Our People

Dennis Zehner has been our Executive Director and CEO since July 1, 2020. He had been our Director of Advancement from 2018-2020.

In his time as Executive Director, Dennis has led the efforts to change our agency’s name to Sights for Hope and to implement a brand focused on empowerment and independence. He also has reshaped our organization’s staff, recruited and added key members to our executive team, ensured our maintained operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, led a restructuring of our financial management processes, and influenced key additions to our Board of Directors.

Dennis has more than 20 years of experience in the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit sector, in which he specialized in marketing, communications, and fundraising. He has worked previously with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the Da Vinci Science Center, and what is now the Literacy Center of the Lehigh Valley. Dennis holds a graduate certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University and a degree in Journalism from Lehigh University.

Kate Raymond became President of Sights for Hope’s Board of Directors in November 2022 upon the retirement of Michael Wambaugh.

Kate has been a member of the board since May 2019. She served as the board’s Vice President from July 2021-November 2022 and as its Secretary from September 2020-June 2021.

Kate is a Corporate Communications Specialist for PPL Corporation. Kate served previously as a Director of Marketing and Public Relations for St. Luke’s University Health Network.

A graduate of Northampton Area High School, Kate holds a master’s degree in American Studies from Lehigh University and a degree in Marketing and Public Relations from Susquehanna University.

Paul Miller was elected Vice President of Sights for Hope’s Board of Directors in November 2022. He has been a member of the board since June 2022.

Miller, who identifies as completely blind due to progressive retinal disease and has dealt with visual impairments for most of his adult life, is President and CEO of Active Learning Centers and Lehigh Valley Martial Arts. Miller has practiced martial arts for more than 45 years, is a fifth-degree black belt in karate, and has trained more than 1,000 black belts.

He opened Lehigh Valley Martial Arts in 1997 and founded Active Learning Centers, a child care center that uses martial arts to teach life lessons, in 2002. The businesses operate in six locations have more than 150 employees.

Jennifer Pandolfo became Sights for Hope’s Associate Director in October 2021 and has been our Director of Services since April 2020. She had served as our Director of Monroe Operations from 2015-2020.

As Associate Director, Pandolfo informs and participates in efforts to develop and execute our organization’s strategic plan. She also provides expertise, perspectives, and support to the implementation of policies, procedures, and activities that benefit our operations and reputation among our stakeholder groups.

As Director of Services, Pandolfo has led a restructuring of our services staff and developed hybrid delivery of several of its client services. She also has created our Mom and Me in Motion and Preschool Playtime programs for pre-kindergarten children with visual impairments and their families.

Jennifer has 15 years of experience in the social services sector. She is a former Program Director and Acting Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Morris County, N.J., and a former support specialist with Step By Step, Inc., who worked with children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.

Jennifer holds a degree in Community Psychology from Montclair State University and studied Social Work on a graduate level from New York University. She also is Vice President of the Pocono Autism Society and Secretary of the InterAgency Council of Monroe County.

Deirdre Federico Snyder, CFRE, became Sights for Hope’s Director of Advancement in March 2022.

Federico Snyder served as Director of Development for the Lehigh County Humane Society from 2019 to 2021 and earned her international Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2021. During her tenure with the humane society, Federico Snyder established a fundraising infrastructure, donor stewardship program, legacy giving society, and a $4 million capital campaign. Her work supported the opening of a new community veterinary clinic facility; financial assistance for pet owners; and the rescue, adoption, and return of more than 3,000 animals.

Federico Snyder also worked as Development and Special Events Coordinator of the Allentown Rescue Mission from 2015-2018. While there, she created the organization’s first gala fundraiser, developed its volunteer program, managed its annual WAEB Spaghetti Dinner hosted by Bobby Gunther Walsh, and directed its annual Thanks for Giving food and supply drive, which utilized 350 volunteers over 10 days. Her work supported the sheltering of more than 2,500 men, the serving of more than 100,000 meals, and the placement of more than 100 men in the mission’s Christian living program and Clean Team Workforce.

Federico Snyder holds a degree in English and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Eastern Pennsylvania chapter.

Anthony Silvetti, O.D., has been our Low Vision Optometrist since the consolidation of ABVI and VIABL in 2010. He had served in the same capacity with VIABL from 1996-2009.

Dr. Silvetti examines clients and patients at both our Lehigh Valley and Monroe locations to identify methods and assistive tools that enhance their independence and enable them to conduct the activities that are most important to them.

Dr. Silvetti also provides these specialized services for Northeast Sight Services in Exeter, PA, and practices for Houser Newman Associates in Tamaqua, PA. He has more than 30 years of experience and was trained at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center in New York, N.Y.

Organizational Leadership
Dennis Zehner, Executive Director and CEO
Jennifer Pandolfo, Associate Director and Director of Services
Deirdre Federico Snyder, CFRE, Director of Advancement
Nancy Cobb, Operations Manager
Rita Lang, Client Activities Manager
Anthony Silvetti, O.D., Low Vision Optometrist

Client Casework Services
Teresa Pickett, Services Coordinator
Yvette Quintero, Lead Client Caseworker
Stephanie Guillen, Lehigh Valley Client Caseworker
Erin Hahn, Lehigh Valley Client Caseworker
Erica Vibert, Lehigh Valley Client Caseworker
Melinda Weston, Monroe Client Caseworker

Client Education and Wellness
Dianne Michels, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Carol Weisberg, Camp Program Specialist

Low Vision Care
Kim Williams, Lehigh Valley Low Vision Care Coordinator
Cheryl Miller, Monroe Low Vision Care Coordinator

Transport Services
Brian Schell, Lehigh Valley Transport Coordinator
Lisa Metcalf, Monroe Transport Coordinator
Kareem Harvey, Monroe Transport Driver
Byron Jackson, Monroe Transport Driver
Noel Penaloza, Lehigh Valley Transport Driver
George Petrolock, Lehigh Valley Transport Driver
Ken Powell, Lehigh Valley Transport Driver
Les Schoenberger, Lehigh Valley Transport Driver
Crispin Tacardon, Monroe Transport Driver

Prevention Services
Ruthie Asmus, Lehigh Valley Prevention Specialist
Angela Hill, Monroe Prevention Specialist
Colleen Rountree, Lehigh Valley Prevention Specialist