Meet the GSE Team:
Megan Balmer
Megan is 27 years old and resides in Mountville, PA. Work information: Megan is an account executive for Spencer Advertising & Marketing, a full service advertising agency located in Mountville, Lancaster County. (http://thinkspencer.com/) She works with different clients in the retail, banking, manufactoring, travel and home remodeling industries as well as a local government authority. The agency design newspaper/magazine ads, create and produce tv and radio commericals, design and develope websites, design packaging, signage and anything else a client may need. We also offer public relations and research assistance as well as to develop marketing plans for clients.
Family: Megan's family includes her parents, an older sister, and a younger brother.
Interests: Megan enjoys spending time with family & friends. This occasionally involves roadtrips as many friends from college live a few hours away. She also Enjoys her townhouse that she bought last April and decorating it for the various seasons. Megan also likes to read books, play fast-pitch softball, and actively participate in her church, St. Paul's UCC in Manheim. She also enjoys listening to various genres of music and watching tv.
Jenni Black
Jenni is 36 years old and lives in Manheim, PA. Work information: Jenni is Chief Administrative Officer for Family First Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing primary medical and dental care and social service programs to the underserved population of York and Adams Counties. Family First Health consists of 5 medical and 3 dental sites and offers social services including the Nurse Family Partnership and Caring Together programs. The Nurse Family Partnership is an evidence based program that matches first time WIC eligible mothers with a home visitation RN and the Caring Together program provides case management to HIV positive patients. Family First Health is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary in 2010.
Family information: Jenni’s family includes her parents, a younger brother and two dogs.
Interests: Jenni’s hobbies include home improvement projects, reading , obedience training and going on outings with her dogs. She also enjoys swimming, gardening and various forms of arts and crafts. Additionally, she plays the piano, is learning yoga, and enjoys most types of music, art and theater.
Amanda Eckinger
Work Information: Amanda is the Marketing and Membership Coordinator for the North Museum of Natural History & Science in Lancaster, PA. In her job, Amanda works with the local media to promote the museum's exhibits and programs, and also work to encourage families to enjoy the benefits of membership to the North Museum.
Family: Amanda has a close knit family and she enjoys spending time with them.
Interests: Amanda loves exploring the outdoors by hiking and camping. She plays viola in the Elizabethtown College Community Orchestra. Amanda is a huge Philadelphia sports fans, and loves watching and going to Philadelphia Phillies baseball games.
Heather Nace
Heather is 26 years old and resides in Lancaster, PA. Work Information: Heather is a second grade teacher at Park Elementary School in the small town of Columbia, PA. She teaches reading, writing, math, science, and social studies to children ages 7 and 8. Heather loves utilizing technology in her classroom, such as the Smartboard, and recently completed her Master’s Degree in Classroom Technology from Wilkes University.
Family information: Heather has a big family, including wonderful parents, three brothers, one sister, and three nieces.
Interests: Heather enjoys being outside and working in her garden. She enjoys staying active by walking, running, Zumba, and hiking. Heather also enjoys traveling, the beach, theater, and dancing. She is a mentor for a fourth grade student at her school as well as a child in the community through the program Big Brothers Big Sisters. Heather also volunteers with the ARC of Lancaster County which advocates for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
You can follow Heather on Twitter: twitter.com/heather795
Interests: Heather enjoys being outside and working in her garden. She enjoys staying active by walking, running, Zumba, and hiking. Heather also enjoys traveling, the beach, theater, and dancing. She is a mentor for a fourth grade student at her school as well as a child in the community through the program Big Brothers Big Sisters. Heather also volunteers with the ARC of Lancaster County which advocates for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
You can follow Heather on Twitter: twitter.com/heather795
Krystal Smeak
Work Information: Krystal works for a regional CPA firm (Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC) mainly doing Pension (401(k) and Defined Benefit Plan) and Not-for-Profit audits.
Family: Her immediate family consists of my parents, two younger brothers, two nieces, and herself. Interests: In her spare time, Krystal likes to decorate cakes, travel, and hang out with friends and family. She is involved in both the Hanover and Gettysburg Chamber of Commerce and is active with the Girl Scouts of the USA. She is the leader of a Daisy Girl Scout troop which consists of nine five and six year olds.
Melissa Stiles
Melissa is 25 years old and resides in York, PA.Work information: Melissa is a Trade Specialist with the World Trade of Central PA. (http://www.wtccentralpa.org/) The World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania is a membership organization that connects businesses locally and globally to support the growth of international trade in southcentral Pennsylvania. The World Trade Center offers educational and networking programs, up-to-date trade information, practical trade assistance, and research and referral services. The World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, an organization of more than 300 World Trade Centers in over 90 countries with over 750,000 members worldwide, connected to expand global business opportunities.
Family: Melissa's family includes her wonderful parents, as well as a younger sister. Her younger sister is definitely her best friend and she is very close with her family.Interests: Melissa enjoys watching and attending any type of sporting events, especially basketball, football, and baseball. Melissa also drag races cars at a local track in Reading, PA. She placed 25th in the "Street" category points last year. Her other interests include reading, traveling, cooking/baking, decorating her house, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves listening to music (and dancing!) and watching movies/tv.
You can follow Melissa on Twitter: twitter.com/misslilstar324
Warren Risk, team leader
Warren is 60 years old & resides in Hanover, PA.Work Information: Warren is retired after a 36 year career educating students with special needs. He began teaching students with moderate mental retardation and learning disabilities and finished the final 12 years of his career as Director of Special Education for the Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12. The Unit provides special education programs and services to children with disabilities from birth through age 21. Warren’s Division was composed of 1800 employees serving 15,000 students per year in 25 school districts in south central Pennsylvania with a budget of $97 million. Warren now works part time completing special projects and services for local school districts.
Family Information: Warren and his wife, Judy will be celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary this June. They have two sons - Andy who lives and works in the Washington, D.C. area and Dennis located just south of Wilmington, Delaware.
Interests: Aside from Rotary activities, Warren volunteers with the local Red Cross chapter. Warren is involved outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking from early Spring through late Fall. He also enjoys sports cars and belongs to a club for enthusiasts. Warren is nursing a budding interest in photography. Finally, training dogs, especially Chesapeakes, takes up much of his time.
