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Meet Our New Commissioners
Mark Christie is Upper St. Clair’s new Ward 4 Commissioner. Mark has four children: Kevin, a USCHS junior; Meghan, a sophomore, and Shannon, a senior, both at Penn State; and Kyle, a graduate of Indiana University who now lives in California. Mark earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State and his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Mark is the owner of Christie and Associates, a full-service insurance brokerage firm providing personal and business insurance products and services to the Pittsburgh region for over 60 years.
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY asked Mark: Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents have been the greatest influence in my life. Over Mark Christie the years, I’ve come to realize the impact they had on my values and the effect those values have on my everyday life. Mark Hamilton What will you bring to the Township’s Board of Commissioners? By living in Upper St. Clair Township for almost 30 years, I’ve Daniel Paoly experienced first-hand and long-term the services provided by the Dan Paoly is Upper St. Clair’s new At-Large Commissioner. Dan Township to its residents. Also, having raised four children in USC, I’ve experienced the quality school system our community offers and and his wife, Nicole, have lived in the Township for almost four years. The couple has one child, Jillian, who is almost two. A graduate of recognize the importance quality education has for our township. My educational background provided me formal training in both the University of Akron where he received a B.A. in geography with a finance and business related subjects. Owning and operating my own minor in cartography, Dan went on to study at Point Park University business has given me the experience and knowledge of meeting pay- receiving his MBA with a concentration in international business. He roll demands, as well as learning how to keep a business profitable. is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, enlisting while still in high By working with a diverse base of customers who represent a variety school and attending reserve meetings during his college years. Dan is employed by HDR Engineering as a geographic information of personal and business specialties, along with serving on several boards of directors, my skills and experiences have been enriched, systems (GIS) professional. He has extensive experience working with municipalities, ALCOSAN, and government agencies on public which will be helpful to me as I enter my role as commissioner. works projects, including sanitary sewer system mapping studies, Hobbies? consent decree plans, road and pavement management, zoning, and Rather than list them all, let’s just say I enjoy most sports. environmental impact projects. He is registered as a certified GIS What’s your dream vacation? A beach just about anywhere is my idea of a dream vacation, and professional and is a member of the Urban & Regional Information I would like to personally inspect all the beaches in the world. Of Systems Association (URISA) Central Allegheny Chapter and the Pennsylvania Mapping and Geographic Information Consortium. course, inspecting all the golf courses wouldn’t be bad either!
Mark R. Hamilton is Upper St. Clair’s new Ward 2 Commissioner. Mark has called USC home for seven years, and lives with his wife, local artist Susan Castriota, (who has lived in the township her entire life), and Susan’s daughters: Bethany Hoag, who works in the finance department of Woltz & Wind Ford, and Caroline Hoag, a junior at Bethany College. Mark received his B.A. from Duke University, and his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh Law School. Mark has 30 years experience as a trial attorney, and is a partner with the law firm of Cipriani & Werner, PC. UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY asked Mark: Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents. They taught me at an early age the importance of having goals and the discipline required to attain them. Later in life, they showed me by example the responsibility that comes with success: sharing the rewards of it with those less fortunate. What will you bring to the Township’s Board of Commissioners? My background is in municipal law, and a large part of my practice is representing municipalities in civil cases. I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the board on fiscal restraint. Hobbies? Landscaping, auctions, antiques, skeet, and golf. What’s your dream vacation? I would love to visit a remote island in the South Pacific!
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY asked Dan: Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents have by far been the greatest influence in my life. Raised in the Mon Valley, they moved to Mentor, Ohio, and after careers in public education, they started a family restaurant business. Along with my four brothers, I worked in that business and learned their values of hard work, perseverance, and the importance of a high standard of quality. They were very civic minded people as well, and a strong sense of community service was one motivation for my entrance into local community service. What will you bring to the Township’s Board of Commissioners? With my professional experience working with municipalities, ALCOSAN, and government agencies and my experience on the Township’s Parks and Recreation Board, I think I can bring new ideas to address the challenges that face our community. Hobbies? I enjoy being outdoors. Hunting, fishing, skiing, and golf are all activities that I enjoy when I have time for them. What’s your dream vacation? Growing up hearing about the exploits of the Apollo astronauts, I dreamed of going to the moon someday. Today, I am inspired by travel programs featuring the Alaskan mountains and wilderness. I would love to take my family there someday. n Spring 2010
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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