Jeremiah Dugan
President – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I am a Brookline native who decided to stay and raise my family in Pittsburgh and Brookline. After college my wife, Lori and I had the choice of where to live and work, we looked at Washington D.C., Florida, and North Carolina, just to name a few. But in the end Pittsburgh and Brookline had what we were looking for. Brookline's affordable housing, proximity to cultural and sporting amenities, easy drive to the airport, a walkable business district, great schools, and two neighborhood parks were too much to turn down.
Over the past eight years, I have taught history in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and have seen firsthand some of the great things that are happening in our schools and with our kids. Most recently, I have had the opportunity to teach American History at one of Pittsburgh’s great schools, South Book Middle School, which allows me to be closer to home for my two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah.
People
ask me why do I get involved in the community. I ask them why
aren’t they? I believe that too many communities in this country
have relied on someone else to fix or improve their
neighborhoods. And why they waited for things to improve no one
did anything. Brookline, like Pittsburgh has seen many changes
over the last thirty years and despite all of the obstacles that have
been placed in the way both continue to prosper. But, we can
not sit back, we must continue to move our neighbor, our city and
our region forward. We can always make it safer, cleaner,
greener, and a better place to live, work, or do business in.
Keith E. Knecht
Vice President – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I
am a Pittsburgh native who moved to Brookline in 1992 seeking
the value of the neighborhood, which was and remains
a "best bang for the buck" city location. After
moving here I met my wife, she moved her downtown design
/ illustration studio into the first floor apartment of our duplex,
which has become a spacious and beautiful
environment. For a creative couple of modest means, our
Brookline residence has provided a home with great 'bones'
(although it remains a work in progress) and a great workspace as
well.
Professionally I have been a project manger
for a Pittsburgh based real estate developer for 18
years, primarily in neighborhood shopping center retail
construction. This has afforded me an understanding of the
Pittsburgh retail market and the economic realities of retail
businesses. Earlier in my career I was a vocational teacher and I
am a 1984 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania.
My volunteer work stems from my belief in conservation and
that neighborhood and regional distinctiveness is worth
seeking, sustaining and adapting even though the tides of
change continually alter our world. What this means in terms
of Brookline is that in an era of big retail and
indistinguishable housing plans, there is still considerable
value and adaptive reuse for the imaginative business or resident.
All older neighborhood districts have multiple challenges by
virtue of the fact that the world has drastically
changed. However, these places can offer
something different and equally valuable today. People
will deliberately seek the individuality of one-of-a-kind businesses,
places and people if the experience is satisfying. Retail Goliaths
use size and uniformity as their formula, but the qualities
of small, unique and personal can be advantages
for businesses that know how to utilize them. I believe
Brookline to have this kind of positive potential, but residents must
have the pride, imagination and ethic to live and do business in a way
that captures it.
Mary Anne Miller Treasurer – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
In
1975 when my husband, Ted, and I moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh,
we rented in Greentree while we looked for a house to buy. We chose
Brookline for its convenient central location; its vibrant and active
business district and it access to public transportation
When our son was young we often walked the Boulevard. There was a large
variety of businesses. As I became aware of the decline the business
district I joined community groups geared to trying to maintain the
Boulevard. I was a Board Member of the Brookline Area Community
Council. In 1991, I became and still am President of the Brookline
Block Watch and am involved with the Zone Public Safety Council where I
have held several Board positions.
In l998 Annette Ferrieri, Bob Beiler, and I were cofounders of
Brookline Neighborhood Planning. We participated in a number of
community projects and in 2001 realized our interests were a match with
South Pittsburgh Development Corp. which had already gained 501c3 tax
status as a community organization. The two organizations merged and we
continue to work on revitalization and development for Brookline
Boulevard and the entire community. Currently I hold the office of
Treasurer.
During my involvement with the various organizations I have met a lot
of concerned, interesting and talented residents of our community. I am
proud of the work the organizations have done and continue to do. You
can also show your pride and commitment to our community by become
involved. You’ll meet and work with other Brookline residents who want
to keep Brookline a great place in which to live.
Join us today.
Amy Fisher
Corresponding Secretary – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I
was introduced to Brookline by my husband, whose mother grew up
here. We purchased a home here when we got married in 1997.
I earned my real estate license in 1999 and subsequently began to get
involved in the community. I joined the South Pittsburgh Development Corp. (SPDC) and the
Brookline Chamber of Commerce. I also attend Brookline Block
Watch and Brookline Area Community Council meetings when I can and I
participate in many community functions. I am currently Secretary
for both SPDC and the Chamber and I was the Book Project Manager for
SPDC to help produce our Brookline photo history book. I have a
wonderful husband and adorable 6 year old son and an 13 year old
beagle. I also actively participate in my church, in the
Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. Brookline is
still a special place, and I take it upon myself to help people see
that and want to purchase property here. I help people find their dream homes through Caldwell Banker Real Estate Services.
Jan Beiler
Board Member – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
The
1940’s brought many changes to our country, including war, peace and
birth. I was born early in the war years and raised in peace in
Pittsburgh, PA. After leaving for over 20 years to live in New Jersey, I
came home to live, work, and finally retire in the Brookline section of
our great city. My husband Bob and I opened a business in the 1970’s
and lived and profited off a successful but small part of the economic
structure of the city. The late 1980’s made us realize that we had to
give back to the city that paved the way for our success. We joined the
already formed Brookline Chamber of Commerce and helped found the South
Pittsburgh Development Corp. Being officers and board members of both
groups for over 15 years, we are proud of our contribution to the
betterment of our community.Retirement has allowed us to continue
volunteering and hopefully making Brookline a place to call home for
many years to come.:)
Maxine (Kribel) Kaminsky
Board Member – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I
was born and raised in Brookline and my parents founded Kribel’s Bakery
in Troy Hill, and then moved the business to Brookline in 1946 at the
location that we serve the community today. Kribel’s Bakery is among
the oldest family owned bakeries in Pittsburgh. My brother Jacob and I
have operated the bakery since 1974. My husband Richard and I have been
happily married since 1968. I have been involved with South Pittsburgh
Development Corp. since 2000. kribelsbakeryofpittsburgh.com
Robert L. Beiler
Board Member – South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I
am a retired HVAC contractor and Brookline resident since
1968. My wife Jan and I purchased our home in 1973. I am one of the
founders of South Pittsburgh Development Corporation, serving as its
first President. I have also been a longtime board member of the
Brookline Chamber of Commerce, and have served as its Vice-President as
well as the Chairman of the Brookline Memorial Trust, which oversees
the care and Maintenance of the Brookline Veterans Memorial Park
(locally called “the Cannon”). My contracting firm has sponsored a
Brookline little league team since 1981. One of my personal goals is to
retire in a community on “the upswing” rather than one of the opposite,
and I want to help that process by getting involved in community issues
towards that end.
Eileen Papale Board Member - South Pittsburgh Development Corporation
I
have lived in Brookline for 21 years, a transplant from the East End of
the city. The primary reason for moving to this community was housing
prices, which were about half of those in my former neighborhood. I
also have an aunt and a cousin who enjoy living in Brookline. Other
reasons included public transportation (a bus goes past my house),
sports for children, a pool, a good library, shopping and a safe
environment. Another bonus was a 15 minute commute to
downtown.
I originally became involved with
South Pittsburgh Development Corporation as a participant in the
Brookline History Book project. As an employee of Pittsburgh’s
Department of Public Works, I researched our ancient files and found
old pictures of various streets and homes in Brookline. At first,
I thought my involvement with SPDC would be limited to the book
project. However, I encountered some of the most dedicated, warm,
intelligent volunteers I have ever met, and accepted their invitation
to become a board member. I feel the board meetings are
productive and I enjoy the invitation to unwind at the Moonlight Café
after our monthly meeting.
I think newcomers
and potential homebuyers get their first impressions by how clean and
well kept an area is. Therefore, I have an interest in keeping
our streets free of litter and have adopted several streets and
recruited a few other volunteers to do the same. Gardening is also an
interest of mine and I look forward being involved in the planning and
planting of the Jacob / Whited Street Greenway that SPDC recently
acquired. This Fall I will have my Horticultural Certificate from
Phipps Garden Center and I own my own chainsaw!
My
other community volunteer work includes working with Scout Troup 6, and
serving on the board of the Brookline Breeze 5K race, but the community
involvement that I am most proud of is being part of an action group
organized by Fran Murray that fought to bring a middle school to the
area, keeping many families from leaving the city.
Professionally
I work for the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works as an
Engineering Technician. Some of my responsibilities include
right-of-way legislation and encroachments, sidewalk café permitting
(which I helped streamline) and working with records in the Survey
Division.
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