Bonnie J. Mountz
Manager of Finance and Administration
Bonnie J. Mountz is manager of finance and administration for the PA SILC. She joined the SILC as Administrative Assistant and was quickly promoted to Office Manager before taking on her current position. After 24 years in private industry, Mountz brings extensive management skills in logistics and offices processes that are vital in developing a dynamic internal structure to support the Board of Directors and staff as they implement the mission of the SILC. Mountz was the staff liaison responsible for the extremely successful 2006 Independent Living Conference.
Mountz is the mother of a son with a disability..
Kevin Hensil
Director of Communications
Kevin Hensil is Director of Communications. Joining the PA SILC in October 2006, he brings an extensive experience in public relations, marketing, legislative affairs, and journalism.
As a person with a disability, Hensil is passionate about increasing visibility of the independent living philosophy and the activities of the PA SILC. Previously, Hensil was a Senior Account Executive with Vox Medica Public Relations Group in Philadelphia, Media Project Manager with Pennsylvanian House of Representatives, and News Producer with WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA and WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA. He is the recipient of a 1999 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award and 2000 Associated Press Award.
Kevin and his wife were married in 2005.
Amy Selders
Director of Community Building
Amy Selders is the Director of Community Building for PA SILC.
As a person with a disability, Selders is passionate about civil rights, organizing and systems change. A strong proponent in the collective power, Selders has been involved in the Disability Rights Movement in many capacities for 17 years.
Selders is an expert in cultivating new leadership among youth within the disability community. As the Youth Leadership Trainer for Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, she wrote the first Youth Leadership Facilitator ' s Guide that was distributed to over 500 Centers for Independent
Living across the country. Additionally, she trained more than 120 youth in leadership development and organizing. She also developed a Youth Peer Mentoring Training Program and the Disability Awareness Curriculum for Chicago Public Schools.
Jeff Iseman
Public Policy Analyst
Jeff Iseman is the Public Policy Analyst for the PA SILC. He specializes in Housing and Home & Community Based Services (HCBS). Jeff joined the PA SILC in October 2007, bringing experience in public policy, government, direct supports, housing and political campaigns.
Iseman relocated to Central PA in January 2006. Prior to joining the PA SILC, Iseman has worked with The Arc of PA, Congresswoman Melissa Hart’s District Office, spent over 10 years as a Direct Supports Professional in the MH/MR systems, worked for and with housing organizations along with various political campaigns. Jeff has been involved with local community organizations and the faith community.
In the recent legislative sessions, Iseman was instrumental in getting HB 1813 (MH/MR COLA legislation) passed in the Pa. Legislature in 2006 that helped disability advocates get a 3% COLA in the 2007-08 PA budget. Other efforts that were important included getting funding for remaining 16 counties in the PWD Shared Ride Program in 2007 (included in Act 44 of 2007) and passage of Act 169 of 2006 that related to Advanced Directives / End of Life Care legislation that supported the rights for people with disabilities.
Melissa Simmons
Public Policy Analyst
Melissa DiSanto Simmons joined the PA SILC in January 2008. She brings an extensive background in both government affairs and public health and welfare issues. After working in legislative affairs in the Department of Health during Governor Ridge’s administration and a stint with the Pennsylvania Dental Association, Melissa was the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA) for over six years. In 2007, Melissa and the committee and grassroots network she created at PCPA, won the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s national award for Grassroots Advocacy;
Melissa considers this one of the highest honors she has received. During her career, Melissa has worked on such items as improved nursing home safety, access to care, and proper funding for and availability of community services in the fields of mental health, mental retardation, and drug and alcohol treatment. She has done extensive work on various pieces of legislation and state budget initiatives relative to these issues. Melissa is honored and excited to bring her expertise to the PA SILC!
Marcia Hirsh
Administrative Coordinator
Marcia Hirsh is the administrative coordinator with PA SILC. She is often the first to interact withour community partners and is passionate about equality and opportunity.
Ms. Hirsh has spent her career working in office settings and is utilizing that experience in logistics and customer service to coordinate and support the activities of the PA SILC. Hirsh is from New York and has moved to Pennsylvania to join her daughter's family, Jack the dog and the PA SILC.
