Mr. R. Lee James, Chairperson
Oil City, PA

R. Lee James ('74, '83) of Oil City, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1997 and reappointed in 2002. Mr. James is a Financial Consultant with Raymond James Financial with 36 years experience in commercial banking and investment management. He is a current officer or board member of Sugar Creek Station, div. of UPMC; Luther Place, div. of Lutheran Service Society; and the Grove Hill Cemetery Association. He was a former board member of Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Development Commission Loan Committee, Venango County Industrial Development Corporation, Venango County Vocational-Technical School, Boy Scouts of America, and twice Campaign Chairman of United Way of Venango County. Mr. James is a member of Lodge #363 F & A M, and was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy in 1972. He holds a B.S. in Business and MBA from Clarion University.

Mr. Howard Shreckengost, Vice Chairperson
New Bethlehem, PA

Howard Shreckengost of New Bethlehem, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2001. With his wife Janet, he has owned and operated Char-Val Candies in Porter Township for 45 years. Mr. Shreckengost spent eight years a member of the New Bethlehem Borough Council, three as president. He has also served on the Redbank Valley Municipal Authority and on the board of directors of New Bethlehem Bank.

Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi
Shippenville, PA

Dr. Syed Ali Zaidi of Shippenville, PA was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1980 and reappointed in 1985, 1991, 1997, and 2003. He was a founding member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors, serving from 1984 to 1988 and from 1997 to 2002. In 1998, Dr. Ali-Zaidi chaired the board's Task Force on Science and Advanced Technology Education, Workforce Development, and Implementation Research. In 2001, he established the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, which annually recognizes an outstanding State System graduate. Dr. Ali-Zaidi is the recipient of the System's 2002 Eberly Award for Volunteerism. He is retired from a 25-year career in research and development with the glass industry. He has a B.S. in Glass Technology from Sheffield University in England, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering, both from The Ohio State University.

Mrs. Susanne Burns
Shippenville, PA

Susanne Burns of Shippenville, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1997 and reappointed in 2001. She is a real estate broker and certified general appraiser with Burns and Burns Associates, Inc. of Clarion, PA. Mrs. Burns currently serves as secretary of the Clarion University Foundation Executive Committee and as a member of the Clarion Hospital Foundation Committee, WRC Senior Services Parent Board, CNB Community Bank Board of Directors, and the Westminster College Fund Board. She formerly served as President of the Clarion Chamber of Commerce and was named Clarion Citizen of the Year in 1984. Mrs. Burns holds a B.S. in Education from Westminster College.

Mr. H. John Drayer
Templeton, PA

H. John Drayer (?77) of Templeton, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 1995 and reappointed in 1999. He is a partner in the law firm of Pope and Drayer in Clarion.

Mr. Richard R. Hilinski
Erie, PA

Richard R. Hilinski of Erie, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2000. He is the retired Superintendent of the Erie School District, where he served as chief labor negotiator for over five years. He is also a retired commander of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Hilinski serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the City of Erie School District, the President's Advisory Council of Mercyhurst College, and the Boys Club of Erie. He holds a B.A. in Social Studies and English from Gannon University, M.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh, and has completed doctoral work at SUNY-Buffalo.

James L. Kifer

Rimersburg, PA

James L. Kifer ('83) of Rimersburg, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in October, 2006. Mr. Kifer is President, CFO, and CEO of Clarion County Community Bank.

Mr. Jeffrey Szumigale
Erie, PA

Jeffrey J. Szumigale ('82) of Erie, PA, was appointed to the Council of Trustees in 2001 and reappointed in 2003. He is Senior Vice President and Managing Director for PNC Advisors in Northwest Pennsylvania. Mr. Szumigale is President of The Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie, board member of the United Way of Erie County, board member of the PNC Foundation in Northwest PA, President's Associate of Mercyhurst College, and an external member of the Finance Committee of St. Vincent Health System. He also serves as a member of the Estate Planning Council of Erie. In 1989 he received the Sales and Management Executive Award as outstanding sales winner. He was recognized again by the Sales and Marketing Executives in 1996 as the Distinguished Salesperson of the Year. Mr. Szumigale earned a B.S. in Marketing from Clarion University and an MBA from Gannon University.