Staff
Clemens Pietzner ~ President/Executive Director: In 2002, Clemens Pietzner, with a group of colleagues and board members, created the Triskeles Foundation dedicated to youth, philanthropic services and community building. In his role as president, Clemens is leading the development of Triskeles in all aspects ~ strategic planning, vision development, fund raising, personnel supervision, program development and all the administrative aspects of developing a new entity.
Prior to establishing the Triskeles Foundation, Clemens was the executive director (from 1984 to 2002) of the Camphill Foundation ~ a public foundation focused on serving communities caring for and supporting children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Clemens served in the state governments of New York and Ohio. Clemens has a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from Earlham College and other training in not for profit management, finance and development.
Mark D. Birdsall ~ Director of Youth Programs: Mark's recent professional experience (from 2001-2004) includes serving as the central administrator and faculty chair of the Kimberton Waldorf School ~ an independent pre-K through 12 school, where he developed a peer coaching program for staff, led the school through a period of major transition and change, and positioned the school in successful national conferences while revamping and improving school communication processes among teachers and parents. Prior to that (from 1992-2001), Mark served as a teacher, trainer, and curriculum specialist at the Urban Waldorf School serving 310 students in the inner city of Milwaukee. The school was the subject of several national articles on innovative education. Mark trained numerous teachers, established a university certified training program, rewrote and adapted curricula for the minority children, and created a series of programs for parent volunteer activities. From 1992 to 1993, Mark was centrally involved in the East/West Education Initiative, a cross-cultural teacher training program with Russia after the communist regime ended there.
Mark has a double Masters in Arts and Education ~ Russian Studies and Eastern European Area Studies along with teacher certifications.
Suzanne Barnes ~ Administrator: Suzanne has 25+ years of progressive office and administrative experience. Her training includes: accounting, income tax, Dale Carnegie, Dreamweaver and Microsoft Office courses. She also has expertise in events management, significant experience in a broad range of current computer programs, payroll, database, travel arrangements, personnel management, scheduling, purchasing and inventory maintenance. Prior to joining Triskeles, Suzanne served as the administrative assistant at the Camphill Foundation maintaining a significant database, managing gift processes, participating in board fundraising events, event planning and carrying out an extensive list of clerical and administrative tasks.
Her most proud and significant accomplishment however has been in the raising of her four children (now young adults) who are all actively engaged in various activities throughout their community. She has served (and continues to serve) many, many volunteered hours in numerous, leadership roles.
HOLLY SLATER ~ NYC Coordinator: Holly Slater’s most recent employment was at the British International School of New York. As the head of the music department, Holly was responsible for writing the music curriculum for this IB school, and she successfully built the department from the school’s inception through to the school’s fourth year. Prior to that, Holly was the director of public relations and marketing at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She has taught music at a number of community music schools, foster child programs, and private and public schools in the five NYC boroughs. Holly is a saxophone player who won the prestigious "Young Jazz Musician of the Year" award in England. She has performed at jazz venues worldwide and continues to perform and record. In 2009, she launched her own community music school in Maplewood, New Jersey called “Big House Music.”
Holly has a degree in Performing Arts from Middlesex University in England and has achieved various teaching levels of certification from American and international teaching conferences and workshops.
MICHELE GERACE, CPA ~ Bookkeeper: Michele’s experience in the manufacturing, financial and non-profit industries includes: general bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements, internal audit(s) and business lead for departmental system projects. While raising her children, she keeps her CPA license active and continues to work as an independent contractor providing accounting services (bookkeeping, financial statements, annual 990 tax returns, etc.) to a limited client base consisting of a few local not-for-profits and directing boards. Michele holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education from Shippensburg University with an added major in Accounting from Ursinus College.
She resides in the Kimberton area with her husband and two children where she has more recently “adopted” the hobby of renovating their 1739 farmhouse. Michele’s most endearing involvement is in the raising of her son and daughter and any activities in which they participate. In her “spare time,” she teaches gymnastics, coaches field hockey, knits, crochets, and gardens.
VISIT TRISKELES ON FACEBOOK!
