pennsylvania 5 years ago with his wife, Amanda, in search of the American dream. Actually he works at RANDSTAD as an HR site manager.

Rafael Arvelo Castillo

10-Year Anniversary:

This year Making a Difference is celebrating our our 10 year anniversary! To make sure this important milestone stands out, this year we will have many special events including Open Houses, Summer Games and Awards and Apperception Reception.

Fundraisers:

This committee is responsible to raise funds for the organization. We don’t receive any federal or state funding, so raising of funds rest on our shoulders. Ex. Annual Appeal, Dinner Club, Purse Bingo, Lottery Tickets, Golf, Lebanon Gives.

Events/Education:

Events and activities for the community. We provide fun, enjoyable activities for the community and youth. Ex. Back to School Festival, Pizza Making Contest, Game nights, Bus Trips, STEM Camp, Theater Camp Beach Party, Whacky Olympics, Dance, Easter Egg Hunt Festival, Adopt a Family for Christmas and more. Additionally, this committee oversees anything that pertains with educating The Lebanon community or Education Field. Education is a cornerstone of Making a Difference, and we want all of our events and fundraisers to be focused on this aspect of community development.

Community Service and Special Projects:

Making A difference of Lebanon PA, is committed to making our community a better and safer environment for everyone who lives here. We focus on hosting projects of all shapes and sizes, including park revitalizations, Community Cleanups, Community Christmas Meal, Thanksgiving Meal, Veteran’s Breakfast, Murals, Etc.