AHEDD Leadership

Michael served at the pleasure of the Governor as Special Assistant to the Secretary and then as Deputy Secretary for Compensation and Insurance Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. He then went on to be a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Labor. Michael lives in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with his wife Mary and two children. After working in D.C. he chose to focus his work closer to home for a better work- life balance, and became the Managing Director of Consulting Services for the Swarthmore Group. He was primarily responsible for strategic planning, relationship building, and introduction to equity and fixed income strategies for C-suite executives, investment professionals, foundations, and educational institutions. He is currently the President and Lead Consultant for Enterprise Group Ltd and did not hesitate to consider a nomination to our Board of Directors. Michael worked very closely with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation during his time with the State and believes strongly in our mission.

Karen Gross is a PR practitioner with more than 20 years of experience working for marketing and public relations firms in the Central Pennsylvania region. As Vice President of Suasion, LLC, Ms. Gross provided strategic communications and marketing expertise to a variety of non-profit and healthcare clients throughout the state. She has extensive experience working in the disability industry, once leading and facilitating interagency training sessions across the Commonwealth for the Pennsylvania Departments of Education, Labor & Industry and Human Services to enhance transitioning and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

In 2021, Ms. Gross was appointed Communications Manager, a senior management position, of the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) where she leads the organization’s stakeholder relations, community outreach, public relations, and marketing efforts.

A resident of Dover, Pa., Ms. Gross is a member of the Public Relations Society of American and the Solid Waste Association of North America. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, gardening, kayaking and being outdoors.

Mr. Schwartz is the founder and served as the first President of AHEDD.  He has been an active advocate for persons with disabilities for over 50 years.  Mr. Schwartz was at the forefront in designing and demonstrating individualized on-site job training concepts that today comprise what is known as “Supported Employment”.  He foresaw a future in which individuals with severe disabilities would be competitively employed, no longer limited to only segregated sheltered workshops.

Prior to AHEDD, Mr. Schwartz was an Assistant Director of the Arc of Pennsylvania and served as Project Director of the largest statewide On-the Job Training Program in the nation.  He is a current member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation.  He has served on many organizational boards and committees including the President’s Committee of People with Disabities, National Arc’s Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania, Alcoholism Services Inc., and United Way among others. He was a member of the task force charged with drafting the regulations that amended the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, by “prohibiting discrimination because of disability.”

Following retirement from AHEDD, Mr. Schwartz founded, owned, and managed several businesses.  He is President of Cleanteam Building Services, Inc., and President of Columbus Supply House, Inc. He also founded Personnel Laboratories Inc., and Human Resource Solutions, Inc.  Mr. Schwartz is a graduate of Philadelphia’s Central High School and received a BA from Pennsylvania State University. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army National Guard of Pennsylvania.

As a Financial Advocate and Business Owner since 2023, Leslie G. Reis provides one-on-one coaching to individuals, families and small business owners to develop tailored financial plans that align with clients’ specific financial situations and objectives.  She presents, in a straightforward and easy to understand manner, financial concepts and principles with the goal to reduce debt, invest for the future and plan for the unexpected, in alignment with the Primerica philosophy of “buy term & invest the difference.”

In the prior 24yrs+ while at CVS Health, Leslie G. Reis was devoted to leading a team of ten (10) Workforce Development professionals, building an outstanding talent pipeline through innovative recruiting and training programs, from diverse populations. Directed activities to influence leaders employing talent from various under-represented populations, while harmonizing equity, inclusion & justice, resulting in a more all-encompassing workforce.

Leslie, a Philadelphia native, wife and mother of two, received her B.S., in Business Management from Thomas Jefferson University, formerly known as Philadelphia University. She continues to serve on boards to influence policy & advocacy to underserved and underrepresented communities including AHEDD, which serves the community as a catalyst in the employment and development of people with disabilities, and the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies (NJHSA). She also speaks on topics related to money management concepts and principles.

Dr. Connie Dewey is a retired educator and public school administrator. She taught secondary mathematics for sixteen years and served as middle school principal for eight years. She currently works as a College Supervisor for pre-service teachers at Wilson College in Chambersburg. She volunteers with Franklin County Special Olympics as the athlete leadership team mentor and coaches several sports. In addition she serves on her church’s pastoral council, food pantry team, and is a nursing home communion minister. She has extensive experience working to support students and athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Dr. Dewey lived most of her life in Missouri and Texas, then moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in 2016. She is a 1991 graduate of the University of Texas where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. Her education also includes a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Southwest Baptist University (1998), an Educational Specialist’s degree in School Administration from the University of Missouri (2008), and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University (2012).

Dr. Dewey and her husband, Dennis, are the proud parents of two daughters, Leanna and Emily, their son-in-law, Mark and their precious granddaughter, Sophie. Her life’s passion has been to support her family, especially Leanna who has an intellectual disability. She enjoys spending time with her husband and family, babysitting her granddaughter, exercising and reading.

Scott A. Rainey is a veteran of the U.S. Army having retired on July 31, 2013, as Lieutenant Colonel with over 26 years of service. His terminal Army assignment was serving as Director, Human Resources at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks. Mr. Rainey’s military service included a variety of command and staff assignments at military installations across the United States and around the world, including tours in Germany, Korea, and Iraq.

Upon retirement, Mr. Rainey was nominated to the State Civil Service Commission by Governor Tom Corbett and confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate on June 30, 2013. Governor Corbett appointed Commissioner Rainey to serve as Chairman of the Commission effective this date and he remained in this capacity until July 12, 2015.

Following his term with the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission, Mr. Rainey served nearly three years as Director, Total Force for Naval Supply Systems Command at NSA Mechanicsburg. Mr. Rainey served as a Corporate Faculty member at Harrisburg University for over three years, teaching graduate level courses in Organizational Leadership and Business Communications. In January 2019, Mr. Rainey became a full time Lecturer in Leadership and Communications at Harrisburg University.  In November 2019, Mr. Rainey was named as Program Lead of the Masters of Project Management program at Harrisburg University.

Mr. Rainey is a native of Troy, Alabama. He is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. His education also includes a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Webster University (1999) and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College (2009).

Mr. Rainey and his wife, Elaine are the proud parents of seven children, including twin daughters who have overcome significant physical disabilities and are successful young professionals.