Sara Innamorato Announces Transition Committee Leadership
Pittsburgh - Wednesday, November 8 - County Executive-Elect Sara Innamorato announced the launch of her official transition website, AlleghenyforAll.com, which invites residents from every neighborhood and community in the County to help Sara get to work creating an Allegheny that works for all.
County Executive-Elect Innamorato also named the community leaders, organizers, employers, academics, and government experts who will lead her transition. The Innamorato Transition will focus on two efforts: (1) recruiting dedicated and diverse leaders to help the Innamorato Administration make bold changes to County government and (2) the most inclusive community engagement effort in County history – All In Allegheny – which invites people from every part of the County to share their ideas, priorities, and needs with the Innamorato Administration.
“We’re not wasting a minute getting to work for Allegheny County and I’m thrilled to be setting the foundation for my administration immediately. I want to thank the phenomenal co-chairs and committee members who are graciously volunteering their time and talent to lead my transition committee,” said Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive-Elect. “This diverse and brilliant transition team that represents the best of what Allegheny County has to offer.”
Leadership of the Innamorato Transition includes:
Honorary Chairman, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis
Talent Committee Co-Chairs Robert Cherry, CEO, Partner4Work; Farnam Jahanian, President, Carnegie Mellon University; and Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy, Executive Director, PA United
All In Allegheny Committee Co-Chairs Lauren Byrne Connelly, Vice President, Allegheny Conference on Community Development; Michelle McMurray, Vice President, Pittsburgh Foundation; Monica Ruiz, Executive Director, Casa San José
The Talent Committee is comprised of leaders in their fields who are working to identify leaders to join County government, a central component of the Innamorato Administration’s commitment to transform Allegheny County government into an honest, transparent, and responsive force that delivers housing, safety, opportunity, and high-quality service for all Allegheny residents. People interested in joining the Innamorato Administration can apply through AlleghenyforAll.com.
Additional transition Talent Committee members include: Jordan Ball, Political and Operations Director, U.S Senator Bob Casey; Bobby Maggio, Senior Advisor, U.S. Senator John Fetterman; Brandon Forbes, District Director, U.S Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12); Dana Fritz, Chief of Staff, Governor Josh Shapiro; State Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania State Senator; Mayor Ed Gainey, City of Pittsburgh; Curtis Aiken, President, CEO & Founder, ProTech Compliance, Inc.; Carlos Carter, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh; Steve Catanese, President, SEIU Local 668; Dr. Kathi Elliot, DNP, MSW, PMHNP-BC, CEO, Gwen’s Girls and Convener of the Black Girls Equity Alliance; Dave Henderson, Executive Director, AFSCME State Council; David Holmberg, President & CEO, Highmark Health; Darrin Kelly, President, Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council; Joylette Portlock, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh; Silas Russell, Executive Vice President, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania; Lisa Schroeder, President & CEO, The Pittsburgh Foundation; Andrea Stanford, Director, BNY Mellon; and, Guillermo Velazquez, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation.
All In Allegheny Committee co-chairs Lauren Byrne Connelly, Michelle McMurray, and Monica Ruiz will oversee a large and inclusive community engagement process to understand what people from every community want from County government and we will build an action plan for County government during the Innamorato administration. Additional All In Allegheny Committee members, policy committee members, and a community issue survey and a calendar of community events, will be announced soon.
County Executive-Elect Innamorato also announced three transition staff today: Kevin Kinross will serve as a Transition Senior Advisor. Kevin previously served as Chief of Staff to Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Grant Gittlen will serve as Transition Director and Abigail Gardner will serve as Transition Communications Director.
From the Co-Chairs
Allegheny Conference on Community Development Vice President Lauren Byrne Connelly said: “I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to serve Allegheny County Executive-Elect Innamorato, the people of Allegheny County, and the broader 10-county Pittsburgh region as a Co-Chair for the All in Allegheny Committee. We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us to work together to ensure that every resident of Allegheny County has access to opportunity and enjoys the highest quality of life, and every business has the resources they need to grow and thrive. It will take strong partnerships and collaboration across communities, industries, and public and private sectors, to ensure that Allegheny County is well-positioned to build a next generation economy that delivers inclusive growth, community wealth, and prosperity for all.”
Partner4Work CEO Robert Cherry said: "As the workforce development agency for Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, Partner4Work is proud to serve as a part of County Executive-elect Innamorato's Talent Committee to help shape workforce development priorities for the years ahead," said Rob Cherry, Partner4Work CEO. "Building a robust and deep talent pipeline, in which every Allegheny County resident has access to meaningful employment and the opportunity to thrive, is paramount to our region's success. We look forward to getting to work to develop and deploy strategies that position Allegheny County as an economic leader in the next four years and beyond."
Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian said: “County Executive-Elect Innamorato’s unwavering commitment to our region and its residents is clear. I welcome the opportunity to support the transition effort and to continue the important work of building a vibrant future for Allegheny County and the Commonwealth.”
PA United Executive Director Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy said: “I’m proud to bring the voices and dreams of PA United members - a multi racial, multi generational group of poor and working class people - into the Innamorato administration. Our members went all in to elect Sara because we know the urgency of this moment - our neighbors need safe affordable homes, clean air and water, and family sustaining union jobs. We stand ready to work together to build a county for all of us.”
Pittsburgh Foundation Vice President Michelle McMurray said: “I am humbled to be named as a co-chair of the All in Allegheny transition committee. Moreover, I am deeply honored to be a part of a process that will not only document new opportunities to address our most pressing challenges but also uplift community members' greatest hopes for the future of our region. Sara has the opportunity to demonstrate the true power of co-governance to create a region where every person can thrive. Her administration can ensure that the county's services and processes are transparent and truly inclusive of the people impacted by them - especially those who have borne the greatest burden of the consequences of racial and economic inequity in Allegheny County.”
Casa San José Executive Director Monica Ruiz said: “Sara envisions a region where all are welcome and knows that the future of Allegheny County depends on innovative inclusionary ideas that will benefit all who live here.”
