Key Personnel

Key Personnel

Executive Director

Gretchen Kelly

Gretchen has served in various roles since joining PLEA in 1994. Starting as our Compeer Program Director and PA Compeer Coalition Representative, she organized the efforts of Compeer services across PA. Gretchen has additionally served as the Respite Program Director and as PLEA’s Development Coordinator. Today, as Executive Director, Gretchen continues to focus on community partnerships and helping individuals and their families feel empowered through meaningful relationships. Gretchen has a degree in Public Relations from Westminster College.

Financial Director

Rob Anderson

Rob joined the PLEA Family in September of 2019. His diverse background as an Accounting and Finance professional, as well as his experience in Family Therapy and Children’s Programs and Ministry, made PLEA a wonderful and logical choice for his next adventure! Rob has over 15 years of non-profit experience and obtained his Master’s degree in Health and Human Services from Liberty University.

Clinical/Program Director

Aaron Libman, MEd, BCBA

Aaron started with the PLEA School Based Partial Hospital Program in 2010. He has trained in Precision Teaching and Generative Instruction at Morningside Academy in Seattle. His experience as a teacher and as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst led him to work internationally as an educational consultant before returning back home to Pittsburgh to become the Clinical/Program Director for the School Based Partial Hospital Program.
Medical Director

Dr. Stuart Libman, MD

Dr. Libman has served as the Medical Director of the PLEA Agency since 1985. In addition to supervising the Partial Hospital center based program, he supervises the Family work component of the programs. Dr. Libman is board certified in General Psychiatry as well as in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a founding member of the Western Pennsylvania Family Center. Dr. Libman also maintains a private practice in Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry. He is an expert in the field of Autism.

Additional Staff

Administrative Support

LaQuita Berry
Administrative Assistant

Tara Beato
School/Partial Hospital Administrative Assistant

Program Coordinators

LaQuita Berry
Interim Respite Coordinator

Cindy Franceschelli
PAL Coordinator

Bob Kenneweg
Compeer LifeFriends Coordinator

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
Mary Kay Yarchak

VICE PRESIDENT
Jan McMahon

SECRETARY
Eric McKnight

TREASURER
Joseph Lombardo, Jr.

DIRECTORS
Jonathan Fantazier
Eric McKnight
Susan O’Rourke
Thomas Ryan

LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Theresa Arnold

Election of Board Members

The Board of Directors shall be composed of no fewer than eight (8) no more than twenty (20) individual voting members of the Corporation, including officers. The Corporation will make efforts to reflect diversity among the board members.   The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board.

The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the Annual Board Meeting for a term of three (3) years each. The Nominating Committee shall present nominations for vacancies on the Board of Directors when the slate of officers is presented. Officers are elected for a two (2) year term. Their term of office shall begin at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected. Board members may be voted to serve throughout the year, by a vote of the committee after reviewing the letter or resume of the nominee.

Board members may be recruited, recommended, or present themselves to the Nominating Committee or Executive director.

The Board of Directors shall hold a minimum of four (4) regular meetings each year (not including the Annual Meeting). The time and location of the next regular meeting shall be on the agenda of each regular meeting.