2017 Board Slate of Candidates
We’re happy to announce PIC's slate of nominees for the 2017 Board of Directors election. These individuals have been selected by the current Board for their deep expertise and broad experience.
For the 2017-19 board term, there are eight seats open for election. Five new candidates and three incumbents. Terms are for two years and begin June 2017.
New Candidates
Jeffrey Curry
Jeffrey is an attorney at the firm of Rosenbaum & Associates. He and his wife Angela live in West Philadelphia with their two sons, Finbarr and Desmond, who have attended PIC since they were infants. The Curry family is expecting another baby boy in the fall and by the time the youngest is in kindergarten, they will have had a child in the early learning program for over a decade.
Jeff has been active in the PIC community by participating in family work days, hosting the popular Progressive Dinner, and even playing his ukulele at the Children’s Book Festival. As a board member, Jeff looks forward to supporting PIC’s continued success as a premier early learning center.
Leigh Rosen Gantz
Leigh serves as Administrative Director in the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Leigh and her husband Jay are thrilled to see their daughter Madeline flourishing in the warm and learning-oriented environment of the Bumblebee infant/young toddler classroom. They feel secure in the knowledge that Maddie is getting the best possible education and care on a daily basis.
As a Room Parent, Leigh is continually impressed with the teachers, administration, parents, and kids at PIC. She is pleased to participate on the Governance Committee and Development Committees. As a new board member, she looks forward to helping with the management of this incredible institution that has already given so much to her family.
Chris Sembrot
Chris is a Commercial Photographer/Director. At the urging of good friends (and current PIC parents), Chris and his family moved to West Philadelphia. Currently their 16-month-old daughter, Deva is a Bumblebee and they couldn't be happier. Chris states, “the teachers are wonderful. We were told we were lucky that Deva was to be Bumblebee, and now we see why.” Chris has always enjoyed helping individuals and organizations with planning and smartly utilizing assets. He looks forward to bringing a creative vision to help make PIC even better.”
Jennifer Skirkanich
Jennifer is a faculty member at Bryn Mawr College where she teaches research-focused laboratory courses in biology. She and her husband Craig live in West Philadelphia with their two children, Eli and Hannah, who are in PIC’s early learning program. Jen has enjoyed watching her children grow at PIC knowing that they are in a safe, supportive, and loving environment, where they can explore the world and learn through play. She also values PIC’s commitment to parent participation, diversity, community engagement, and advocacy. She particularly appreciates PIC’s dedicated teachers who devote their tremendous skill and creativity to developing a student-centered curriculum that empowers children to be natural explorers, inventive problem solvers, and caring community members.
As a Room Parent for several years, Jen connected with teachers and parents in her children’s classrooms. She feels that building strong relationships in the PIC community is an important part of each child’s development, and is proud of PIC’s efforts to engage families. As a board member, Jen looks forward to fostering these relationships and helping families and teachers work together to provide the best experience possible at PIC.
Lenny Zeiger
Lenny manages housing assignments for students living on campus at the University of Pennsylvania. With over 15 years of experience working at various universities in the Northeast, Lenny and his wife Kalinda moved to Philadelphia over five years ago for the opportunity to work at Penn. Lenny’s daughter Ariana has spent the last two years as a Roadrunner and will be continuing in PIC's After School Center when she starts kindergarten in the fall. He has served as a Room Parent and member of the Diversity and Parent Involvement Committees. As an incoming Board member, Lenny will co-chair the Diversity Committee. Lenny enjoys being involved with the center and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to make a difference and contribute to the future of PIC as a member of the board.
Incumbent candidates
Erica Cochran Zimmer
Erica is a professional opera singer who has worked with numerous companies around the country. She teaches private voice lessons at Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill. Erica lives in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia with her husband Kevin and their two children. Maya is a PIC alumn and her younger brother Elijah is currently in the Sunshine toddler classroom. As a board member, Erica has worked to increase parent involvement and identify ways in which parents can continue to feel part of our vibrant community. Erica also enjoys supporting PIC’s commitment to learning through play. Erica is the Vice-President of the board and chairs the Parent Involvement Committee. Currently, Erica also serves as the co-chair of the Parent Participation Program Task Force, which is working to make sure that parent involvement at PIC works for all families.
Jennifer Feldman
Jennifer currently works as Associate General Counsel for the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine. She and her husband Brett live in West Philadelphia with their daughter Talia (PIC alum) and son Drew who attends PIC’s After School Center. Jennifer finds that PIC focuses "not only on the child, but also on the family to ensure a holistic approach that nurtures both child and parent." She sees PIC as an integral part of the University City community and feels that having children at PIC and serving on its Board is a wonderful way to be active in her community. She joined the Board in order to give back to a place that she believes in very strongly. Jennifer has served on the Human Resources Committee and is currently the Secretary of the Board. According to Jennifer, "This is an exciting time for PIC, and I look forward to continuing to help PIC reach its goals."
Steve Pogarsky
Steve is Vice President at Equus Capital Partners, Ltd., a Philadelphia based private equity real estate fund manager where he leads the nationwide multi-family acquisition activities. He lives in the PIC neighborhood with his wife Leila and their two children, Ella and Aaron, who attend the After School Center. Steve and Leila chose to send their children to PIC because of the quality of its programs. According to Steve, "we continue to be impressed with the center’s vision and thoughtfulness in all aspects of its activities." Steve is previously the Treasurer of the Board and chair of the Finance Committee. "My goal as a Board member is to help PIC continue to evolve in a sustainable manner."
Read about all of PIC's current Board members.
Note the following Board members will be leaving after the current term:
Leah Finnegan
Angela Curry
Chris Tharp
Deirdre Woods
Erica Cheslock