Matt Bergheiser serves as President of University City District (UCD), a partnership of anchor institutions, business leaders and community groups that invests in the vitality of a 2.5 square mile area of Philadelphia. Since joining UCD in 2009, Matt has shaped collaborative efforts to: undertake $7 million in civic infrastructure and public space investments; launch the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, a nationally-acclaimed workforce intermediary that has generated over $75 million in wages for formerly long-term unemployed Philadelphians; create Project Rehab to renovate 120 formerly abandoned housing units, unlocking $21 million of real estate market value; start Green City Works, a profitable, full-service landscaping social venture that employs residents with barriers to employers to maintain more than 1.5 million square feet of green space; and double the organization’s operating and capital budget.

Previously, as Program Director for the Philadelphia regional office of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Matt managed a $6 million annual grant-making budget and directed major investments in public space projects and new approaches to college completion and economic opportunity. As Executive Director of the Trenton Downtown Association for five years, he led commercial revitalization efforts in Trenton, NJ. And Matt also served as Executive Vice President of The Enterprise Center, a nationally-recognized entrepreneurial accelerator in Philadelphia.

Matt is board chair of the Barra Foundation and chair emeritus of the Community College of Philadelphia, an associate degree-granting institution that serves 30,000 students annually. He is a co-founder of the Job Opportunity Investment Network, which has helped 1,800 Philadelphians obtain employment over a decade. He received a BA from Princeton University, and earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Adrian “A.J.” Adams is the Director of Partnerships and is responsible for developing and executing all workforce programming at the Navy Yard in addition to expanding The Skills Initiative’s regional impact within the Life Sciences, through business engagement and training efforts.

Before supporting PIDC, A.J. worked for the City of Philadelphia, Office of Workforce Development administering the City’s first-ever municipal-focused workforce development program, which was designed to create viable pathways to permanent employment for under/unemployed Philadelphians. With over ten years of experience supporting adult job seekers, employers, and designing training, A.J. is an enthusiastic workforce professional dedicated to designing programs to help Philadelphians connect to high-quality employment. When not working, A.J enjoys time with his family, being outdoors, and cycling.

Daniel Atik is the Career Specialist for The Skills Initiative. In this role, Daniel supports program alumni by connecting them with career opportunities that further their career development. Prior to joining The Skills Initiative, Daniel worked in workforce development as an Employment Specialist at The Welcoming Center where he helped connect immigrant professionals who were under/unemployed with employment that aligned with their professional backgrounds. As a workforce development professional, Daniel is committed to helping Philadelphians realize their full career potential by connecting them with high-quality employment. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Wesleyan University. In his free time, Daniel loves to read, play strategy games, watch horror movies, and spend time with family and friends.

As our Director of Economic Mobility, Patrick oversees UCD’s research agenda and data analysis, with a focus on our West Philadelphia Skills Initiative’s Good Jobs Challenge portfolio and the start-up of UCD’s research into residential affordability. Patrick previously worked on UCD’s initial business plan for our landscaping social venture Green City Works through a role with the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity and AmeriCorps VISTA. Before joining UCD, Patrick worked at Philadelphia Works, managing special projects and program oversight. Patrick holds a Bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University, an MBA from Marywood University, and a graduate certificate in Social Impact Strategy from The University of Pennsylvania. In his free time, he enjoys restoring his 1913 rowhome in Cobbs Creek, looking at old maps, long distance train trips, and advocating for historic preservation initiatives.

Morris Burns is the Manager for Applicant Experience at The Skills Initiative. With 10 years of experience in nonprofit management, Morris worked as a community builder, transitional manager, client conversion associate, and social services advocate prior to joining The Skills Initiative. He provides direct support to program applicants, guiding them through the application process, and identifying areas for improvement to make the process more efficient and equitable. Morris is currently pursuing a CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification to expand his knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, which will further drive applicant and organizational success. Morris enjoys spending time with family, outdoor fitness, and baking cakes.

Joe joined UCD in July 2024 and works as the Manager of Research & Analysis. He has a background in Urban Studies, holding a degree in Growth and Structure of Cities from Haverford College and prior experience in city government with the city of Cincinnati. Prior to joining UCD, Joe spent 3 years working for a custom market research company in Philadelphia. He enjoys telling insightful stories with data, and is passionate about improving the quality of life, business, and transportation in West Philadelphia, enriching the work UCD does with data. In his free time, he enjoys going on walks around the neighborhood, exploring the depths of Wikipedia, gardening, and playing video games.

Nick Edelman joined UCD in 2014 and was promoted to Vice President of Finance and Operations in 2022. In this role, Nick oversees the finance department, which handles all the accounting, budgeting, banking, and financial needs for University City District. He is also responsible for ensuring smooth day-to-day operations for all UCD employees across its three locations.

Prior to joining UCD, Nick worked as the General Manager at Pig Iron Theatre Company and the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training for six years. He graduated from Susquehanna University with a B.S. in Economics and dual minors in Theatre and Music-Vocal Performance. Nick lives in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia with his family and pets. He enjoys cooking, trying out new recipes, craft beer, playing fantasy sports, going to concerts, throwing darts, and seeing live theatre. As a diehard Philadelphia sports fan who grew up in the Lehigh Valley, Nick dreams of one day attending every Phillies home game in a season.

Brian English joined UCD in 2016 as the General Manager of Green City Works. Brian has worked in the landscaping industry for over 20 years. His experiences range from managing start-up and established design-build landscape firms to serving as Director of Property Management for a land trust. At the land trust, Brian was responsible for enacting environmentally focused initiatives on sites owned by the land trust, in addition to assisting regional land owners with productive and sustainable land management strategies. Brian has long been active in the promotion of native horticulture and urban greening and sees Philadelphia as the ideal place to express these interests. After spending time managing a company serving the New York City region, Brian recently returned home to the Philadelphia area, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Salimah Fields serves as UCD’s Finance and Administrative Coordinator. In this role, Salimah helps UCD’s finance department with various capacities including AP, AR, payroll, banking, IT, and purchasing. She also works closely with UCD’s leadership team to provide scheduling support for meetings and is UCD’s primary administrative liaison to the board of directors. Prior to joining UCD, Salimah spent time with the Police and Fire Federal Credit as a bank representative and with TruMark Financial Credit Union as a member service representative supervisor. Samilah grew up in University City and currently lives in West Philadelphia, where she enjoys reading, spending time with her children and family, and finding ways to help others.

Cait Garozzo has been a part of Philadelphia workforce development since 2010, serving as a case manager, curriculum developer, trainer, and program director for several organizations. Her experience and passion are in designing holistic and responsive programs aimed at preparing people for the modern workforce and building sustainable partnerships across organizations and individuals. Prior to joining UCD in 2017, Cait was the program director for Career Wardrobe where she oversaw the organization’s regional expansion. Cait holds a Bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a graduate certificate in Social Impact Strategy from The University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Cait most enjoys spending time in nature with her husband, two beautiful sons, and their family dog. She is always up for a good book recommendation and is slowly becoming a decent Times crossword solver.

Alan Garry heads University City’s Public Safety Ambassador and Public Space Maintenance program. He oversees the day-to-day deployments of safety ambassadors, acts as a liaison to the other major law enforcement agencies in the city, assists in the execution and safety of major events in University City, and leads our efforts around homelessness by partnering with Project Home and the Office of Homeless Services. In addition, he leads the Public Space Maintenance team that cleans and enhances more than 160 University City commercial and residential blocks and oversees our Small Business Services team, supporting business recruitment, retention, and growth in our commercial corridors. Alan attended Montgomery County Community College for Criminal Justice, and completed Notre Dame’s  Mendoza College of Business Executive Leadership program.

Nate joined UCD in 2012, and has served as the Director of Planning and Design since Summer 2015. Nate uses his urban design expertise and dedicated enthusiasm to further enhance urban quality of life issues throughout University City. Nate was instrumental in launching Green City Works, UCD’s new landscaping social venture, and serves as a quality and design consultant for all landscaping projects that the venture executes. Before UCD, Nate worked as a landscape architect/urban designer for two firms in Philadelphia, and from 2010-2015, he served as an adjunct professor of landscape architecture at Philadelphia University, heading the urban design and community design studios. Nate is also one of the founding members of Open Streets PHL and has served as the External Communications Director for the organization. Nate holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY.

Mimi is the Data Quality & Relationship Manager for The Skills Initiative, responsible for supporting the Good Jobs Challenge EDA Grant Team and the Recruitment Team, serving as the primary data manager, and providing Salesforce support. Mimi has over 20 years of recruitment and outreach experience throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Prior to WPSI, Mimi was recruitment manager with Year Up and Girl Scouts of Eastern PA. She also was part of the launch of the Community Resource Corps, an AmeriCorps Program, with the Mayor’s Office. When not working, Mimi is an avid runner, and spends her free time participating in local races. She also enjoys exploring local hiking trails and traveling with her family.

Erica serves as UCD’s Director of Human Resources. She has extensive experience in HR Program Management & Implementation, People Leading, Performance Management, Payroll, Benefits, Absence Management, Change Management, Training Facilitation & Curriculum Creation, and Employee Relations. Erica holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education, and an Undergraduate Degree in Business Management, Human Resources Management. Erica was the 2019 recipient of the ESGR/Army National Guard Patriot Award for her dedicated service to Military Employees. She is also a published author, proud mother of her daughter Kendall, and a life-long Philadelphian.

Kayla brings their data-driven approach and human-centered perspective to assist the recruitment team in providing a high-quality applicant experience.

Margaret joined the UCD team in April of 2014. She has been instrumental in organizing signature UCD events including the Dollar Stroll and Dining Days, serving as a direct liaison to local businesses and partner organizations, and overseeing programs including food trucks at The Porch at 30th, our University City MIX networking series, and much more. Prior to joining UCD, Margaret worked at Tyler Arboretum as the Special Events Manager. She loves to deploy her event-planning skills in a vibrant city-landscape.  A graduate from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in Management, Margaret enjoys cooking, running, and color-coding everything possible.

Chris Richman leads the marketing and communications efforts for University City District and The Skills Initiative. As the Director of Marketing and Communications, he oversees print and online publications, social media accounts, email communications, and video production, and writes or edits content for the UCD and Skills Initiative websites. Prior to joining UCD in 2014, Chris spent time writing jokes, acting in a dinner theater, working in children’s publishing, and at Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum. Chris holds a BA in English from Elizabethtown College and an MA in Writing from Rowan University. Chris is an avid reader, loves to travel and enjoy live music and theater, is a big supporter of Philadelphia’s sports teams and Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, and serves on the board for the Olde English Dart League of Philadelphia. He lives in Passyunk Square with his wife and two cats.

Alvin Rios is the Landscape Operations Manager at UCD/Green City Works. He joined UCD in 2022 with over twenty years of experience. Alvin considers himself a team player with a wide range of supervisorial experience, and he understands the importance of effective communication while exemplifying great leadership for his team. His experience ranges from landscape design to irrigation startups to building relationships with reputable brands including Urban Outfitters, and he has a vast knowledge in hardscaping and construction management. Alvin is responsible for continuing to develop and oversee the GCW field team in the landscape division. Alvin enjoys golf, swimming, salsa dancing, and discovering new restaurants. He lives in the Burholme section of the city with his family.

Rennia Rodney serves as the Manager of Partnerships for the Skills Initiative. Prior to joining the Skills Initiative, she managed employer relationships as the Coordinator of Talent Strategies at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. Her work included supporting employers in adopting inclusive talent practices and engaging in system-wide workforce development initiatives. In addition to her experience building employer-centered programming around apprenticeships, fair chance hiring, and youth employment, she designed and operationalized the Greater Philadelphia Talent Network, a deep referral system created to connect employers with talent providers throughout the region. She previously worked in unemployment services in her hometown of Tampa, Florida before moving to Philadelphia in 2021. Outside of work, Rennia can be found attending live shows, birdwatching at John Heinz, and baking ugly (albeit delicious) baked goods.

As University City District’s Vice President of Advancement, Morgan Rogers Burns crafts narratives to foster funder and stakeholder investments into the tremendous work her colleagues undertake in support of this neighborhood. In this capacity, she develops and maintains relationships with funders, local businesses, and individuals dedicated to ensuring University City’s ongoing vitality. She joined UCD in October 2017 as a Development Associate. Prior to that, she worked at the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), first as Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator and then as External Relations Manager. It was there that her passion for fundraising and development emerged. In those roles, Morgan took on the mission-critical tasks of growing volunteer infrastructure, developing relationships with partner organizations, expanding individual giving, and redesigning the donor database for the literacy nonprofit.

Morgan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and double minors in English and Jazz Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband, Morris, and their young daughter, driving to new places without GPS, and painting with light through photography.

Shawn lives on a steady diet of design, finding inspiration everywhere from the streets of Philadelphia to the aisles of the grocery store. He joined University City District as the Senior Designer in January 2015. Prior to working at UCD, he was Graphic Designer for World Cafe Live in University City. Shawn graduated from Millersville University with a BA in Design.

Aside from pushing pixels and crafting compositions, Shawn also enjoys traveling, bicycling, exploring Philadelphia, endlessly searching for rare records and black coffee.

Caitlyn Shauger is UCD’s Homeless Outreach Services Manager. She works within UCD’s District Services team to build personal relationships and provide innovative and compassionate solutions that address each individual’s needs. Her responsibilities as outreach program manager are to incorporate a compassionate, individualized, and research-driven approach to outreach and case management, in an effort to work against cyclical and situational constraints. Caitlyn graduated from Jefferson University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. For her senior thesis project, she spent a year researching and developing a restorative outreach facility called PHASEUP. This project ignited her passion for outreach, and she recognized her social responsibility to use her design knowledge to help under-supported communities. Caitlyn lives in Fishtown with her 2 roommates, 3 fish, and 2 cats. She likes to go out for breakfast and take care of her plants in her free time.

Maurie leads the Keystone LifeSci Collaborative’s ongoing efforts to coordinate with industry leaders and public and community partners to address ongoing shared business priorities and enhance regional competitiveness in the life sciences industry.

Born in Philadelphia, Ryan has a passion for its neighborhoods, its history and its real estate. Prior to joining UCD in 2010, Ryan was active in construction management. He used that experienced in 2007 to help start and now operate a real estate investment group known as the Spak Group. The Spak Group specializes in rehabilitating and maximizing the value of distressed and under-utilized properties. Ryan has a firm belief that no distressed property should ever remain in an inhabitable condition.

Ryan graduated from Temple University with a degree in Political Science and American Studies. Prior to his construction experience, Ryan worked as a Disc Jockey, a Clerk in Philadelphia Municipal Court, a Paralegal, and a Janitor. Ryan is known in the Janitorial world for his ability to stripping and waxing a floor!

Ryan loves being a resident of University City and loves even more being married to his wife, Jessica. When not engrossed in matters of brick, Ryan is a fanatical basketball enthusiast, bleeds “Flyers” orange, loves saving animals from a cold Philly night and is quite nuts over anything that is related to the decade of the 1980’s – especially movies and television shows!

Sarah Steltz is UCD’s Senior Vice President of Strategy. In this role, she helps shape, communicate, and advance the strategic growth of the organization, and the strategic positioning of the neighborhood as a powerhouse for economic dynamism and opportunity. Sarah previously worked for ten years in HR and workforce development at Drexel University before joining our staff as the Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative from 2018 through 2021. She departed in 2021 to take the position of Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department. From there she spent time as the Vice President, Economic Competitiveness for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia before rejoining UCD early in 2024. Sarah lives in South Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and way too many pets.

Lauren Talley is the Director of Operations for The Skills Initiative. Prior to joining The Skills Initiative team, Lauren worked to bolster Workforce Development initiatives for over 12 years in roles ranging from Team Lead, and Program Management to Director of Site-Based Programs. She has experience with strategic partnerships, grant management, site-based programming, social services, and employment services. Lauren holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from Penn State University. She is responsible for maintaining and growing our employer relationships, supporting targeted recruitment efforts, and lending her expertise to grow our impact within our employer partners’ organizations. Lauren enjoys good coffee, spending time with family, strength training, and watching her son play volleyball.

West Philadelphia native Romaine Thrower is the Senior Director of Programs for The Skills Initiative. Prior to joining the Skills Initiative team, Romaine served as a Senior Learning and Development Specialist at a Veteran-based organization. With over seven years of experience within major healthcare organizations, Romaine understands the importance of making connections and building strong relationships between employees and employers. Romaine holds a B.A degree in English and Philosophy from Millersville University, a Masters degree in Adult Education and Leadership (M.Ed.) from Strayer University, and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University.

Romaine is a lifelong learner and is passionate about finding new ways of learning to improve work performances and outcomes. Outside of work she loves to read, educate youth on the power of excellent credit, socialize with friends, and create memories with her husband and three children.

Giftie Umo is the Learning and Development Manager at The Skills Initiative, leveraging over 10 years of experience in workforce development. In her role, Giftie is responsible for implementing our signature cohort-based program, demonstrating a deep commitment to empowering individuals through skill enhancement.

Giftie is passionate about the professional development of young people, and her dedication extends beyond her role. She founded an organization in rural Nigeria providing economic opportunities for teenage girls and young women. Her grassroots initiative reflects her belief in the transformative power of education and skills training. Giftie brings a wealth of experience teaching students across all levels and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management at Eastern University.

A resident of Philadelphia, Giftie finds joy in various pursuits. From indulging in her passion for cooking to cheering for soccer games, dancing, and reading storybooks, Giftie embodies a multifaceted and dedicated professional with a profound impact on workforce development and community empowerment.

Berri Wilmoreserves as the Content Manager for both University City District and The Skills Initiative. In this role, she engages with residents of University City and beyond through social media and newsletters. She’s dedicated to addressing all your questions, comments, and concerns, whether they come through direct messages or the comments section. When she’s not busy crafting newsletters, you can find Berri at home experimenting with new recipes, pampering her cat, Sade, or enjoying a movie at The Bourse.

Hanchao Zhang serves as the resident Landscape Designer and Sales Representative for Green City Works (GCW). In this role, he uses his experience in landscape and urban design to create design schemes and connect with clients and GCW crew to ensure high quality and satisfactory outcomes for projects. He joined UCD in the summer of 2023 after spending six years in urban planning in design, most recently with Groundswell Design Group in Philadelphia. Hanchao was born in Shanghai, China, earned a 3-year degree in landscape architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, and now lives in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, where he enjoys ball games, movies, outdoor sports, and exploring local culture. He is passionate about landscape architecture and believes it bears the opportunity to solve many social and environmental issues.