Meet the Staff
Cristine Clayton
CRISTINE CLAYTON
Cristine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Albany School of Business. Cristine works with our corporate donors to maximize the benefit of state tax credit programs and their philanthropic impact. She has developed internal systems to support our donors and charitable giving throughout Pennsylvania. On behalf of our donors, she regularly meets with local and state legislators, and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Treasury Tuition Advisory Board which oversees the PA529 College and Career Savings Program. She lives with her family in Susquehanna County.
Melissa Turlip
MELISSA TURLIP
Melissa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg University, and has over 25 years’ experience in education and non-profit work. Her background includes creating and implementing educational programs for the federal government and working for and leading local nonprofit organizations. Her skills range from education program development to fundraising. Melissa directs the EITC program and manages several funds. Melissa and her husband live in Lackawanna County and have three children.
Jill Swingle
JILL SWINGLE
Jill graduated from Montrose High School and earned her associate’s degree in paralegal studies at Luzerne County Community College. She is a Notary Public. She worked at the law office of Raymond C. Davis in Montrose for 30 years administering real estate and estate matters, litigation, and more. Currently, Jill oversees operations at the Community Foundation. She works closely with donors and administers the majority of the Foundation’s funds. She also serves as the Board Secretary. Jill enjoys family time with her husband Bob, two married daughters and their husbands, and a new grandson.
Gerald Golis
JERRY GOLIS
Jerry is a graduate of Montrose Area High School. He attended Bloomsburg University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. Jerry worked at the Montrose Publishing Company from 1992 until 2012 where he was responsible for graphics and data applications. He worked at Andre and Son, Inc. in the information technology department from 2012 to 2017. Jerry began helping the Community Foundation with computer software and hardware in 2001. He became a fulltime employee at the Community Foundation in January 2018 to assist the staff with software/hardware development and support.
Kate Spence
Kate Spence
Kate was born and raised in Montrose, PA. She graduated from Montrose Area High School and continued her education at Kutztown University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Prior to working at the Community Foundation, Kate worked at the Susquehanna County Courthouse as the First Deputy Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts for almost four years. She and her husband, David welcomed their first baby in October 2023, Luca Spence. In addition to her new mom role, Kate is also a loving cat mom to three fur babies: Benny, Jett and Beatrice.
Ciara Hundley
CIARA HUNDLEY
Ciara is a graduate of Montrose Area High School. She attended Lackawanna College and earned an associate’s degree in business administration and management. She aims to continue her education in the realm of business and finance with a specialization in non-profit work. She began working part-time for the Foundation in October 2023 to assist with administrative duties. She resides in Susquehanna County.
Earle Wootton
EARLE WOOTTON
Earle is a founding director of the Community Foundation and serves as the chairman of the board. He was president of a group of commercial printing and publishing companies prior to his retirement in 2004. Earle has been a director of a number of community and regional financial institutions for forty years and most recently retired from Peoples Security Bank & Trust’s Board of Directors. He has a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Earle lives in Montrose with his wife June.
Jean Hollister
JEAN HOLLISTER
Jean is originally from Watertown, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Philadelphia University and a master’s degree in education from Wilkes University. Her career as a school nurse practitioner and retail sales associate have cultured her flexibility, organization and attention to detail. In addition to her work as Foundation Meetings and Events Coordinator, and Building Manager, Jean volunteers as a Master Gardener. She and her husband Robert have two children, two grandsons, and a granddaughter.
Jody Daye
JODY DAYE
Jody is a lifelong resident of NEPA. She has an associate degree in accounting and over twenty years of experience in the field of accounting. In addition to her work at the Community Foundation, Jody owns and operates a home baking business called Daye-licious Baking. She lives in Springville with her husband Jason and their three children and enjoys being involved in church, school, and community activities.
Virginia Lewis
VIRGINIA LEWIS
Virginia is a graduate of Montrose Area High School and Wilkes University, Virginia is a retired employee of the Elk Lake School District where she worked as a Crisis Intervention Counselor and a Trauma and Loss School Specialist.
She is the proud parent of two daughters, two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Virginia volunteers as a Master Gardener and at Susquehanna County Interfaith in Montrose. She is a member of the Susquehanna County Historical Society.
Marian S. Miskell
MARIAN S. MISKELL
Marian received a bachelor’s degree in English and Speech from Suffolk University in Boston. She worked for eleven years doing marketing and writing for AT&T and Bell Labs. She owned and managed successful small businesses in Colorado and Virginia. Her work as a journalist in Montrose led to an invitation to join the Foundation board and to edit its first newsletter in 2004. Though now retired in Maryland, she edits the Foundation magazine. Marian and her husband John are founding members of the Women Helping Women Fund.