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The College of Business, Communication, and Leadership at �鶹��Ƶ will hold its 3rd annual Because You Matter Conference: “Preparing for the Future Now” on April 3, 2025, at the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, 401 Penn St., Reading. (See visitor parking information.) Joe DiPaolo, chief operating officer at Icario, will deliver the keynote address, "Tomorrow, Built Today: How Leaders Prepare for What’s Next."
 

• Deadline for registration: March 30, 2025

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In 2015, Klaus Schwab, chairman of the World Economic Forum, argued that “we stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before.” The conference theme, “Preparing for the Future Now,” invites participants to build on Schwab’s decade-old prediction and consider how advances in technology have impacted people, organizations and society. We anticipate dynamic conversations, insights, and research and applications.
 

Keynote Speaker

Joe DiPaolo, Chief Operating Officer, Icario

"Tomorrow, Built Today: How Leaders Prepare for What’s Next"

Read Joe DiPaolo's Biography

Joe DiPaolo is the chief operating officer at Icario, where he leads business operations, client success, and strategic initiatives, driving the company's focus on leveraging technology to transform healthcare engagement. Under his leadership, Icario is utilizing advanced analytics to optimize member engagement, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs for health plans.

Before joining Icario, Joe served as chief operating officer of Consortium Health Plans, where he played a pivotal role in positioning Blue Cross Blue Shield as the preferred carrier for national accounts. In this capacity, he drove initiatives across the Blue Cross Blue Shield system aimed at improving access to care while maintaining affordability and quality. Joe’s deep expertise in operational efficiency and technology-driven solutions enabled Blue Cross Blue Shield to enhance its service offerings to meet evolving demands of self-insured employers.

Prior to his role at Consortium Health Plans, Joe was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, specializing in organizational transformation. He worked with multiple companies, guiding them through complex changes that helped them scale effectively, and in many cases, position themselves for initial public offerings. His experience in technology integration, has been central to his success in driving innovation and growth.

Earlier in his career, Joe served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a program manager for the B-21 Stealth Bomber. In this role, Joe led a consortium of DoD industry experts to develop an open architecture standard to reduce long-term sustainability and maintenance costs for the bomber, showcasing the DoD’s ability to apply technology solutions to complex problems.

Joe holds a Distinguished Graduate honor from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is passionate about the intersection of technology and healthcare, and how these innovations can transform the way organizations operate and deliver value. In his personal life, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys, as well as playing golf.

“Preparing for the Future Now" Schedule

See A Detailed Schedule of Events

7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Check-in & Support, Lower-Level Lobby
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Light refreshments, Lower-Level Lobby
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Opening Remarks & Keynote Address, Lower Level	Opening Remarks Location: Room #58 Welcome and Introduction: Dean Travis Berger, Ph.D. Opening Remarks: President Glynis Fitzgerald, Ph.D. Keynote Speaker Introduction: Dean Travis Berger, Ph.D. Keynote Address: "Tomorrow, Built Today: How Leaders Prepare for What’s Next," Joseph DiPaolo, Chief Operating Officer, Icario
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Poster Sessions, Rooms 36 & 37
9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Session Block #1, Lower Level	Maximizing Your College Journey: Tips for Undergraduate Students Location: Room #48 Moderator: Jane Brooker, Ph.D. Presenters: Isaac Kassis and Nicholas King       How Can the Use of Professional, Personal Coaching Inspire Well-Being across Learning Environments? Location: Room #56 Presenter: Deb Romig, Ed.D.   404 ERROR: Shared Values Not Found (Let’s Fix That) Location: Room #57 Presenter: Tasha R. Santiago       The Mutual Goodwill Philosophy: A Leadership Philosophy for Teams Location: Room #58 Presenters: Dawn Coder, Ed.D. and Michelle Wiley, M.Ed.
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Session Block #2, Lower Level	Five-Minute Shorts: Stories from Undergraduate Students’ Internships Location: Room #48 Moderators: Jane Brooker, Ph.D. and Jodi Radosh, Ph.D. Presenters: Undergraduate students in the Header School of Business and the Department of Communication & Digital Media   Theme: Leadership and Student Development Location: Room #56   Reimagining Leadership Assessment Tools for Evolving Workforce Expectations Presenters: Caitlin Long, Ph.D., Jay Leamy, Ph.D., Małgorzata Zuber, Ph.D., and Nicholas Nicoletti, Ph.D.   From Locker Room to Boardroom: Preparing Student-Athletes for Life off the Field Presenters: Michelle Conway, MBA and David Gargone, Ed.D. Theme: Leadership, Diversity, and the Future of Education Location: Room #57   Major Decisions/Major Consequences: College, Career, and the Case for the Humanities Presenters: E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D.   Project 2025 and the Future of Democracy Presenter: Donna Yarri, Ph.D.   Board Gender Diversity as a Means to Achieve Future Innovative Solutions via Transformational Leadership Presenter: Laura Cibulsky Theme: AI, Business, and Media Integration Location: Room #58   Leveraging AI in Business: Doing More with Less Presenter: Christina Sivulka   Artificial Intelligence and Data Privacy: A Comparative Review of United States and European Union Privacy Regulations Presenter: Michael Durant   AI-Generated Music and Its Role in Sustainable Creativity Presenter: Mark Evers
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Grab-and-Go Lunch, Lower-Level Lobby
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Session Block #3, Lower Level	The Impact of TikTok Before, During, and After the Ban Moderator: Jodi Radosh, Ph.D. Location: Room #48 Presenters: Sarah Matarella, Jennifer Weasner, Tiffany Alexander, & Marisa Lombardo       Lunch & Chat Session to Discuss Leadership for a Sustainable Future Location: Room #56 Discussion Facilitator: Spencer Stober, Ed.D., Professor of Biology and Leadership Studies       Adapting for the Future: Navigating Business Flexibility and Overcoming Challenges Location: Room #57 Moderator: Jane Brooker, Ph.D. Presenters: Jansen McDonald, Hallie Guiseppe '24, Paul Kakos, and Logan Minford     Human-Centered Education in the Age of AI: Belonging, Mattering, and Meaning Location: Room #58 Presenters: Jennifer Snyder-Duch, Ph.D. and Stephanie Wilsey, Ph.D.
2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Session Block #4, Lower Level	Theme: Education, Technology, and Resilience Location: Room #48   The Effects of Gameplay on Self-Actualization Leadership Behaviors: A Quantitative Study of Esports Players in an Interactive Fiction Artificial Intelligence Online Game Presenter: Thiep Pham   Penn State's Keystone Certificate for Integrative Humanities Presenters: Cheryl Nicholas, Ph.D. and E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D.   Architects of Resilience: The Interconnected Roles of Leaders and Parents in a Technology-Driven World Presenter: Allison Blair Snyder Theme: Personal Development and Workforce Challenges Location: Room #57   Future-ready leadership: A pilot study presentation of leader experiences through crisis Presenter: Kathleen Murney   But Are We Preparing Students for Life? Presenter: Michelle Conway, MBA   Challenges Women Face While Balancing Professional and Maternal Jobs Presenters: Krista Troiani, Ph.D. and Tina Krolikowski Theme: Social Media and Marketing Trends Location: Room #58   How We Find Our Way Through Social Media & Marketing Trends So Visitors Can Find US Presenter: Heather Zimmerman   Taylor Swift: The Princess of Promotion and Publicity Transforming Public Relations Presenter: Jodi Radosh, Ph.D.
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Wine & Cheese Reception, Main Floor Lobby

Presenter Bios

Tiffany Alexander '22, MBA '23

 

Tiffany Alexander '22, MBA '23 is the Corporate Communications Specialist at Wind Creek Bethlehem, where she manages 13 social media channels and oversees all internal communications. A dedicated marketing professional, she earned dual bachelor's degrees in marketing and management from �鶹��Ƶ in 2022, followed by her MBA in 2023. With a passion for strategic storytelling, Tiffany plays a key role in enhancing brand presence and engagement across digital platforms.

Laura Cibulsky

 

Laura is a Quality Assurance Leader with 30 years’ experience in Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Medical Device industries.  Her experience includes Engineering, Product Development, Manufacturing and Quality Control.  She has worked at Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, Alcon, and CSL.  Laura completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chem Engineering from Johns Hopkins, an MBA from Eastern University and is pursuing her PhD in Corporate Leadership at �鶹��Ƶ.

Dawn Coder, Ed.D.

Dr. Dawn Coder is the Assistant Vice Provost for the World Campus Chaiken Center for Student Success. She has over eighteen years’ experience in the field of higher education and online learning in both public and private institutions, and twenty-one years’ experience in a leadership role. Her passions are creating positive work cultures through her founding philosophy of Mutual Goodwill and supporting initiatives that encourage student success in higher education.

Michelle R. Conway, MBA

 

Michelle R. Conway, MBA, is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, educator, and motivational speaker with a passion for empowering young professionals. She currently serves as an Instructor of Entrepreneurship and Management at Misericordia University’s College of Business. Conway holds a Marketing degree and an MBA from Wilkes University and is a doctoral candidate in Corporate Leadership at �鶹��Ƶ.

Michael Durant

 

Michael Durant is a Professional Specialist of Computer Science at �鶹��Ƶ. He is a Doctoral Candidate at York College of Pennsylvania and possesses a Master's Degree in Data Science from Eastern University and a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity Management with a Criminal Justice Minor from York College of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Michael possesses numerous industry certifications in data analytics and cybersecurity.  

Mark Evers

Mark Evers is the Project Manager of Arts and Entertainment at the O’Pake Institute. He oversees all projects as it relates to music, art, and all forms of entertainment. Mark’s main duty is to provide experiential learning for the O’Pake fellows in all art projects involving our business partners, the Reading community and beyond, and the �鶹��Ƶ as a whole. Mark holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, an MBA in Music Business, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Leadership at �鶹��Ƶ.

David Gargone, Ed.D.

Dr. Gargone is an Associate Professor at Misericordia University's College of Business and the Director of the Sport Management Program. He also currently serves as the Business Department chairperson, serves on numerous university committees, and is a member of the Faculty Senate. His education includes a B.S. in Business Management, an M.A. in Teaching, and an Ed.D. in Sport Management. 

Hallie Guiseppe '24

 

Hallie Guiseppe '24 leads the Advancement Operations team at �鶹��Ƶ, where she drives strategic initiatives to support the Division's mission to secure resources to support transformational educational experience for all students. As the founder of HT Organic Solutions, she is working to develop technology that simplifies the certified organic record-keeping process and reduces barriers for organic change-makers. Hallie is a proud AU alumna and is passionate about simplifying systems and amplifying impact.

Paul Kakos

 

Paul Kakos is an Alvernia student entrepreneur and founder of Kakos Aquascapes. Design, build, and maintain ponds, pondless waterfalls, and decorative fountains in the southeast PA region. 

Isaac Kassis

 

Isaac Kassis is a graduate student-athlete at �鶹��Ƶ, where he is pursuing an MBA after earning his undergraduate degree in Economics and Business Management. He currently serves as a Graduate Assistant in the Communication Department.

Nicholas King

 

Nicholas King is a Graduate Assistant of Operations at The O'Pake Institute at �鶹��Ƶ, where he supports daily operations and mentors undergraduate students. He earned his bachelor's degree from Alvernia in Human Resource Management and Business Management with a minor in Economics, previously serving as a Human Resources Fellow at The O'Pake Institute during his undergraduate studies. Nicholas is pursuing his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management and is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and creating inclusive environments.

Tina Krolikowski

 

Tina Krolikowski is a PsyD Doctoral Candidate from Carlow University. She is currently completing her doctoral internship at the University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center. Her research interests include increasing access to resources for disadvantaged communities and relational experiences for those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. 

Jay Leamy, Ph.D.

 

Jay Leamy, Ph.D., is the Deputy Chief Probation Officer for Chester County Juvenile Probation and a national, state, and local panelist on aftercare, re-entry, and community collaborations. He has extensive experience training on evidence-based correctional practices, cognitive behavioral interventions, and risk reduction strategies. Jay has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses at West Chester University and Shippensburg University and holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Leadership from �鶹��Ƶ. 

Marisa Lombardo '17, MBA '18

 

Marisa Lombardo '17, MBA '18 is the Director of Sports Information and Operations for Alvernia Athletes, where she manages the publicity for Alvernia's 600+ student-athletes and 32 varsity sports. Marisa earned her bachelor's in both Marketing and Communication from Alvernia in 2017 and earned her MBA in 2018. She has been recognized for her work by both the NCAA and College Sports Communicators (CSC), including earning 30 under 30 honors in 2023.  

Caitlin Long, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Caitlin “Cait” Long, PhD (Alvernia '24), MSPAS, PA-C, RYT200, is the Director of Technology Transfer & Innovation Commercialization at �鶹��Ƶ’s O’Pake Institute, where she leverages her medical, scientific, and entrepreneurial expertise to support innovation and economic development. She is the Managing Director of the Berks Biomedical Innovation Collaborative and an AUTM Foundation Board member, dedicated to advancing life science startups and fostering strategic industry, academic, and healthcare partnerships. As the CEO of Team Lifelong Wellness, LLC, Cait integrates her research on burnout and leadership into wellness consulting.

Sarah Matarella, MA '22

 

Sarah Matarella, MA '22 is the Communications Specialist at �鶹��Ƶ, where she manages and creates content for 6 social media channels, manages student and faculty publicity, and writes university news, magazine, and feature content. Her work has been recognized by the Collegiate Advertising Awards, CUPRAP and Dunroe on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Social Media leaderboards. She earned her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from �鶹��Ƶ in 2022 and graduated summa cum laude from Wilkes University in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies and a minor in psychology.  

Jansen McDonald

 

Jansen McDonald is the manager and owner of J&D Cree-Mee-Freeze in Catawissa, PA.  McDonald also serves as the Professional Development Chair for the Pennsylvania Business Education Association (PBEA) and as a Secondary BCIT teacher and FBLA advisor at Mahanoy Area JSHS.

Logan Minford

 

Logan Minford is the owner of Wooden Chair Coffee Company. Logan is the President of Student Government at Alvernia, a member of the Investment Banking Club, Vice President of SHRM, and Vice President of FBLA. Logan works for the O'pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship as a fellow of Venture Investment.

Kathleen Murney

 

Kathleen Murney is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Marines Corps and a former senior-level executive in a global construction and development business. She has an MA in Management and an MBA. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the leadership program at �鶹��Ƶ, where she is also the President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA). 

Nicholas P. Nicoletti, Ph.D.

 

Nicholas P. Nicoletti is the Interim Director of Alvernia's Ph.D. program in Leadership and an Associate Professor of Political Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University at Buffalo, SUNY and dual master's degrees in International Studies and Business Administration from St. John Fisher College. His research explores the intersection of domestic politics and international relations, with a recent focus on the effects of moral reasoning on political behavior.

Thiep Pham

Thiep N. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Game Development and Cybersecurity at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. His goal is to inspire, nurture and shape the next generation of game and security leaders.

Jodi Radosh, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Jodi Radosh is a Full Professor in the Department of Communication and Digital Media and Co-Director of the Office for Teaching and Learning at �鶹��Ƶ. She has co-written two video production textbooks: Shoot, Edit, Share, Video Production for Mass Media, Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations and The Broadcast News Toolkit - Inside the Digital Newsroom by Routledge Publishers. She is also the proud mother of two daughters, Rachel and Danielle, and the wife of Dr. Lee Radosh, an addiction medicine physician.

E. Michele Ramsey, Ph.D.

 

E. Michele Ramsey is an associate professor of communication arts and sciences and women's, gender, and sexuality studies at Penn State Berks, where she established the CAS major and co-founded the Keystone Certificate in Integrative Humanities. She teaches courses in the following: Public Speaking; Conflict Management; Gendered Communication; Identity, Citizenship, the Rhetoric of American Horror Film; Methods of Rhetorical Criticism, and Taylor Swift, Gender, and Communication. 

Deborah (Deb) Romig, Ed.D.

 

Dr. Romig earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017, where she also completed her Master’s in Special Education and postgraduate administration certification while teaching and coaching. She spent more than two decades as a special education teacher and high school associate principal in Virginia, supporting students with emotional disturbances. In 2021, she moved to Pennsylvania and joined Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, helping oversee the Reading School District Emotional Support Program.  

Tasha Santiago

 

Tasha Santiago is the Senior Administrative Assistant in the Division of Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion at �鶹��Ƶ and a master’s degree candidate in Organizational Leadership. With 12 years of curriculum design and non-profit experience and a background in Social Work, Addictions Studies, and Instructional Design, she is dedicated to education, advocacy, and community empowerment. A certified QPR trainer, Tasha is passionate about fostering growth and resilience in her city through inclusive leadership and meaningful change.

Christine Sivulka

Christina Sivulka is a Global Sustainability Senior Manager at EnerSys. At EnerSys, a leading industrial and battery manufacturing company, Christina spearheads efforts to enhance energy efficiency and environmental responsibility – including the execution of the company’s environmental data collection, sustainability reports, communications and more.

Allison Blair Snyder

 

As Assistant Director of Graduate Enrollment at �鶹��Ƶ, adjunct lecturer, and Ph.D. student in Leadership, Alli amplifies the voices of women navigating the profound intersection of motherhood, scholarship, and visionary leadership. A two-time Alvernia alumna with a master’s degree in Sustainable Leadership, she is a published author, speaker, advocate for Deaf children, and volunteer mentor with Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania. Merging academic expertise, lived experience as a special-needs mother, and healing work as a Reiki Master and Shipibo-trained medicine woman, she infuses leadership research with resilience, transformation, and indigenous wisdom.

Jennifer Snyder-Duch, Ph.D.

Jennifer Snyder-Duch, Ph.D., brings over 25 years of expertise in higher education, serving as a tenured professor of media and communication, academic advisor, and academic administrator across public, private, and community college settings. Her work is rooted in advancing student success through innovative practices, including community-engaged learning, relational approaches to teaching and advising, and student media. 

Spencer Stober

 

Dr. Spencer S. Stober is a Professor of Biology and Leadership Studies at �鶹��Ƶ.  Professor Stober is an advisory board member for the “On Sustainability Research Network”—his primary area of scholarship concerns leadership for a sustainable future.  A recent example of his work is “A Franciscan Perspective on the Formation of Nature-Centered Leaders in Higher Education,” published in the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU) Journal—vol. 16, 2024.  Professor Stober also publishes regularly on topics at the intersection of religion and science with Dr. Donna Yarri, Professor of Theology Emerita at �鶹��Ƶ.  Professor Stober served in several administrative positions at Alvernia and has published numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles.

Krista Troiani, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Krista Troiani, Assistant Professor of Management at Susquehanna University, holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Bloomsburg University, an MBA with a specialization in International Business from Wilkes University, and a Ph.D. in Workforce Education with an emphasis on Human Resource Management and Organizational Development from Penn State University. Her research focuses on developing effective solutions to support working mothers while enhancing organizational efficiency. 

Jennifer Weasner ’23, MBA ’24

 

Jennifer Weasner ’23, MBA ’24 is the Marketing Content Coordinator for Hansen Properties Inc., located in Blue Bell, PA owners of Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Center and Blue Bell Country Club. Through this role she assists in managing five different business social media pages, coordinating, and executing content development and creation. Jenn earned her Master’s in Business Administration this past December and graduated magna cum laude with a dual major in Digital Media Marketing and Communication.  

Michelle C. Wiley

 

Michelle C. Wiley is the Director of Academic Development Services at the World Campus Chaiken Center for Student Success. She champions the work of the Academic Support Resources and New Student Orientation Teams, guiding strategic planning to promote student success. Michelle is dedicated to being a servant leader, prioritizing the needs of her team members to enhance individual and team performance creating a positive and supportive work environment.

Stephanie Wilsey, Ph.D.

 

Stephanie Wilsey, Ph.D., is a higher education professional with over twenty years of teaching experience, including fourteen years in academic administration. Her experiences range from traditional academic institutions to adult degree programs and alternative online educational spaces. She’s also an educational researcher and published author on high-impact teaching practices and engaged learning.

Donna Yarri

 

Dr. Donna Yarri is Professor Emerita at �鶹��Ƶ after 20 years of full-time teaching, and she currently teaches as an adjunct. She primarily teaches undergraduate students in the disciplines of Theology and Ethics, particularly “Global Issues” and “Medical Moral Theology,” as well as special topics courses for the honors program. Her research interests include medical ethics, animal ethics, social justice, and the intersection of religion and science, the latter with Dr. Spencer S. Stober. She has published four books, presented at dozens of conferences, and has written numerous articles and essays, in addition to winning awards for excellence in teaching, research, and service. She is a cat lover with seven of her own as well as being a foster mom for cats and kittens. 

Heather Zimmerman

 

Heather Zimmerman is President & CEO of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region, our local Reading and Berks County Visitors Bureau. She has over 30 years of hospitality industry experience in sales, operations, marketing, and festival management. She is a graduate of Kutztown University and a lifelong Berks County resident.

Małgorzata Zuber, Ph.D. 

 

Małgorzata "Meg" J. Zuber, Ph.D., earned an LL.M. (2010) and an M.Ed. (2011) from the University of Rzeszow, completing part of her studies at the University of Genoa through the Erasmus Program. She moved to the U.S. in 2012, earning an M.A. (2014) and Ph.D. (2018) in criminal justice and criminology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She has taught and trained at multiple universities through Erasmus+ grants and has been at �鶹��Ƶ since 2016. 

Visitor Parking Information

Chiarelli Garage (Entrances on 3rd Street and Washington Street)

• Location: 69 N. 3rd St, Reading, PA 19601
• Hourly Rate: $2 for the first hour, $1 each additional hour
• Handicap Spaces: There are 13 spaces on the first level.
• Note: The parking kiosk is on the ground level to the right of the exit. You must PREPAY to avoid a parking fine. You will be asked for your License Plate Number.