Kutztown Strong has elected a permanent board of directors, Vice President Kelley Neyhart announced.
When the organization was founded in 2014, an interim board was elected to take on the task of setting up operations, establishing a charter, attempting to obtain grants and putting the group on an effectively operating footing. It was decided at the outset that elections would be held for a permanent board once they had established a smoothly-running operation.
Election results are:Andrew Brett, Kutztown Area School District will serve as President. He was treasurer in the interim board as well as serving on the Student Activities Committee. He commented, “I am encouraged by the community support that Kutztown Strong has had from the beginning.”
Kelley Neyhart, a Retired Kutztown University Professor of Education, will carry his interim post of vice president on to the new board. He and his wife, Celine, have been instrumental in establishing the student after-class activities that help the organization meet its goals of fighting the appeal of substance abuse among the young people during the vulnerable period between the end of school and the time that their parents get home from work..
Nate Herrlin will take over the position of treasurer on the new board. He is the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church and has been an active member of the interim board since the organization’s inception. He comments that, as a parent of students in elementary, middle and high schools, he has a real concern for area young people.
Jeff Coillier will join the board as secretary. He is new to the board, but has been an active member since the beginning. He is also a member of the Community Research and Resources Committee.
Sheryl McKlveen will continue as Board Mobilizer. She is currently a Social Work Graduate student at Kutztown University and has completed internship placements at both the Kutztown Community Partnership and Kutztown Strong.
Hugh W. Smith served on the transitional board and co-chaired the Education Committee. He will move to the permanent board and specialize in education programs, especially for elementary school children. A recent project was the establishment of the Couger Chronicle, a magazine designed to educate students about substance abuse and their possible effects. He is interested in ensuring that recovery remains part of the ongoing effort of Kutztown Strong. He is the owner of Firelock Fireproof Modular Vaults.
Melissa Melton Nolte been extremely active in the organization from the beginning, serving as secretary of the interim board. She will continue as chair of the Public Relations Committee and a member of the High School Student Group. She is an employee of Kutztown Area High School and is heavily involved as a volunteer in many of their activities. “I wanted to make a difference not only in my own children’s lives,” Nolte said, “but also with the community and the young people of the community.”
Daniel T. Pfost, MSW, is a prevention Specialist at the Council on Chemical Abuse. “Too often,” he says, “families who are facing the acute effects of addiction are publicly stigmatized into isolation, perpetuating their struggle. My main duty, as both a social worker and a person in long-term recovery, is to advocate in favor of these individuals and families and promote recovery as the solution to addiction.” He serves as co-chair of the Community Research and Resources Inventory Committee.
Colin Quinn is a fifth grade teacher and served on the interim board as Kutztown University’s representative. His goal is to make sure that students have diverse opportunities for positive engagement in the community.
Eric Michael is a full-time student at Kutztown University and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He became active with Kutztown Strong a year ago when his fraternity adopted the organization and has become deeply involved since. “The brothers of SAE have been invaluable to the activities of Kutztown Strong,” said Vice President Neyhart. “They have helped in many aspects of the organization, especially working with the students in their activities and acting as positive role models of sportsmanship and team cooperation.”
Melissa Blatt is a fifth grade teacher in the Kutztown Area School District. She has been active in the organization from the beginning and has worked with the middle school group to plan and carry out activities, including team building exercises and charity work.
Marsha Goodman-Hinnershitz is the Director of Planning and Resource Development for the council on Chemical Abuse. She has been active with the Funding Resources Committee and says, “I believe coalitions are key to effectively addressing a community’s substance use concerns.”
Ramsi Ross is a Kutztown Area High School student and serves as high school representative and has been active with the group for a year. She has been an active member of the student activities group since arriving at the high school.
The second high school representative is Daniel Luckenbill. He is a 10th grader and is also active with the student activities of the organization.
A number of the interim board members have stepped aside from their positions, but will remain active in the organization.
Stepping aside as former president of the transitional board is Katherine D. Metrick. She is Superintendent of the Kutztown Area School District and initiated the call to action April 21, 2014 that resulted in the founding of the organization. She states that she wanted to pull together the many strengths of the community to combat this indiscriminate killer. She will continue to be active with the group, but will work within the organization.
Also moving from the board is Brenda Loeb. She is a certified school nurse for the Kutztown Area School District and will co-chair the Education Committee.
Susan Collier has taught at the Kutztown Area Middle School for 31 years. She states, “I have learned that addiction is a disease of the brain. It is not a moral failing or a matter of will power. It is important for people to understand this concept. I also think it is important that people know that Kutztown Strong is all about prevention. We are identifying our risk and protective factors to determine the needs of the community.”
Two students who were replaced on the interim board were Beckham Sibiski and Cory Koehler. Both students were representatives on the transitional board and also the high school student group. Both will be graduating with the KAHS class of 2017.
