What does it mean to lead an organization that once shaped your own life, and how do you carry that responsibility forward?

In this Professional Development Series session, Jose R. Lopez, CEO of the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA), shares a story rooted in Lancaster city. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Lancaster, Jose's family was welcomed by SACA when they relocated here in the 1970s. After a career in banking, finance, and commercial real estate, he returned to SACA in 2020 and became CEO in 2023, succeeding founder Carlos Graupera. Today he leads a growing organization working to ensure that every person in Lancaster's diverse community has access to the programs and opportunities that can transform their lives.

This conversation covers what it means to lead with your community at the center, how careers built on service create lasting impact, and what young people can take from a story that came full circle.

What does it mean to build a career around the belief that young people are the ones who change the world?

In this Professional Development Series session, Andy Rich, the 17th President of Franklin & Marshall College, shares what has driven him across a career spanning national foundations, higher education leadership, and public service. From his time leading the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and the Roosevelt Institute to transforming the Colin Powell School at CCNY — growing it by 40 percent and raising over $85 million for students — Andy has consistently bet on the power of education and the people inside it. A Truman Scholar and Yale doctorate in political science, he brings both lived experience and deep conviction to the question of what higher education is really for.

This conversation covers what it means to lead with purpose, why the liberal arts matter in today's world, and how scholars can begin owning their influence right now.

What does it look like to build a career around preserving stories — and why does it matter more than ever?

In this Professional Development Series session, Robin Sarratt, President and CEO of LancasterHistory, shares what nearly two decades in the museum field have taught her about leadership, community, and the power of history to connect us. From her early work at the Winterthur Museum to leading the opening of the Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy in 2026, Robin has built her career on the belief that history belongs to everyone — and that making it accessible is a form of service.

This conversation explores what it means to lead a mission-driven organization, how community voice shapes the work, and how young people can find purpose in careers that preserve and share what matters most.

What does it take to lead one of the most demanding institutions in your community — and do it with compassion, trust, and consistency?

In this Professional Development Series session, Cheryl Steberger, Warden of Lancaster County Prison, shares a career built entirely on showing up. She started as a Correctional Officer in 1995, earned every promotion through hard work and integrity, and became the first woman in Lancaster County history to be appointed Warden when she took the role in 2016. Under her leadership, the prison has prioritized reentry programming, staff trust, and a culture of transparency — guided by a simple but powerful philosophy: treat others how you want to be treated.

This conversation explores what it means to rise through the ranks, how to lead with both accountability and care, and what any young person entering a demanding field needs to know.

What does it mean to lead with purpose — not from pressure, but from a deep, grounded sense of who you are?

In this Professional Development Series session, Dr. Amber Sessoms, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Natural Inclination LLC, explores what authentic leadership looks like in practice. A cultural strategist, nationally certified school psychologist, and the first person of color to receive the Pennsylvania School Psychologist of the Year Award, Dr. Sessoms has spent over 20 years helping individuals and organizations move beyond burnout toward cultures built on dignity, belonging, and inner wisdom.

This conversation covers how to lead with authenticity, how to examine and rewrite the narratives shaping your work, and how to build environments where people can truly thrive.

What does it look like to spend a career fighting for something that matters — and how do you lead an organization with both purpose and impact?

In this Professional Development Series session, Dana Hanchin, President and CEO of HDC MidAtlantic, shares what 25 years in affordable housing has taught her about leadership, equity, and community. HDC MidAtlantic works to build hope and opportunity for lower-income residents by creating and preserving affordable housing communities across the region — and Dana leads that mission with a conviction that housing is a human right.

This conversation explores what mission-driven leadership really requires, how affordable housing connects to broader issues of equity and opportunity, and how young professionals can build careers rooted in service and justice.

What does it look like to build a system where students graduate genuinely prepared for the careers and challenges ahead?

In this Professional Development Series session, Dr. Lauren Miller, Executive Director of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, shares how she has spent her career connecting education and opportunity. From teaching middle and high school science to serving as a school administrator, curriculum leader, and now the head of one of Lancaster County's leading STEM initiatives, Lauren has always focused on the same thing: making sure students have real pathways forward. She holds a M.S. in Geology and Astronomy from West Chester University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change from Drexel University.

This conversation covers how education and industry can work together, what workforce readiness really means for students today, and how young people can start building toward their futures right now.

What does a lifetime of service teach you about leadership?

In this powerful Professional Development Series session, Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission, shares lessons learned from more than 30 years of serving Lancaster’s most vulnerable neighbors.

From his earliest days living alongside mission guests to leading one of the region’s most impactful nonprofit organizations, Jack has dedicated his career to helping people find hope, stability, and restoration. He reflects on the realities of homelessness and poverty, the importance of relationship-centered leadership, and why lasting change requires more than simply meeting immediate needs.

This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in leadership, service, nonprofit work, and building stronger communities.

What does it look like to build a career at the intersection of law, culture, and justice — and use it to change systems from the inside?

In this Professional Development Series session, andré douglas pond cummings, Dean and Professor of Law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, shares a career that has spanned federal judicial clerkships, Big Law, professional sports representation, entertainment law, and some of the most innovative legal scholarship in the country. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, dean cummings has authored three books, published in the nation's most prestigious law reviews, co-founded a Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform, and taught courses connecting hip hop, corporate justice, and constitutional law.

This conversation explores what it means to pursue a career rooted in purpose, how law and culture are more connected than most people realize, and what young people need to know about navigating — and reshaping — the systems around them.

What does it take to build something from scratch — and lead it into something the world comes to?

In this Professional Development Series session, Andrea Shirk, President and CEO of Rock Global, shares the story behind Rock Lititz: how she joined as its first and only employee in 2013, and how she helped grow it into a premier live event destination where global touring acts come to design, rehearse, and launch their productions. With a background in mechanical engineering and leadership experience at Lockheed Martin and Bose, Andrea brought a rare combination of technical depth and people-first leadership to one of the most creative industries in the world.

This conversation covers what it means to build a culture of care, how to grow as a leader in unexpected industries, and what young professionals can take from a career built on curiosity and adaptability.