Leadership
Staff
Carol Shrieve, Executive Director
Carol Shrieve is the Executive Director of the historic Carnegie of Homestead, overseeing the library, athletic club and music hall located in Munhall, Pennsylvania. A lifelong resident of the Mon Valley, Carol has had 20 years of marketing and manufacturing management experience before transitioning into the nonprofit sector.
Serving on the Board of Trustees for the Carnegie for a couple years lead her to fulfilling an aspiration to better sustain and expand services that meet the needs of the community families she grew up with. Besides “shaking the tin cup 24/7,” she is also a member of the American Library Association (ALA), Americans for the Arts, National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA), Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, and the Mon Yough Chamber of Commerce. She was newly appointed to the Jefferson Collaborative Vision Council, serving the South Hills / Mon Valley region of Pittsburgh. Carol actively partners with Mon Valley municipalities, local, regional and federal legislators, businesses, and foundations to ensure the Carnegie plays a vital role in local economic, educational and social sustainability and growth.
Carol attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Penn State University, holds a degree in communications, and business management / leadership certifications. She served on the board of advisors for curriculum development for the former International Design and Technology Academy, and portfolio advisor to graduates for the former Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
In addition to her exhausting — yet exhilarating career, Carol enjoys traveling with her family to explore the many beaches along the east coast.
Chari Lyons, Library Director
Chari Lyons has been a librarian for over 25 years. She has been a school librarian, academic librarian, district consultant, and children and youth coordinator in 4 states. She loves to read and do crafts in her spare time. Chari is married with 2 children.
Dan Killinger, Athletic Club Director
Board of Directors
If you wish to contact any member of the Board of Directors at the Carnegie of Homestead, please email them at Board-of-Directors@carnegieofhomestead.org We will forward it to the relevant parties for further action. Please note that due to a high volume of requests, our response time may be longer than usual. If you are looking for specific information, we recommend checking our website and social media pages, which may have the answers you are looking for.
Lenny Chan, President
Lenny Chan joined the Carnegie of Homestead Board of Directors in January 2018 and currently serves as the President. He previously served the CoH as Vice President and chairs the Organizational Development committee. Lenny previously served on the boards of the Baldwin Borough Public Library and CONTACT Pittsburgh. He values the rich history of the Carnegie of Homestead and its esteemed reputation as a frontrunner in offering top-tier events and educational initiatives for the region. Lenny is employed by the Division of Student Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University where he has served in a variety of roles since 2005. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Slippery Rock University. Lenny enjoys reading, history, exploring Pittsburgh and sampling local restaurants.
Mark Balistrieri, Vice-president
Mark is a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Pittsburgh State and Local tax practice. He has 28 years of experience in managing state and local tax audits for public and privately held clients. Mark came to the firm from the PA Department of Revenue, where he managed the Audit staff in the Southwestern PA region. Prior to that Mark was a Manager with Arthur Andersen LLP in their SALT practice. Mark is a graduate of Penn State University and Bishop Boyle High School in Homestead, PA. Member of PICPA PA State Tax Committee. In addition, Mark is a former member of Marcellus Shale Coalition Tax and Fee Committee, former member of the PA Independent Oil and Gas Association, and the Board President for the Pittsburgh Italian Scholarship Fund.
Mike Pearce, Treasurer
Mike Pearce serves at the treasurer for the Board of Directors of the Carnegie of Homestead. He is a relationship Manager VP in Corporate banking at F.N.B Corporation with expertise in banking, credit, and mergers with demonstrated success in helping clients achieve and sustain their financial goals. Mike holds an MBA from Robert Morris University and attended Steel Valley Senior High School.
Teri Deal, Secretary
Teri Deal has served on the Board of Directors since 2017. Teri has a passion for improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of public services and currently works as a Principal Court Management Consultant with the National Center for State. Teri is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia and recently earned her Ph.D. in Community Engagement at Point Park University. Teri lives in Jefferson Hills with her husband, Mike, sons (Benji and Charlie), and Gus, their golden retriever.
Jeffrey Brahan
Jeffrey Brahan is a lawyer at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC where he specializes in construction law and commercial litigation. He is a graduate University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Jeff joined the Board of Directors for the Carnegie of Homestead in 2019.
Michele Charmello-Scanlan
Michele Charmello-Scanlan joined the Carnegie of Homestead Board of Directors in
2024. Michele has led non-profit organizations in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania for over
20 years. Her experience and expertise include grant writing and management,
strategic planning and event planning. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Maple Unified Student Academy (MUSA), a non-profit organization providing high quality education, out of school time and summer programing for children in the Mon Valley and Steel Valley School District. She is a former elected official serving as Third Ward Councilwoman, Council Vice President and Council President for the Township of Woodbridge, New Jersy where she served on the township audit committee, redevelopment agency and chaired the Avenel and Port Reading Community Day planning committees. Along with serving the people of her ward, she advanced many arts and education initiatives to benefit the community. As an educator, Michele has classroom, consulting and adjunct instructor experience. She holds a BS in Education from Lock Haven University, MA in Special Education from New Jersey City University and a post graduate certification in Leadership and Supervisory Studies from Cornell University. Michele is an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Lock Haven University Alumni Board of Directors.
Amy Evancho
Amy Evancho is the President of Cardinal Human Capital LLC specializing in workforce development and human resource strategies. She is the former President and CEO of the Florida Economic Development Council, a statewide economic development organization with 500+ members. Ms. Evancho specializes in budgeting, finance, government relations, including serving on Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Transition Team in 2010, working with the Governors’ office, House and Senate to further the economic development goals for the state of Florida. Her other experience includes eight years of not-for-profit management, and fundraising. Ms. Evancho is a member of Enterprise Florida’s Stakeholder Council; State Liaison/Member of the International Economic Development Council and Southern Economic Development Council; Member of the Florida Chamber Foundation Six Pillars Caucus. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Public Relations from the University of Pittsburgh; Lastly and most important to the Carnegie of Homestead, Ms. Evancho is an inductee of the Greater Steel Valley Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, 2012.
Tim Hindes
Tim is a visionary leader at the intersection of creativity, community, and social impact. As the CEO of TrailBlaze Creative, he leads a dedicated team in delivering marketing and creative capacity solutions to mission-driven organizations across North America who share a passion for community-building. He’s worked for more than 20 years across economic development think tanks, government affairs firms, national and regional nonprofits, and startup tech companies building expertise that is rooted in his blue-collar Pittsburgh roots and his commitment to advancing messages through creativity and community-building. This ethos was evident in Tim’s creation of the viral Stronger Than Hate symbol following the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that unified audiences across the globe. Recognized for his ability to strengthen communities in times of disruption, Tim has recently led impactful campaigns following disruptions in East Palestine, Ohio, and Memphis, Tennessee. With a foundation as an nationally-recognized Eagle Scout and a liberal arts graduate from Allegheny College, Tim leads with a passion for leveraging creativity for social good, committed to driving positive change and fostering inclusive, engaged communities.
Joseph Leonello
Joe Leonello grew up in West Homestead and now maintains his business in the area for the past 20 years. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1992) and his a proud graduate of Central Catholic High School (1987). Joe is currently a partner in Franjo Construction where he serves as President.
Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson
Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson is a dedicated community advocate with a diverse background in public service, education, and nonprofit leadership. As a former elected official in Wilkinsburg, she spearheaded initiatives such as merging fire departments, creating youth employment programs, and revitalizing parks. Passionate about education, she founded a STEM-focused nonprofit, boosting math skills by 52% through innovative programs.
With a BA in Policy Studies, MBA from Chatham University, and a Masters of Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Vanessa has excelled in higher education and received recognition for leadership. In her former role as Borough Manager in Homestead, she prioritized employee well-being and community engagement, fostering transparency through initiatives like the Homestead Roundtable. An active volunteer, Vanessa serves on multiple boards, including the Carnegie Library of Homestead, the Wilkinsburg Planning Commission, and the Wilkinsburg Land Bank. Additionally, she currently works for Olympus Energy as the Government Affairs Advisor, where she continues to advocate for the best interest of the communities within Olympus Energy’s footprint in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Dr. Brittany McDonald
Dr. Brittany McDonald is a client and employee experience professional from Pittsburgh with expertise in employee engagement and a passion for volunteerism, stewardship, and CSR. In addition to a PhD in Community Engagement, Brittany also received an MBA in International Business from Point Park University and a Bachelors of Science in Natural Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh.
Her research focused on the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Millennial employee engagement. As a Net Impact Tech for Good Fellow she created a mobile app to simplify charitable giving to Pittsburgh non-profit organizations, and founded the Net Impact graduate chapter for Point Park University. Brittany also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of La Escuelita Arcoiris, a Spanish immersion early learning organization. She joined the Carnegie of Homestead board in January 2018.