... She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration /International Business Management as well as a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College, NY and went on to earn a MBA and completed Doctorate level coursework in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University, PA. Mary Ellen is an active Board Member of PAR (Pennsylvania Advocates and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities)

Mary Ellen has found reward and purpose in her leadership career through serving individuals with special needs. She is excited to continue the journey by leading Friendship Community as we continue the work that the Lord has set ahead of us in our Mission to cultivate the capabilities of individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism.

Mary Ellen enjoys continuous learning and has a passion for leadership and coaching. She is a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member and holds various licensures in Healthcare Administration. Outside of a passion for Leadership and Coaching, Mary Ellen enjoys various arts such as painting, making sea-glass and frit glass pendants, as well as various fiber arts. She loves to hike and physical fitness and nutrition is important to her. She loves time with her family and in particular her daughters, grandchildren and siblings.

... Controller. Later she moved into Commercial Lending as a Credit Officer and Chief Credit Officer for a portion of her career. Liesl considers herself a lifelong learner. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grove City College. Later, she attended Lebanon Valley College to earn an M.B.A. Outside of work, Liesl enjoys cooking and baking. She is an avid reader and participates in a monthly book club. She enjoys singing in the church choir and serves currently on the Christian Education Committee. She maintains a busy schedule being a mom to a 16-year-old son who is involved in local community theater and school music and drama programs. She and her husband enjoy traveling and have a bucket list of places to see that they are working through.

Darnell has served in leadership roles at Step By Step, Creative Health Services, Inc. , Supportive Concepts, the Office of Long Term Living, Caron Foundation, and Children’s Home of Reading.

Throughout his career, Darnell has excelled in building strong teams, managing resources effectively, and creating inclusive environments that foster growth and independence. His expertise in crisis intervention, behavioral planning, and program oversight has consistently led to measurable improvements in the quality of care and operations.

A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a background in child development and family relations, Darnell is deeply committed to empowering the individuals that he serves. He brings passion and vision to every role, striving to enhance services and positively impact the community.

... University, Julie has over 5 years of experience in building high-performing teams and fostering a positive workplace culture. She is dedicated and passionate about all things HR. She is known for her strong interpersonal skills and ability to create inclusive and supportive work environments. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her children, playing with her dogs and exploring new culinary experiences.

…Her creative and out-of-the-box approach has produced nationally recognized awareness, engagement and growth in the digital, social media, print, and events spaces. She's continued her lifelong learning with a focus on highlighting meaningful and life enriching work to build lasting connections.

Away from her career, Amanda is a wife and mother of four wonderful children. Her free time is joyously spent at their sporting events, music recitals, and countless other extracurriculars. She also enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with extended family.