Speaker series highlights Westmoreland County's 'hidden treasures'

Shirley McMarlin, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—There are people who go about their work quietly, making positive differences in the community without getting much public recognition.

The Westmoreland Diversity Coalition intends to shine a light on some of those people, and their diverse backgrounds, through its new Hidden Treasures Speaker Series.

Maria LaVelle, CEO of Pheple Credit Union in Hempfield, will speak at the first installment, beginning with breakfast at 8 a.m. Dec. 14 in the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College in Unity.

"A lot of people do a lot of good things, but people don't acknowledge them — not deliberately, they just don't know who they are," said coalition co-founder Carlotta Paige. "They affect the people of the county in a good way, but they might be invisible except through their work.

"This is a way to recognize them," she said.

A Murrysville resident, LaVelle has served as CEO of the credit union since 2001. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Point Park University.

She has served as chairman of both the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation and the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, and is a member of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County board of advisers.

"Maria does important and wonderful service," Paige said. "She thinks about the work environment for her employees and she looks out for the membership. She's expanded the credit union in her more than 20 years there."

After breakfast, Paige said, attendees will hear a short talk from the featured speaker, covering both personal and professional topics. A question-and-answer session will follow.

"I'll be talking about the important parts of my background that make me who I am today, as a person of color, from a low-income family, as a single parent," LaVelle said. "I think my story is motivating to young girls. Your past doesn't determine your future — you determine your future."

LaVelle has two daughters and a grandson. She is the primary caregiver for her 81-year-old mother, who will accompany her to the breakfast event.

Hidden Treasures will continue monthly at least through June, Paige said.

Some of the upcoming speakers include David Droppa, associate professor of social work and social work program director at Seton Hill University; Dr. Marti Haykin, an artist and neurohospitalist with Excela Health who is active in social justice causes; and diversity coalition members Jim Galik and Jean Slusser. Slusser also is president of the PFLAG Greensburg chapter.

Fee for the Dec. 14 breakfast is $15. To register by Friday afternoon, visit wdcoalition.org.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .