Staff Updates – October 2021
FOND FAREWELL
- Kera Hamilton, Database Manager and Development Coordinator
After 15 years of working tirelessly on behalf of our athletes, Kera will be retiring on November 9th.
Kera has worked on many different projects over the years – touching all departments and parts of the organization. She was the “Air Traffic Controller” for the development team. Over the years, she literally dealt with thousands of donors and processed donations amounting to millions of dollars in total. But, whether it was a big project like helping us transition our donor database or a small task like depositing a check or preparing a mailing, Kera always knew that what she was doing was important because it would support our athletes.
Kera is looking forward to a well-deserved retirement, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing her well in these last few weeks before she leaves us!
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
- Karly Heath, Special Events Manager, West
We are pleased that Karly Heath has joined the Special Events Team as the Western Event Manager. Karly will ultimately manage the Erie and Winter Games Polar Plunges, assist the Western team on the UNcathlon, Winter Games, and various other local, regional and state events throughout the year.
- Stephanie Taylor, UCS West Manager
We are happy to announce an addition to the UCS team. Please welcome Stephanie Taylor, who will be filling the role of UCS West Manager. She will be overseeing schools in Washington, Westmoreland, Lawrence, Mercer, Butler and Beaver while working out of the Pittsburgh office.
Stephanie is a graduate of both Townson University and Notre Dame Maryland University. She has worked as Special Education teacher for the last years at the middle school level, and was awarded the Golden Ring Middle School Teacher of the Year honor in 2019. She has always had a passion for sport in a number of roles including player, coaches, and ref across various sports such as tennis, lacrosse, floor hockey, and even broomball.
- Alexandra Rowlands, Regional Administrative Manager - GLVPR
Please join us in welcoming Alexandra Rowlands to the SOPA Team and the Greater Lehigh Valley Pocono Region staff. Alexandra is our new Regional Administrative Manager. She brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and passion to the position and became familiar with Special Olympics PA by volunteering at Eastern Sectionals at DeSales!
We are thrilled she is a part of our team and look forward to all of the energy and ideas she brings to the position.
OPEN POSITIONS
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the SOPA team, please pass the word along about our open positions under employment opportunities.