The West Chester Downtown Foundation (WCDF) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that promotes community interest in the vitality, culture, and livability of Downtown West Chester through education, preservation and collaboration. We sponsor events and support projects relating to the enhancement of the Borough of West Chester:
About Us
PROUDLY PARTNERING WITH
The WCDF supports the West Chester Business Improvement District's efforts to brand West Chester as a destination, keep our downtown sidewalks clean, and maintain the permanent planters with attractive seasonal planting.
Leadership
Christopher Hazley
PRESIDENT
Christopher Hazley is the point-person behind Hazley Builders Service Division, having joined the family business in 2016. The Hazley name has been associated with building and improving quality homes in West Chester and Chester County for over four decades. Upon graduating from Henderson High School, Chris went on to Virginia Tech where he was an all-conference kicker for the Virginia Tech Football Team, president of his fraternity, and active member in the Blacksburg community. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Chris spent 5 years in the insurance services industry with Lincoln Financial Group, working with advisors in Maryland and Virginia where he was securities licensed and responsible for understanding and positioning complex investment and insurance products. Chris currently lives in the borough and has a deep appreciation for the history and culture of West Chester while also recognizing the work and dedication required for its continued prosperity and development. He is actively involved with the Up On the Roof event as well as the Andrew L. Hicks, Jr. Foundation.
Kathy Wileczek
TREASURER
Kathy is a Certified Public Accountant in West Chester. With over twenty-five years in the practice of public accounting, her expertise includes extensive work with clients in manufacturing, construction, real estate, technology, professional services and not-for-profit entities. She works with business owners and executive directors to develop and support accounting and financial needs. As a long-term West Chester resident, Kathy is actively involved in business and community events and the support of local non-profits. She is an active member of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce and served as Secretary to the West Chester Business Improvement District and on the March of Dimes Chester County Women of Achievement committee.
Holly Brown
BOARD MEMBER
For the past 25 years Holly has been closely connected with the revitalization of West Chester Borough. First as a member of the initial Downtown Committee, then as a member of the Main Street Program. That program initiated a committee to organize a Business Improvement District which she helped to create, and then was selected as a board member. After two years on the BID, Holly was elected to Borough Council where she served for 8 years, as president for four years. During that time she helped oversee the construction of the new Chestnut Street garage, the development of a Retail overlay district, and worked on ordinances that helped the economic development of the Downtown. She has most recently served as Vice Chair of the West Chester comprehensive plan committee, President of the BID, and member of the committee that restored and returned the historic fountain to Marshall Square Park.
Deb Sparre
BOARD MEMBER
Debra is a Chester County native born in Coatesville, reared in West Grove, and living in West Chester for the last 40+ years. She has been involved in mortgage lending and real estate sales for the last 13 years, most recently as a Realtor with RE/MAX Direct in West Chester. She currently lives in East Bradford Town...ship with her husband Rob Sparre. Debra graduated from West Chester University and Johns Hopkins University, holding a Master’s degree in Sociology and Social Research. Prior to her current career, she owned a small business called The Gift Basket, Inc., for 15 years, with the Dilworthtown Inn and QVC her biggest clients. Debra is an active member and past Board Member of the Rotary Club of West Chester, and also serves as a Board Member of the Hickman Home for Senior Living. She has been a regular sponsor of the West Chester Preservation Awards.
Allen Burke
BOARD MEMBER
Allen Burke has loved living in the Borough of West Chester since 1997. He serves on the Borough Planning Commission. He also serves as Chairman of WCDF’s Preservation Awards Committee. On two different occasions Allen and his wife have been co-chairs of the Chester County Antiques Show which is the largest fundraiser for the Chester County Historical Society. He retired from QVC where he worked for 14 years. He currently works as a consultant in the cosmetics industry.
Melissa Willson
BOARD MEMBER
Melissa Willson is the Communications, Events, and Marketing Manager for the Chester County Bar Association. Prior to her position at the CCBA, Melissa spent 10 years in the hospitality industry holding various positions as Meetings & Events Manager, Sales Manager, and Director of Sales for hotel companies such as Hyatt and IHG. She currently is a resident of the Borough of West Chester. For the Downtown Foundation Melissa supports the annual Up on the Roof event, which benefits West Chester Downtown. Melissa graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Hotel Management.
Jeff Burke
BOARD MEMBER
Jeffrey P. Burke is an associate attorney working in MacElree Harvey’s Employment and Litigation practice groups. Jeff counsels businesses and individuals on employment agreements, equal employment policies, non-competition agreements, independent contracting issues, and other employment-related matters. Jeff also represents businesses and individuals in employment discrimination litigation, such as Americans with Disability Act claims, Age Discrimination in Employment Act claims, discrimination based upon sex, race or religion, sexual harassment, and hostile work environment. As an experienced litigator, Jeff also frequently handles contract, real estate leasing, construction and shareholder disputes, to name a few.
Prior to joining MacElree Harvey, Jeff worked for six years at an insurance defense litigation firm where he represented clients across multiple disciplines in State and Federal Court, including employment discrimination, personal injury, civil rights, product liability, and construction litigation. Before that, Jeff was an associate with a small-size, general practice law firm focusing on criminal defense as well as civil and domestic litigation.
Jeff is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was a recipient of the Class of 2008 Community Service Award. Prior to attending law school, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, with minors in Economics and Political Science.
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Lindsey Tracey
SECRETARY
Lindsey is the Head of Janney Montgomery Scott’s Advisory Solutions in Philadelphia, PA. Lindsey combines her experience in both Managed Account product and platform development with her understanding of the importance of a comprehensive financial planning service model, to deliver a robust platform to Financial Advisors and their clients. Lindsey loves spending time with her family and giving back to her community.
Lindsey serves as Secretary on the board of the West Chester Downtown Foundation, chairs the Up on the Roof party and serves on the Advisory Board of the YMCA. She is married, and has two children, Elaine and Tobias. When not cheering on Philadelphia sport teams, she enjoys gardening, playing tennis with the family, and trusting the 76ers process. Lindsey is a graduate of Neumann University where she earned a BS in Sports Management and an MS in Organizational & Strategic Leadership.
Tracy Sammarone
BOARD MEMBER
Tracy has worked in the Property/Casualty Insurance field for over thirty years and has served as a Commercial Account Manager at Arthur Hall Insurance in downtown West Chester for the last nineteen of those. She has lived in either the Borough of West Chester or in neighboring East Bradford Township ever since graduating from West Chester University and was born and raised in southern Chester County. She has always volunteered her time to various local organizations and events and she currently serves as a member of the YMCA Advisory Board of Directors. From 2005-2022 she served as the Chairperson for the Up On the Roof event which is the largest fundraising event for the West Chester Downtown Foundation. In 2014 she completed a two-year term as President of the Board of the West Chester Downtown Foundation and she now serves as Chairperson for the WCDF Grants Committee.
Roy Smith
BOARD MEMBER
Roy became a resident of West Chester in 1998 and has been actively involved in the Borough by serving on the first Historic & Architectural Review Board, the Planning Commission, the Zoning Hearing Board and the West Chester Business Improvement District Board. He is now actively involved on the board of the Uptown! Entertainment Alliance. His passion for, and involvement in, historic preservation is indicated by his long association with Preservation Pennsylvania, Preservation Action and its Foundation, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, all of which led to his being named by WCDF as the first West Chester Preservationist of the Year in 2013. A chemical engineering graduate from LSU, he retired in 1992 after 30 years with DuPont.
Jonathan Bowdler
BOARD MEMBER
After graduating from Penn State University, Jonathan began working for a local West Chester builder. While managing numerous jobs in the heart of West Chester, Jonathan knew he wanted to become a resident. Jonathan and his wife now live in the borough and love to walk to their favorite restaurants and shops. Jonathan now works with his father in the insurance industry where they specialize as property and casualty insurance brokers.
Mike Reese
Chair, Business Improvement District
Mike Reese currently serves as Senior Vice-President of Treasury Sales for Fulton Bank. Mike is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Finance and Saint Joseph’s University with an MBA with a concentration in finance. Mike lives in the borough with his wife and two children. Mike currently serves on as the Chair of the West Chester Business Improvement District Board of Director’s and on the board of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.
with
John O'Brien
Executive Director, Business Improvement District
John O’Brien joined the West Chester Business Improvement District as Executive Director in July 2020. Previously he served as the Communications Director & Senior Policy Advisor for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Appropriation Committee. John is a lifelong resident of West Chester and a two-time graduate of West Chester University, having received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2010 and his Master of Business Administration in 2016.
As the head of the Business Improvement District, John works to help grow and support the over 400 small businesses located in Downtown West Chester. The BID serves as the economic development and tourism agency for the Borough of West Chester. In his role he serves as the spokesperson and primary advocate for the business community in West Chester. John leads a team whose mission is to recruit new business to West Chester, attract more customers and to make sure the local business community has a voice with the local, state and federal governments.
