Kirby G. Upright

Kirby G. Upright is a highly experienced attorney with rich knowledge in his field of estate planning/administration, corporate tax planning and orphans’ court litigation. He believes in treating everyone he represents and counsels with the utmost degree of sensitivity, respect and responsiveness.

An attorney and a certified public accountant, Mr. Upright serves as an expert witness in estate and trust administration/planning matters across the Commonwealth. He frequently lectures and comments on legal issues and cases. He is a Fellow in the exclusive American College of Trust and Estate Counsel – one of only two in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Mr. Upright is a frequent faculty member for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, by which he is recognized as a leading commentator in the area of legal ethics, and how those professional rules apply to the Trust and Estate areas. He has also authored numerous articles in the areas of estate planning and administration, and is the editor of the PBI publication Representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Clients in Pennsylvania, now in its Third Edition.

Mr. Upright is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, is listed as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell as selected by his peers and the judiciary, and is recognized as an Accredited Estate Planner by the National Estate Planning Council. A former Chair of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Upright is a member of the PBA Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee. He is a past president of the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley. In 2017, he was named to the list of “Select Lawyers” by Lehigh Valley Style Magazine.

Mr. Upright, whose experience ranges from simple wills to the most complicated and sophisticated estate planning situations, graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Akron Law School. He earned a Master of Law degree in Taxation from Temple University School of Law.

Lauren Peterson is the Executive Director of Safe Monroe (formerly known as Women’s Resources of Monroe County), where she has worked for over eleven years. Lauren has worked in the field of victim services for over 20 years, before coming to Monroe County,  Lauren worked for Victim Services Center in Montgomery County. Lauren holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, concentrating in Nonprofit Administration from West Chester University, and a Bachelors in Criminology/Sociology from Immaculata University. Lauren has served on the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Monroe County, and the League of Women Voters of Monroe County. Services and advocacy for victims of crime, specifically those who have suffered domestic or sexual abuse, has always been a passion for her, and she continues to use that passion and her background to help her team of staff and volunteers meet the needs of victims in Monroe County.

The CHEMO Bag Inc.  with the help of the community proivdes care bags filled iwth items to provide comfort to men and women going through chemotherapy treatments.

Melissa Healy  

President, The CHEMO Bag Inc.  

With over 22 years of experience in the financial services sector at PNC N.A., Melissa Healy currently holds the position of Assistant Vice President and Client Service Advisor for PNC Private Bank. Previously, she excelled as a Branch Manager for 14 years. Melissa is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to her clients and her Private Bank team while actively contributing to her community. 

She has served on the board of The CHEMO Bag Inc. for more than 11 years, initially as Secretary and currently as President, where she is instrumental in expanding the organization’s reach from the Lehigh Valley to 24 infusion centers throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Her personal experiences, including the loss of her mother to cancer and the challenges faced by family members battling the disease, have profoundly fueled her passion for the organization and its mission. This commitment drives her efforts to ensure that the “Bag of Hope” comfort bags are delivered to as many chemotherapy patients as possible. 

Beyond her professional commitments at PNC Bank and The CHEMO Bag, Melissa enjoys golfing and cherishing quality time with her family, friends, and grandchildren.

Paul V. Conforti is the Managing Shareholder and Partner in Charge of the Tax Division at Riley and Company, Inc., a respected firm of business advisors and certified public accountants. With extensive experience working with regional businesses and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Paul has devoted much of his career to public accounting.

Paul graduated from West Scranton High School with honors and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wilkes University. He later earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, further establishing his expertise in accounting and tax advisory.

Throughout his career as a Certified Public Accountant, Paul has served a wide range of clients, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, public and private educational institutions, and government entities. His experience includes, conducting audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, overseeing complex tax preparation, representing clients during Internal Revenue Service and State agency tax examinations, and delivering strategic business consulting and advisory services. He has also been appointed by the courts as the accountant in charge of corporate liquidations and has testified as an expert witness.

In addition to his CPA designation, Paul was awarded the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), recognizing his expertise in government financial management. He also previously held a securities licenses reflecting his past qualifications in investment and financial advisory services.

Paul is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs, serving as President from 2011-2012 and as District Treasurer for Rotary District 7410 for many years.

In previous years, Paul has also served as a member of the Association of Government Accountants and the National Association of Forensic Accountants. His community involvement has included roles such as Commissioner for the Spring Brook Township Planning Commission, and Treasurer for Monroe County Head Start.

Paul resides in North Pocono, Pennsylvania, with his wife. Together, they have raised two children and enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren.

Len Lavenda has a background in corporate communications. His responsibilities have included technical writing, marketing communications, public relations and financial communications. Most recently, he was Vice-President of Communications for Sanofi Pasteur, where he managed media relations, product publicity, employee communications, community relations and philanthropy.

Now retired, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Red Cross of NEPA, including Board Chair from 2022 to 2025. He is also the Red Cross EmComm Lead for NEPA and the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Monroe County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service).

Len holds a BS in Engineering Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.