Keri Harmicar
Board president
she/her/hers
Senior Director of Organizational Relations for UPMC Insurance Services Division
Keri Harmicar is Senior Director of Organizational Relations for UPMC Insurance Services Division, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on internal communications, employee engagement, culture, leadership visibility, and organizational effectiveness. She is responsible for system-wide employee communications and co-chairs the organization's employee experience efforts, helping to strengthen connection, engagement, and a culture of belonging across the workforce.
A communications professional and employee experience leader, Keri created the award-winning Inspire podcast, which highlights employee stories and workplace culture, and developed a video storytelling series showcasing UPMC employees making a difference in the communities they serve. She is passionate about building meaningful workplace experiences, fostering authentic connections, and helping leaders communicate with purpose and impact.
Keri serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Allies for Health + Wellbeing and is Board Member with the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. She also serves on the strategy and development committees for the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, and Attack Theatre, and is the corporate chair of United Way Women United.
Jim Cassaro
Board vice president
he/him/his
University of Pittsburgh, Librarian/Professor emeritus
Jim was the head of the Theodore M. Finney Music Library at Pitt for twenty-four years (1999-2023). He is the author of several monographs and is now editor of Fontes Artis Musicae (2015-), the quarterly journal of IAML. He was editor-in-chief of Notes, quarterly journal of the Music Library Association (2004-2010) and is active in the Music Library Association (MLA) and the American Musicological Society (AMS). Jim holds a B.A. in Music (1978) and the MLS (1980) from the University at Buffalo, and an M.A. in Musicology (1993) from Cornell University.
Paul E Block
Board treasurer
he/him/his
Paul has been a CPA for 40 years, working in the nonprofit arena as a tax preparer and consultant for over 20 of those years. Paul is a member of the American Institute and PA Institute of CPAs. He serves on the boards of Chatham Baroque (treasurer), Service Coordination Unlimited (treasurer), The Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program (treasurer), The Three Rivers Business Alliance and Foundation (treasurer), The PGH New Works Festival and POWER. Paul earned a BS in economics/mathematics Allegheny College, a MS in Taxation from Robert Morris University. Additionally, Paul holds an MBA and JD from Duquesne University School of Law.
Gwyn Cready
Board secretary
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Strategy consultant
Gwyn Cready has been active with Allies since the 2000s. She serves on the board's executive committee as secretary. Gwyn worked for 25 years in brand management, PR, advertising, business strategy, and thought leadership at GSK, a pharmaceutical company. She is a strategy consultant to Fortune 500 companies and writer.
Nayck B. Feliz
He/him/his
Pitt Men's Study/Clinical Research Assistant
Nayck has been a member of the board since 2024 and has been in HIV prevention for over 20 years. He has worked for organizations such as the HIV Prevention and Care Project, the Pitt Men’s Study, the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, and Allies for Health and Wellbeing. Nayck grew up in Puerto Rico, of Dominican parents, and has lived in Pittsburgh since 2008.
Kirsten Franzen
she/her/hers
Senior Attorney, Naval Nuclear Laboratory
Kirsten is an employment and labor attorney with nearly 20 years of experience in law. Calling Pittsburgh home for the last 10 years, Kirsten previously served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of North Dakota, and as Chief Compliance Officer and Special Assistant Attorney General for the North Dakota University System. Kirsten holds a BA in English from Carleton College and holds a JD with distinction from The University of North Dakota School of Law.
James Giammarco
he/him/his
UPMC Insurance Services Division; Chief Financial Officer, Medicaid Programs
James is the Chief Financial Officer of Medicaid Programs within the UPMC Insurance Services Division. He is responsible for the oversight of all the financial performance within the various Medicaid insurance products, which serves over 2 million members including Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, UPMC Community HealthChoices, UPMC for You, and UPMC for Kids. In addition, since 2015 James has served as the Chief Financial Officer for Askesis Development Group, a behavioral health software solutions company jointly owned by UPMC (70%) and Highmark Ventures, Inc. (30%).
Michelle Pagano Heck
she/her/hers
President, Nonprofit Talent
Michelle is the president and owner of Nonprofit Talent, the Pittsburgh region’s leading nonprofit executive search firm. Michelle Pagano Heck works with the social sector to improve the capacity of organizations through transition management and executive recruitment. Michelle graduated from the College of Wooster and received her master's degree from The University of Pittsburgh.
Susan Hunt, MD, FACP
she/her/hers
Retired Physician
Susan is the founder and former Medical Director of Pittsburgh AIDS Center for Treatment (PACT). She is a retired General Internist practicing in the Pittsburgh area since 1979. Raised in a single parent household in Nebraska, she is the only physician in her family. Susan believes that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Susan earned her medical degree from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College.
Shenay D. Jeffrey, EdD
she/her/hers
UPMC Manager Community Partnerships and Engagement
Dr. Shenay Jeffrey is a passionate advocate for equity, civic engagement, and community empowerment. She leads initiatives that advance health equity, education, and volunteerism across diverse communities. With over 15 years of experience, she has worked at the intersection of healthcare, public service, and grassroots organizing. Her leadership is rooted in uplifting BIPOC voices and building inclusive systems of opportunity.
Shenay proudly celebrates her Guyanese heritage and brings joy, cultural pride, and purpose to all she does.
Angela Lucente-Prokop, PhD, PMP
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Vice President Operations & Government Liaison for PA Health & Wellness
Angela's skills and core competencies are leadership, business development and growth, operational efficiency and effectiveness and all stages of scaling programs including development, implementation, evaluation, and improvement. She is passionate about mission and amplifying the talent of leaders and teams to achieve results. She was a fellow with the National Practice Change Leaders Program for leaders in the fields of Aging and Healthcare. Angela has 10+ years of experience as a board member, leading board committees and as a board chair for organizations that serve diverse populations including the Veteran’s Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, Shady Lane and now Allies for Health & Wellbeing.
Jack Gocke
he/him/his
Vice President, Gallagher
Jack Gocke is Vice President at Gallagher providing risk management and talent consulting as well as commercial insurance and employee health, welfare, and financial benefits brokerage. Jack started his career in Pittsburgh as an underwriter with The Chubb Group. He recently served on the board of the Whitman-Walker clinic in Washington, DC for five years, has lived and worked in Europe (based in Germany), and served in the US Army 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne, Ranger). He is a graduate of West Virginia University.
Mary Irwin-Scott
she/her/hers
Mary has served as an advocate of the community since the early 1970s. Allies embodies all that she wishes for this community and the world at large. Mary’s background as a teacher, counselor, entrepreneur, and parent/ grandparent give her a broader view and path to action. She also serves as support chair for PFLAG.