Haverford Education Foundation Newsletter

This past summer, we welcomed five new board members:

Michelle Collier- Having volunteered to help at the Foundation's Twilight Run, Michelle knew she had found an organization to which she could bring her talents and energy. An owner of Performance Fitness, LLC, Michelle is an ACE certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, a certified Pilates instructor and a certified CrossFit instructor. Her background is varied and interesting. She previously served as the Assistant to the Director of Fine and Performing Arts of the Newburgh (NY) Enlarge School District, worked as a professional opera singer, a music therapist and caseworker for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Michelle has been active in our community as a member of the Main Line Chapter of Business Network International, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Main Line Chamber of Commerce, the Wynnewood Business Association and the Midlantic Business Alliance. She is also the treasurer of the Sisters of Faith at the White Rock Baptist Church, which focuses on mentoring young girls and providing fellowship for women. She is also a member of American Bando Association, an international non-profit martial arts organization which honors veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and the Iraq/Afghanistan War. Michelle has a B.A. in Music Therapy from Montclair State University and a Master's in Music in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory.

Lillian Mittleman- Lillian began working with the Foundation through the Twilight Run, helping to design the annual shirts. She brings her experience in public relations to the Foundation board. After earning a degree in journalism from Penn State, Lillian wrote for her hometown newspaper and a local-history magazine in central Pennsylvania. After moving to Delaware County, she served as Community Relations Specialist in the William Penn School District for 10 years and then communications director for the law firm of Becket & Watkins for three years. She earned a master's degree in informational technology from Temple and began teaching computer classes at the Information Technology Academy of Delaware County Community College. In addition to the Foundation, Lillian volunteers in her children's schools. She is public relations secretary for Chatham Park and the website designer for the Haverford Middle School PTO. She also volunteers in communications roles with the Delaware County Literacy Council and the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. Lillian and her husband Joe have two sons who attend district schools.

Susan Mingey- Susan has made her mark in the school district during the past 25 years. Starting first as the seminar teacher at Manoa and Coopertown, she spent three years as the Coordinator of Special Programs and now serves as the Principal of Lynnewood Elementary School. Her energy and dedication to her students and the district are well-known. Still the educator, Susan also teaches Differentiated Instruction and Leadership courses to graduate students at Cabrini College. Susan earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from West Chester University, a Master's in Education and Gifted Education from Widener University, a Supervisor Certificate from Widener University and a Principal's Certificate from St. Joseph's University. Susan has three children, the youngest of whom attended Haverford Township schools.

J. Eric Rathburn, Esq. - Eric has a breadth of experience assisting clients with business law matters, including: contracts, joint ventures, e-commerce, debt/equity financings, mergers, acquisitions and other business transactions, employment matters, intellectual property, and supply/distribution agreements. Currently a partner in Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP, Eric has received a number of recognitions, including as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" (2007) in Philadelphia magazine and Law & Politics magazine. Eric is an active community member. Beginning in 1999, he led a core group in organizing the Haverford Soccer Club, currently one of the largest soccer clubs in Pennsylvania,. He helped to form a board of directors and recruit talented individuals to serve. The new board adopted and implementing bylaws, a mission statement, policies, procedures, and codes of conduct; launched a club website; and attaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Eric served in many leadership positions in HSC, including: chairman, president, secretary, and director of travel soccer. He was the architect of HSC's scholarship program, and served at times as the chair of the scholarship, rules and policies, and communications committees. In 2002, Eric was recognized as a "Hometown Hero" by Haverford Township. He earned his B.A. from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and his J.D. cum laude from Dickinson School of Law (Penn State), where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Dickinson Law Review. A resident of Haverford Township since 1989, Eric has children who have completed (2), currently receive (1), or will soon start (1) their education in Haverford Township schools.

Joan Tarka, Esq. - Having grown up in Haverford Township, Joan has returned to her childhood home. A lawyer by training, specializing in intellectual property, software licenses and service agreements, Joan has worked for various law firms and corporations as a corporate attorney and currently works as a legal consultant. She provides consulting services for technical translation, editing and abstracting French, German, and Spanish documents into English. Working pro bono, Joan has volunteered for the Senior Law Centre, the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, the Women's Resource Center in Wayne and the Haverford Senior Center. She is a Democratic Committee person and on the board of Pennsylvanians for Justice and Freedom of Choice & Family Planning Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Joan holds a B.A. from Seton Hill College, a Master's from West Virginia University and a J.D. from Pace University Law School. Before moving out of the area in 1986, Joan's son, Tom, attended Oakmont Elementary School for grades K-5 and Haverford Township Middle School for grades 6 and 7. Her daughter, Andrea, went to Oakmont Elementary for Kindergarten and 1st grade before being redistricted to Lynnewood for 2nd and 3rd grade.

To learn about our other board members, please read about them in the "Board of Directors" section on our website.