Board:

Susan Gobreski, Director

Susan Gobreski is the founder and director of Education Voters Pennsylvania, a state affiliate of Education Voters. Ms. Gobreski has more than 18 years of experience in issue advocacy, organizing, and issue based electoral politics. She has worked with several issue advocacy organizations, spending 17 years working on key environmental campaigns with the national LCV and Clean Water Action. She is a graduate of Temple University. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three children.

Dan Muroff, Director

Early in his career, Dan worked for four years in the environmental sector, including two years leading a national logistics team at Chemical Waste Management’s corporate offices. He went on to work in Cook County government in Illinois in the Department of Planning, Office of Economic Development where he helped promote Chicago and Cook County to attract prospective and relocating businesses.

Soon after, Dan went on to serve in senior legislative positions in the federal government. On Capitol Hill, Dan served in various Congressional offices including Congressman Tom Foglietta (PA-01) and Congressman Kika de la Garza (TX-15). He went on to serve as senior legislative assistant to Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-03). After leading appropriations, transportation, economic development and environmental efforts in this position, Dan was named Chief of Staff to Congressman Michael Capuano (MA-08) where he served for four years, overseeing operations, legislation, appropriations, media, whip duties, personnel and office budget.

Dan left Washington to serve as policy director for US Congressional candidate Dan Wofford (PA-06) and political director for US Senate candidate Joe Hoeffel (D-PA). He then broadened his government expertise as Chief Counsel to Pennsylvania State Senator LeAnna M. Washington. Dan continues to closely aid and advise many Pennsylvania candidates for federal, state, and local government.

Dan is a graduate of Drexel University and earned his Juris Doctor at IIT Chicago- Kent College of Law. He serves as President of the board of the East Mount Airy Neighbors community organization, as Treasurer of the CeaseFire PA PAC, as Treasurer for the Philadelphia 9th Ward Democratic Committee, and on the board of the Mt. Airy USA community development corporation. Dan lives in the East Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with his wife Melissa.

Michael Phillips, Secretary/Treasurer

Michael Phillips is an attorney at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP in Philadelphia, PA. He works in the firm’s litigation department, government relations practice group and election law practice group, handling a wide array of civil litigation matters including business and contract disputes, municipal, real estate, sports and election law. His government relations practice includes representation of lobbyists, lobbying firms and organizations in regulatory, ethics and compliance issues and has presented seminars related to Pennsylvania’s Lobbying Disclosure Act.

Michael also serves as a mentor for Philadelphia Futures, a non-profit organization that prepares low-income students to enter and succeed in college. He graduated from Brandeis University in 2002 (B.A., History / Legal Studies Program) and earned his juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law in 2005 where he served as President of the Student Bar Association and as an Associate Editor of the Villanova Sports & Entertainment Law Journal.

Anne Umbrecht, Chair

Anne Umbrecht is a recovering lawyer and political activist in Lower Merion, PA. Ms. Umbrecht grew up in Sayre, PA (in Bradford County, where Shale drilling is spreading). After attending the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown Law, she worked as a tax attorney for Morgan Lewis in Washington DC and Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia. While raising her three children, she served as an adjunct professor
at Villanova Law School.

Anne currently serves as a Democratic committee person for Lower Merion, an area representative to the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee. In addition, she serves as a local volunteer chair of the New York City-based Fresh Air Fund, which gives inner-city children the joy of a summer vacation with volunteer host families, creating unforgettable memories and fresh possibilities.

Staff:

Andrew Blum, Field Director

Andrew Blum has been working in the Pennsylvania political scene since moving here after graduating college in 2007. In 2011, after three straight years as a campaign staffer, Blum joined Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania to bring his political experience to the debate over how to best protect our environment.

Blum’s background in electoral politics helps bring a sense of urgency to the oft-ignored issues in the environment such as protecting our air and water. As a field director Andrew specializes in engaging our grassroots members to volunteer and hold politicians accountable for their votes on the environment. In addition to his duties as Field Director, Andrew helps develop political strategies and manages our social media outreach.

Josh McNeil, Executive Director

Before founding Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania in September 2009, Josh McNeil served as the National Press Secretary for the League of Conservation Voters in Washington DC. At LCV, he worked on primarily on the issue of climate change and in support of LCV endorsed candidates.

In 2006 and 2007, Josh worked for Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, first as the Press Secretary for his reelection, then in the Governor’s office.  In 2007, the Governor sent him to Nevada as the state Communications Director for the Bill Richardson for President campaign. McNeil served as the chief coordinator of Governor Richardson’s press, travel and speechwriting operations in Nevada. In 2004, Josh helped produce television and radio spots for progressive campaigns under the tutelage of Will Robinson.

Josh is 2010 a fellow of the Pennsylvania Center for Progressive Leadership and serves on the executive committee of the Yale Club of Philadelphia. He earned his first dollar keeping rogue chickens away from funerals with a pellet gun.