2025 SEMINAR SPEAKERS
Learn about our 2025 Seminar Speakers and how they have impacted their communities.
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Keynote Speaker
Peter Urscheler | Mayor, Phoenixville
Peter Urscheler currently serves as Mayor of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. In 2017, when he was first elected, he was the youngest Mayor in the Phoenixville Borough’s 170-year history. As Mayor, Urscheler oversees a 30-person police force which serves over 17,500 residents. As an elected official, Urscheler has worked to champion several causes including: affordable housing, increased services for senior citizens, public transportation, reducing the educational attainment gap for economically disadvantaged families, total equality protections, and environmental sustainability.
Originally from Tavares, Florida, Peter graduated from Stetson University in 2006. After graduation, he worked for 8 years at SEI, a major international financial services corporation based in greater Philadelphia, before starting his own boutique consulting firm, 235 Bridge, in 2014. Through 235 Bridge, Peter serves the unique needs of small businesses and municipalities, working with a variety of organizations on strategy, communications, marketing, and growth initiatives.
Peter resides in Phoenixville with his two dogs, Ian and Ina.
Panel Speakers
Meg Kane | Philadelphia Soccer 2026 | Signature 57
Meg Kane serves as Host City Executive/CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the non-profit entity charged with executing FIFA World Cup 26™ matches for the City of Philadelphia. Since joining the effort in 2019, Meg has served as the liaison between the City, key partners/venues, and FIFA, focusing on the development of the City's narrative case for hosting and the delivery of all technical responses. Now, as Host City Executive/CEO, Meg leads the operationalization of the Local Organizing Committee, which is responsible for ensuring the successful hosting of Philadelphia's six World Cup matches, running a 40-day Fan Festival, and welcoming more than a half million visitors to Philadelphia in the summer of 2026.
Concurrent with her leadership work for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, Meg is the President and CEO of Signature 57, a strategic communications firm with special focus on hospitality, tourism, large-event strategy, as well as arts and culture. A trusted partner to clients in Philadelphia and Washington, DC., Meg holds a B.A. from La Salle University and an M.A. in Public Relations, Crisis Communications and Political Rhetoric from the University of Maryland (College Park). She is the former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for La Salle University, where she served a 10-year term until 2022.
Erika M. Dawkins, Psy.D., M.Ed., CSP
Erika M. Dawkins, PsyD, MEd is currently a tenure track Assistant Professor at Widener University and the Clinical Director for Chester Community Coalition both in Chester, PA. In 2014, she completed her Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology and Masters of Education (MEd) in Human Sexuality at Widener University, as part of one of their dual degree programs. Also while at Widener, Dr. Dawkins completed the necessary training in school psychology, and is a certified school psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Howard University in 2008, graduating magna cum laude.
Dr. Dawkins’ clinical and research interests include minority identity development, microaggressions, intersectionality, grief, trauma, couples therapy, sexuality, and more recently, the impact that social media has on self image and the development and maintenance of intra- and interpersonal relationships. In supporting young minorities around having positive, healthy relationships, Dr. Dawkins has had the opportunity to speak with many groups arounds the various challenges they may face, and how to navigate them. She has a passion for working with brown women and couples who are seeking to develop and maintain strong, healthy intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Often using her own life story to motivate and encourage those she encounters; her belief is that transparency and communication are the keys to making the connections we desire. In 2019, Dr. Dawkins opened her boutique therapy, consulting and coaching firm, Revolutionary Perspectives, LLC. Her life philosophy and objective as the owner of Revolutionary Perspectives, LLC is to “Encourage radical change. Inspire far-reaching impact.”
Dr. Dawkins enjoys decorative planning/journaling, attending live music events, lifting weights, and traveling. Dr. Dawkins credits her success thus far to her run full speed ahead attitude, knowing that even if she trips, she can always get back up and get back at it.
Guest Speakers
Liz Sutton
Liz has nearly 20 years’ experience creating programs and experiences where folks have the space to grow and thrive. She just celebrated one year at Heights Philadelphia, a comprehensive non-profit working for social and economic mobility for Philly’s Black and Brown, first generation to college, and low income students. As Associate Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement, she uses what she learned from HOBY and MAPP about relationships, belonging, and mattering to create connected and supportive communities. In addition to her full-time work, Liz teaches yoga and serves as a trainer for the Penn Resilience Program.
In 2022-23, Liz spent a year away from full-time work to recharge, reflect, and figure out her next adventure. (To read more, check out https://lifewithlizsutton.com/blog/.) Before her big break, she served as Director of Advising in the Wharton Undergraduate Division at the University of Pennsylvania. As a volunteer, she chaired the 2021 Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) World Leadership Congress which brought together over 350 high schoolers and volunteers from around the world for a week of connection, education, and growth.
A 2019 MAPP graduate, her capstone focused on perfectionism and meaning for college undergraduates. Liz is particularly interested in our culture of urgency and how it impacts attention and ability to shape our experiences. Liz also holds a masters in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelors in comparative religion from Tufts University. In her spare time, she fangirls over the US Women's Soccer Team, sneaks back on stage for a musical, snuggles her tuxedo cat Minnie, and enjoys all that Philly has to offer with her husband Dixon.