​Cultural Diversity Advisory Council

Region I: Sandra Murphy, Chester County AAA 

Counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia

Region II: Robin Skibber, Pike County AAA

Counties:  Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Wayne, Wyoming

Region III: Jessica Jones, Berks County AAA

Counties: Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, York

Region IV: Marlea Hoyt, B/S/S/T AAA

Counties:  Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Tioga, Union

Region V: R. Patrick (Pat) Fitzgerald, Adams County AAA

Counties:  Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry

Region VI: Molly McNutt, Jefferson County AAA

Counties:  Armstrong, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Potter

Region VII: Leslie Grenfell, Southwestern PA AAA

Counties:  Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland

Region VIII: Ray Maholtz, Erie Count AAA

Counties: Butler, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren

Members at Large

Gloria Vazquez Merrick. Latino Hispanic American Community Center of the Greater Harrisburg Region

Dr. Kyle Kopko, Center for Rural PA

R. Patrick (Pat) Fitzgerald, Adams County AAA

Pat Fitzgerald has been the Director of Adams County Area Agency on Aging since 2022.

Pat's agency oversight includes responsibility for the comprehensive development, implementation and administration of a wide array of services and resources to assist Older Americans across Adams County.

His education includes: Bachelor of Arts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Master of Science in Organizational Management, Misericordia University

Pat's career in Aging and Human Services spans over 28 years, and he has held positions as: Project Manager, to the Deputy Secretary, PA Office of Long Term Living; Aging Specialist, PA Dept. of Aging, Bureau of Protective Services; Assisted Living Executive Director; Aging Caseworker; Assisted Living Marketing Director; Hospice Care Business Development Manager; Hospital and Community Social Worker; Addictions Treatment Specialist

Ray Maholtz, GECAC

Ray Maholtz, Deputy Director of the Erie County Area Agency on Aging, has been named Chair of the Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee (CDAC) by Secretary of Aging, Robert Torres. The CDAC's mission is to advise the Department of Aging in its efforts to develop and sustain a network that is culturally sensitive, responsive to the needs and inclusive of all older people in the Commonwealth. With members who reflect the diversity of the people served, the Council meets periodically and functions as a statewide forum, clearing house and advocate for the rights and interests of diverse older persons. Secretary Torres notes to Ray, "Your experience, leadership and vision to enhance and advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the aging network will be a great asset to re-energize CDAC and help us make a measurable progress. With your guidance, CDAC will continue to fulfill its mission".

Ray's office is housed in Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) office building at 18 West 9th Street, Erie. He is part of the team who responsible for older adult protective services, options, senior center services, home plus and family caregiver support programs at the agency. Prior to joining the area agency on aging as a waiver case manager 20 years ago he spent 16 years as a supervisor at the Barber National Institute providing hope and opportunity to individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities or behavioral health challenges. 

Ray is a graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Erie Men's Academy.  He has an Associate degree in Human Services, Bachelor's degrees in Specialized Studies (Human Services and Sociology) and an advanced Graduate as a Certified Behavioral Management Specialist. He has a Teacher's degree in Vocational Education (Cosmetology) from the Erie Men's Academy. He is also an award winning artist who writes a features article in the Tri-State Senior News.  The Senior News is a monthly publication whose purpose is to serve the senior residents of Southwest New York, Northwest Pennsylvania and Northeast

Gloria Vázquez Merrick, Latino Hispanic American Community Center

Gloria Vázquez Merrick serves as Executive Director of the Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC) of the Greater Harrisburg Region. A member of the LHACC founding board, Ms. Merrick has maintained leadership responsibility of the Center since one year after its opening in July, 2010. Under Gloria's leadership, LHACC has grown from a basic needs and emergency assistance Center, to one of empowerment, advocacy, self-development, and one that works to build an overall better quality of life for the community. Over the years, Gloria has forged a legion of corporate, business, governmental, nonprofit, educational collaborations and partnerships that have led to the Latino Center's success in carrying out its mission.

Prior, to the nonprofit arena, Ms. Merrick served in the public sector, becoming the first Latina Director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Leadership Development Institute (LDI) - graduating nearly 300 professional and executive women from LDI. Gloria was tapped as the first Latina to assume oversight of the Governor's Office of Administration, Commonwealth Management Development and Pennsylvania Management Associate programs, designed to develop existing management and to recruit recent college graduates from across the state to come work in Pennsylvania! Her recruits include various individuals who went on to attain notable high level positions in the private and public sectors. As a senior management consultant in central headquarters of the Governor's Office of Administration, Ms. Merrick was instrumental in the development and execution of statewide initiatives impacting all 35 agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction. Gloria rounded out her public service career serving on the Pennsylvania Department of Health executive team.

Ms. Merrick serves on boards of the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation, the Historic Harrisburg Association, and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) board. Recognitions include: Central Pennsylvania "Latina Inspirational Leadership" Award; YWCA Women of Excellence Award; 2018 Martin Luther King Drum Major Award; and the 2019 BCM Peacemaker Award. Most recently, Gloria Merrick has become a member of the PennLive Editorial Board and has been selected to serve as a judge for the 2021 PennLive/Patriot News "Best and Brightest" Program.

Gloria graduated with distinction from Eastern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management/Studies, and is a graduate of the Commonwealth's Leadership Development Institute for Women in Government. Gloria and husband Rick reside in Lower Paxton Township.

Sandra Murphy, Chester County AAA

Sandra Murphy graduated from Widener University with a BA in Psychology.  She also has a certificate of completion from Penn State University in Drug and Alcohol Counseling.  Sandra has completed all education requirements to obtain certification in Federal Contract Management.  She has been the Chester County Department of Aging Services (CCDAS) Director since 2014. Prior to joining CCDAS Sandra was employed for 7 years by a non-profit agency that provides Home and Community Based Services to people with physical disabilities as Program Specialist for the Attendant Care Waiver and Act 150 programs.  Sandra also worked with children aged 5 – 18 diagnosed with mental health and intellectual disabilities for many years. 

Robin Skibber, Pike County AAA

Pike County Area Agency on Aging is located in rural Pike County, which boarders both New Jersey and New York across the Delaware River.  This unique "bedroom Community" of the New York metropolitan area provides a number of different cultural influences and ethnicities. 

As Executive Director, Robin Skibber is in charge of the services and supports to seniors who are the most at risk, geographically isolated, and at lowest economic scale.  These services, often limited to available resources from the state and local funding sources, provide safety net and or support for older residents to remain in their home as safely as possible. 

Robin received her Bachelor's degree from Penn State University in 1986 in hospitality and institutional management.  She worked in the food and restaurant industry for ten years prior to returning to graduate coursework at Marywood University and receiving her registration in dietetics in 1997.  This included a five year stint at Merv Griffin's Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey.  These years provided a vast amount of time working with different cultures, ethnicities, and lifestyles, including LGBT workers and customers.   After returning to studies at Marywood University, Robin volunteered at the Pike AAA as a home delivered meal driver.  She enjoyed this very much and it inspired her to pursue aging services as a career.  She also learned the value of volunteering and how important there are to a not-for-profit agency. In her 21 plus years as Director the increase in the number of seniors in need, has grown tremendously as has the population of the County.  The Agency has a Wait List of consumers in need of service and has had to update is intake and referral process continually to expedite the process and try and help the most marginalized of the Community in need.

As the administrator and the dietitian for the Agency, nutrition plays and important role.   Robin is responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of home and community-based services to the seniors registered with the Pike County AAA. These services include Home delivered meal consumers, or those receiving visiting home health aides to provide services and supports for personal care and safety, and consumers residing with their caregivers participating in one of the various consumer reimbursement programs to name just a few.  The rural characteristics of the County can cause isolation to seniors in their homes.  During her administration, Robin as opened an additional three senior centers and has promoted satellites centers to serve the seniors where they live.  These centers provide nutrition, socialization, and health promotion to hundreds of senior center participants, at the four senior centers in the County.

Volunteer Experiences:  Northeast Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Public Policy Chair, Anita Owens Award Recipient 2021; President of Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire Auxiliary; Delaware Valley Action member; MS Awareness Ride & Float Coordinator since 2014; Sustainable Energy Education
Development Support member;

Robin lives with her husband, Robert and enjoys spending time with her two college-age kids, the pets, hiking, biking, listening to music, and playing on their "Farm".

Jessica Jones, Berks County AAA

Jessica leads the Berks County Area Agency on Aging as Director since December 2020.  Previous she served as Deputy Director over 6 years. In these roles her responsibilities include the oversight and the planning, delivery and monitoring of approximately 9.7 million dollars of public funds serving the aging service needs of approximately 75,000 county residents.

Jessica's passion and much of her career focus has been the investigation of elder abuse in all care settings to protect our most fragile community members. Her vast experience includes nursing facilities, in-home long-term care supports & services, care management and supervision. Jessica also has numerous years of experience in guardianship coordination.

As Director, Jessica has focused on the Agency's mission to serve the older adults of Berks County always seeking to improve on the agency's coordination of services.

Due to her vast knowledge of aging services Jessica is often requested for speaking engagements and trainings. 

Jessica received her bachelor's in social work at Kutztown University.  With over 20 years of experience in Older Adult Protective Services she maintains her certification in Protective Services and actively assists in continual development of the statewide program through the Aging Network in Pennsylvania. 
 

Marlea Hoyt, B/S/S/T AAA

Marlea has been employed with the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging, Inc since October of 1983 in various capacities:

• Executive Director  9/14 – Present
• Deputy Director 6/89 – 8/14
• Service Management Supervisor 8/86 – 6/89
• Administrative Assistant 10/83 – 8/86

Marlea and her husband own and operate a dairy farm.  She is involved with the daily operation of the farm.  They have 2 daughters and 2 sons-in-law: 2 granddaughters and are expecting another grandchild in August.  Marlea loves horses and have 1 quarter horse for trail riding and 3 Belgian draft horses for light field work. 

Molly McNutt, Jefferson County AAA

Molly McNutt is the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging (JCAAA). A role she has served in since April 2018. She has been employed with JCAAA since August 2011 and has worked in various areas including APPRISE, Finance, and as Deputy Director.  Molly attended the Pennsylvania College of Technology earning her Associates Degree in Horticulture in 2005.  She also attended the Pennsylvania State University for her Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts graduating in 2015.

Her proudest accomplishment working for JCAAA was when a partnership was created with the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) to establish a shared ride program for seniors in Jefferson County. JCAAA was also one of the first three Area Agencies on Aging to have their staff complete the SAGECare cultural competency training program in Pennsylvania.

Molly is married to Jon Rollinger and they have two Whippets named Honcho and Chief. Molly enjoys traveling, hiking with her dogs, and cooking new recipes. 

Lesie Grenfell, Southwestern PA AAA

Leslie Grenfell is the executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, Inc., an affiliate corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, which is primarily responsible for the coordination, planning and delivery of comprehensive services for the older adults residing in Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties.

Leslie holds a Master's of Public Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (P4A) and Comprehensive Care Connections, Inc. (C3).  She also serves on the Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board, the Washington County Transportation Authority Board, and for the past seventeen years, on the Department of Aging Cultural Diversity Advisory Council.

As the agency's executive director, she is responsible for the administration of the non-profit organization on a day to day basis and financially responsible for its overall profitable management.

Dr. Kyle Kopko, Center for Rural PA

Dr. Kyle C. Kopko was appointed director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania in July 2020. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Kopko served as Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning, and Associate Professor of Political Science at Elizabethtown College. He earned his Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University in 2010, with a concentration in public law and judicial politics. Dr. Kopko has authored or co-authored more than 30 scholarly publications, including two university press books, and he regularly speaks on a wide range of policy and political topics. His research has also received national and international media attention in numerous outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Fox News Channel.