Daniel T. Perkins

Founder, The Challenge Program, Inc.

Mr. Perkins served as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned as a Communications Officer, where he was responsible for long range, multi-channel and satellite communications. He was responsible for the management of equipment and staff to provide voice and digital communications support for the east-coast operational requirements. During his tenure, he also served as the Director of the Performance Counseling Center. In this position, he provided substance abuse counseling and training to Marines and their dependents.

As the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of MTS Technologies, Inc. (MTS), founded in 1991 by Mr. Perkins, he served as the senior executive responsible for all aspects of Firm’s business. In this capacity, he oversaw day-to-day operations and administrative management. He directed all marketing and business strategy development efforts.

In the two years prior to founding MTS, Mr. Perkins was employed by Dual & Associates as the Vice President of Administration and member of the Board of Directors. In this position, he managed all administrative functions for the Firm and in the absence of the President assumed responsibility for overall company management.

Mr. Perkins was Manager of Staffing with Booz•Allen & Hamilton, Inc. for thirteen years. He was responsible for the strategy development and coordination of efforts to hire staff to satisfy employment openings in the technology arena. He also recruited senior professionals who had responsibility for building new business thrusts.

Mr. Perkins is a 1974 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and has a Masters Degree from Pepperdine University.

Barbara A. Grandinetti

President, The Challenge Program, Inc.

As President of The Challenge Program, Inc., Barbara Grandinetti has spear-headed and expanded the Program’s outreach and recruited talented development and support personnel. Grandinetti opens doors to fundraising opportunities and develops lasting relationships with business partners, foundations and individual donors all with a single mindedness to spread the word about the program. She has a unique ability to discover and tap into people’s special talents needed to grow and expand the program. She is passionate about the program, just ask her!

Grandinetti was integral in creating The Challenge Program, Inc.’s now signature fundraising event – The Crystal Owl Gala held each spring. She helped businesses supporting high schools apply for Educational Improvement Tax Credits in Pennsylvania and the Neighborhood Investment Program in West Virginia. Through her efforts, The Challenge Program obtained their Non-Profit Organization 50l(c)(3) status of the Internal Revenue Code with contributions to the program being deductible under Section 170 of the Code.

Anthony L. Bucci, Co-Chairman

Chairman, 9Rooftops

Tony Bucci is Chairman of 9 Rooftops (formerly MARC USA), one of the nation’s largest privately-owned marketing communications agencies with more than 250 associates in nine offices across the US including MARCA Hispanic in Miami. 9 Rooftops is a member of Eastport Holdings LLC, and Tony serves on the Board of Eastport. He is also chairman of PennAlt Organics, a Pennsylvania medical marijuana grower and provider. He previously served on the board of publicly traded Allin Corporation.

Beginning his career at MARC USA as an assistant account executive, Tony moved steadily up the ranks and was named Chairman in 1997. Under his leadership, the agency grew from a Pittsburgh-based regional agency to its national position today. Throughout his career, he has guided marketing strategy for top USA brands. 

Always a pioneer and change agent, Tony developed the industry’s first client-centric, cross-disciplinary teams and authored the American Association of Advertising Agencies(4As) Management Guide on agency structure. He also served on the 4As National Board.

Widely recognized for his leadership and philanthropic efforts, Tony has won many honors for his contributions to his profession and the community. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. Other awards include the Junior Achievement Golden Achievement Award, the Pittsburgh Opera Maecenas Award and the Vectors Man of the Year Award in Communications.

Tony currently serves as the National Board Chair of Girls Inc., a national organization serving underprivileged young girls. He is Board Chair of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Challenge Program. Previously he chaired the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and was a member of the national board of KaBoom. 

He is also past Chairman of the Boards of United Way of SWPA, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theater, United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and past Vice-Chairman of the Board of Duquesne University, his alma mater, and past President of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO). Other past board service includes Junior Achievement of SWPA, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, Pittsburgh Hearing Speech and Deaf Services, and Three Rivers Center for Independent Living.

Dennis Zatlin

President, Allied Resources Group

Dennis Zatlin is a native of the Greater Pittsburgh area and the President of the Allied Resources Group, the Philadelphia-based parent company of four multi-disciplined firms throughout the US. The group came to be after making a series of acquisitions starting in 2003, established on the belief that businesses are people-based. His entrepreneurial spirit afforded him the ability to grow and scale those businesses based on the strong relationships he had formed throughout his career.

Dennis understands that investing in his employees, from the very beginning stages of their careers, is an investment in the company’s future growth. His philosophy is to create an environment that harbors creativity, strong work ethics, and drives success, rewarding those committed to that culture. Without a strong supporting staff, the health of the business would suffer.

Prior to going into business himself, Dennis spent 18 years as the Vice President of Operations for an engineering consulting firm. During those years, he forged lifelong relationships with both clientele and professionals that he and his businesses now serve.

Though his professional growth and success moved him across the state, the Robert Morris University Alum remains true to his Pittsburgh roots, gives back to the communities, and is a frequent visitor of the city. He currently resides in the Greater Philadelphia area and continues to give back to the local community. He is an active Board Member of the Great Valley Community Organization and has been involved with several charities including Bringing Hope Home.

Johnathan Garlow

CEO & President, Ford Office Technologies

Johnathan is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he majored in Architectural Engineering. The young executive had planned a career as an engineer and was employed in Pittsburgh when his father, John M. Garlow, founder and CEO of Ford Office Technologies, asked him to join the family business as President.

Johnathan believes in community growth and providing employment opportunities for other young professionals. He believes young people in our area need to know of the potential of staying local, not just for employment opportunities but for the quality of life. This is a great fit for The Challenge Program, Inc. which strives to keep young talent in their communities.

Johnathan M. Garlow received the Herman Buck Award on December 3, 2015 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Awarded annually by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the Herman Buck Award is presented to a young man or woman under the age of 45 who has given his or her time and energy to community service. This person exemplifies unselfish commitment to the community, as did the late Herman M. Buck.

Johnathan also serves on the board of other community service organizations such as the Westmoreland Fayette Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council.

Jennifer Howe

Board Member of  PJ Dick-Trumbull-Lindy Group

Jennifer H. Howe recently retired from her role as Corporate Human Resources and EEO Officer for P. J. Dick Inc., Trumbull Corporation, and Lindy Paving, Inc. and their affiliated companies.  These construction firms are headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and are owned by the Jane Burton and Cliff Rowe families.  Jennifer is a third-generation family member and has worked for the family businesses since 1998. She will remain a Board Member for their businesses during her retirement years.  PJ Dick, Trumbull Corporation, and Lindy Paving, Inc. are proud Challenge Program (TCP) sponsors of A. W. Beattie Career Center, Beaver County CTC, and Forbes Road CTC., which is how Jennifer became so familiar with the goals and impact of TCP and why she has a keen interest in promoting the TCP program. 

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State in Health Care Management and a master’s degree from St. Francis University in Human Resources Administration.  Prior to 1998, Jennifer worked in the fields of Worker’s Compensation claims management and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) management with Gateway Health Plan (a Highmark company) in Pittsburgh, PA and Columbus, OH. Jennifer is looking forward to drawing on her past work experiences to help her be an effective Board Member for The Challenge Program, Inc., which focuses so heavily on preparing our next generation of workers with their career goals, excellent workplace skills, and the initiative to succeed. 

Jennifer has been a long-time resident of the south hills area of Pittsburgh and plans to stay in the area during retirement.  Her family and grown children are all close by and Jennifer looks forward to being able to spend more quality time with family and to devote more time to charitable causes going forward.

Michele Lindemann

Executive Assistant, Incline Equity Partners

Michele is an “In-Service-to-Others” professional and is currently Executive Assistant to Jack Glover, Managing Partner of Incline Equity Partner and she serves as an Incline Equity Partners Foundation board member.

Michele previously spent time with US Airways, American Eagle Outfitters, and Huntington Bank in various capacities.

Michele enjoys facilitating connections personally and professionally and, with her extrovert personality, is in constant pursuit of developing her network and bringing people together to enrich lives.

Michele is a native Beaver Countian and currently resides in Beaver with her husband of fifteen years, George, and her 17-year-old daughter Sam. Michele and her family love the outdoors and travel as often as they can!

Deborah Cover

Human Resources Director, GapVax, Inc.

Deborah is the Human Resources Director at GapVax, Inc., where the world’s most advanced industrial vacuum equipment is built. Deborah has an earnest commitment to organizational development at the family-owned business. Her insurmountable level of respect for her parents and the team of employees, who have catalyzed the GapVax brand, has sparked a passion to develop an improved culture. The pandemic and fallout have created greater recruiting and retention challenges. The positive twist is that it has solidified the necessity to strengthen relationships between our educational leaders, business owners, and students to expose our future leaders to career opportunities in their communities. As a single parent to 18-year-old Olivia, she has a personal desire to get it right regarding motivating, guiding, and supporting future leaders. Deborah’s passion aligns with The Challenge Program, Inc.’s mission of motivating high school students to develop good habits in high schools while increasing awareness of job opportunities that exist in their communities.