- Dave RowanChief Executive Officer
- Ted AicherChief Financial Officer
- Kathleen HarveyController
- Jim DowneyDevelopment Manager
- Jeff GibsonDevelopment Manager
- Katie Rose ThorntonDirector, Marketing & Communications
- Laura ScheuerleAdministrative Assistant
Dave Rowan
DRowan@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2305
Dave Rowan joined BLOCS in September 2019 as the Chief Executive Officer. Rowan has over 30 years of experience in the Sports and Entertainment industries. Most recently, Rowan served as Chief Operating Officer of the National Lacrosse League (2016-2019), and previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of the Philadelphia Union (2010-2016).
Notably, Rowan made his mark as Vice President of Corporate Sales and Service for the Eagles in 1998 and played a major role in closing one of the largest stadium naming rights deals in NFL history with Lincoln Financial Group, as well as the largest deal for a team practice facility with NovaCare Rehabilitation. His department continued to thrive during the inaugural season of Lincoln Financial Field, establishing the Eagles as one of the top revenue-producing teams in the NFL.
Rowan spent three seasons as the Director of Corporate Sales for the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he helped to develop the corporate sales plan for the team in its first year of existence. Rowan’s Staff quickly established the Jaguars as the model for future NFL Expansion in revenue generation and event creation. Rowan developed the Jaguars Training Camp as a business model that is now in place for most NFL teams.
The 1984 Penn State graduate has also held esteemed positions with the Philadelphia Phillies, Spectacor Management Group and CBS. Rowan, a Conshohocken, PA resident, and his wife, Celeste, have four children, Courtney, Drew, Maggie and Kylie.
Ted Aicher
taicher@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2306
Since 2016, Ted Aicher has served as BLOCS’ Chief Financial Officer, where he is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s corporate finance function. A key member of the BLOCS Executive Management team, Aicher was instrumental in spearheading the program’s expansive growth, which now provides over 16,000 partial tuition scholarships to Philadelphia-area families in need.
A financial executive with over thirty years of experience in the financial services and nonprofit industries, Aicher has excelled in building culture within his team through an effective leadership style, which paves the way for increased productivity, collaboration and cross-functional cooperation. His expertise includes: treasury, controllership, financial analysis, budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, SEC reporting and investor relations.
From 2004-2016, Aicher served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary at Penn Liberty Bank, where he helped grow the company to over $675 million in total assets and 10 branch locations. Prior to that role, Aicher held Senior Vice President positions at First Federal Bank (2003-2004), Citizens Bank (2003) and Commonwealth Bank (1999-2003). He also served in esteemed positions with Comnet Mortgage Services (a division of Commonwealth Bank), and Arthur Andersen & Co.
Aicher is a Pennsylvania-licensed Certified Public Accountant as well as a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He volunteers as Treasurer and Director of Hope Springs Equestrian Therapy, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional or behavioral disabilities by providing them with affordable therapeutic horseback riding and associated special education of the highest possible quality, in a warm, safe and familiar environment.
A 1987 graduate of La Salle University, Aicher resides in Cochranville, PA.
Kathleen Harvey
kharvey@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2307
Kathleen Harvey joined BLOCS in 2013 as Senior Financial Analyst responsible for the organization’s accounts payable/receivable, financial and fund reporting, audit preparation, as well as handling deposits, payment processing and bank reconciliations, and was promoted to Controller in September 2020.
Harvey’s ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to take on increased executive leadership of daily finance and accounting operations, rendered her a prime candidate for promotion to Controller. In her new role, Harvey will manage the financial aspects of the tax credit program’s special purpose entities, (LLC’s) as well as leading the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) Economically Disadvantaged Schools program; projects for which she has already assumed responsibility and in which she has excelled.
Kathleen led the Board of Directors’ Scholarship Committee through the process to remove the “red tape” associated with the organization’s Emergency Scholarship Fund (ESF), to process and fulfill more than 2,200 emergency scholarships requested in only a few months, in response to COVID-19 related hardships. This demand exponentially eclipses the previous number of scholarship requests — less than 200 for the entire year. She will also serve as the team’s primary contact for the firm appointed to handle the annual audit.
With nearly thirty years of experience in corporate accounting and finance in healthcare, industrial services and insurance industries, Kathleen specializes in the development of detailed reporting systems and bookkeeping, allowing the organization to properly forecast, analyze and track all revenue and expenses. Having managed the financial and human resource aspects of various companies over the course of her career, her skills lie in working both independently as well as collaborating with internal and external constituents to increase productivity and improve the company’s overall operating efficiencies.
Her previous roles included bookkeeping, office manager and Controller for Pyramed Health Systems, Bookminders, Meehan Construction Services, Personal Health Care, The Gleason Agency, Ceco Filters and Amerigas.
Harvey is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (1991). She and her husband Matt reside in King of Prussia, PA with their two children, Madalyn (18) and Matthew (16).
Jim Downey
jdowney@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2304
Jim Downey joined the BLOCS team in 2014. In his role as Development Manager, Downey leads the promotion of the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) training programs while increasing visibility for BLOCS. Downey’s efforts in training tax professionals and development managers at over 120 organizations and schools led to a significant increase in the pipeline of new donor prospects, as well as the creation of schools’ development & alumni boards. His marketing efforts focus around educating stakeholders (both businesses and individuals) on the availability of tax credits, while helping to satisfy their affinity for creating greater academic opportunities for area families in need. In FY 18-19, Downey was responsible for raising $7M in scholarship monies via tax credit funds, helping to increase BLOCS’ overall revenue to $46M.
Downey is a results-driven leader with over 40 years of sales and operations experience. His exceptional business acumen and commitment to providing the highest quality service experience for his clients and donors have allowed Downey to excel in consistently achieving his sales and fundraising goals year over year.
Prior to joining the BLOCS team, Downey held sales & operations management positions at Synergy Orthopedic (2010-14), Bio-Skin (2006-2010), Classic Soft Trim (2002-04), AAMCO Transmissions (1994-02), and Coyne Textile (1990-94).
A 1980 alumnus of Widener University, Downey has remained active in high school and collegiate athletics – having officiated for over 40 years as a NCAA Division I football official as well as coaching high school basketball for over 10 years. Downey currently serves as the Assistant Girls Basketball coach at Marple Newtown High School. Downey and his wife Tina reside in Havertown, PA and have two children and one grandchild.
Jeff Gibson
jgibson@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2303
Jeff Gibson joined BLOCS as Development Manager in 2013. In his role, Gibson is primarily responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with corporate and private donors in order to advance the BLOCS mission among the Philadelphia business community. His efforts in training area schools’ administration and staff have paved the way for identifying a pipeline of greater philanthropic support for area families in need. In FY 2018-19 alone, Gibson and his team successfully raised $15M in new tax credit revenue helping to catapult BLOCS’ overall revenue to $46M, nearly a 40% increase in one year.
Gibson brings over sixteen years of sales and account management experience to the BLOCS staff, in the pharmaceutical, construction and non-profit industries. A results-oriented professional with a proven record of driving revenue, his strengths lie in lead development, strategic account management, and developing and maintaining long-term relationships with external constituents.
Prior to joining the BLOCS team, Gibson held sales roles at Impriano Roofing & Siding (2010-2012), Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (2002-2009) and CertainTeed Corporation (1999-2002).
Gibson is an alumnus of the former Our Lady of Perpetual Help (now Our Lady of Angels Regional), Cardinal O’Hara High School (1994) and Cabrini University (1999). He currently sits on both the St. Pius X (Broomall, PA) endowment board and the Cardinal O’Hara development committees. Gibson and his wife Melissa reside in Broomall, PA with their children Madison (14) and Jake (11).
Katie Rose Thornton
kthornton@BLOCS.org
(484) 704-2301
Katie Rose Thornton joined the BLOCS team as Director of Marketing & Communications in January 2020. In her role, Thornton will develop a mission-based comprehensive Marketing and Communications Plan, inclusive of all social/digital and public/community relations strategies and tactics. Thornton will also spearhead all the planning and execution of special events, namely the Annual Gala.
Katie Rose brings extensive experience in strategic marketing communications, development and fundraising in higher education, professional sports and collegiate athletics. Her expertise lies in working collaboratively across channels, at all levels within an organization, both internally and externally. She has demonstrated success in every facet of external operations, namely revenue generation. As a former athlete, her competitive mindset fuels her desire to set, communicate and achieve buy-in around strategic goals.
From 2017-2019, Thornton served as the Vice President, Strategy & Account Management for POV Sports Marketing where her team developed sports sponsorship strategy for: Stroehmann, Firstrust Bank and Wawa. Thornton held marketing and development positions with Villanova University and Miami University (OH); as well as account management roles with Cramer-Krasselt, LevLane Advertising and J. Walter Thompson, helping to manage the regional advertising plans for brands including Porsche, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, KFC & Taco Bell. Thornton began her career as a member of the corporate service and sales team with the Philadelphia Eagles, after which she was Executive Assistant for former Eagle Wide Receiver Terrell Owens.
In the spring of 2019, Thornton was named the first female President of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Delaware County Chapter as well as Executive Vice President overseeing the Eastern PA Region Chapters. In her role as President, she manages all fundraising, marketing and special events for the chapter, leading a board of twenty-two directors.
Thornton is a 2003 graduate and former Division I field hockey player at Columbia University in New York and resides in Newtown Square, PA.
Laura Scheuerle
lscheuerle@blocs.org
(484) 704-2302
Laura Scheuerle was named Administrative Assistant in April 2021. Scheuerle, (pronounced “Shirley”), will handle all administrative support for the CEO & CFO, special project management and marketing support.
Scheuerle’s career spans thirty years in executive event management, consulting, and sales. Her expertise lies in planning and executing corporate networking events, Board of Directors meetings, program development, corporate communications, sales and marketing, negotiation and providing project management oversight to affiliate organizations.
Prior to joining the BLOCS team, Laura held positions with the CEO Alliance of Philadelphia, Elizabeth Maar Boutique, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), KYW Newsradio 1060AM, Eagle 106.1FM and Smooth Jazz WJJZ.; as well as Volunteer positions as Mother’s Club President of St. Joseph’s Prep and Women’s Committee member with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Scheuerle is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She and her husband reside in Gladwyne, PA. Laura, a proud mother to four boys, enjoys spending time at her home in Longport, NJ.
