Who We Are

Located in the historic Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Gateways focuses on economic development projects with trusted partners to create and sustain economic growth.

DONALD E. EVANS

CEO & President

KAREN BENNER

Director of Building Performance Programs

STEPHEN A. GUENTHER

Chief Operating Engineer

OWEN HASSELL

Business Operations Manager

HOLLY MERRIMAN

Program Manager, Workforce Initiatives

SARA MUST

Director of Events

SHARON PLACE

Development Officer

JOY WEBER

Director of Finance

JEANNE ANTONUCCIO,
BOARD MEMBER

President, Change!t Group

REYNOLDS CLARK,
BOARD MEMBER

Retired Vice Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh

STEFFAN JOHNSON,
BOARD MEMBER

Founder, R Kyndall Development Group

MIKE KANE,
BOARD MEMBER

Retired President, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

DAN LERI,
VICE CHAIR & TREASURER

Director, Innovation Park at Penn State University

TIM MCNULTY,
BOARD MEMBER

Associate Vice President for Government Relations, Carnegie Mellon University

ROBERT A. MEEDER,
PH.D, BOARD MEMBER

Former CEO/President, Chair and current Senior Advisor to Pittsburgh Gateways

WILLIAM P. MILLER,
BOARD MEMBER

Former VP & COO and current Senior Advisor to Pittsburgh Gateways

PAUL SVOBODA, CHAIR

Business Development Manager, The Efficiency Network

LINDA R. THOMSON, SECRETARY

Retired President/CEO, JARI

JEANEEN ZAPPA,
BOARD MEMBER

Executive Director, The Energy Efficiency Alliance

Build Your Future With Us

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DONALD E. EVANS

CEO & President

Don joined the Board of Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation in 2018 and served as an active Board Member and Treasurer before joining the management team as CEO and President in November 2021. While he began his business life as a corporate lawyer, Don brings a diverse range of experience, leading teams to sustainable growth in manufacturing and service industries and providing consultative services to entrepreneurs. Don has spent the majority of his career in customer-facing and solutions-focused roles and enjoys applying his experience to further the mission of Pittsburgh Gateways in Pittsburgh and throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Don was raised on a 225-acre family farm in Virginia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs/Economics from George Washington University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia. 

KAREN BENNER

Director of Building Performance Programs

Karen fell in love with the idea of designing and building homes through a sixth-grade assignment. After earning degrees in engineering and construction management, she held a variety of roles in the production homebuilding industry for 20-years, contributing to the development of over 3,000 homes in six states. Early in her career, she recognized the significant impact the built environment has on our planet and our society. She holds several professional accreditations in sustainability and continues to educate herself on the intersection of housing, sustainability, health and environmental justice.

Prior to joining Pittsburgh Gateways, she spent 5-years as an independent consultant, helping contractors improve profit margins and reduce risk through better project management tools, collaboration, and operational efficiency.

As the Director of Building Performance Programs, Karen promotes workforce development & training, contractor growth & apprenticeships, and community outreach and awareness. She believes everyone deserves to live in a better built home & community, and loves to collaborate with and support others who feel the same way.

Karen is a Pennsylvania native with family roots in the apple orchard industry in Adams County. She resides in the Northside of Pittsburgh with her husband Billy.

STEPHEN A. GUENTHER

Chief Operating Engineer

An Operating Engineer since 1997, Steve has worked in a variety of different building settings, including central business district high rise office towers and suburban office complexes. Steve manages the operations of the Energy Innovation Center, a mixed-use LEED Platinum with CCHP (combined cooling, heat, and power) micro turbines, chillers, ice farm, cooling towers, condensing boilers, single pass air systems, Laboratory equipment, DOAS systems and a commercial kitchen.

Steve works with architects, engineers and contractors to provide planning and budgeting for renovations, adaptive reuse, and operation. 

OWEN HASSELL

Business Operations Manager

Owen Hassell joined Pittsburgh Gateways in 2022 after receiving a BSBA from West Virginia University. He is a member of the Pittsburgh Fellows class of 2023 and has experience helping companies develop tools for scaling businesses. Owen is a 3rd generation Pittsburgher and has a deep passion for the city and the neighborhoods around it.

At Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation and the Energy Innovation Center, Owen’s current responsibilities include leasing management, back office management, executive team support, process improvement, and manager of the Pittsburgh Green Innovators, Inc. co-workshop and incubator.

HOLLY MERRIMAN

Program Manager, Workforce Initiatives

Leading partnerships between corporations in the energy, construction and manufacturing sectors and the schools, vocational schools, apprenticeships and community agencies in the region that support them, Holly’s focus is on meeting the increasing demand for skilled workers. Holly served as Councilwoman and Finance Chair for Glen Osborne Borough for eleven years and is a board member of The Pittsburgh Fellows. Her background is in Human Resources and Administration in banking, small business and the non-profit sector. Holly was raised in New England and holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Allegheny College. 

SARA MUST

Director of Events

With over ten years of experience as a venue coordinator, events manager and full-service wedding planner, Sara manages all corporate and social events as well as weddings at the Energy Innovation Center. Sara coordinates partnerships with Pittsburgh’s best caterers and vendors to make events in one of the city’s iconic venues memorable. 

SHARON PLACE

Development Officer

With significant experience in both nonprofit fundraising and management, Sharon is responsible for grant writing and development for a variety of Pittsburgh Gateways initiatives. Prior to her work in the non-profit sector, Sharon spent almost 20 years on Wall Street. She began her financial career on the International Trading Desk at JPMorgan, and built a successful Institutional Sales Trading desk from the ground up during her 14 year tenure at INTL FCStone. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Dance from Bucknell University. Sharon also serves as President of Connected Learning Academy, Development Consultant for the Clemente Museum, and Development Consultant for Koresh Dance Company and Board Member of the Fleisher Art Memorial. 

JOY WEBER

Director of Finance

Joy joined Pittsburgh Gateways in May 2023. Her background in accounting is deeply rooted in non-profits. She is a graduate of Duquesne University with a degree in business and accounting. In addition to managing all accounting functions at Pittsburgh Gateways, the Energy Innovation Center and their sister companies, Joy works with incubator clients to assist in their growth and business development.