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Spruce is managed by an all-volunteer group of rising stars in Philadelphia’s professional community, who are dedicated to leveraging their skills to build a promising future for local youth.
Click each board member’s photo to learn more about them.
Executive Committee
Michael Ticzon
President
Michael Ticzon
President
Occupation:
Corporate Social Responsibility
Interests:
Fashion, arts, baking, and mingling!
Affiliations:
Aim High - Aimee Girard Scholarship Fund, St. James School Young Friends
Nic Knepp
Vice President
Nic Knepp
Vice President
Occupation:
Sr. Project Manager
Interests:
Improv, riding my motorcycle, beer, being outdoors with my dogs
Will Clements
Treasurer
Will Clements
Treasurer
Occupation:
Corporate Strategy and Development
Interests:
My dog Reggie, road trips, skiing, lacrosse, non-fiction, The Grateful Dead, fantasy football
Libby Ellman
Secretary
Libby Ellman
Secretary
Occupation:
Legal Practice Management
Interests:
Reading, international travel, drinking iced coffee regardless of season
Affiliations:
Gesu School Junior Board
Communications Committee
Zara Waters
Chair
Zara Waters
Chair
Occupation:
Legal Marketing & Communications
Interests:
Spending time anywhere outdoors (preferably the beach), supporting the arts and education, reading and writing, and loving on my dog Sasha
Koa Kekuna
Vice Chair & Digital Lead
Koa Kekuna
Vice Chair & Digital Lead
Occupation:
Healthcare Technology
Interests:
Recreational volleyball, running with terrible form, optimizing my D&D character
Kiersten Taddeo
Committee Member
Kiersten Taddeo
Committee Member
Development Committee
Fabliha Salim
Chair
Fabliha Salim
Chair
Will Omohundro
Vice Chair
Will Omohundro
Vice Chair
Leone Jackson
Committee Member
Leone Jackson
Committee Member
Occupation:
Sr. Community & Citizenship Specialist
Meghan McDevitt
Committee Member
Meghan McDevitt
Committee Member
Occupation:
Healthcare Data Analytics
Interests:
Cooking, traveling, live music, Philly sports, embroidery, reading and trying new restaurants
Events Committee
Kenzie Weller
Chair
Kenzie Weller
Chair
Occupation:
Program Coordinator
Interests:
Paper crafts, puzzles, women's basketball, and cooking with my partner
Emily Hauser
Vice Chair
Emily Hauser
Vice Chair
Occupation:
Account and Client Relations Manager
Interests:
Reading, running (not fast), hanging with my friends, experiencing every restaurant in Philadelphia, heading down to South Jersey on the weekends in the summer!
Rafaela Brosnan
Committee Member
Rafaela Brosnan
Committee Member
Occupation:
Art Museum Collections Interpreter
Interests:
Visual arts, archaeology, exploring the city, puzzles and crosswords, and hanging out with my pets (two cats and a chinchilla!)
Julie Vartanian
Committee Member
Julie Vartanian
Committee Member
Grants Committee
Jocelyn Hirschey
Chair
Jocelyn Hirschey
Chair
Occupation:
Project Manager
Interests:
Working out, traveling, volunteering, reading and taking in all the great food that Philly has to offer
Arielle Panitch
Vice Chair
Arielle Panitch
Vice Chair
Occupation:
Strategy & Operations
Interests:
Pickleball, urban hikes around Philly, travel, cooking, shouting at Eagles games, loving on my large dog
Affiliations:
HIAS PA, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Philadelphia
Ross Beroff
Committee Member
Ross Beroff
Committee Member
Occupation:
Board Relations
Interests:
Aerial circus arts, my dogs, Little Free Libraries + the Philadelphia Free Libraries, matchmaking
Affiliations:
Philadelphia JCRC, JFNA, IPF Atid
Strategic Operations Committee
Amaya Howard
Chair
Amaya Howard
Chair
Occupation:
Philanthropy Consultant
Interests:
Concerts, music festivals, traveling, sports, and social outings
So Jung
Vice Chair
So Jung
Vice Chair
Occupation:
Strategic Planning Consultant
Interests:
Supporting nonprofits to achieve their mission, golfing with my partner, cuddling with my dogs, reading on planes, talking to my family at random times of the day, cleaning
Affiliations:
Advisory Board Member of A Book a Day in West Philadelphia
Brianna Westbrooks
Committee Member
Brianna Westbrooks
Committee Member
Occupation:
Policy Advisor
Interests:
Frequenting museums, traveling, and attending live sporting events and concerts
Affiliations:
Advisory Board Member--Young Professionals Council of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Board Member--Variety-the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley