Board Chair
Jim D'Innocenzo
Jim D'Innocenzo began his professional career advising candidates for Pennsylvania House and Senate races and went on to lead gubernatorial and Attorney General campaigns. He spent a decade in the Pennsylvania Senate in senior staff roles, advising members and serving as Chief of Staff to the Majority Whip.
Following his service to the Commonwealth, he embarked on a career in the private sector as an entrepreneur and corporate advisor. In his last public sector role, he was a Vice President with a Fortune 30 global media and technology company. Jim capitalized on his legislative, political, and private sector marketing experiences to form JMD Advisors, where he advises a broad range of clients in various vertical markets throughout the US.
Jim served on PCN's Board of Directors from 2009 to 2024.
Honorary Ambassadors
The Honorable Thomas Corbett
Thomas Corbett served as the Governor of Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2015. Prior to his service as Governor, Corbett served as Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 1997 and 2005 to 2011, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1993, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1983.
Corbett served his country as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard 28th Infantry Division from 1971 until 1984, rising from private to captain. He and his wife are the parents of two adult children, and they have one grandchild.
The Honorable Edward Rendell
Edward Rendell served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011 and the 96th Mayor of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2000. Rendell was elected District Attorney of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978 through 1985 and served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 Presidential election.
A dedicated public servant, law professional, and published author, Rendell sits on several boards, supports multiple non-profit organizations, and teaches government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Honorable Mark Schweiker
Mark Schweiker served as Pennsylvania’s 44th governor from 2001 to 2003. During his term, Schweiker signed an executive order establishing security task forces following the events of September 11, 2021. Schweiker received global recognition for inspirational crisis leadership during the 77-hour Quecreek Mine rescue operation in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Schweiker served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and President of PRWT Business Process Solutions. Currently, Schweiker is a senior advisor to Stradley Ronan and serves as an executive-in-residence for the Rider University Homeland Security program.
The Honorable Thomas Ridge
Thomas Ridge served as the Assistant District Attorney in Erie before serving six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ridge assumed office as the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania in 1995. He won reelection but left office before completing his second term to become the first Director of the Office of Homeland Security following the events of September 11, 2001. Ridge later served as the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005.
Ridge served as an infantry staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, earning the Bronze Star for Valor, and was the first enlisted Vietnam veteran to become a member of Congress.
Board Ambassadors
Steve Aaron
Steve Aaron founded SRA Communications in 2012. He is a public relations consultant, media trainer, and crisis manager. A former award-winning journalist and spokesman to two Pennsylvania governors, Steve has a unique understanding of today’s media landscape, especially in Pennsylvania, where he has lived his entire life.
Steve has helped dozens of executives prepare for high-stakes media encounters over his three-decade career in broadcasting, government, and public relations.
Steve lives in Harrisburg with his wife, Lisa, a professional standards manager at the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. They have two grown children.
Luke Bernstein
Luke Bernstein is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. A seasoned financial, government, and public policy professional, Luke came to the Chamber in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors.
Before leading the PA Chamber, Luke was most recently executive vice president, chief operations and technology officer at Orrstown Financial Services. He was senior vice president of external affairs at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association from 2015 to 2017 and deputy chief of staff for former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett from 2011 to 2015.
In addition to his executive leadership roles in the private sector and state government, Luke has experience working at the federal level as a former appointed advisor in the Administration of President George W. Bush and as an aide in the U.S. Senate.
Sheilah A. Borne
Sheilah Borne is Associate Vice President for Governmental Health Relations at Penn State University and Vice President of Government Relations for PennState Health. She began her work for the University and the health system in May 2004. In her role, Sheilah represents Penn State’s legislative and regulatory healthcare interests on the local, state, and federal levels before elected and appointed governmental bodies.
Before her tenure with Penn State Health, Sheilah served in both the Ridge and Schweiker gubernatorial administrations in the Department of Labor and Industry and the Office of Homeland Security for Pennsylvania, respectively.
Sheilah began her career on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, serving as a staff member to U.S. Congressman George W. Gekas.
Jim Cawley
Jim Cawley has served as the 15th president of Rosemont College since October 2022. A nationally recognized civic leader, academic administrator, and attorney, he previously held the roles of Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Temple University and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey United Way.
Jim spent two decades in public service. He served as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2015 and as County Commissioner of Bucks County.
Jim, his wife, Suzanne, and their son, Nick, live in Langhorne, PA.
David Dix
For over 14 years, David Dix has served as the CEO and Co-Founder of government relations firm Luminous Strategies. Before forming Luminous Strategies, David served in key roles for Governor Tom Ridge, Governor Mark Schweiker, and the Republican Diversity Committee.
In 2007, David steered the Presidential fundraising efforts as finance director for then-Senator Barack Obama. He hosted the “High Volume, Low Dollar” fundraiser in Philadelphia, which became President Obama’s fundraising strategy staple. He served on the National Finance Committee throughout the Obama Presidency.
Governor Tom Wolf appointed David as Chairman of the Advisory Commission of African American Affairs. David has served on the PA Council on Reform and as Treasurer of the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation Board.
David and his wife Marcia share time between Philadelphia and Hershey and have two children attending Pennsylvania universities.
Todd Eachus
Todd Eachus has served as President of the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania since 2021. Before joining BCAP, he spent 25 years with cable and broadband providers in various government and external affairs roles throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Eachus served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a press secretary and legislative aide in Washington, DC. He also spent ten years in the U.S. Navy and served in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Eachus resides in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Karen.
Alan Novak
For over 30 years, Alan Novak has been a fixture in Pennsylvania politics, government affairs, and issue advocacy. In 2001, he founded Novak Strategic Advisors, a public and government affairs firm. Novak’s representation ranges from Fortune 500 companies to higher education, trade associations, charitable organizations, and small businesses.
Novak is the Executive Director of the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP), working for the past decade to establish PDMP’s seat in developing dairy and agricultural policy.
Novak served four years on the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, including a cycle as the commission’s chair. As a member and chair of the Board of Trustees of Ursinus College, Novak helped implement strategies to strengthen the college’s engagement in the community and enhance its reputation as a leading liberal arts institution. Mr. Novak served five years on the West Chester University Council of Trustees.
Mark S. Singel
Mark S. Singel served as Lieutenant Governor from 1987 to 1995. Before his terms as Lieutenant Governor, Singel served six years in the Pennsylvania State Senate and was chief of staff to two members of the U.S. Congress. Singel ran for U.S. Senate in 1992 and for Governor in 1994. He served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 1995. He founded the Winter Group, a government relations firm he led for 20 years.
A magna cum laude graduate of Penn State, Singel has served on the Boards of Penn State and St. Francis Universities. He holds several honorary doctorate degrees and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Harrisburg University. He is a published author and remains active in community and philanthropic activities.
Singel has been married to Jacqueline for 48 years and has three children and six grandchildren.
Christine Toretti
Christine Toretti is an accomplished businesswoman, philanthropist, and civic leader. In 1990, she was named president and CEO of S.W. Jack Drilling Company. While in that role, she received numerous awards and accolades. Christine currently serves as Chairman of S&T Bank.
Active in many nonprofit organizations, Christine has served as Chair of The Andy Warhol Museum, a director of the NCAA Foundation, a trustee of the Carnegie, and the Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Promoting women in the workplace and the community, Christine created an international retreat for female CEOs in 1994. Taking on the position of Republican National Committeewoman in 1997, she has been a force in creating opportunities for women. In December 2018, Christine received the Athena International Global Award.