Congratulations To This Year’s 10 New Leaders

Dame Leadership is happy to announce this year’s 10 New Leaders:

Benjamin Bostic, CPA

Boyer & Ritter

Benjamin Bostic leads Boyer & Ritter’s Chambersburg office. He is a CPA who provides tax and accounting services for closely held businesses in the Construction and Real Estate industries as well as for Small and Entrepreneurial Businesses. A 2021 graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area’s Community Leadership Series, Bostic serves on the board of the Downtown Carlisle Association and is a member of the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and the Construction Financial Management Association. He graduated from Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems.

Danielle L. Bowers

Democratic Executive Director of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Danielle identifies policy issues that directly impact Pennsylvania’s second largest industry, Tourism. Danielle is a 2009 cum laude graduate of Spelman College, where she received a B.A. in English.

Danielle was featured in the Spring 2019 edition of the Spelman Messenger, the official magazine of Spelman College. Danielle was featured alongside Stacey Abrams and other alumnae in 15 states and 30 cities across the nation and abroad. Danielle was named one of, “Spelman’s Political Warriors,” an influencer in advocacy, government, and public policy.

In 2012, Danielle received her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University. Danielle was appointed to Harrisburg City Council in October 2018. Danielle was elected to Harrisburg City Council to serve a four-year term in November 2019. She is the former Building and Housing Committee Chair. Danielle was elected by her peers to serve as President of Harrisburg City Council for the 2022-2023 term. She currently serves as the Administration Committee Chair.

Danielle is a member of Bethel AME Church, the Broad Street Market Alliance Board of Directors, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a former member of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg Junior Board, and the Diversity & Inclusion Professionals of Central Pennsylvania. Danielle formerly served as a member of the City of Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board. Danielle is a 2018 Council of State Governments and University of Pennsylvania Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy Fellow.

In her leisure, Danielle enjoys traveling, seasonal baking and live theater.

Danielle’s favorite quote is, “I hope the girl I was is proud of the woman I’ve become.”

Rick Dishong, CHC, CCHM

Project Executive, Wohlsen Construction Company

At Wohlsen Rick is responsible for Healthcare Construction project teams, specializing in working with healthcare organizations to ensure patient safety and successful completion of their projects; over 35 years of successful project delivery, motivating and challenging teammates to be their best and create raving fan clients for life.

Rick is a strong believer in continuous improvement. “To keep your balance, you must keep moving” – Albert Einstein. He believes life experiences give us the opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

Rick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Tennessee, is a Certified Healthcare Constructor and Certified Healthcare Construction Manager, and is a 22-year Veteran of the United States Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

Rick is an active board member of Leadership Harrisburg Area, ELS Graduate 2021, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Society for Healthcare Facility Engineers, the American Hospital Association, and the American Society of Healthcare Engineers.

Outside of work, Rick enjoys traveling and renovating his forever home. Rick is a resident of Harrisburg City with his wife Lisa, and two dogs Sadie & Freddie.

Merrick Green

Company Owner at MG4Tech

Merrick Green is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, currently residing in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  He received his BA from Louisiana State University in Political Science and his MS from Colorado Technical University in Information Technology Management.  He retired after 23 years in the US Air Force as an Air Battle Manager flying on AWACS and JSTARS and working various staff jobs and several deployments overseas. He is the owner of MG4Tech, a Project Management and IT Consulting Company.  Additionally, he has started a non-profit Technology 4 ME, to help children, veterans and elderly people navigate the new world of technology that we live in.  He is the President of the Theta Omicron Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. The President of the Sigma Investment Group, a graduate of the MLK Leadership Development Institute and a graduate of the John R. Lewis, Policital Action Comittee Bootcamp. He is married to Maya D. Green from Harrisburg PA, and they have one daughter, Marlee.

Carley Lucas

Relationship Manager at Members 1st FCU

Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Carley Lucas worked in media and marketing for almost 20 years working with both local and national brands. She’s extremely involved in supporting her community, volunteering for organizations such as: Dress for Success, LLS, MDA, MS Society, The Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg Young Professionals and the United Way. She is on the Board for the Northern Dauphin County Regional Chamber, an Ambassador for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, a Member of the Central PA Business Women’s Networking Group and on the Steering Committee for the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction program. She currently works for Members 1st Federal Credit Union as a Relationship Manager and is encouraged by finding and delivering financial solutions and education for all. Carley lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Kyle, son, Mack and dog, Bleu.

Lorien Reese Mahay

Executive Director, Theatre Harrisburg

Executive Director, Lorien Reese Mahay, brings over a decade of experience in performance, nonprofit and theater management, dramaturgy, education, and fund development. She came to Theatre Harrisburg after five years as Associate Director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science where she oversaw over 500 trainings for researchers across the globe using improv techniques, and led initiatives in curriculum development and strategic planning. She is credited for playing a central role in transforming the Alda Center into the nation’s leading science communication training organization. Ms. Mahay earned an MFA in Dramaturgy from Stony Brook University and has worked professionally as both an actor and stage manager. In addition to her work at the Alda Center, Lorien has served as Associate Director of Development at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York, and Program Director at the Watermill Center, Robert Wilson’s interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts. She currently lives in Camp Hill, PA with her husband, mother-in-law, and two rambunctious children, Cedric and Lyra.

Emily McConnell

Care Coordinator, FirstLight Home Care of the Capital Region

Joining FirstLight Home Care, Emily found an opportunity to follow her passion in caregiving. The opportunities that she has received at FirstLight allowed her to grow and develop her leadership while fulfilling her purpose to help others. Emily is responsible for day-to-day activities of clients and caregivers and for hands-on training for all staff members as well as compliance with state protocols and procedures.

Jeff Murphy

Director of Data Analytics at Dutch Valley Food Distributors

Jeff is responsible for leading a team that provides trustworthy analytical solutions to decision makers quickly. This involves overseeing analytics, reporting, data warehousing, and data management. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Master’s in Business Data Analytics, and is pursuing an additional degree in accounting. Outside of pursuing professional growth, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and spending time with family. Jeff lives near Hershey, PA with his wife Jennifer and two boys.

Austin Qualls

Rogue Sol Training

Austin T. Qualls is a dual certified personal trainer, certified Fitness Operative, and nutritionist. He is a Navy Veteran, Entrepreneur, Father, and husband, originally from Akron, OH, who now owns Rogue Sol Training, where he has developed a culture that trains with intention and compassion, unformed personnel. His clients range from Business executives and professionals using his expertise to help them find purpose through getting their reps.

Joshua Sennett

Location Leader for Upper Darby, APR Supply Co.

Joshua has been with APR Supply since June of 2017 after graduating from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Joshua is currently the location leader of the Upper Darby branch and the President of the Young Leaders.