2024 SEMINAR SPEAKERS
Learn about our 2024 Seminar Speakers and how they have impacted their communities.
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Keynote Speaker
Peter Urscheler | Mayor, Phoenixville
Peter Urscheler currently serves as Mayor of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. In 2017, when he was first elected, he was the youngest Mayor in the Phoenixville Borough’s 170-year history. As Mayor, Urscheler oversees a 30-person police force which serves over 17,500 residents. As an elected official, Urscheler has worked to champion several causes including: affordable housing, increased services for senior citizens, public transportation, reducing the educational attainment gap for economically disadvantaged families, total equality protections, and environmental sustainability.
Originally from Tavares, Florida, Peter graduated from Stetson University in 2006. After graduation, he worked for 8 years at SEI, a major international financial services corporation based in greater Philadelphia, before starting his own boutique consulting firm, 235 Bridge, in 2014. Through 235 Bridge, Peter serves the unique needs of small businesses and municipalities, working with a variety of organizations on strategy, communications, marketing, and growth initiatives.
Peter resides in Phoenixville with his two dogs, Ian and Ina.
Panel Speakers
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Kendra Lee | Jeong Consulting
Kendra Lee is the founder of Jeong (pronounced “chung”) Consulting. Her work encompasses talent and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy, advising, program design, and facilitation. Prior to starting her own consulting practice, Kendra served as the Vice President of DE&I for The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also held two positions at Comcast – the Director of DE&I Learning and the Senior Director of Leadership Development. Before joining Comcast, she was a Diversity Business Partner for Facebook. Kendra began her career in education, first as a teacher and then leading talent and DE&I for K-12 education systems and nonprofits. Kendra has her Bachelor’s of Science from Syracuse University and her Master’s of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Though raised outside of Buffalo in New York, she calls Philadelphia home.
Michael Hast | University of Pennsylvania
Michael Hast is a HOBY alumni (1997), an Eagle Scout, and an avid outdoorsman. Mike attended Penn State University where he earned a Bachelor’s (2004), Master’s (2007), and PhD (2011) in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Hast is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. His research program focuses on fracture reconstruction, bone regeneration, and the interplay between mechanical and biological variables for enhanced healing. Mike is married with two boys, aged 6 and 9. Outside of work, Mike serves as a Packmaster for a local Cub Scout Pack and coaches youth soccer teams. He is a firm believer that “everything happens for a reason.”
Guest Speakers
Liz Sutton
Liz has nearly 20 years’ experience creating programs and experiences where folks have the space to grow and thrive. She just celebrated one year at Heights Philadelphia, a comprehensive non-profit working for social and economic mobility for Philly’s Black and Brown, first generation to college, and low income students. As Associate Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement, she uses what she learned from HOBY and MAPP about relationships, belonging, and mattering to create connected and supportive communities. In addition to her full-time work, Liz teaches yoga and serves as a trainer for the Penn Resilience Program.
In 2022-23, Liz spent a year away from full-time work to recharge, reflect, and figure out her next adventure. (To read more, check out https://lifewithlizsutton.com/blog/.) Before her big break, she served as Director of Advising in the Wharton Undergraduate Division at the University of Pennsylvania. As a volunteer, she chaired the 2021 Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) World Leadership Congress which brought together over 350 high schoolers and volunteers from around the world for a week of connection, education, and growth.
A 2019 MAPP graduate, her capstone focused on perfectionism and meaning for college undergraduates. Liz is particularly interested in our culture of urgency and how it impacts attention and ability to shape our experiences. Liz also holds a masters in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelors in comparative religion from Tufts University. In her spare time, she fangirls over the US Women's Soccer Team, sneaks back on stage for a musical, snuggles her tuxedo cat Minnie, and enjoys all that Philly has to offer with her husband Dixon.
Cy Serrano
Cy Serrano, is the 2024 WLC Incoming Chair. He is a 2003 California-Central HOBY alum and has been volunteering with HOBY at both the local level and WLC in various roles for 20 years. Cy is currently the Vice President of Product at Significo, a healthcare technology company based in Austin TX. He is an empathetic and enthusiastic leader who is passionate about developing youth leaders to be agents for positive change in their communities.
Originally from Tavares, Florida, Peter graduated from Stetson University in 2006. After graduation, he worked for 8 years at SEI, a major international financial services corporation based in greater Philadelphia, before starting his own boutique consulting firm, 235 Bridge, in 2014. Through 235 Bridge, Peter serves the unique needs of small businesses and municipalities, working with a variety of organizations on strategy, communications, marketing, and growth initiatives.