Westmoreland County Chamber Welcomes Executive Director

Westmoreland County Chamber Welcomes

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In August of 2020 we regrettably announced to the membership that Chad Amond, President and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). PPA is a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired. Unlike other forms of aphasia that result from stroke or brain injury, PPA is caused by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. People with PPA may eventually lose all speech and may not be able to understand written or spoken language.

In order to fully support Chad while also advancing the mission and objectives of the organization, the Westmoreland County Chamber is pleased to announce that the role of Executive Director has been added to the Chamber team.

The Executive Director will assist, while working under Chad, to ensure current events, committees, and the organization’s platform will continue to align within the association's strategic plan which is to “lead and cultivate a comprehensive regional network to address the opportunities and challenges of greatest importance to the business community.”

The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is excited and pleased to obtain a candidate, Dan DeBone, who is dedicated to advancing the Chamber’s objectives while demonstrating a comprehensive and high level of compassion to effectively work alongside Chad and the Board now and in the future.

Chair of the Board, Christina Jansure, confirmed, “We are excited to welcome Dan DeBone to the Westmoreland County Chamber, and we are extremely impressed with his high level of experience that aligns with the executive director role and the Chamber’s mission.”

Chad added, “I’m so pleased that we have hired Dan DeBone for the Executive Director position. He is a great person, and he works very hard. My Primary Progressive Aphasia is not curable now, but I hope it will be curable soon or that I can participate in a clinical trial that will cure other people with this diagnosis in the future. My goal is to continue to work with the Westmoreland County Chamber as long as I am physically able.”

Meet Dan DeBone

Dan DeBone started his career at the Port Authority of Allegheny County and worked in a variety of leadership positions within the Operations, Marketing, and Communications Divisions. However, the vast majority of his professional career included government affairs, community outreach, and stakeholder relationship building. Dan was the Senior Government and Community Relations Officer for well over a decade before being promoted to Director of External Relations in 2020. This included a new strategic role to consult with the chief executive officer and members of senior staff on legislative, community initiatives, and capital projects at a local, state, and federal level with a concentrated effort to enhance the organization’s relationships with key stakeholder groups within Allegheny County and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dan is extremely proud of his accomplishments within and outside of the organization but is especially fulfilled by his work and collaboration of efforts with state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Keystone Coalition upon the passage of Act 89. Act 89 is one of the most comprehensive transportation bills ever approved by the legislature, providing a reliable source of funding for highways, roads, bridges, ports, aviation, and public transportation.

Dan has been an active participant with various committees and boards that included the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association, the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Transportation Revitalization Investment District Board, and the National American Public Transportation Association.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Science and Marketing Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University, and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Duquesne University. Dan recently graduated from Leadership Pittsburgh (Class 37), earned a master certificate in project management from the University of Pittsburgh (Katz School of Business), and holds a Pennsylvania Real Estate License through Berkshire Hathaway.

Dan lives in Murrysville where he and his wife (Cheri) of 27 years raised both of their children, daughter Maria (23) and son Dominic (21).

WHO WE ARE WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

Habitat for Humanity partners with people in your community, and all over the world, to help them build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With your support, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families. Through our 2020 Strategic Plan, Habitat for Humanity will serve more people than ever before through decent and affordable housing.

SUPPORT HABITAT, SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

We partner with families to help build and rehabilitate homes, because it all comes down to that – a home. With a safe, decent, and affordable home families flourish, and when families flourish, communities flourish. Everyone deserves a decent place to live, and everyone can do something today to help make that possible for another family. Lend your financial support, your voice, or your time.

ON A BUILD

Here at Habitat for Humanity we love our volunteers. Generous crews of volunteers are one of the main ways we are able to keep construction costs down, which in turn is how we are able to subsidize affordable housing for low-income families.

Volunteering on a build is a great group activity for an employer, church, or community group. The requirements are minimal, but we ask for at least 6-8 hardworking individuals that are over 16 years of age. We also accept semi-skilled or skilled individuals for our regular Friday morning work crew. Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to accept individual unskilled volunteers.

IN THE WAREHOUSE

Our Warehouse Outlet is your local one stop Habitat for Humanity. We use it for our offices, to receive donations and to sell off excess inventory to fund our builds. We are always in need of volunteer support in the warehouse, from minor construction, sorting donations, to helping to provide outstanding customer service. We have many volunteer opportunities and are able to offer a high degree of flexibility.

The Warehouse Outlet is open from 10am-5pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers will assist with basic warehouse functions – organizing, sorting, and minor repairs of inventory. Volunteers who are stocking should expect to lift up to 50lbs. Other volunteers should expect to be moderately active but are not required to do lifting. We also receive donations and conduct periodic sales so all volunteers should be comfortable communicating with the public about the use of the purpose of the Warehouse Outlet and CWHFH’s mission.

WHO WE HELP

The three criteria to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home are: 1. need for affordable housing 2. ability to repay a Habitat for Humanity mortgage 3. willingness to partner with Habitat for

Humanity.

The need for affordable housing is defined by a family income that is below the government-set Low Income Cut-Off (poverty line) for their particular region, and existing living conditions that are inadequate in terms of structure, cost, safety, or size. The ratio of shelter expense to total income is also factored.

Ability to repay a Habitat for Humanity mortgage requires that the family has a stable income sufficient to cover the monthly mortgage payments and other expenses that come with home ownership

HOW WE WORK

Through volunteer labor, efficient management and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat for Humanity builds simple, decent homes with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. These homes are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund, which is used to build more homes.

Most Habitat for Humanity projects are single dwellings or semi-detached homes, but Habitat for Humanity is expanding its build projects and may include restoration and refurbishments, condominiums, and town home style projects in the future.

CONTACT INFO:

Central WestmorelandHabitat for Humanity 212 Outlet Way, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-219-3736 | www.cwhfh.org