Valuable Women Conference Leaders

Beginning her 10th term in January 2023, State Representative Kathy Rapp brings to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives vast experience in both the public and private sectors to serve the people of the 65th Legislative Districts in Crawford, Forest and Warren counties.

As one of the Legislature’s most consistent and outspoken advocates, Kathy is honored to be serving her third full term as Chairman of the House Health Committee. During her tenure, Kathy has also proven to be a strong ally of both our veterans and active duty military personnel. 

Before being elected to the PA House in November 2004, Kathy was heavily involved in the health and human services field, serving as a community relations representative with Beverly Health Care, where she managed admissions and marketing for two health care facilities in Warren.

Prior to that, she gained experience in working with students with special needs. She served as a compliance monitor within the Pennsylvania Department of Education to examine special education programs throughout the state and performed work as a consultant with the Parent Education Network.

Kathy lives in Warren and is the mother of a son and two daughters and is a proud grandmother of seven amazing grandsons.

Leading and motivating your team

Lori comes to us from a career in higher education with many years coaching, supervising and leading others. She received her MA from Kent State in Sport Business Management and BA in Business from Clarion University. Lori has made outstanding contributions in her professional career in Higher Education. Lori was a former HS, College standout. She participated at the National NCAA Division II Team competition in College. Her collegiate tennis singles record was 51-7 and 54-4 in doubles. She has been a leader and mentor for women. She coached boys and girls, Men and Women, at the High School, College and international level.  She has held several titles in Sports and Recreation and in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Coordinator, Director of Recreation, Coach, Pro, Official, Event planner to administrative coordinator. Her current role is the Assistant Director of Facilities Management and former Student Engagement Specialist at Northern PA Regional College, NPRC and Executive Director for a local nonprofit. She supervises over 30 part-time staff and more than 25 facilities in 10 PA counties from Erie to Elk to Tioga.

She has networked and connected to various people that have allowed her to coach at the US Scholar Athlete games and attend the Summer Olympic Games with students in London and Rio.  Coach in Italy (Pan Am) and Argentina (European Games) and Jamaica (Visiting Tennis Pro/PTR Professional Tennis Registry). 

She was elected to serve on the Brockway School Board and USTA Middle States Leadership Council and Toby Creek Watershed Director. She was the NIRSA PA State Director for Recreation.  She has served on various committees in Higher Ed including hiring, staff advisory, presidents commission on the status of women, facilities and staff mentoring.

She has volunteered for the American Red Cross. Relay for Life, Special Olympics, PSBA Pa School Board Association - Policy Institute, National Tennis on Campus and Girl Scouts and 4H. She started the first ever girls tennis team in Brockway and hosted 3 women in sport days to recognized female athletes in her community and educate others on the importance of women in sport.

Lori has led many teams over the past 20 years and supervised over 1000 part-time staff/athletes in her career and over 50 staff each year when running Athletic and Recreation Facilities at Clarion University of PA, AKA Penn West. She is proud of her team winning a national sportsmanship award. She won College Coach of the Year from the USTA United States Tennis Association, National Tennis Ace award and Outstanding supporter award for her dedication and commitment to equity. Lori still plays tennis and was ranked Number 1 doubles with her daughter Gabby last year.

Lori is committed to helping others succeed and will help you learn how to lead your team, what motivates you and your team to be successful.

Creating A Dream Life

Jeanne founded her law firm Jeanne Rees Miglicio Attorney at Law LLC, in Emporium, Pa. as a solo practice in February 2009. Jeanne is licensed to practice law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the United States Tax Court. As a child Jeanne grew up in both Austin Pa and Emporium Pa graduating Austin High School in 1980 and has resided in Emporium since 1992. Her journey towards a law degree began when the younger of her daughters graduated High School in 2002. Jeanne and her two daughters were all freshman in the same year, 2002, at University of Pittsburgh/Bradford. Jeanne began her undergrad studies May 2002 and graduated top GPA Summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in social science, minor in psychology, in June 2004 (a few months short of turning 42). Jeanne then attended Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Lansing Michigan, on full scholarship, graduating Cum laude May 2007. Jeanne then sat for the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in July 2007, passing first try. Jeanne then attended Georgetown University Law School, Washington D.C., graduating Cum laude in 2008 with a graduate Master of Law degree in taxation, certificate in estate planning. During law school at Georgetown, Jeanne was chosen to serve as a legal fellow for a semester with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee under Iowa US Senator Chuck Grassley. During that time there were a few Senate hearings on the federal estate tax statute and review of charitable, tax exempt entities, to which Jeanne got to attend the hearings with a seat behind Senator Chuck Grassley and to be ready to fetch whatever the Senator may need at a moment’s notice (although Jeanne never had to run to fetch anything, but the intent was to be ready to run, just in case).

Jeanne then remained in the Washington DC, Bethesda MD area for the remainder of 2008, beginning 2009 working at an estate tax planning firm to acquire practical experience. However, Jeanne couldn’t move home fast enough as it was always her plan to return to Emporium, Pa to open her law practice. Jeanne’s practice areas of law includes business planning (including tax-exempt status for charitable entities), contracts, estate planning (including business succession planning), Orphans’ Court matters (including adoptions and estate administration), federal and state taxation planning (business and personal/ retirement) and representation with the IRS and before the US Tax Court, and all matters concerning real estate. Jeanne is often Court appointed to represent in matters involving child abuse and neglect.

Jeanne’s husband Dennis was her partner all along the way. Jeanne jokingly says that Denny “attended” law school with her as he was with her every step of the way to do whatever needed done so that all Jeanne had to do was focus on her studies.

Prior to becoming an attorney, from 1992 – 2001, Jeanne was owner and creator of Pizza Palace Plus in Emporium, Pa, a successful full service licensed pizzeria, Italian restaurant which remains today. In 2002, Jeanne received the honor of being named one of PA’s Best 50 Women in Business by then Pa. Gov. Schweiker and the Pa Dept of Community and Economic Development.

Although Jeanne loves being an attorney, Jeanne’s favorite thing to do is just enjoy her family, particularly the grandchildren. Jeanne’s family consists of husband of 29 years, Dennis Miglicio; daughter and Son in law, Eryn and Eric Fiebig with grandsons Aedrik, Axeton, Ander

Fiebig, in Emporium; Daughter and son-in-law Casey and Klaus Puck with granddaughter Claudia Puck in Nevada; Son Scott A. Miglicio, in Emporium; Grandson and Grd daughter-in-law, Scott M. and Alexis Miglicio with great-grands Brayden, Abram, Rosalie, Vivian Miglicio of Emporium; son Kain Miglicio and daughter-in-law Danielle Jones-Miglicio with grandsons Jude and Ansel Miglicio, Xavier and Sabastien Jones in Erie Pa; son Devin Miglicio, Erie Pa.; and grandson Jordan Gooch, NY.

Negotiating Your Salary

Advocating for our true value in the workplace is a passion for Emily. With many years of experience in Human Resource Management, Emily has learned the tips and tricks of the trade to negotiate the salaries that women deserve. She has diverse work experience spanning over two decades. Emily started their career in 2000 as a Retail Store Manager at Dobson Cellular One and later held roles such as Branch Sales and Service Representative and Office Manager at National City Bank. In 2009, Emily joined PNC as a Financial Sales Consultant. In 2010, they transitioned into the HR field and worked as a Human Resource Generalist at GKN Sinter Metals until 2015. From 2015 to 2018, Emily served as an HR Coordinator at Metal Powder Products. Currently, they are employed at Clarion Sintered Metals, Inc. as the Director of Human Resources.Emily Swanson attended Pennsylvania State University-Erie Campus from 1994 to 1998. Emily pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Business during this time.

Implementing Change 

Through the

many stages of her life, Lea has been faced with challenging circumstances. She brings wisdom

and advice from her personal experiences to share how mindset has played a key role in

overcoming obstacles that life presents to us all.

Lea Purcell has taught elementary students for 35 years, mostly

Kindergarten. She has been married for 36 years and has 4 children and 3 grandchildren.

She retired from teaching (but not really) a few years ago. Teaching has been a passion of hers,

something engrained into who she is as a person. She is involved at the church--singing

with the children, teaching religious education, helping with funeral

luncheons, and more. Lea continues to be involved at the elementary and high schools, as well.

In her free time, she runs a small sewing business, knits, crochets, sews, and hikes. 

Stephanie Redmond is a Health and Fitness Coach and owner of Strong Mind Fitness. She is a certified Personal Trainer that provides individualized health and fitness coaching services to women. She believes taking control of your own health and fitness is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself and it all begins with your mindset. Stephanie also works as an Educational Consultant with Early Intervention. 

• Motivation
• Setting Goals 
• Nutrition 
• Movement
• Finding Balance