1. Four members from the business sector come onboard at Philadelphia Works.

Philadelphia Works, the city’s workforce development board, consists of leaders from the business, non-profit, labor, and government sectors. At the end of August, Mayor Jim Kenney appointed four new members to the board for a three-year tenure:

• Emily Bittenbender, the owner and managing partner of Bittenbender Construction, LP, a 100% woman-owned and operated commercial general contractor and construction management firm specializing in new construction, renovation, and restoration projects.
• April Walker, the director of the Microsoft Technology Center in Malvern, where corporations throughout greater Philadelphia are provided direction and tactical guidance in developing digital transformation strategies and solutions for their most complex business challenges.
• Douglas Oliver, vice president of communications at PECO,  leading the company’s brand and reputation management strategies, message development, media relations, advertising, strategic communications, and company social media platforms.
• Brigitte Daniel, the executive vice president of Wilco Electronic Systems, which provides cable television, telecom, and technology services to underserved communities throughout the Philadelphia region.

2. Lauren Tankersly becomes Rock to the Future’s chief development officer.

Lauren Tankersly. (Courtesy)

Rock to the Future recently hired Lauren Tankersly as the organization’s new chief development officer to head development efforts.

Tankersly has a bachelor’s degree in history and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership and development from Saint Joseph’s University. She formerly served as a board member for the Pennsylvania Education for All Coalition (P.E.A.C.), and currently serves as a peer supporter for Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania (P2P of PA) and as a parent volunteer for the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy 4-H Club.

In its announcement of the hire, Rock to the Future described Tankersly as “a native Philadelphian with a passion for empowering under served communities. She has dedicated her career to serving her local community, and she has previously been involved in public health education and awareness, the professional development and economic advancement of women, and the academic and character development of youth living in under resourced communities.”

3. Leeway Foundation welcomes Dani Roomes as its office manager.

Dani Roomes.

In its August newsletter, the Leeway Foundation announced that  Jamaican-American artist and community builder, Dani Roomes, has become Leeway’s new office manager.

Roomes has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Bryn Mawr College and prior to joining Leeway, was a Thomas J. Watson Fellow who “explored the ways dance and music are used by people of African descent to maintain cultural heritage and community, promote healing, and navigate shifting identities.”

4. Abia Noumbissi is named PICC’s civic engagement intern.

Abia Noumbissi.

A first-generation Cameroonian American and a senior at Haverford High School, Abia Noumbissi, has been named as Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition‘s civic engagement intern. As an intern she will attend up to four daytime citizenship ceremonies per week where she will review and process registration forms. She will also help organize voter mobilization activities and Citizenship Days.

Noumbissi intends on majoring in international relations and immigration law in the fall, and hopes to one day work for the United Nations as a humanitarian legal officer.