Canonsburg, Pa. – Today, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) announced the hiring of three new full-time senior staff members, who will collectively play a key role in advancing the organization’s communications, outreach, education, and policy objectives. Joining the coalition’s team effective immediately are Steve Forde, Policy and Communications Director; Christopher Heck, Membership Services Director; and Helen Goodman, Conference Director.
Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC, issued this statement regarding the new hires:
“Steve, Chris and Helen are talented, well-accomplished professionals who will provide valuable leadership and guidance to our organization. Having our membership more than double over the past year, we’re continuing to grow our core team of experts with our focus remaining on effectively conveying our industry’s long-term commitment to the environment, safety, and a cleaner, more competitive energy economy. We’re very pleased to have these capable professionals on board to assist in ensuring that our industry gets this historic opportunity, presented by the responsible development of the Marcellus Shale, right.”
Steve Forde, Policy and Communications Director. Forde joins the MSC from Education Management Corporation (EDMC), where he served as a senior director of corporate communications. Prior to EDMC, he held a variety of senior staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives, including deputy communications director for Rep. John Boehner of Ohio and communications director for the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Forde is a Xavier University graduate and received a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife reside in Butler County with their two young daughters.
Christopher Heck, Membership Services Director. Heck joins the MSC after serving as vice president and relationship manager at Fifth Third Bank. A longtime Western Pennsylvania resident, Heck brings a wealth of experience to the MSC through his many years of managing a diverse client base and crafting marketing and business development strategies. He serves on the board of directors of the Downtown YMCA and is current chair of the Enterprise Forum Pittsburgh. He is actively involved in several other non-profits in the greater Pittsburgh region. Heck is a Florida Atlantic University graduate; he retired from the U.S Coast Guard Reserves as a non-commissioned officer.
Helen Goodman, Conference Director. Goodman joins the MSC from Event Resources, a Pittsburgh-based conference and events management firm, which she founded nearly 20 years ago to provide services to corporate, non-profit, and public sector organizations. Prior to establishing Event Resources, Goodman held a variety of positions for a decade at the Pittsburgh Technology Council, where she also managed a broad range of conferences and member programs on an annual basis. She is a Robert Morris University graduate, a member of Visit Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Technology Council, and volunteers for several non-profit organizations.
About the MSC: Founded in 2008, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) is an organization of more than 165 companies committed to the responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale. To learn more, visit www.MarcellusCoalition.org