Board of Directors and Staff
Meet our newest board member, Pam Iovino.
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Pamela M. Iovino is a Director. Pam has dedicated her professional life to public service representing the interests of veterans at the federal and local levels. She is a military service veteran and obtained the rank of Captain in the United States (U.S.) Navy before retiring in 2003 after 23 years of service. She subsequently was nominated by former President George W. Bush, unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. In this role, she served as chief legislative advocate for the nation’s 25 million veterans.
Currently, she is a member of the State Civil Service Commission as appointed by Governor Tom Wolf and confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate. As the Commission’s statutorily required veteran member, she also serves as veteran advocate. Pam previously served as Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs and Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of State. Prior to her service at the Department of State, Commissioner Iovino served as an Adjunct Professor at Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2009); Director of Veterans’ Services for Allegheny County (2017); and was elected in a special election and served as a Pennsylvania State Senator representing the 37th State Senatorial District, serving Allegheny (part) and Washington (part) Counties (2019-2020). Pam earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College and a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh and served as a Board Member of the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania and Adagio Health. She has also served as a member of the Governor’s Pennsylvania Commission for Women, The Special Education Funding Commission, the Council of Arts, the Emergency Management Council, and the 911 Advisory Board. Pam resides in the South Hills. |
Board President, Jack McMahon.
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Jack McMahon currently serves as President of the Board. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 1968 and entered US Air Force pilot training in January 1969. After completion of pilot training in January 1970, he went to F 102 school and then F 106 school. During the next 4 years of flying the “6” came assignments first to the 94th FIS, then the 2nd FIS and finally the 49FIS. After a tour in Korea, Jack left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserves in Pittsburgh where he flew the C 123 Provider, then the C130A and finally the C130H2. During the next 20+ years flights took him to Europe, Panama Canal rotations; Caribbean hurricane relief missions; and a Desert Shield Deployment, in addition to numerous training missions. These all lead to retirement as Squadron Commander of the 758th TAS in 1995.
After retiring from civilian employment as President of Pemco Inc. in 2006 and moving back to Pittsburgh, Jack joined the Air Heritage Museum. After an almost a 30 year absence, he was back to flying the Air Heritage Museum C 123 known as “Thunder Pig”. Currently, Thunder Pig is the last flying C 123 in the US. He also is on the Board of Directors of the Air Heritage Museum. In an effort to pay back for his military career, Jack is active in charities that support veterans. In addition to this board, he is on the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve where he helps reserve and guard members and employers better understand the laws that let them leave their civilian employment and return to it. |
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Jim Bruder is Chairman of the Board. Jim served in the US Naval Reserve from 1964-1966. He served in Vietnam in 1966 aboard the USS Intrepid. Jim worked for the Port Authority of Allegheny County, retiring in 2006. Jim has volunteered for the VFW Sharing & Caring for 25 years. He was on their board for 15 years. Jim has also been involved with many other charitable organizations.
Jim got involved with the Pittsburgh Fisher House in 2007 with a group called The Navy Club of the USA. Jim was co-chair for 10 years for the Navy Club National Organization. Jim wondered why the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System did not have a Fisher House. He started working with the Fisher House Foundation to explore the idea of a Fisher House in Pittsburgh. What started as Jim’s hope turned into the current Pittsburgh Fisher House. He was also asked by the original Pittsburgh Fisher House manager if he would recruit a committee to support the daily functions of the house. This effort resulted in the formation of the Friends of the Pittsburgh Fisher House. |
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Barry P. Cox, CPA/PFS, CFP® is the Treasurer. Barry is originally from New Castle, but has called Pittsburgh home since 2011. He owns a tax, accounting and consulting practice in the South Side of the city. Barry has an accounting degree from Slippery Rock University and a master’s degree from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. He is licensed as a CPA in PA.
Barry’s father is a disabled veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his service. Barry has seen firsthand how the VA Healthcare System rehabilitated his father and continues to provide the care he needs to live a long, happy, fulfilling life (72 years and counting). He will always be grateful for that, so in 2012 Barry volunteered his time when he learned that the Friends of the Pittsburgh Fisher House were seeking someone to assist with their finances. It has been truly rewarding volunteering for such a worthwhile organization. Barry and his wife, Leanne live in the North Hills. They enjoy volunteering their time for church and charity, traveling when they get the chance, trying out the many great restaurants that Pittsburgh has to offer, and attending sporting events. Barry is a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, while his wife supports all Pitt athletics. |
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Nicholas Krawec (Nick) is the Secretary. He received a BA Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1975, and shortly after graduation, he entered the US Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, receiving a commission as an Ensign in November 1975. He served four years on active duty in the fleet as a surface warfare officer, and sixteen years in the U.S. Navy Reserve, having been mobilized in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, and retired from the Navy Reserve in January 1996. After his release from active duty in 1979, Nick entered the Duquesne University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University in 1983. He retired from the Pittsburgh law firm Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. as of December 2023, where he had been employed for 39 years. Nick is an active member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Navy League of the United States and the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Nick resides in Baldwin Borough, and has two grown sons.
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Mary Ellen Austin currently serves as VP of Development. Since 2013, Mary Ellen has also volunteered weekly at the VA Pittsburgh Fisher House checking-in guests, giving tours, orienting new guests to the house, and delivering the weekly grocery order. Mary Ellen graduated from Bucknell University with a B.S. in Mathematics in 1979 and worked for 23 years for Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting). She worked in both the New York City and Pittsburgh offices being promoted to partner in 2000. Mary Ellen managed many consulting projects primarily in the Financial Services Industry over the course of her career. Mary Ellen is married to Harry Austin. They have 3 children, Harry, Brian and Colleen. Their son, Brian, is a Captain in the Army. Mary Ellen grew up in New Jersey but has been living in the Wexford area for more than 35 years.
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Dayna Brown is Director of Communications - Social Media. Dayna is a veteran spouse currently working as a Consultant for Optimum Retail Solutions LLC. Previously, Dayna served as the Executive Director of Pittsburgh Hires Veterans, a non-profit dedicated to providing one-on-one support to veterans and current service members in search of education, training, and employment opportunities. She also spent over 2 decades in mid-level executive positions with major specialty retailers. Dayna serves in various capacities as a member of the Auxiliary of VFW Post 1810 and is on the Longest Day Executive Committee for the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Pennsylvania Chapter. Dayna has a BS in Business Administration – Accounting and resides in Bethel Park with her husband, Chris who is a veteran of the US Marine Corps.
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Judge Mike McCarthy is a Director. He is currently a Judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh. His employment history includes serving as a county detective, teaching at the collegiate level, having a general law practice as well as holding several municipal solicitorships. Mike also served as the administrative chairman of the Court of Common Pleas Board of Viewers. During his tenure there he oversaw operations, conducted eminent domain and tax hearings and issued opinions. He has received numerous awards, among them the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Judges Award in 2010, and the Veteran of Foreign Wards Man of the Year honor in 2010. He is also a member of the Duquesne University Sports Hall of Fame. Mike received both his undergraduate degree and JD from Duquesne University. He is a Vietnam veteran and served with the U.S. Navy Seabees. He and his wife Janice Lynn have two daughters, Maura and Caitlin.
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Andrew Krull is the Assistant Treasurer. He received a BS in Accounting from Grove City College as well as an MBA degree from Robert Morris University. Currently, Andrew works at Omnicell as a Sales Finance Booking Analyst. Previously he worked as Lead Accounting Analyst at BNY Mellon. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, umpiring baseball, and enjoying the Pittsburgh area. He is married, living in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.
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William (Bill) Dold is the Assistant Secretary. He is an Army Military Police Veteran serving 7 years (3 active duty and 4 reserve). Bill retired from the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare system after 31 years of service. Since retiring he is very active in the Elks. Currently Bill is the state chairman for the PA Elks Veterans Service Commission, working with the Elks and Veterans throughout the state. He also is the Treasurer of Sharing and Caring Inc. and a member of the VFW. Bill lives in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, and is the father of 3 adult children, and has 3 grandchildren.
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John Corder is Director of Community Outreach & Strategic Planning. He joined the board in 2013 after prioritizing his volunteerism and philanthropy to organizations that support veteran’s causes. He received his Bachelor of Finance degree from Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana Monroe). John is a former Captain of the United States Army serving for 4 ½ years from 1991-1995 in Korea, Egypt, San Antonio, and Guantanamo Bay Cuba managing medical operations and logistics in his various postings.
Following his military service, John spent 25+ years in commercial real estate as a broker with Fischer & Company where he was based in Pittsburgh while working on projects throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He is now President of Corder Commercial Real Estate in Dallas. In addition to his travels abroad for work, John has visited 48 of the 50 United States as well as all the Canadian provinces. In his free time, he enjoys reading history and biography books, traveling and enjoying new restaurants. |
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Charles Keith Johnston II
1949 - 2023 It is with deep sadness that we share that founding board member and president Charles "CJ" Johnston passed away suddenly on December 30, 2023. We are shocked and collectively stunned at this huge loss for his family, our organization, and the veteran community. CJ was a father, husband, friend, veteran, pilot, community leader, and always such a gentleman. You can read more about his life in his obituary. We're grateful to CJ's family for recommending, in lieu of flowers, donations to Friends of the Pittsburgh Fisher House. Donating is a beautiful way to honor his legacy. |
Kelsey Leigh - Philanthropy and Office Administrator
Allen Howard - Technical Advisor
Allen Howard - Technical Advisor
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