Stroudsburgs Rotary 2024-2025 Grant Recipients

Salvation Army - Rose London - Youth Program Meals & Snacks - $1000

Spark Arts Inc - Sebastian Alappat - Summer Camp with Arts, Meditation, & Nature - $1000

PM United Way - Michael Tukeva - Backpack Giveaway - $2000  

Fine Arts Discovery - Rich Berkowitz & Ashley - $500

Todd Nemura

DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, BLUE ZONES ACTIVATE EASTON

• Wellness Warrior and organic whole food advocate
• Board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional
• Experienced community organizer and program creator

Building community through collaboration and enthusiasm.

Todd runs the Activate program in Easton, PA, as part of the larger Blue Zones project in the Lehigh Valley region north of Philadelphia. He is an experienced community health professional with extensive experience implementing food, fitness, and lifestyle programs for people of all ages. He holds a B.A. from Dickinson College and M.S. from Lehigh University.

As a vice president and a relationship strategist, Dinoli coordinates a team to assist you
and your family in pursuing the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the
important aspects of your financial life are thoughtfully orchestrated. Through a dynamic
discovery process, Dinoli is able to help build and maintain a thorough understanding of
your needs and priorities. Helping you and your family with the successful achievement
of your goals and aspirations is our primary focus. Dinoli has the knowledge, experience
and desire to help bring about successful outcomes as your trusted advisor.
Dinoli has been with PNC Bank for 10 years, with roles as Branch Manger,
Regional Business Banker, Treasury Management office and now in her current
role as a Relationship Strategist.
Dinoli graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management in hospitality
management and event management from Widener University and with a Master
of Business Administration from Kean University.
Dinoli currently serves as the Vice Chair - Board of Bloom for Women and
volunteers with the Greater Easton Development Partnership on the Historic Easton
House Tour Committee.
The

Eric Kimes

Co-Owner | Head of Client Services | Social Media Specialist

Eric's love of communicating with people has made Eric the voice of WebLeaps and is usually the first person you will speak to regarding your website. He will be in direct contact with you throughout your project from start to finish. Eric's goal is to make the website design process as easy and stress-free as possible for you. From client meetings to managing communication throughout projects, he walks you through the process step by step to ensure that every website reflects the unique needs and goals of your business. Whether guiding clients through website designs, maintenance, updates, or ongoing support, Eric’s approachable style and commitment to client success make him an essential part of the WebLeaps experience.

From a young age, Eric showed a passion for computers, how they worked, how they operated, and all of the hardware inside them. Coupled with his love of “everything computers”, Eric has always been very friendly, approachable, and outgoing. He can translate the "web geek" jargon associated with web design into easy-to-understand information for those who may not be so tech savvy or understand the industry terminology. Eric's personality and background experience in technology, electronics, sales, and customer service help him understand and convey your website vision to accurately identify your company's demands and the web design services that will serve your company the best. His main focus is client communications, marketing, and managing social network accounts for our clients.

Outside of work, Eric enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, skiing, anything sports-related, and being outdoors.

Senator Rosemary M. Brown was elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania in
November of 2022 after serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for six terms. Brown represents the 40th Senatorial District, which includes
Lackawanna, Monroe and Wayne counties.
Brown is known as an accessible, hard-working, and common-sense problem-solver.
She is the majority Chairwoman of the Senate Community, Economic and
Recreational Development Committee, and Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Local
Government Committee. She was also appointed to the Governor’s Commission
on Women, the Gino Merli Veterans Advisory Commission and the Local
Government Commission.
A longtime Pocono resident, Brown is a graduate of East Stroudsburg High School and
earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Scranton. Prior to
public service, she began her career in the private sector as an executive sales manager
and assistant buyer with Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bon-Ton. She then transferred
her skills into the field of pharmaceutical sales.
Brown has been happily married to her high school sweetheart, Joe, since 1994.
Together they have three children.

Sergeant Major Baylis’s combat tours are with the 7th SFG (A) during Operation JUST CAUSE from December 89- January 90 and the 5th SFG(A) during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from October 01 to February 02, IRAQI FREEDOM from January 03 to June 03 and IRAQI FREEDOM 2 from May 04 to July 04. SGM Baylis participated in Demining Operations in Cambodia, Counter Narcotic Operations in Columbia and Bolivia, a Contingency Operation in Cambodia and Thailand, and an in-extremis force deployment to India.

SGM Baylis holds an AAS from Vincennes University and a BS in history and business from The University of the State of New York. His military education includes Ranger School, PNCOC, ANCOC, 1SG Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, and the SGM course as part of the Noncommissioned Officers Education System, SFARTAETC, Basic and Advanced Airborne Courses, Basic and Advance Military Freefall Courses, Joint Intelligence Center Information Operations Course, Basic and Advanced Off-Road Vehicle Operators Courses, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic Course, Special forces Operations and Intelligence Course, and Special Forces Heavy Weapons, Engineer, Communications Sergeant Courses, the Pathfinder Course (MTT in Thailand) and the Joint SOF Senior Enlisted Course.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge (1 star-3 awards) Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Ranger and Special forces Tabs, Foreign awards include Thai and Singapore parachutist Badges.
He is the Founder and CEO of the VALOR Clinic Foundation.

BIO: Dr. James R. Thomas

Dr. James R. Thomas is a distinguished educator, pastor, military chaplain, and community leader with an extensive academic and professional background spanning over five decades. He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Administration, four master’s degrees in theology, education, and special education, and numerous certificates in pastoral care, military chaplaincy, and peace studies.

Dr. Thomas currently serves as Associate Professor of Church and Ministry at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS), teaching a wide range of theological and social justice-related courses. He has also taught internationally in Ghana and at various U.S. institutions, including Union Theological Seminary and New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

His pastoral leadership includes serving in Harlem, Queens, Manhattan, and Minneapolis, as well as in administrative roles such as Assistant to the Bishop and Director of African Descent Outreach for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He’s also deeply involved in advisory and leadership roles across multiple church, educational, and nonprofit boards.

Dr. Thomas had an impactful military career as a U.S. Air Force Reserve Chaplain, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was actively involved during the 9/11 emergency response in New York.

He has received numerous honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society membership, NAACP Life Membership, and several faculty and humanitarian awards. Dr. Thomas is also a published author, with contributions to books and journals on African American Lutheran history, peace, and justice.
 

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.