Maggie Johnson Richardson
President & CEO
Maggie’s accomplishments include receiving the 2006 ADDY Award from the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation and a Woman of Excellence Award from the New Pittsburgh Courier. She has served as a visiting professor at Point Park University’s Sport, Arts & Entertainment Management program and volunteers with the Performing Arts Academy of the Urban Impact Foundation.Maggie earned a Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree from Millikin University.
Daniel Jackson
Data & IT Strategist
PACE sees being data-informed as a vital and necessary component to eliminating the inequities that many people face, having inclusion being a standard practice, and embracing diversity. Dan will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the technology strategies that PACE uses to service the nonprofits and their associated communities within the region. Dan earned a Bachelor of Computer Science from Penn State University, and enjoys traveling, watching sports, and learning about the world.
Sharon L. Jefferson
PROGRAM MANAGER
Sharon L. Jefferson brings to PACE nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector that has broadly centered on strengthening community-based organizations across a variety of industries including housing, workforce & youth development, and education. In her role as Program Manager, she guides organizations through focused efforts at strategic planning and plan implementation as a component of PACE’s diverse programming around capacity building. As a former manager at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania she was responsible for building consensus among diverse stakeholders, developing and implementing community-based initiatives and assessing and enhancing the effectiveness of health and human service delivery to targeted populations. She has also served as a Peer Monitor for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, assisting in the process of review, assessment and oversight of area school district’s and charter school’s delivery of special education programs and services. More recently Sharon earned a certificate in Community Mediation, expanding her skillset to serve organizations, communities and individuals in need. Sharon attended the University of Pittsburgh earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Spanish, a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration, a certificate in Nonprofit Management and served as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fellow.
Maurice Speaks
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Maurice “Mo” Speaks manages PACE’s African American Executive Coaching Program in addition to his responsibilities as project & finance coordinator. Prior to joining PACE in 2017, Mr. Speaks worked as the program assistant for Three Rivers Waterkeeper, where he organized and handled logistics for agency events. Maurice also gained considerable community organizing experience working as an intern for the Hilltop Alliance.
During his time with the Hilltop Alliance, Maurice was an integral part of the committee that organized two community-wide dialogues that examined the various assets and the greatest challenges facing the Pittsburgh South Hilltop neighborhoods. As a result of these dialogues, action teams, formed by stakeholders, addressed the needs of the community. The experience of working at the Hilltop Alliance still has a profound impact on Maurice today as it illustrated that when non-profit agencies work in unison with communities to create positive, sustainable, impactful change, it is amazing what can be accomplished.
Maurice earned a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. In his free time, Maurice enjoys playing guitar and long-distance running and his goal is to complete an ultra-marathon.
Brionna Street
Program Associate
Brionna Street is the Program Associate for the Pittsburgh Cultural Treasures Initiative. Brionna joined PACE in 2022.
Prior to joining PACE, Brionna spent the last five years at Crossroads Foundation as the Office Administrator where she managed the daily operations of the organization. She also worked closely with the Programs and Development department where she discovered her passion for social justice and the fight to eliminate systemic obstacles.
Brionna will bring this passion and perspective to her role as Program Associate for the Pittsburgh Cultural Treasures Initiative PACE. Brionna is currently studying Business Management at Geneva College with an anticipated graduation date of December 2022.
Kristin Walker
Director of Strategic Advancement
Consulting Team
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Luci Dabney
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Peg Fiedler
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Shannon Parris
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Juliette Smith
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Yvonne Van Haitsma
Headshots and photo of PACE staff provided as part of the Benter Foundation BREF program. Photography by Nancy Andrews. Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved.