ENGAGING SPEAKERS

February Pyramid Meeting
Thursday, February 5th

Michael Smith joined Penn’s Office of Government and Community Affairs in November 2018 after working for 14 years in state government. During his time with the Commonwealth, Smith held several management and senior-level appointments in communications, policy, and executive leadership. He brings to Penn extensive relationships with leaders across Pennsylvania and state government, as well as a deep understanding of the legislative and policymaking processes.

A native of Indiana County in southwestern Pennsylvania, Smith arrived to Harrisburg in 2005 to take a position in the Department of Agriculture’s Press Office. Eight months later, he was promoted to the Governor’s Press Office under then-Governor Edward G. Rendell. In between two stints there, first as a Communications Manager and later as the Deputy Director of Communications. Smith led communications planning, messaging, and strategy development at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as the agency’s Communications Director. 

Following the Rendell administration, Smith served for four years in the state Treasury Department, first as its Communications Director before ultimately being named Deputy Chief of Staff. In February 2015, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Smith the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Executive Deputy Secretary. In this role, Smith managed the day-to-day operations of the 600-person agency and its annual budget of approximately $400 million, while directly supervising the offices of Administrative Services, Communications, Human Resources, Legislative Affairs, and Policy.

At Penn, Smith serves as the university’s primary liaison to policymakers in the Governor’s administration and the General Assembly. Through his advocacy, he has secured more than a quarter-of-a-billion dollars in direct appropriation, grants, and capital funding; built coalitions to advance legislation impacting professional licensing and research; and created new programs to extend and apply Penn’s world-leading capacity for education, research, and service across Pennsylvania. 

Smith holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, a Master’s in public affairs, and a Ph.D. in public administration with an emphasis on public policy. 

Pyramid Club 1735 Market Street, 52nd Floor

6 - 8 P.M.

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PAST SPEAKERS

2025

December 4, 2025, 6 PM Pyramid Club

Our December speaker was Dennis Mahoney, the founder and principal of AOI Solutions LLC, a consulting firm focused on impact for organizations through partnership cultivation, coalition building, strategic planning, and performance coaching. Additionally, Dennis serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where he instructs graduate students on international development. 

November 6, 2025, 6 PM Pyramid Club

Our November speaker was Dr. Hans Kersten, a pediatrician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. During his talk, he discussed the hospital’s Reach Out and Read program, which has grown into one of the most successful in the nation, transforming every well-child visit into an opportunity to spark curiosity and confidence through books.

October 9, 2025, 6 PM Pyramid Club

Our October speaker was Jan Biros, District Governor for Rotary District 7450, which encompasses more than forty clubs throughout the Philadelphia and Chester County area. During her talk, Jan shared her goals as District Governor. She emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation among clubs. She observed that many clubs tend to operate independently and hopes to foster greater partnerships to amplify Rotary’s overall impact.

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