Harrisburg —Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett today unveiled the Women for Tom Corbett coalition. Comprised of women leaders from across the Commonwealth, including Tom's wife of 37 years, Susan Manbeck Corbett, the coalition will work to mobilize and encourage women living and working in Pennsylvania to join the campaign and will ensure the priority of women’s unique perspective on issues of concern during this campaign season.
“Tom Corbett understands the variety of issues and challenges facing women and their families, including education, job creation, public safety and health care,” said Sandra Schultz Newman, Statewide Co-Chair of the Women’s coalition and the first elected female Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. “I am honored to help spearhead the effort in creating a strong and vibrant coalition of women committed to electing Tom Corbett as our next governor.”
The coalition will be a catalyst for spreading Tom’s message of lowering taxes on Pennsylvania’s families and businesses and creating an environment to revitalize Pennsylvania’s economy in order to grow good, family sustaining jobs.
As Attorney General, Tom Corbett has appointed women to key management and decision-making positions in his administration.
“Through his role as Attorney General, Tom Corbett has empowered women, fighting to protect our safety, security and equality,” said Bernie Comfort, Statewide Co-Chair of the Women’s coalition and Director of the Winning with Women in Pennsylvania program. “I work every day advocating for women to become more engaged in the political and legislative process and am pleased to stand up for Tom Corbett, a proven leader who truly recognizes that women are a critical sector of the electorate.”
The Women for Tom Corbett Leadership Committee is made up of 15 dynamic women from various counties and backgrounds that will help to grow the coalition further. Anyone interested in joining should visit: www.tomcorbettforgovernor.com/coalitions. A full list of the leadership committee is below.
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Women for Tom Corbett Leadership Committee
Susan Manbeck Corbett, Honorary Co-Chair, is the wife of Tom Corbett and a native of Schuylkill County. Tom and Susan met in 1968 while both attending Lebanon Valley College and were married in 1972. Susan began her career at Northern Lebanon School District where she taught Senior High English for one year before moving to San Antonio, Texas. She then worked as a legal secretary while Tom earned his degree from St. Mary’s Law School. After her two children Tom and Kate were born, Susan dedicated several years to staying home and raising a family. Susan resumed her professional career as a special projects manager for the President’s Office at Carnegie Museums and the Director’s Office of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. She served as Assistant Producer and then Executive Director of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, a nationally-recognized literary arts organization. Susan is currently the Vice President of Programs and Development of the Gettysburg Foundation, a non-profit organization that partners with the National Park Service to enhance the preservation and understanding of the heritage and lasting significance of Gettysburg. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and is a former Republication State Committee member from Allegheny County.
Suzanne Cawley, Honorary Co-Chair, is the wife of Jim Cawley and was raised in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Suzanne was a receptionist with Millennium Partners in a rental office in 1994. She began working later that same year with an affiliate, IT Properties as Manager and is now Executive Vice President. She is licensed in real estate in both Pennsylvania and New York. Between 1996 and 2003 Suzanne served as a Team Leader for a children’s recreation program in a homeless shelter. She is a Republican committee woman in Middletown Township, a member of St. Andrews Church, Newtown and a foster mother. In 2009, Suzanne and Jim established the Cawley-Johansson scholarship at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, Bristol Township. The scholarship, named after Jim’s father and Suzanne’s mother who were both lost to cancer, will provide a four year academic scholarship to a deserving student. Suzanne and Jim reside in Middletown Township with their foster child and soon to be adopted son, Nicholas.
Bernie Comfort, Statewide Co-Chair, is the executive director of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series and the Dodie Londen Excellence in Public Service Series. She is working to increase the number of Pennsylvania and Arizona Republican women in decision-making positions at the local, state and national levels within the Party and in elected and appointed office. Bernie directs the Winning with Women in Pennsylvania program and is a director for the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women. She has worked with women’s coalitions on various campaigns, including the 2008 McCain campaign and the 2004 Bush campaign. Previously, Bernie served as the executive director of the Center for Women in Politics in Pennsylvania at Chatham College. She dedicated herself to promoting young women’s leadership development and to involving all women in the political process.
Sandra Schultz Newman, Statewide Co-Chair, has spent more than 30 years in court on both sides of the bench. She not only served as the first elected female Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, but also as a Judge for the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Sandra has served as the first female Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and spent more than 20 years in private trial and appellate practices. While serving on the Bench, Sandra certified numerous Third Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court cases. A prolific writer and speaker, Sandra has delivered addresses to the Pennsylvania Bar Association; the Philadelphia Bar Association; various county bar associations; the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; the Lawyers’ Club of Philadelphia and the ADR Institute. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2005 Anne X. Alpern Award for making a significant professional impact on women in the law and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s President’s Award for her commitment to serving her community, achieving justice, and preserving the civil justice system.
Robyn Sye, Northwest Regional Co-Chair, has been the Chairman of the Crawford County Republican Committee since 2003. She is the first woman to serve as the Chairman of the Northwest Caucus. She has served as a local precinct Committeewoman in Titusville and was elected to serve as the eastern county representative to the Crawford County Republican executive board as 1st Vice Chair. Currently, Robyn is the Chief Financial Officer for Crawford County. She is also an active member in various organizations, some of which include: Crawford County Big Brothers & Sisters, Victim’s Resource Center, Inc, 1st United Methodist Church, and the PA Federation of Business & Professional Women. Robyn is the proud mother of two adult sons, one of whom is in the military and the other is a Probation/Parole Officer.
Mitra Amini Reese, Northwest Regional Co-Chair, is currently serving on the Crawford County GOP committee, Titusville YWCA Board of Directors, Woodlawn Cemetery Board of Directors, Lioness Club Member, Finance Committee person of the Venango County GOP. She is currently volunteering at Family Services in Erie County, is very active in her son's school and is a part-time student at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. Mitra is a 2010 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, and recently co-chaired a VIP fundraiser for Pat Toomey in Venango County. She is involved with her husband's lumber business and has a 6- year old son.
Ellen Melrose, Southwest Regional Co-Chair, is a member of the Allegheny County Republican Committee and an elected member of the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee. She has worked for numerous candidates on the local, state and federal level including Senator Rick Santorum and the McCain/Palin Presidential campaign. Ellen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in American History and History of Art from Boston University. She furthered her education at School of Modern Art Studies and Inchbald School of Design, London England where she earned her diploma in Modern Art Studies and diploma in Modern Design, respectively. Ellen Melrose is also a 2010 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series. Serving as a volunteer, Ellen developed a scholarship fund at the Ellis School and coordinated fundraising for St. Edmunds Academy. Ellen Melrose currently resides in Pittsburgh with her husband and three teenage children.
Mary Ann Eisenreich, Southwest Regional Co-Chair, is the first Executive Director of Pennsylvania Women Work!, where she is responsible for all aspects of this start-up non-profit including planning and implementing new programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Education and Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Mary Ann formerly served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau and was the Director of Community Education for Carlow College. She is currently the treasurer of McCandless Republican Committee, a member of the Executive Women’s Council and a 2002 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series.
Joyce Haas, North Central Regional Chair, has been a member of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania since 1986. She has served as Co-Chairman of the Central Pennsylvania Caucus and represented Pennsylvania at four Republican National Conventions serving on the Bi-Laws Committee, the Platform Committee and as Co-Chairman for Pennsylvania as they hosted the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. She has worked statewide on campaigns for George H. W. Bush, Senator Rick Santorum, Attorney General Mike Fisher and George W. Bush. Joyce and her husband volunteer together in many community activities, including: the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County and the Centre County United Way.
Debbie Keys, South Central Regional Chair, has been a co-owner of Pealer’s Flowers & Company with her husband, Jim, for the past 25 years. Debbie has been recognized as one of the top fifty business women in Pennsylvania. She serves as President of the Pennsylvania Florists Association and is a member of the Society of American Florists. Debbie, a community leader and advocate, has been honored to receive the Community Champion Award for her extraordinary support of Gaudenzia, an organization dedicated to clients overcoming the ravages of drug and alcohol addictions. Debbie was recently elected as a member of the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee. She has served as a leader on former Governor Tom Ridge’s Women’s Network for Ridge and as Treasurer for Senator Pat Vance’s campaign.
Mollie O’Connell Phillips, Northeast Regional Co-Chair, is an adjunct professor at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Mollie is a member and chair of the Special Education Committee on the State Board of Education in Harrisburg. She is the Co-Leader/School Coordinator of the Penn State Cooperative Extension for the PROSPER Grant at Wyoming Valley West Middle School. She was an Executive Board Member of the LUCAATS (Luzerne County Academic Assessment Tracking System). She is currently an Executive Board Member of the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Mollie is a member of many professional associations, including: the Pennsylvania State Counselors Association, the Luzerne County Counselors Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
Janet Flack, Northeast Regional Co-Chair, is the owner of an interior design firm called Janet Flack Interiors. She is the co-owner of Quinary LLC (Development Corporation for Renovation). She is an A.I.A. Associate and is past Vice President of Professional Development for the Mid Atlantic States of the International Interior Designers Association (IIDA). Janet is an active board member in various organizations, including: Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, Luzerne County Historical Society, Catherine McAuley Center for homeless women and children, and the Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA. She is also an active member in organizations, which include: the Kingston Citizen Advisory Council, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Circle 200, which is a forum for senior level executive women in Northeastern PA.
Elizabeth Preate Havey, Southeast Regional Co-Chair, is an attorney in the Financial Services Practice Group of Pepper Hamilton’s Philadelphia office. She is engaged in a number of political and community activities, having served as the deputy campaign manager for the 1999 Sam Katz for Mayor campaign in Philadelphia and as an executive committee member of the Lower Merion and Narberth Republican Committee. Liz is an active member in organizations, including: the Pennsylvania Society, the Justinian Society, The Moms’ Connection of Lower Merion, and the MCP Hahnemann University, College of Nursing and Health Professions. She has served as the chairwoman for the Wheels Medical Transportation Annual Awards Dinner, and received the MS Leadership Award by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Liz is admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars, and is a member of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.
Suzanne Mayes, Southeast Regional Co-Chair, is a member in the Business Law Department of Cozen O’Connor’s Philadelphia office. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner with Saul Ewing LLP in Philadelphia. With a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Suzanne is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; she is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Bar Associations. In addition, she is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s House of Delegates, and is a former board member of the bar association’s Committee on Women in the Profession. Suzanne is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Ladies First, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and networking opportunities for female public finance professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region. Among her many achievements, Suzanne was honored as one of the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2008 Women of Distinction.
Peg Ferraro, Lehigh Valley Regional Chair, has been elected to three terms on the Northampton County Council, where she has served as the Vice-President, Chairman of the Personnel Committee and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee. Peg has served as a board member of the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra and as Executive Director of the Blue Eagle Foundation, which raises non-tax dollar funding to provide enrichment opportunities for students in the Nazareth Area School District. Currently, she is the Assistant Secretary of the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee and is a board member of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series. She takes part in many community activities, including: Friends of the Nazareth Memorial Library, Jacobsburg Historical Society, Nazareth Heritage Committee and the League of Women Voters.
