Committee Chairpersons

Audit: Craig Johnson
Communications & Development: Elena Brennan
Executive: Al Thorell
Finance & Investment: Chris Gadsden
Grants: Erin Doyle-O'Connor
Governance: Walter Tsou

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Al Thorell, Executive Chairperson

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Al Thorell, Current Vice Chairman, Spring Garden Lending LLC; Founder and Chairman Valley Green Bank; Exec. VP & Director, National Penn Bank; Founder, Chairman, CEO, Chestnut Hill National Bank; Founding Board Member, Treasurer and President Wissahickon Hospice, the first Medicare Certified hospice in Pa. Founding Member and Treasurer, Mt Airy USA, a community development corporation, Served as Executive Director Chestnut Hill Business Association. He is a welcome addition to the board and will serve on the Audit Committee. Mr. Thorell and his wife live in Chestnut Hill.

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Erin Doyle-O'Connor, Vice Chairperson

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Erin Doyle-O'Connor, MS, RD is a registered dietitian in Philadelphia, with a primary focus on childhood and adolescent nutrition. She earned her master's degree at New York University and completed clinical training at The Albert Einstein School of Medicine in Bronx, New York. Erin serves on the Grants Committee. She resides in Lafayette Hill.

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Walter Tsou, Secretary

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Walter Tsou, MD, MPH, has a distinguished public health history. He is Past President of the American Public Health Association and currently serves on the visiting faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Health Commissioner of Philadelphia and was the founding Deputy Director for Personal Health Services and Medical Director of the Montgomery County Health Department. Walter also has served on several boards including the Maternity Care Coalition, and the Philadelphia HIV Commission. Walter serves on the governance committee. He lives with his family in Mt. Airy.

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Chris Gadsden, Treasurer

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Chris Gadsden is a founding partner of Gadsden Schneider & Woodward LLP, a Pennsylvania law firm concentrating in estate planning, trust and estate administration and litigation, charitable gift planning and related areas of tax and personal and fiduciary law. He received his B.S. from Yale College in 1968 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1973. He has been recognized as one of the nation's top estate planning lawyers by inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who in American Law. Chris serves on the finance committee. He resides in Chestnut Hill.

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John Beilenson

 

John Beilenson is a Chestnut Hill resident who founded Strategic Communications & Planning (SCP) in New York City in 1987. He has led the company since then, providing consulting, editorial, and training services to a wide range of nonprofit organizations and public institutions.  Mr. Beilenson is also currently a member of the board of directors of Surrey Services, a board member of City Year Greater Philadelphia, and a board advisor to Generations Online.

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Elena Brennan

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Elena Brennan is Founder and CEO of CareCierge, Inc, a unique, web-based concierge solution for those taking care of an ill or aging loved one. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University, Elena previously served as a critical care nurse at the University of Pennsylvania before transitioning into a pharmaceutical sales industry career at Pfizer in New York. Elena serves on the Finance Committee. She resides in Wyndmoor.

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James W. Buehler

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James W. Buehler, MD. is former Health Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia, where he directed the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Buehler is currently a Drexel University professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health. Dr. Buehler serves on the grants committee. He lives in Mt. Airy with his wife. 
 

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John Friedman

 

John Friedman retired from Germantown Friends School in 2007, where he served as Associate Head of School for Financial Affairs. He had worked with Germantown Friends for 11 years. Prior to that, he had a long career heading up the marketing division of the Philadelphia Inquirer. John also served on the boards of Awbury Arboreum Association, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and The Wyck Association. John serves on the Finance Committee. John and his wife Carolyn live in Chestnut Hill.

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Mary Harper

 

Mary Harper is the Manager of Faith and Spiritual Affairs for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). She is also a public speaker who develops trainings, workshops, conferences, and summits. Recently, Mrs. Harper developed a wellness model for the City of Philadelphia on how to create and implement “Safe Spaces” for employees, communities, and individuals to share their thoughts and ideas that have been affected by trauma. Mrs. Haper resides in Germantown.

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Craig Johnson

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Craig Johnson, served Green Tree from 2005 to 2011. Mr. Johnson, formerly with Glenthorne Capital, Inc., brings his expertise in growth strategy to the Foundation. Craig serves on the development committee. He lives in Chestnut Hill with his wife.

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Bob Jones

 

Bob Jones lives in Lafayette Hill. During his 40-plus year career, he served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and special counsel to a variety of clients in the implementation and financing of major capital projects for public and nonprofit entities. Mr. Jones also writes and speaks frequently on a wide variety of public finance topics. Over the past several years, he has volunteered with Green Tree as a site visitor.

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Adeline Mandel

 

Adeline Mandel is a seasoned navigator of all stages of elder care, a lifelong healthcare volunteer and a client relationship manager with two decades of experience. For the past five years, she has volunteered with Green Tree Community Health Foundation, conducting site visits. Her nonprofit work also includes volunteering with Healthcare Business Women’s Association, Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Center for Enrichment. Mrs. Mandel resides in Lafayette Hill.

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Stan Miller, MD

 

Stan Miller lives in Lafayette Hill and currently works as Executive Director of the Jefferson Center for Injury Research and Prevention. Dr. Miller brings over 30 years knowledge from the medical field. His experience in the healthcare field will prove invaluable to the Foundation.