Program Leadership

Northwestern Legal Services (NWLS), founded in 1969, is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing free legal representation and services to low income people with civil legal problems. NWLS is governed by a board of 31 members composed of attorneys appointed by local bar associations, client eligible individuals appointed by local agencies, and an at-large member. The program serves low income people in Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango and Warren Counties. NWLS maintains staffed offices in Bradford, Erie, Farrell, Franklin, Meadville, and Warren.

Board members volunteer their time and energy to make our program community based.  We want to publicly acknowledge the commitment of our board members and program staff in fulfilling the mission of  Northwestern Legal Services.

Officers

Thomas A. Tupitza, Esq., President
Alan Shaddinger, Esq., Law-Vice-President
Patricia Mickel, Lay-Vice-President
Connie M. Bush, Secretary
Matthew W. McCullough, Esq., Treasurer

Members

Jay Alberstadt, Esq.
Timothy Blatt, Esq.
Raymond H. Bogaty, Esq.
William H. Burwell, Esq.
David Cullen
Sarah Dickinson, Esq.
Frank Fogl, III, Esq.
John H. Foradora, Esq.
Barbara Gauslin
Dan Glassmire, Esq.
Thelma Grady
Karen Johnson, Esq.
Dortha Jones
Vivian LaCamera
Thomas Lent, Esq.
Dennis Luttenauer, Esq.
Ross McKeirnan, Esq.
Karen Montouri
Barbara Ochs, Esq.
Carrie Renner
Debbie Snowball
Brian Spaid, Esq.
Terry Toomey, Esq.
William H. White, III, Esq.

Administration

Robert A. Oakley, Executive Director

Vincent Brocki, Resource Developer
Kathleen Landis, Administrative Assistant
Kel McDonald, Fiscal Manager

Julia E. Bandecca, Attorney
David A. Baxter, Intake Attorney/Pro Bono Coordinator
Rena J. Fohr, Attorney
John T. Gandrud, Managing Attorney, Intake
Keith R. Kirsch, Managing Attorney, Warren
Jennifer Lancaster, Attorney
James A. Montero, Managing Paralegal, Erie
Ira J. Needleman, Attorney
Salvador A. Parco, Community Educator
Paul J. Troskosky, Managing Attorney, Bradford
Gwen Truesdell, Attorney
Mary Jane Weed, Paralegal
Judith Wilson, Attorney

Nancy Bach, Secretary
Mary Cook, Intake Screener
Karey J. K’Meyer, Secretary
Maria Lozano, Secretary
Melissa Mason, Secretary
Kelly S. Motley, Secretary
Consavela Nicholson, Secretary
Debra Place, Co-Director of Technology/Secretary
Caulene A. Sanford, Co-Director of Technology/Secretary
Toni Torrelli, Intake Screener