Board of Directors
As a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, the WCDC is governed by a board of directors, including business professionals, bankers, architects, artists, and residents.
Bud Wise
President
Retired, PPG Industries
Born and raised in Wilkinsburg, Bud is a 1965 graduate of Wilkinsburg High School and chaired the Wilkinsburg Train Station alumni committee. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Ohio University in 1969 and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973. He retired in 2010 from PPG Industries after 31 years of service, serving the last 10 as the leader of the global Human Resource function.
Previously, Bud was a faculty member in the Economic and Business Department of Juniata College for seven years. In addition to his work for the WCDC, Bud is a trustee for Juniata College, an emeritus board member for Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp, and chairs multiple committees at South Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilkinsburg.
Jason Cohn
Vice President & Resident
Owner, Jason Cohn Photography
Jason renovated the house he has lived in for 20 years as well as several other properties in the general area. As a result, he has developed a basic understanding of and appreciation for the difficulties and value of renovating the building stock in the Borough.
In addition to his renovation and development experience, Jason is a self-employed photographer and videographer.
His commitment to the community includes civic leadership. He is the current president of the Industrial and Commercial Authority and Municipal Authority, the Zoning Hearing Board and President and a 5 co-founders of the Wilkinsburg Sun. He has served two terms on Borough Council: two years as Vice President and two as President. He is also past President of the Hamnett Place Neighborhood Association, past Chair of the Wilkinsburg Planning Commission and a former member of the Landmarks Capital Corporation Board.
Ron Porter
Secretary
President & CEO, RDP Consulting Services
Since founding RDP Consulting services in 1985, Ronald Porter has facilitated collaboration and planning between diverse groups of residents and business owners. His 30 years of consulting experience include instituting an inclusive planning process for the development of the Lower Hill District and contributing to a Community Benefits Agreement between residents and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He is currently retained by the City of Pittsburgh to facilitate planning in Homewood, East Liberty, East Hills, Lincoln-Lemington and Larimer and is Vice Chair of the Design Center of Pittsburgh.
Michael Lefebvre
Treasurer & Resident
Customer Success Manager, TrueCommerce
Originally from the Twin Cities, Michael moved here in 1992 to work at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory to work on the design of the S9G Next Generation Reactor for naval submarine propulsion. For the last 20+ years, he has worked in the computer software industry.
Michael has lived in Wilkinsburg for over 20 years and has renovated several properties in Wilkinsburg including the house he currently lives in.
Michael’s commitment to the community includes member of the Planning Commission for many years. He served 12 years on the Wilkinsburg Council. He was the Financial Committee chairman for many of those years.
Although he believes there has been progress during his tenor on Borough Council, he would like to see further revitalization of the Wilkinsburg business district and a reduction in blight throughout the Borough.
Leslie G. Ledbetter-Patterson
Member
Retired, PNC Bank
Originally from Masury, Ohio, Leslie moved to Pittsburgh in 1978 and began her career with what is now PNC Bank as a teller, eventually serving as branch manager for several branches before retiring from PNC in 2015. Some of the first meetings of the WCDC were held at the bank’s Wilkinsburg branch when she was its manager.
In addition to her professional career, Leslie is a member and past president of the East Liberty and Wilkinsburg Rotary; a board member and past president of the WCDC; a Girl Scout leader; a member of Deliverance Baptist Church; and she has served as the bookkeeper for White Memorial Chapel since 2005.
A resident of Wilkinsburg for 37 years, Leslie is eager to see the community — particularly the business district — grow into a destination for people to visit, shop, and dine.
Monique McIntosh, M.Ed
Member & Resident
President & CEO, Goodwill SWPA
With 27-years of experience in education and nonprofit service, Monique is Chief Administrative Officer of the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and previously served as Vice-President of Programs and Services with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
Monique has worked to build and advance local and regional collaborations that are broadly inclusive and focused on achieving racial equity. She approaches community development through the lens of collective impact and to address racial disparities in communities.
A native of Wilkinsburg, Monique attended Turner Elementary and St James schools. She is a member of the Forbes Fund Executive Council, Homewood Community Development Collaborative, and an Advisory Committee member for the University of Pittsburgh’s Homewood Brushton Community Engagement Center.
Patricia Pugh-Mitchell
Member & Resident
Writer, Researcher & Curator of African American History
A native Pittsburgher, Patricia Pugh Mitchell is an avid writer, researcher, and curator of local African American history. She has authored and co-authored several publications documenting the history of African Americans in Pittsburgh and since 2000 has served regularly as study leader for the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. She also served as a frequent consultant in Pittsburgh’s cultural community.
Patricia resides in Wilkinsburg, and, as a Wilkinsburg CDC board member looks forward to working with fellow colleagues for the good of the community.
Michael Rose
Member & Resident
Wilkinsburg School Board Director VA Hospital of Pittsburgh
A lifelong Wilkinsburg resident, Michael previously served the Wilkinsburg community as an elected council person and now serves as Director of the Wilkinsburg School Board. Michael’s current position as a supervisory supply technician in the Department of Veterans Affairs at VA Hospital Pittsburgh involves supervising a team of supply technicians to provide supplies and materials to the VA Health Care System. He has also previously worked as a freelance writer and reporter for the New Pittsburgh Courier and Talk Magazine, a Human Resources Associate for Purpose of Life, and a contractor for Kelly Services. Michael has a variety of experience in transportation management, logistics, business management, organizational analysis, and leadership.
Brian Seiffert
Member & Resident
President, Take Pride Construction & Design
With extensive experience in construction and restoration, Brian Sieffert brings to the Board a passion for sustainability and development opportunities in communities with high vacancy rates like Wilkinsburg.
He hopes to facilitate creative collaborations between lenders and buyers in order to attract new residents and visitors to the area.
Stefani Smith
Member
Loan Officer, Neighborhood Community Development Fund
Stefani Smith currently works as a Loan Officer for the Neighborhood Community development fund, a CDFI organization that aids with business startups, expansions, and planning. Stefani has a passion for helping small businesses grow, and in this position, she assists small business owners with getting the funding and resources they need in order to do just that. Her past work experience as branch manager at the First National Bank of Pittsburgh and as a personal banker at Fifth Third Bank also helped her develop these skills.
Stefani lives in Forest Hills, a neighboring community to Wilkinsburg, and holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Strayer University. In the past, she was a member of the Wilkinsburg-Regent Square Rotary and the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce, serving as President and Vice President respectively. She’s been very involved in the community of Wilkinsburg, and she continues to do so and help the community as a member of our board.
Shawn Thomas
Member & Resident
Entrepreneur Lending Director, Bridgeway Capital
Passionate about the banking and lending industry, Shawn has over 20 years of consumer and business banking experience. Throughout his career he has managed many banks in the Pittsburgh region. As the Entrepreneur Lending Director for Bridgeway Capital, he directs their small business lending efforts and works with entrepreneurs to deliver funding solutions tailored to their business needs. A strong people-oriented person his strength and passion of working with small businesses and community development is what he brings to the WCDC board.
A long time Wilkinsburg resident, Shawn sits on several nonprofit boards in western Pennsylvania including the Alma Illery Health Center and the Sister Thea bowman Advisory Board. He is a graduate of La Roche College with a BS degree in Business Administration and Business Management.
Interested in serving on the WCDC’s Board of Directors?
Review our Board Member Application and check out our Guidestar profile. Direct questions to info@wilkinsburgcdc.org, call us at (412) 727-7855 or click the contact button below.