BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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 Valerie was raised in New Tripoli and is a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh - Class of 2005.  She has been an active board member since 2013 and currently serves as President and chairs the PR Committee.

Valerie has a B.S. in Business Administration from Cedar Crest College and an MBA from DeSales University. By day she is Director of Digital Marketing at 3Seed Marketing in Allentown. When not offering her skills in marketing, Valerie can be found behind a lense, photographing area families, children and couples as the Owner/Photographer of Valerie Betz Photography & Design. She enjoys live music, traveling and spending time with her children Grayson - Class of 2026 and Layluh - (future) Class of  2034.

Erin is a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh Class of 2005. She has been with the board since April 2018 and currently serves as the Fund Development Committee Chair in addition to her Vice President position. 

Erin has a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Government/Politics from Widener University and a Secondary Social Studies Certification from DeSales University. She is the Assistant Director of Registration and Student Records at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC). Prior to LCCC, Erin worked at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania for 10 years in several program, events,and camp related leadership positions. Outside of work, Erin can be found volunteering with the Lehigh Valley Road Runners Youth Committee, Weisenberg PTO, or Northwestern Youth Wrestling Booster Club. 

In her spare time, she enjoys exercise, the outdoors, cheering on her boys on the soccer field and wrestling mat, and spending time with her family. 

She resides in Orefield with her husband, Matthew, also a Northwestern Lehigh Class of 2005 grad and their two boys, Hunter (Class 2032) and Cael (Class of 2033).

Jill has a Ph.D. in Counseling & Counselor Education from North Carolina State University and over the last 15 years has dedicated herself to nonprofit organizations that support individuals with mental health and addiction concerns. She is passionate about raising awareness around social justice matters and thoroughly enjoys being in the classroom as a Professor of Counseling. 

When she’s not teaching, Jill can be found outdoors, hanging out with her chickens, or watching the sunset over the beautiful Pennsylvania farmland. Jill is a newcomer to the NWLEF board and has been living in Northwestern Lehigh School District since 2018 with her spouse (Class of 2005) and furbabies. She is excited to join the board and support the school district and give back to the next generation of leaders and advocate.

Michael Perinotti is in his inaugural year as a NWLEF board member. 

He was raised in the Allentown and Whitehall areas and graduated from Whitehall High School in 2002.  He continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, studying accounting and competing as a student athlete wrestler.   Upon graduation, Michael returned to the Lehigh Valley and began a career in Finance at the Victaulic Company located in Easton.  He has worked his entire professional career at Victaulic, holding various positions in the Finance Organization.  He also earned an MBA from DeSales University during his professional tenure. 

Michael and his wife, Krista, and their three children, Mary, Maximus and Meadow, moved to the Northwestern Lehigh School District in 2018, residing in beautiful Lowhill Township.  Mary and Maximus currently attend Weisenberg Elementary School.

Michael also volunteers as an assistant wrestling and softball coach for his children’s youth teams.

Daniel Macaulay has lived in Northwestern Lehigh School District since he was 18 months old. He graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School and went on to study at Kutztown University while majoring in Criminal Justice. During this time he connected with his to-be-wife, another Northwestern Alumni, and began helping with her family’s business. He now resides with his wife Tiffany, son Colin, and daughter Reese in New Tripoli, PA.

   Daniel works as a Sr. Sustainability Specialist at BlueTriton Brands supporting the facilities and their sustainability goals. During the time off he enjoys spending time with his family being outside and relaxing while fishing, hiking, skiing, or golfing.

D.J. has been on the NWLEF Board since 2010 and served previously in various leadership roles including President. He actively co-chairs the clay shoot each year as well.

D.J. has been a resident of New Tripoli since 2001 with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Reece.  He has also been involved in other community activities including P.I.E. (Partners in Education) and  has been a NYAA soccer coach.  D.J. has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University and an MBA in Management/Finance from DeSales University.  He has been a product manager at Victaulic since early 2013.  Prior to Victaulic, D.J. worked at Lutron Electronics for 19 years in several management positions.  D.J. enjoys many activities, including hunting, camping, running, biking, kayaking, and fixing whatever is needed on his small horse farm. 

 Amy Kinnon grew up in nearby Northampton. She spent her 20s traveling and working in Marketing for several high-tech companies. When first moving back to PA in 2002, she opened her own business. In 2007, Amy and her husband purchased a home in Northwestern School District to raise their children. Around that time she began working as the Director of Photo Operations for Dan's Camera City in Allentown. In August 2020, Amy excitedly took the position as Development Director for the NWLEF. She tremendously enjoys finding ways to help fund education for the Northwestern Lehigh School District. When she is not working, she enjoys the outdoors of the beautiful community with her family. She can be found hiking with her son Gabe (Class of 2022) or catching one of her daughter's softball games at the rec fields (Lily - Class of 2026). You can also find her leading her Girl Scout troop at Ontaulanee Park or camping in the woods. Sometimes she just enjoys just taking in the amazing views of Bake Oven Knob from her deck. 

 Jayson was raised in Pennsburg, PA (Upper Perkiomen School District) through his sophomore year. In the summer of 1993, his family moved to Fogelsville, PA where Jayson attended Parkland High School, graduating class of 1995. In 1996 Jayson and his soon to be wife Jessica Yeakel (Northwestern Lehigh C lass of 1995) bought a house in Orefield, PA within Northwestern Lehigh School District, and were married at Leaser Lake in September of 1997. Jayson and Jessica have four children: Michael - Class of 2018, Matthew - Class of 2020, Molly - Class of 2022, and Mark - Class of 2024.

Jayson and Jessica coached Indoor Baton Twirling at both Northwestern Lehigh Middle and High Schools from 1995 through 2002. Jayson also coached Club Ice Hockey for Penn State’s Lehigh Valley Extension Campus in 2001 and 2002, has coached soccer with the Northwestern Youth Athletic Association’s Soccer Club since 2004, and has served as the President of the Northwestern Lehigh Youth Wrestling and Wrestling Cheerleaders Booster Club since 2013. 

 Curran joined the board in April 2020 and has lived in the Northwestern Lehigh SD since 2017.  Curran grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended Temple University studying Business Management after graduating high school in 1995.  Following 10 years working in the travel and tourism industry, he relocated to the Lehigh Valley in 2009 to take a job in the marketing department at the Sands Bethlehem Casino and Resort, presently Wind Creek Bethlehem.  Curran has a son, Curran II, presently enrolled in Northwestern Lehigh Elementary School (class of 2032) and a daughter, Penelope, who will begin kindergarten NLES in Sept 2021.  Curran is actively coaching baseball and basketball with the NYAA, and most of his free time is spent with his family and their rescue dog Wesley. 

Jeffrey Zellner attended Northwestern Lehigh High School, graduating in 1999.  Upon Graduation, He attended Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, graduating in 2004 with a degree in business, and  his Master’s Degree in 2014 from DeSales University. 

Jeffrey has been an employee of Bear Creek Mountain Resort since 2005, working in all areas of the resort. He has overseen all marketing and public relations efforts since 2015, acting as the lead in all revenue generation as well as financial analytics for the company.  

His biggest passion is people and helping enhance the community. Through his diverse experience, he has learned the value of interpersonal relationships as a driving force for business and community.  His commitment to bettering the business community is evident by his involvement within various business organizations. He currently sits on The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber Board of Governors as well as The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber’s finance committee and has involvement with The Young Professionals Business Council of The Lehigh Valley, LGBT Business Council, Discover Lehigh Valley as well as other community organizations.  

Jeffrey currently resides in Breinigsville, with his wife, Shannon, step-daughter Lilly, and Daughter Ella, who is currently a student at Weisenberg Elementary School, part of the Northwestern Lehigh Class of 2030. 

Kristen Grim has been a resident of the Northwestern Lehigh School District since 2007 with her husband Paul and their daughter, Kamarie, currently at the middle school. Although not originally from the Lehigh Valley, Kristen earned her B.S. in Psychology at Kutztown University and her M.Ed. in School Counseling at Lehigh University. She is currently a High School Counselor in the East Penn School District where she has been involved in coordinating the Shave for the Brave fundraiser and is the Advisor of the high school GSA. Outside of her work as a School Counselor, Kristen can be found taking her daughter to piano, dance or on the NYAA softball field. Kristen is also involved in local charity organization, the Lehigh Valley Conquer Chiari Walk Across America where she works to raise funding and awareness for rare neurological disorder, Chiari Malformation. As a part of the NWLEF Board, Kristen is looking forward to helping to continue the amazing work the foundation does for the students of Northwestern Lehigh.  

 Courtney is new to the board and excited about the opportunity.  She has been a member of the Northwestern Lehigh family since 2014.  She grew up in Schuylkill County and graduated from Mahanoy Area High School Class of 2002.  She went on to receive a BS in Biology from Widener University in 2006 and completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010.  Dr Boyle moved to the Lehigh Valley and completed her ob/gyn residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network where she currently spends her days as an obstetrician/gynecologist with Lehigh Valley Physicians Group.  She is the co-founder and Medical Director of the Connections Program--providing specialized prenatal care to mothers with substance use disorder.

She lives in New Tripoli with her husband Eddie, Director of Operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corp and their 2 children Alivia (Class of 2033) and Edwin III (Class of 2034).  

Outside of work she enjoys traveling, time at the beach, camping and coaching her daughter's cheer and softball teams. 

 Michelle graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, and attended graduate school at Shippensburg University and Wilkes University obtaining master's degrees in English and education. She works as an Assistant Teaching Professor of English at Penn State Lehigh Valley.  Michelle is originally from Schuylkill County and moved to Northwestern Lehigh in 2000 with her husband, Eugene. They have three children who attend or have attended Northwestern Lehigh schools, Kelsea, a 2021 graduate, Jillian, and Ethan. Michelle has volunteered in multiple roles with the Weisenberg PTO, Girl Scouts in the Northwestern Lehigh area, Mercy School for Special Learning, and Boy Scout Troop 150. Michelle and her family also have three rescue dogs that keep them very busy.  

Jim Warfel is a 2022 addition to the Board. Jim was raised in Lower Bucks County and relocated to the Lehigh Valley in 1980. He completed as B.A at LaSalle University in Political Science/Education, a M.A. at the College of New Jersey in Special Education and an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration at Temple University. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and enjoyed a 46 year career in public and

higher education. 

Included in his career were 15 years in the Northwestern Lehigh School District having served as the first Assistant Superintendent in the district and having had the privilege and pleasure of serving as the first principal of Northwestern Lehigh Middle School. 

Jim and his wife Mary are residents

of Lynn Township. Their two sons reside in Bethlehem and have blessed them with six grandchildren who greatly enrich their lives. Mary and Jim are active in the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society and volunteer at the Lowhill Food Pantry. They are actively involved in supporting the Community Music  School of the Lehigh Valley where Jim currently serves as Vice President of the Board. Dr. Warfel is deeply grateful for his experience as an administrator in the NWLSD and for his connections to the Northwestern community. He welcomes the opportunity to be of service to the schools through his involvement on the NWELF Board.

 New to the community and newer to the board, Amanda Smith moved to the Northwestern School District in 2021 from Virginia. Amanda received her Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and received her Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration. Amanda is the Executive Director of Advancement Services & Strategic Data Management in the Office of Philanthropy at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

She lives in Fogelsville with her husband Nathan and son Cooper (Class of 2029). You can find her most weekends on the ball field.