Board of Directors Profiles

Ken Lawrence

A proud Finnegan alum, Ken Lawrence currently serves as Temple University’s Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs. As Senior Vice President, Ken oversees Government Relations directing all of Temple’s lobbying activities at the state, local and federal levels of government.
Prior to joining Temple, Ken was a successful entrepreneur as Founder and President of Public Affairs Strategies where he represented corporate and non-profit organizations. Ken worked for five years at Merck & Company, Inc. handling public relations among other responsibilities.

Ken is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Political Science and has a Master’s degree of Governmental Administration from the Fels Center of Government at the University of Pennsylvania Ken serves on the board of the Committee of Seventy, Easter Seals of Southeastern PA and the Clear Channel Community Advisory Board. He is a past board member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Kathy Speaker MacNett, Esq.

Kathy Speaker MacNett, President, Finnegan ‘68, obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, from Immaculata College, Master's Degrees from both the University of Pennsylvania and St. Francis College, and her Juris Doctor Degree from Dickinson School of Law. Ms. MacNett is a shareholder with the Harrisburg office of the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll. She heads the capital office’s Labor and Employment Group and is also a member of the firm’s Government Relations Group. Before joining Buchanan Ingersoll in 1989, she served as the research director to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Labor Relations Committee; clerk to the late Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice, Honorable Roy Wilkinson; and assistant counsel to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Ms. MacNett also serves on the Steering Committee of the Women's Business Network for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development.

Andrew McCloskey

Mr. McCloskey is the Vice President of the McCloskey Financial Group, a boutique wealth management practice located in West Conshohocken, PA. In his capacity as financial advisor, he assists his clients with comprehensive wealth management solution. He serves in an investment advisory capacity to several Philadelphia based non-profit organizations. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Government. Mr. McCloskey has served on the Finnegan Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2007.

Joseph R. Powers

Joseph R. Powers recently retired from Pennsylvania state government after 37 years of service. Mr. Powers most recently served for six years as the Executive Deputy Secretary in the Department of Environmental Protection. In that role, he oversaw each of the other deputies and had direct oversight of the legislative and communications offices. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Powers served as Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. In that role, he directed the Lt. Governor’s staff and helped to oversee the Pennsylvania Energy Office and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Mr. Powers held a variety of positions in the Pennsylvania legislature. While working in the State House, he served at various times as Director of House Intergovernmental Relations, Chief of Staff to the House Democratic Policy Chair, and Director of the Office of Member Services. Earlier in his career, Mr. Powers worked in the Pennsylvania State Senate. Over a period of 14 years, he served as Director of the Military Affairs and Aeronautics Committee, the Consumer Protection Committee, the Labor and Industry Committee, and the Community and Economic Development Committee. Mr. Powers has also been the campaign manager for three statewide political races and several legislative and local races. He has taught Political Science classes at St. Joseph’s University, Dickinson and Penn State – Harrisburg. He was also a Legislative Fellow at Millersville University. Mr. Powers served for a number of years as the Chairman of the Marketing Research Committee for the Capitol Region United Way. He is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University. Mr. Powers lives outside of Harrisburg and is married with two children. He was named to the Finnegan Foundation Board in July of this year.

Debra McCloskey Todd

Judge Debra McCloskey Todd joined the Board in 2002. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from Chatham College and her Juris Doctor Degree (Law Review) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Todd was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 1999 and was seated in January 2000. She served on the superior court from 2000-2007. Elected to the Supreme Court in November of 2007 and seated in 2008. From 1982-87, Judge Todd was an in-house litigation attorney for U.S. Steel Corporation. She maintained a trial practice in the City of Pittsburgh from 1987 through 1999 with an emphasis in complex litigation.

She was elected a member of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and an alumna and former board member of the Leadership Pittsburgh Program. She is a member of the Allegheny, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession. She is also a member of the American Judicature Society.

Jane F. Woodside

Jane F. Woodside graduated from Dickinson College in 1968 and received a Juris Doctor's degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1971. She worked for 25 years on the Pa. State Senate Republican Legal Staff dealing with legislation and parliamentary matters. She is active in her community of Millersburg and is currently serving on the borough's Planning Commission.

William C. Baer, Administrator

Prior to forming Bill Baer Association Management, Inc., Bill served as Vice President for Government Affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Before joining the Chamber in 1987, he was Executive Director of the Senate Community and Economic Development Committee. He also served as Director of Legislative Relations for the Department of Labor and Industry; Administrative Assistant to the Republican Leader of the House of Representatives, and as a Legislative Research Analyst on the House Education Committee.

Bill has been the Dean of Administrative Services, Assistant to the President, and Coordinator of Research Grants at the Reading Area Community College. He was an Administrator with the Reading School District serving as Director of Federal/State Relations and Director of Audio/Visual Education.