Cheryl C. Spaulding, President Emeritus

Chapter Leader – Downingtown – Chester County

Cheryl is the co-founder of Joseph’s People. She has a BA in Business from Immaculata University. She has been tending Joseph’s People, Ltd. since its’ founding in 1995 and has been its’ President since 2001. Over her more than 30 years in business she has been the founder and owner of several businesses; including Equitrust Realty, Ltd. a full service commercial/industrial real estate brokerage firm covering the Phila. Metro area; Dolphin Marine Systems, the largest educational marine software company in the world, and Lenape Associates, Inc. that she presently owns and operates with her husband of 46 years, Dr. James T. Spaulding, providing highly specialized IT training expertise to corporations, and Universities.  Cheryl has served on numerous organization Boards/Task Forces; PA Task Force for Long-Term Unemployment, HIRE ONE Task Force for CCEDC, Housing Partnership of Chester County, CCIDA Council, CC Board of Realtors and Immaculata College Real Estate Advisory Board. She and her husband Jim have lived in Downingtown since 1978 and have a daughter/two sons & their spouses and eight grandchildren in the surrounding Chester, Delaware County area.

 

Ernest W. Russom, III, President

Co-Chair Joseph’s People of Central Delaware County & Chapter Leader Delaware County

Ernie Russom is the Executive Director of The Westview Associates, a firm that provides Accounting, Finance and Administrative staffing solutions throughout the Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Region. Clients vary from Start-up Organizations to Fortune 100s. Provided staffing solutions range from Senior Finance and Accounting Executives to Support Staff.

Ernie has a BS in Business Logistics from Penn State and an MBA from Temple University. His career began within the Financial Service Industry. Selected accomplishments include being a senior member of PNC Bank’s Credit Quality Assurance team that participated in numerous bank and portfolio acquisitions, the Compliance Officer for a $3.8B consumer loan portfolio that was managed by EDS and the author of a risk mitigation product for the Financial Service Industry which was featured on the front page of USA Today.

Ernie’s community service activities include being the founder and leader of Metro Philly Job Search Group, Co-Founder of the Mary Magdalen Job Search Group, as well as a “Friend of The FENG” (Financial Executive Networking Group).

 

Ann Marie Barr, Vice President

Chapter Leader – West Grove – Chester County

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University Ann’s background was originally in education. She traveled from western Pennsylvania to Florida and New Jersey before settling in southern Chester County.  For over 20 years she has overseen human service advocacy, support groups, and immediate need assistance for Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish. Ann has three children who were a part of her volunteer work from the beginning. Ann’s role was taken to a larger platform in 2006 when Catholic Social Services enlisted her first as parish outreach coordinator then as intake case manager. One of the outreach meetings centered on introducing more parishes to Joseph’s People and led to the start of the West Grove chapter.

 

Suzanne Curran, Secretary

Chapter Leader – Huntington Valley – Montgomery County

Suzanne is the owner of SC Staffing & Consulting. She has been in business for 8 years. Their specialty in placing staff both temp and perm. is in the financial, administrative and HR industry. Her company has won numerous awards.

Prior to staffing Suzanne worked in the banking industry for 20 years. She graduated from LaSalle University. Suzanne would love to help everyone that comes through Joseph’s people be able to obtain employment that they are worthy of. She resides in Philadelphia, with her husband and son.

 

Jane Furgas, Treasurer

Jane has been the treasurer of Joseph’s People, Ltd. since 2011. As treasurer, she converted from manual records to spreadsheets and on-line banking. Jane keeps track of banking, fund allocations, and heating fund distributions. She prepares monthly financials, annual board meeting financial reports, and non-profit tax reports. She has been a member and volunteer of the Joseph’s People Downingtown chapter since 2004, assisting members with job search and support. She has over 30 years of experience as an accountant in the accounting department of numerous businesses. Jane is presently an accountant at Life Care Services. She has an MBA in Finance from College of Notre Dame, now Notre Dame de Namur University.

 

Dan Willard

Chapter Leader – Aldan Union – Delaware County
Dan serves as the coordinator for Career Crossroads, a Joseph’s People Chapter at Aldan Union Church. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Joseph’s People. Dan graduated from Drexel University with a BS in marketing and enjoyed a successful sales and management career in the IT field with IBM, Texas Instruments, and Digital Equipment Corporation. He also owned and operated his own limousine service for several years

 

Rick Schilling

Rick has been a Joseph’s People chapter volunteer since 1996 and board member of Joseph’s People Ltd. since its inception. He is the founder and owner of Schilling Professional Staffing, Inc., a company providing experienced industry specialists for interim or project assignments at financial institutions. Rick has a BS degree in Marketing from St. Joseph’s College, completed the Stonier School of Banking program at Rutgers University, and has an MBA-Finance degree from Widener University.

 

Kurt Walser

Kurt has been working for Family Service of Chester County for 45 years as a Family Counselor and in the position as Director of Programs and Services. He collaborated with Josephs People to help the unemployed deal with the many stressors as well worked at the career Link of Chester County in the same capacity. Kurt has a Diploma from the University of St.Gallen Switzerland in Social Work. He came to the USA in 1969. He is retired and enjoys gardening, the outdoors, baking and cooking, as well as acting in his former career as a Swiss Chocolatier, making handmade artisan gourmet chocolates during the holidays. His spiritual quest is to continue to understand the relationship between men and our creator.

 

Janet Stewart Spaulding

Janet received her undergraduate degree in English from LaSalle University. She attended university of Florida, working as a Teaching Assistant. She worked in the fields of Hospitality Management, Banking, and Defense Contracting. She earned a Master’s in English and Publishing from Rosemont College, where her dissertation was Holocaust Studies. She is an Adjunct Faculty member at Immaculata University and has taught literature, research and writing there for fourteen years. She resides in Downingtown with her husband David Spaulding and their three children.

 

Steven Bailey, Treasurer – Downingtown Chapter

Steven is an accounting professional with more than thirty years of corporate experience in Cash Management Systems, Accounts Receivable, Inventory Analysis, Credit, and Collections. Steven has been the treasurer of Joseph’s People- Downingtown Chapter since 2006. As treasurer, he has been responsible for bank reconciliations and quarterly statements. He has been both a member and volunteer of the Joseph’s People Downingtown Chapter since 2004 by assisting members with their job search and support. Steven is presently a credit analyst with Softmart. He has a BS degree in Accounting from Bentley College, now Bentley University.

 

John Senick

Chapter Leader – Reading – Berks County

Mr. Senick is one of the original founding members for Joseph’s People Berks Chapter and the Lead Volunteer since 2008. He also is on the Joseph People Board. John is currently retired and does consulting work He has held various management positions including General Sales Manager, Training Director, VP of Sales, National Sales Manager and Director of Sales over his career in both sales and marketing. He has been a Bank representative, sold software products to Auto Manufacturers and Auto Dealer Groups throughout the country. He has been married to his wife Heidi for 37 years and they have 5 children and 5 Grandchildren. Both John and Heidi grew up in Philadelphia and have lived in the Reading area for the past 30 years. Mr. Senick is also a former board member and VP of Starhawks youth Deck hockey. He was the cofounder and head coach of Challenger Basketball Berks, a program that was designed for special needs children in Berks County. John is Currently a Committee member on the Berks County Committee on Increasing Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities. He is Head Minister of Hospitality at St. Catharine of Sienna Church and a Volunteer for Keystone Military families.

 

Diane Merry

Chapter Leader – Mainline – Wayne Presbyterian Church –Delaware County

Diane is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, where she runs a research lab studying the molecular basis of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases. She received her undergraduate degree from The College of William and Mary and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Texas in Houston and The University of Pennsylvania, respectively. In her position at TJU, Diane also teaches medical, graduate and pharmacy students. From 2005-2012, Diane was the Director of the PhD Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Diane lives in Malvern with her husband and two children. She is a long-time member of Wayne Presbyterian Church, where she is currently serving as a Deacon and leader of the Joseph’s People chapter that recently merged with Joseph’s People Mainline. At WPC, Diane is also a member of the Congregational Care Committee, through which she and her husband coordinated a Caregiver’s Support Group for the past 4 years.

 

Georgeann Fears

Chapter Leader – Bucks County

Georgeann has been in the supply chain industry for many years. In logics, planning and management. She is presently running her own company that provides consulting services to companies that need supply chain expertise. She is a graduate of both Penn State University and Drexel University Le-Bow College of Business.

Georgeann is a very active member of She is an active member of Our Lady of Grace Parish and a founding member of the Penndel Chapter of Joseph’s People.

 

Christine Allen, M.S.

Christine has served as Coordinator of Career Services at Penn State Brandywine since 2006. Prior to that, she worked at Delaware County Community College as an Career Counselor/Intern serving a diverse population of students in the college as well as adults in the community through CareerLink. Christine obtained her M.S. in Counseling from Neumann University and is certified as a Myers Briggs Type Indicator Practitioner. Other certifications include Certified Career Services Provider and Global Career Development Facilitator. Christine thoroughly enjoys her work with people of all ages, from teens through seniors, as they seek to find their place in the world of work. She has been practicing as a Career Counselor since 2005 and presently serves on the Board of Joseph’s People. For resume and recommendations, visit LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caallen/

 

Jack Shaw

Chapter Leader-Pittsburgh-Allegheny County

Jack worked as a Community Relations Administrator for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for 14 years coordinating the company’s community programs and projects. .He served on various Boards and Committees for: United Way, Alzheimer’s Association, the Boy Scouts of America, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, The Three Rivers Regatta, and the Western Pennsylvania Olympic Committee.

Jack was also co-coordinator for HOPE Ministry (Helping Others Pursue Employment), a faith-based outreach program for unemployed and underemployed people seeking meaningful employment before starting Joseph’s People at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Pittsburgh.

 

Member Representatives – Member representatives are non-voting members of our group who have graduated or are presently unemployed who provide us with their view of our activities and plans from a “member” perspective. That input is very valuable to us.

Craig Cathcart – Craig is an Operations Specialist with Johnson and Johnson. I have been a Josephs People volunteer at Aldan Union for about 5 years. My wife and I have also been volunteering with senior citizens as well, doing crafts and music for many years.