Board & Staff
2008-2009 Board of Directors
- John R. Denny – Board Chair
- Greg Kaminski – Treasurer
- Heidi Bartholemew – Secretary
- Tessa Nicholson – Investment Committee
- Todd Palcic – Associates
- Karl Krieger – Advisory
- Carrie Barmen – Recruitment Committee
- Erin Queen – Education Committee
- Andrea Fitting – Chair Emeritus
John R. Denny is currently employed as Director of Community Relations for The Hillman Company. In this capacity, he provides strategic support and organizational management in four program areas: promoting the Pittsburgh region, identifying community problems and developing solutions, bridge building and community giving. As Director of Community Relations, John reports directly to Elsie Hillman, and has initiated and advanced community supported initiatives such as the Pittsburgh Presence and the Pittsburgh-D.C. Project, two efforts to develop and advance the region’s federal advocacy agenda and position Pittsburgh as a high tech, fast growing region. He has been instrumental in the formation of the National Center for Defense Robotics and the Center for Communications and Computer Security. In addition, John is focused on immigration and talent attraction efforts and has been part of a team that created the Pittsburgh International Community Task Force and the New Pittsburgh Collaborative. In 2000, John launched Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP), a new philanthropic organization comprised of partners who pool their financial and human capital resources into a mutual fund, applying the venture capital model to grant making. Its mission is to apply engaged grant making, and serve as a catalyst for more philanthropy and volunteerism within the community. The Pittsburgh model is part of a larger Social Venture Partners movement of venture philanthropy which has taken root nationally in over a dozen cities. Today, Pittsburgh is recognized as a leader among SVP cities and has been cited for its fast growth, attracting more than 45 partners within the organizations first eight months of start-up, with more than 50 partners today. John has gained a solid reputation as a skilled strategic political advisor. In 1988, at the age of twenty-four, he was named the youngest executive director of a successful statewide presidential campaign for his work in Pennsylvania for President George Bush Sr. John has also held key leadership positions in the campaigns of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, former Governor Tom Ridge and former County Executive Jim Roddey. Active in the community, John currently serves on a variety of boards and commissions including: Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners Executive Committee, The Children’s Institute, The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Carlow University, RIDC, Allegheny Regional Asset District Citizen’s Advisory Board, River Life Task Force and YouthPlaces. His prior board commitments include include The Robert Morris College Alumni Executive Committee, Magee Women’s Hospital Foundation, and Social Venture Partners International. John has been recognized as a leader in the community as Robert Morris University Alumni Achievement Award recipient in 1999, Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 leaders in 2000, Pittsburgh Business Times Change Makers in 2001 and selected as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Pittsburghers of the Year in 2002. He was also selected as one of 70 national participants in the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Society seminar on “Venture Philanthropy.” Born and raised in Derry, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, John Denny and his wife Kelley live in O’Hara Township are of Allegheny County with their three children.
