The Lackawanna Trail Education Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and is committed to serving our community, fellow alumni, and donors with transparency and excellent governance. We strive to serve as a role model for other aspiring school foundations and extracurricular programs. LTEF subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Our latest financial data is available for review by contacting our Secretary at: LTEF, 8 Woodlawn Avenue, Factoryville, PA 18419 or secretary@ltefoundation.org
Board of Directors
Mark Carpenter – President & Treasurer – president@ltefoundation.org
Mark (LTHS Class of ‘95) continued his education at Penn State University (BS Finance ‘03), and Marywood University (MBA ‘09). He currently serves as the CEO of Premier Select Sires, Inc., a bovine genetics company. Before being named CEO in October of 2018, Mark served as the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Premier, Mark held various leadership roles in the distance learning and education industry under Harcourt Brace and the Thomson Reuters Corporation. He resides in Factoryville, PA with his wife Tiffany and two daughters, Paige and Madeline.
Brian Petula, Esq. – Secretary – secretary@ltefoundation.org
Brian (LTHS Class of ’84) continued his education at Lehigh University (BA Government 88’), Wake Forest University (JD/MBA 94’) and the Institute for Educational Leadership (Fellow 2004). Since 1994, he has practiced [law] [www.crossoverlaw.com] and helped launch a variety of publishing, technology, and education ventures. Brian is active with several community organizations and serves on the Lackawanna Trail School Board and as a Sectional Advisor with the Pennsylvania School Board Association [PSBA] – [https://www.psba.org/about/governance/sections/].
Earle Drack – Board Member
Earle (LTHS Class of ’80) is an engineer and entrepreneur, with a career spent primarily in the field of downhole Oil & Gas and other energy technology. Most recently he co-founded PetroMar Technologies, Inc., which commercialized novel Logging-While-Drilling technology and was acquired by Nabors Drilling where he served as VP of Business Development. Prior to that he was an early employee at NUMAR Corp., which pioneered commercial downhole Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technology and was acquired by Halliburton Energy Services where he served as Director of Engineering. He also founded the Appalachia Chapter of the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, and serves as the Chapter’s president. After Trail, Earle continued his education earning a BS in Electronics Engineering from the University of Scranton, an M. Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Daria Groover, Ed. D. – Board Member
Daria (LTHS Class of ’82) has served in the education field for 35 years as an elementary teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education (1986) from Mansfield University, Master’s in School Administration and Leadership (1995) from Bowie State University, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (2017) from Virginia Tech. Daria won Principal of the Year for Stafford County Public Schools (VA) and the Washington Post Distinguished Education Leadership Award (2013). Daria currently works as an elementary principal in Prince William County Schools (VA). She enjoys walking, reading, and the opportunity to give back to the Lackawanna Trail community.
Bernadette (Berni) Kozlowski – Board Member
Bernadette (Berni) (LTHS Class of ’85) continued her education at Lehigh University (BA Biology ’89), East Stroudsburg University (MA Biology ’05), and Pranava Meditation School RYT-200 CA 2016. She played semi-pro basketball in Belgium (’90) and taught high school Biology for 25 years while serving as a basketball/softball coach, AP Biology Reader, and PJAS and Science Olympiad Advisor. Bernie was inducted into the NE Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame and was part of Camp St. Andrew for 31 years. Now a meditation coach, she works with schools and businesses across the US and currently resides in Cape May County NJ.
Ginger Nichols, CPTD – Board Member
Ginger (LTHS Class of ’91) continued her education at Ithaca College (BS Athletic Training 95) and at the University of Colorado Denver (MA Adult Learning and Instructional Design 10). In 2020, she earned the Certified Professional in Talent Development designation from the Association for Talent Development. She is an award-winning instructional designer and eLearning developer who works at her own company, Ginger Nichols Design Group, LLC. Ginger lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Dan Moore, and their two Jack Russell Terriers.
Robert Watts – Board Member
Robert Watts is the Northeast Regional Director for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department for the Community and Economic Development (DCED). He is a single point of contact for companies that are considering establishing new operations or expand existing operations in northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert has over 20 years of professional experience. Before joining DCED in 2015 he served on active duty in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG) and was previously the Vice President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute. Robert is a graduate of Penn State Scranton with a Bachelor of Science in Business and of Wilkes University, where he obtained a Master of Business Administration. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Operational Sciences at the United States Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. e has served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard since 1997 and is a Military Intelligence Officer assigned to the 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Scranton, PA. He resides in Dallas Township, Luzerne County with his wife Janice and their two daughters, Antonella, and Adelina.
Colin Furneaux – Board Member
Colin (LTHS Class of 1980) continued his education at Millersville University (BS in Industrial Arts Education, ’84), East Stroudsburg University (MS Educational Leadership, ’92), and Marywood University (Superintendent’s Letter, 02’). He retired from public education after 34 years serving as a Technology Education Teacher (LTHS -9 years), high school Assistant Principal, high school Principal, school district Director of Curriculum, and as the Director of Curriculum for the Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit. He currently works for the Northern Tier Industry and Education Consortium bringing Work Based Learning to regional high school students. He continues to reside in the school district with his wife Peggy (LTHS Class of 1980) where they raised three Lackawanna Trail graduates.