The following presenters have been invited to speak at the BBEC Business and Education Summit
on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Dr. Jill M. Hackman joined the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) on June 1, 2009 as the assistant executive director for two years before taking on the role of executive director.

Dr. Hackman brings extensive school district administrative experience to her role, having served as assistant superintendent, director of student services, and as a teacher and facilitator in the field of special education.  She serves on a variety of community nonprofit organizations, including the Vice-Chair of the Berks Business Education Coalition (BBEC).

In September 2019, Dr. Hackman is committed to ensuring that the BCIU provides high quality and cost-effective programs and services for Berks County school districts, charter schools, private schools, and other organizations and agencies that serve children.  She is a strong advocate for public education with elected officials, and will continue to foster partnerships with business and community agencies to strengthen educational programs in Berks County.

Andrew Potteiger serves as Superintendent of Schools, Brandywine Heights Area School District and has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary, and Early Childhood Education with extensive experience in Early Childhood education. Mr. Potteiger is dedicated to supporting enthusiastic and dynamic teaching as a means of creating and nurturing a knowledge and the lifelong love of learning in children. Mr. Potteiger has a M.S. Elementary Education from Wilkes University, Bachelor of Arts, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania Certification in Early Childhood Education, Pennsylvania Certification in Elementary Education, Pennsylvania K-12 Principal Certification, and is a Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society Member/President.

Hannah Barrick, JD, is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO). PASBO comprises school business officials who are responsible for everything from budgeting and financing to school facilities, transportation, food service, technology, human resources, safety and security, procurement and everything in between. Hannah Barrick is a former director of government affairs for the PA School Boards Association. She previously worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hannah Barrick is a graduate of Hamilton College and Quinnipiac Law School.

Kari King is President and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC). Responsible for the organization’s daily administration and effective functioning and directly involved in the organization’s interaction with state-level public policymakers, the Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, the news media, the children’s advocacy community, funders and the service sectors. Prior to her role as President and CEO Kari was Vice President of Public Policy for PPC, leading PPC’s government relations efforts and overseeing the organization’s policy development and implementation work, representing the organization before the Pennsylvania General Assembly, state agencies, regulatory bodies and Pennsylvania’s federal congressional delegation. Kari joined PPC in April 2015 after serving in various positions in the Tom Corbett administration, as the Legislative Director for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Secretary for Legislative Affairs in the governor’s office, and as Deputy Chief of Staff. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Kari concentrated on health care, insurance and human services issues in the governor’s office. She is a Graduate of Susquehanna University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and has a Master’s degree in Political Science from Lehigh University.

Senator Scott Martin is a lifelong Lancaster County resident and was elected to represent the 13th Senatorial District in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Senator Martin currently serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, with a role in negotiating and developing the state budget and responsibility for reviewing all legislation for its fiscal impact. He previously served as Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Local Government Committee. Senator Martin serves as Chairman of the PA Athletic Oversight Committee and was elected Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission (CBC) in 2023.  He is a graduate from Millersville University with a degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice.

Senator David G. Argall represents the 29th District, which includes 102 municipalities in northeastern Pennsylvania including all of Schuylkill and Carbon Counties, and parts of Luzerne County and the city of Hazleton. He is a member of the Senate’s majority leadership team and Senate Chair of the Education Committee. Senator Argall earned a bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College and a Ph.D. in public administration from Penn State.  He has served as part-time public policy instructor for more than 30 years at Lycoming College, Penn State, and Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Cheryl Spangler, SHRM-CP is the Director of Workforce and Recruitment at East Penn Manufacturing. Cheryl oversees and coordinates company-wide efforts to ensure that positions are filled with qualified individuals, and on-going strategic imperatives are met. She is responsible for leading a team to maintains effective programs for recruitment, retention, and promotional internal and external hiring. Cheryl has 30 plus years of Human Resources and recruiting experience. She is recognized for the development of successful recruiting and marketing strategies. She partners with East Penn’s Hiring Managers to develop effective sourcing strategies. She managed the company’s recruiting pipeline by growing and developing East Penn’s skilled trade co-op and professional internship programs. Cheryl is a Society and Human Resource Management certified professional, and a member of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Society of Human Resource Management. She currently serves on the Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center Executive Committee and on the Berks Career and Technology Center Executive Committee.

Kim Schneider is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition, and has held this role since 2022. She is responsible for all talent acquisition, including general recruitment and recruitment compliance issues.

Ms. Schneider has been with Reading Hospital and Tower Health since 2009, and has served in multiple Tower facilities during her tenure, contributing in virtually every aspect of HR functions. She has extensive experience in talent acquisition, including several years as a nurse recruiter for St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children before it was acquired by Tower Health in partnership with Drexel University, as well as other employers.

Ms. Schneider is well-respected by front-line staff, as well as management and senior leadership for her hands-on style and her commitment to honest and direct communication that is always focused on finding solutions. She is known for bringing a positive attitude to every encounter, seeking the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

Mary Franciscus is the Director of Human Resources at the Berks County Intermediate Unit. Previously, she served as Manager of Recruiting and Employee Relations at the Chester County Intermediate Unit. She has a wide-ranging background in all facets of human resources and employee relations. She was Recruiting and Employee Relations Manager for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Her previous experience includes Director of Training and Benefits YMCA of Greater Brandywine. Her education includes Penn State University Master of Professional Studies, Human Resources and Employee Relations, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Millersville University.

Dan Fogarty is the Director of Workforce Development and Chief Operating Officer for the Berks County Workforce Development Board. He plays a crucial role in identifying and addressing the workforce development needs of the community, proposing strategies, and building partnerships to support these initiatives. Prior roles include: Manager – Human Resources, Schroeder Industries LLC Pittsburgh, Director Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Manufacturing Careers -a clearinghouse of best practices and current research on the workforce needs of the state’s manufacturers and manufacturing organizations, Director of Salaried Personnel and Development at Carpenter Technology for thirteen years, his areas of focus included professional and leadership development, performance management, salaried compensation and employment programs, his prior experience included Human Resources Manager at Providian Direct Insurance.

Since joining the Berks Career and Technology Center in February 2019, Dr. Michael Stauffer has held the positions of Assistant Principal at the west campus, Principal of the East Campus, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and is in his fourth year serving as the Executive Director.  Prior to joining BCTC, Dr. Stauffer served as Middle School Principal in the Eastern Lebanon County School District, High School Principal at Oley Valley School District, Assistant Middle/High School Principal at Oley Valley School District, Assistant Principal at Schuylkill Haven Area High School, and started his education career as a Technology Education Teacher at Valley Forge Middle School within the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District.  Prior to entering the education profession, Dr. Stauffer spent 12 years working in the field of construction. At home, Dr. Stauffer enjoys trips to the family cabin, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and woodworking. He is a proud father of 4 girls and 1 boy, and is happily married to his wife, Jennifer, of 15 years.

In her role, Lucine Sihelnik leads the chamber organization in facilitating new and existing business expansion, project funding, redevelopment, business-to-business promotion, advocacy, and workforce development. For 20 years, she has focused on community and economic development through her consulting platform Gayatri Wellness. A leader in Community and Economic Development, she served as District One seat on Reading’s City Council in 2019/2020, and served 2 years as Vice President. Most recently she served as a Commissioner of Berks County. Sihelnik has a master’s degree from Alvernia University and currently volunteers with various community initiatives & boards. Sihelnik is co-owner of the Great American Creamery on Penn Street in downtown Reading with her husband, Balasios Lahaniatis.