Team

As Grants Consultant, Kate manages environmental grants and construction grants for CCEDC, CCIDA, and their clients. Most specifically, she brings to the table her knowledge and experience of navigating the intricacies of various economic development state grants including the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants, Industrial Site Reuse (ISR) grants, Business in our Sites (BOS) grants, as well as a few federal grants. She assists CCEDC and CCIDA’s clients by helping them understand the different types of environmental, construction, and economic development grants and how the grant programs are applicable to their projects, by fulfilling the grant’s individual paperwork requirements or by instructing clients how to complete the paperwork requirements themselves and by providing liaison support linking clients with State or Federal employees. Kate has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Scranton and a Masters Degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University.  Prior to CCEDC, she worked for 9 years at an environmental consulting firm performing the QA/QC data validations and laboratory auditing.  Outside of work, Kate currently spends her time volunteering for the Phoenixville YMCA swim team and spending time with her family. 

Sherry Cockerham serves as Project Coordinator for the Hire One Initiative, the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties, and the Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern PA. Previously, Sherry worked for the Phoenixville Area School District as an elementary aide as well as administrative positions at Siemens Medical Solutions, USA and CSG Health Services Organization. Sherry served two years as the secretary then president on the Home and School Association board at Barkley Elementary in the Phoenixville Area School District. She also enjoyed years of active volunteerism in her children’s schools. Sherry earned a degree in Office Administration from Delaware County Community College.  She also has attended Immaculata University, taking coursework in Organizational Dynamics within the College of Lifelong Learning.  A Phoenixville resident and mother, Sherry continues to volunteer her time along with her sons who are active members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Leigh Craig is a Program Manager for the Workforce Development – STEM Innovation Youth Programs. She has more than 20 years of experience in environmental insurance primarily as an underwriting assistant at Great American Insurance Group and AxaXL Insurance (previously XL Insurance). Those duties included providing underwriting support, file reconciliation, office management, and general administrative support. For the past 8 years, Leigh worked as site coordinator/head coach for Coatesville United Soccer, an innovative youth development program that uses soccer as a tool to implement mentorship, lifestyles, and offers a safe place for the youth in Coatesville. Outside of work, Leigh is an avid sports fan and spends time with her husband and 3 kids at their sporting events.

Jo Lynn Entzminger is a Loan Operations Specialist at CCEDC’s lending affiliate, Seedcopa + SeedcoDE. Joining the team in 2023, with more than a decade of experience supporting borrowers and lenders in the SBA’s most popular loan programs, Jo Lynn offers an impressive skill set only outmatched by her sincere commitment to helping local businesses small and large. She is proud to have visited all 50 states, patronizing small businesses in all of them. Jo Lynn holds a Bachelor’s degreen in Marketing at The Pennsylvania State University.

Bob joined the Chester County Economic Development Council in January of 2023. Prior to joining the CCEDC, he worked for 26 years at SEI. At SEI, Bob spent most of his career as a Relationship Manager in the Investment Managers Service Group responsible for managing the service and operational delivery of back and middle office solutions to hedge and private equity fund managers. At the CCEDC, he will be working as a consultant in the Development Finance Group. Bob has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama and Masters in Business Administration from Drexel University.

Holly Graver is Senior Vice President, Business Development Officer at CCEDC’s lending affiliate Seedcopa + SeedcoDE. She joined the organization after Seedcopa was ranked for a fourth consecutive year as the #1 SBA 504 Lender in Eastern Pennsylvania by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Holly has spent most of her career in commercial lending, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Brandywine Division of Fulton Bank, where she has supported small- to mid-market commercial lending since 2010. She was also a Senior Vice President at National Penn Bank focusing on new business development. When asked by lenders what they appreciate most about Holly’s work, they repeatedly note the connections Holly makes that are always in the best interests of the client. Holly grew up in Hockessin, DE and Landenberg, PA, where she attended Avon Grove High School. She went on to earn her B.S. in Business Administration from Juniata College and is a resident of West Chester, PA and Millsboro, DE. Active in community outreach for decades, Holly was recognized with the Gary R. Community Impact Award by the West Chester Area YMCA in 2019 for her extensive volunteer work.

Michelle Hadley is a lifelong resident of Chester County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Immaculata University and has more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit accounting field. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 17 years and her three children.

Nancy Jones’ duties involve overseeing, managing, coordinating tasks, and maintaining records for Seedcopa’s business loans and insurance & settlement issues.  Nancy is the go-to person for loan questions and information requests from clients. Nancy has been with CCEDC/Seedcopa since June 2012 and brings over 30 years of banking experience with retail, mortgages, and commercial businesses for two financial institutions.  She worked specifically for commercial lenders and then with the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Cheryl Korn joined the Chester County Economic Development Council in 2017 and serves as a project coordinator. Her duties include supporting CCEDC’s technology initiatives, the Ideas x Innovations Network (i2n) and the Innovative Technology Action Group (ITAG). She also assists CCEDC’s marketing department and STEM Innovation youth initiatives. Her responsibilities include coordinating and communicating with various stakeholders, providing graphic design and electronic marketing assistance, organizing meetings and events, and providing general administrative support. Cheryl’s previous experience as art director for a healthcare software company, tenure at several advertising agencies, and service as the office and marketing manager for various companies, means she is well-suited to wear many hats in her role at CCEDC. Cheryl received a BFA in graphic design from Moore College of Art and has kept her skills current by earning numerous certifications from Springhouse Education & Consulting Services.

Jim Lauckner is the Project Consultant for two of CCEDC’s Industry Partnerships –  the Smart Energy Initiative (SEI) and the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware counties (MACCDC), as well as the Hire One Initiative which is focused on helping companies with their recruiting and hiring needs. Jim helps to lead these initiatives as they pursue their missions to bring together business, education, economic development and industry entities.  Jim’s focus is to help create programs, training, and consulting opportunities that leverage public and private resources to build funds and sustain the IPs while growing the industries as a whole.  Outreach for all of these programs is always open, and while often designed for CCEDC investors, the programs look to be regional or broader where needed.  He represents the IP’s leadership to the public both locally and nationally.  Working with County and CareerLink staff Jim has given several webinars to help Job Seekers and Employers connect more effectively during the pandemic. Jim has been with CCEDC for 10 years and has over 17 years of experience as owner of J*Lis Management Consulting.  Consulting with the healthcare, manufacturing and pharmaceutical and tech  industries resulted in improved hiring and recruiting processes. Jim has a Bachelor of Arts degree from La Salle University in Psychology.  He volunteered almost 30 years on the Alumni Board of La Salle University and continues in their Chester County Alumni Club.  Jim has coached youth soccer for over 20 years, as well as the Olympic Development Program for the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA), and the Football Club of Delaware County (FC Delco).  He also coaches Little League Baseball for Glenmoore Eagle Youth Association (GEYA).

Zhayer Legrand is a Pennsylvania State University graduate with a degree in Telecommunications. Legrand spent her time as a student assisting film productions, producing live broadcasts, and developing short-form social media content for Penn State Women’s Rugby. When not geared toward media production, Legrand can be found playing or assistant coaching rugby. As the social media coordinator, Legrand is responsible for enhancing the CCEDC’s message across multiple social platforms.

Sam Livingston serves as the Small Business Services Coordinator, where he supports our Catalyst Microloan Program, Business Resource Center, and New Business Champions program, all aimed at providing effective and impactful business development services in Chester County. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bloomsburg University, where he developed strong skills in both qualitative and quantitative research. His experience includes gathering, analyzing, and communicating meaningful data to engage diverse perspectives across various societies and cultures. Outside of work, Sam enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.

Kathy McAfee is the Loan Servicing and Documentation Specialist for South Eastern Economic Development Company of PA, the lending division of Chester County Economic Development Council. Kathy began working for CCEDC in June 2006 as Loan Closing and Servicing Specialist.  She is now responsible for preparing the loan documentation for loan closings, as well as routine servicing of the loan portfolio. Prior to joining the staff at CCEDC, Kathy was employed in the banking industry, first in the operations division, and then the loan originations focusing on loan documentation.

LinkedIn Profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilfred-h-muskens-56697/

Kathleen manages the day-to-day operations and acts as the primary liaison with users of the facility.  She develops and implements programs to ensure that the organization has the most suitable working environment for its employees and their activities. In addition, Kathleen oversees all of the Council’s external vendors, as well as supervises any office renovations and construction projects. Kathleen also manages the CCEDC’s IT and communications infrastructure and support. Kathleen and her family moved to Chester County in 1996 and raised two children with her husband of 30 years. She serves as a volunteer food drive coordinator for Chester County Food Bank and volunteer drive coordinator for the American Red Cross.

Tracey joined the CCEDC in September of 2016. In her role as Events Director, Tracey is responsible for the development, planning, and execution of CCEDC’s high-level events and conferences. Tracey manages all aspects of event logistics, sponsor relationships, negotiating contracts and building relationships with external vendors, suppliers, and venues. Tracey’s strong organizational skills and attention to detail ensures that our events run smoothly and all event goals are achieved, with a focus on creating a meaningful, valuable, and special experience for attendees. Tracey is a proud graduate of St. Joseph’s University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Prior to joining the CCEDC, she worked as a Program Director and Volunteer Director in the non-profit sector. Outside of work you will find Tracey enjoying time with her 2 kids, friends and family while traveling, going to concerts and cheering on the Phillies!

Lori joined CCEDC in April of 2017. As the Business Outreach Manager she works primarily with the Business Development Services Team providing support and communication to CCEDC Investors. She is also the regional Coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Engage Program, a statewide business retention and expansion (BRE) program facilitated through CCEDC.  In that role, Lori oversees budgets and invoicing for six Pennsylvania county partners who participate in the program. Lori came to CCEDC while co-owning a manufacturer’s representative company with her husband which works primarily with QVC, Inc. – a televised home shopping channel based in West Chester, PA.   Currently, she guest hosts on-air at QVC, selling personal care products. Lori spent 15 years working in the field of public relations in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia respectively, before she and her family moved to Chester County in 2000.   Lori is a graduate of Bloomsburg University with a B.A. in Business Economics.  She is married and has two children.  Lori also volunteers with the “Adopt A Pig” charity in Glenmore, PA.  The charity was developed to help children and their families cope as they face the challenge of fighting cancer.

Loaida Rodriguez has been named Portfolio and Compliance Specialist, at Seedcopa + SeedcoDE, a Certified Development Company that specializes in helping businesses in Pennsylvania and Delaware access below-market interest rates through government loan programs. Loaida joins the Seedcopa + SeedcoDE team after serving as Assistant Controller at Vanguard Charitable in Malvern, one of the largest grant-making organizations in the nation. Previously she was the Director of Finance at Community Basics, Inc. in Lancaster, a non-profit developer that supports the ongoing need for affordable housing in the Lancaster area. She also served as Director of Accounting and Payroll for SCTE, Inc. in Exton, a membership association that supports the telecommunications industry. Loaida has a passion for economic development and making a positive impact on her community. Her experience managing government-backed programs and ensuring fiduciary responsibility, along with her accounting and financial management experience, are valuable assets for bank partners and small- to mid-sized business borrowers. Loaida earned her Bachelor of Arts in Financial Management from Immaculata University and her Master’s degree in Public Administration at West Chester University. She resides in Honey Brook with her four children and two grandchildren. She enjoys volunteer work, including as a HDC MidAtlantic Board Member, as well as past volunteer work for Primera Iglesia Bautista de Coatesville, Philadelphia Area Great Career Success Group and Lighthouse Vocational Ministries.

Leslie joined the Chester County Economic Development Council in August 2013 and brought a variety of skills to the organization. She oversees the marketing and communications efforts for CCEDC as well as its numerous initiatvies. Her responsibilities include crafting the organization’s annual report and quarterly briefingings and she also handles graphic design, website content, and social media for the organization. Her previous work experience includes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the United States Holocaust Memorial Musuem, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and the Lionville Community YMCA. Leslie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the Pennsylvania State University. She has completed additional studies in graphic design and desktop publishing and earned recently earned a Digital Marketing Certificate from Penn State Greaty Valley.

Lauren Sandusky is the newest Loan Operations Specialist for South Eastern Economic Development Company of PA, the lending division of Chester County Economic Development Council. Her duties involve overseeing, managing, coordinating tasks, and maintaining records for Seedcopa’s business loans and insurance & settlement issues. With over 15 years of experience in business lending, Lauren joins the Seedcopa team after serving as Manager of Loan Processing at the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) where she worked on a variety of small business loans including the PIDA loan program. Lauren also helped manage COVID-19 relief loan programs including the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund, the COVID-19 Working Capital Access (CWCA) program and the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP). Lauren holds a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Communication from LaSalle University.

Cathie is an Albright College alumna with a B.A. in Communications and Digital Media. She brings to Seedcopa over fifteen years of commercial banking experience including credit analysis, risk mitigation, and portfolio administration. Cathie is an avid angler and enjoys traveling.

Marie Shires joined  Seedcopa as Vice President and Relationship Manager in April 2018.  Shires comes to Seedcopa with a decade of SBA 504 experience providing commercial real estate and equipment financing to the region’s small to mid-sized businesses. A certified Economic Development Financial Professional, Shires has completed rigorous training in business credit, loan packaging procedures, real estate finance analysis and deal structuring. As a long-time program director and Vice President at a not-for-profit certified development company, she has been responsible for all phases of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans, including business development, processing, closing and servicing. She also draws on enduring relationships with local banks, professional partners and community-based organizations to facilitate the loan process for Seedcopa clients. Shires is a member of Advocates for Small Business, where she holds a seat on the board of directors. Over the course of her career she has taken a participating lead role in a variety of special events and summits for small business owners, including round table discussions and group training sessions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Widener University.

Marianne Stack is a Project Director for the Chester County Economic Development Council’s technology industry partnership, the Innovative Technology Action Group (ITAG). In this role she provides leadership and oversight to ITAG, building strategies to help regional technology companies grow and succeed through the collaboration of private employers, educators, and public partners. Marianne also oversees the PA Keystone Innovation Zone tax credit program for Chester and Delaware Counties which includes certifying companies for eligibility, ensuring program compliance, assessing company needs and connecting these early-stage and technology-driven companies with resources they need. Prior to joining CCEDC in 2012, Marianne served as project engineer for several civil engineering firms with a focus in land development. Marianne earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Villanova University as well as her Professional Engineer’s License. Being detail oriented, highly organized and having the ability to successfully multitask has been an asset professionally as well as in managing a large, active family. Marianne is an active member of the Saints Philip and James School Board of Limited Jurisdiction.