Archives: Board Members

Tom Hipp

Chair

Tom is Director of Institutional Sales and Client Service for Nantucket Multi Managers, LLC, a boutique alternative investment firm based in Michigan.

Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Attalus Capital in Philadelphia, where he was Director of Institutional Sales and Client Service responsible for client service and marketing to public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations. Previously, he worked with The Haverford Trust Company and Oak Associates, LLC. Tom also serves on the Board of Trustees at the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia. Additionally, he is the Senior Warden at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania. He attended Denison University, where he graduated with a BA in Economics and met his wife Libby. They now live in Devon, Pennsylvania with their twins.

Rebecca H. Bradbeer

Vice Chair

A Board Member since 2004, Becky has proudly used her life experience as a woman with Cerebral Palsy to assist in the governance of HMS. She was a committee member during the 2007 Capital Campaign to renovate and expand Harris Hall, the student residence at HMS. Becky is also a Board Member of Art Reach and Citizen Advocacy of Chester County, and enjoys this work immensely.

Becky is passionate about the arts and culture both in her local community and the global community at large.

Nora Vizzachero

Secretary

Nora Vizzachero of Wyndmoor, PA, is the Lead Advanced Practice Nurse at the outpatient Women’s and Children’s Institute at Cooper University Hospital. Prior to that, Nora was a pediatric nurse practitioner in Cooper’s Division of Pediatric Neurology and Development, where she cared for patients living with disorders including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others.

Woodward W. Corkran, III

Treasurer

Skip has been a senior member of the Institutional Client Services group at Delaware Investments since 2012. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at BlackRock Investment Management from 2001 to 2011, where he most recently was a managing director in the global client group responsible for client service and marketing for public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations. Previously, he worked at Unisys where he was responsible for researching, implementing, and monitoring the investment strategy for its defined benefit pension plan and 401(k) plan portfolios. He began his career with SEI as team leader for high yield and municipal finance.

Skip attended Bucknell University, where he double-major in economics and political science. He earned his MBA in finance from Columbia University.

Steven Bachrach, M.D.

Steve is a general pediatrician, who is board-certified in neurodevelopmental disabilities, and he has spent his career working in both these areas. He began his career at the Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia where he was first the Director of Pediatrics and then the Medical Director. He then became the Chief of General Pediatrics and the Co-Director of the Cerebral Palsy program at the AI duPont Hospital for Children. In 1986 he first became involved with HMS, serving as the Associate Medical Director under Dr Milton Sarshik. After Dr Sarshik’s retirement in 1987, he became the Medical Director of HMS, and continued in that role until 2016, when he retired from clinical work. He is very excited to be able to continue his association with HMS by joining the board, and hopes to help the school continue to meet its mission.

Steve and his wife Pearl Elias have four children, and eleven grandchildren, and when not in Philadelphia, can usually be found visiting one or more of them.

Thomas P. Drake, M.D.

Tom is a specialist in pediatric rehabilitation. He has worked with people living with disabilities since he began his medical training in Philadelphia. He first came to the HMS School during a clinical rotation in his medical residency, and has remained dedicated to the organization ever since.

He contributes a clinical perspective to the board and often expresses enthusiasm for the uniqueness of this school. “I am truly impressed with what the staff at HMS does, and I feel there is not another school like it.”

Before becoming a doctor, Tom was an elementary school science teacher. When not practicing medicine or watching one of his three sons play sports, he can be found outdoors skiing, cycling or running.

Steve M. Highsmith

Steve Highsmith is Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Cabrini University. As a broadcast journalist, Steve served as morning news anchor and news director at WCAU Radio and news anchor of the NJN Nightly News before joining “Inquirer News Tonight” on WPHL-TV as chief political correspondent and anchor. He also served as NBC10 political correspondent and host of NBC10@Issue. Steve broadcasts the Mummers’ Parade and is Treasurer of the Mummers’ Museum Board of Directors. He is also a board member of CADEkids, which delivers prevention programs to school children in underserved areas of Philadelphia. Steve lives in Bucks County.

Peter A. Vogt

An attorney with his own practice, Peter advises clients on matters related to civil litigation and contract law. He has been a Board Member since 2005, continuing a tradition of family involvement with HMS School. His mother Lorine served on the Board for many years and co-chaired the Capital Campaign that began in 2006. The Vogt Center is named in honor of his mother and her generous efforts with the organization. Peter attended Princeton University and received his JD from the University of Texas. He has four children and lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Peter previously served as the Board’s Vice President and Secretary.

Gerald Kitzhoffer

An experienced educator with expertise in the field of blindness, visual impairment and multiple disabilities, Gerald Kitzhoffer is the former Executive Director and CEO of Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. Prior to that, he served as Chief School Administrator at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Jerry’s background also includes leadership positions with a national accrediting body for organizations serving persons with visual impairments. A resident of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, he has also held graduate-level faculty appointments in Special Education.

Marilyn B. Long

Marilyn Long is a process improvement professional with expertise in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. She is a continuous improvement black belt in the IT Organization at Air Products in Allentown, PA, and a previous owner of BrightStar Care of Lehigh Valley, a private duty homecare/medical staffing agency in Bethlehem, PA. Marylin is the mother of four grown children (one, a former HMS student) and lives in Center Valley, PA, with her husband, Jim.

Charles F. Pilkington

For 19 years, Charlie has worked as a Real Estate Professional focused on the management and operations of Commercial Office Buildings. At present, he is Property Manager for Brandywine Realty Trust, publicly traded REIT, BDN on the NYSE, and is responsible for the management and operations of 1900 Market Street, a 546,000 square-foot office building. Prior to his current position, Charlie co-managed a 22 office building portfolio in the Pennsylvania suburbs for Brandywine.

Charlie and his wife Katherine have three children, Sophie, Michael and Eliza. In his free time, he enjoys running and participating in a variety of sports.

Diane P. Talarek

For over 40 years, Diane has worked as a nurse, and now is the Chief Nursing Officer of Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Delaware. She provides guidance on nursing issues related to individuals with disabilities, as well as the parent perspective of a special needs adult.

Her connection with HMS School started when her daughter, Carla became a student in 1995. Carla spent five years at HMS where the staff helped Carla perfect her assistive technology usage so she might advocate for herself and others and live independently.

Board

Board Members

Tom Hipp

Rebecca H. Bradbeer

Nora Vizzachero

Woodward W. Corkran, III

Steven Bachrach, M.D.

Thomas P. Drake, M.D.

Steve M. Highsmith

Peter A. Vogt

Gerald Kitzhoffer

Marilyn B. Long

Charles F. Pilkington

Diane P. Talarek

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Tom Hipp

Rebecca H. Bradbeer

Nora Vizzachero

Woodward W. Corkran, III

Steven Bachrach, M.D.

Thomas P. Drake, M.D.

Steve M. Highsmith

Peter A. Vogt

Gerald Kitzhoffer

Marilyn B. Long

Charles F. Pilkington

Diane P. Talarek