SCCLT is run by an amazing set of volunteer board and committee members, and a small, dedicated staff. Learn more about who we are below:
STAFF VOLUNTEERS
STAFF VOLUNTEERS
Board of Directors
Vicki Fong (President) is a community volunteer who worked on affordable housing and community development initiatives through the State College Redevelopment Authority. A retired communications manager at Penn State, she and her husband Greg have lived in their home for nearly 30 years. They enjoy travel, music, art, and two shelter cats.
Suzanne Bruening is a graduate of State College Area High School and holds two degrees from Penn State. She works with autistic individuals in the community as well as teaches art at a local pre-K and kindergarten program. Recently, she has become a volunteer with the Friends and Farmers Coop. Suzanne became a Land Trust homeowner in 2012. Her interests include baking, gardening, and art making.
David Brown is a member of the State College Borough Council. He and his wife Laura have been borough residents for over 35 years, working in town and raising a family here. Brown retired from his clinical practice as a psychiatrist in 2014 and won election to the Borough Council in 2015.
Derek Canova: Derek grew up in Centre County and is a resident of the State College Borough. Derek has been a real estate agent with Kissinger Bigatel and Brower (KBB) for 16 years. He has served on various boards and committees such as the Centre County Affordable Housing Coalition (CCAHC) and the Centre County Housing Cabinet. Derek is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Centre County. Derek currently serves as a board member for the Centre County Farmland Trust and ACRES. In addition to working as a realtor and serving on many boards and committees, Derek is a ski and snowboard instructor at Tussey Mountain. Most importantly Derek is the proud father of an awesome 12-year old son!
Joe Cortazzo came to State College as a student in 1994 and earned two degrees from Penn State. Today, he is a leader in IT support at Penn State's Teaching and Learning with Technology office. Joe became a SCCLT homeowner in 2009 with his wife and two young daughters. Interests include fly fishing.
Polly Dunn is a public representative appointed by Borough Council. She has worked and volunteered with community organizations, including the State College Friends School and Global Connections. She and her husband, Jim ,have lived in their house for over 30 years and are still considered one of the newbies on the block.
Ron Filippelli served as a member and chair of the State College Borough Council for eight years. Today, he is a member and vice president of the Board of Trustees for the Schlow Centre Region Library. Ron is a retired faculty member and academic administrator in the College of the Liberal Arts.
Eric Haffner (Vice President) is a lifelong resident of State College, graduating from State High and Penn State. He currently is employed at Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU). Eric and his wife, Ester, met during his Peace Corps Service in the Philippines, and they became SCCLT homeowners in 2016. He enjoys gardening, bird watching, and history.
Jay Hummer (Treasurer) has over thirty years of experience in real estate lending. He currently is Commercial Bank Director, Senior Vice President at National Penn Bank in State College. Jay has served in various roles within the Centre County United Way. He is married to a fellow Penn State graduate, and they have a son and a daughter.
Michael Joyce (Secretary) has been a resident of State College since 2004 and a homeowner through the SCCLT since 2010. He enjoys gardening and working around his home. His real passion is traveling, especially to Germany to visit his sister Susan and her family.
Peter Kemper is a public representative appointed in 2020 by Borough Council. He and his wife, Laura, have lived happily in State College for 20 years, and their daughter and granddaughter live locally as well. Peter recently retired from his career in health policy research and analysis, which included a decade at Penn State.
Susan Venegoni (Past President) has been professionally and voluntarily involved in community service and advocacy since she moved here with her husband Dan, a State College native. She has fun with her two big dogs, house plants, and rides a Vespa.
SCCLT is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with open membership and a democratically elected board of trustees.
