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DVREDF works with local businesses and organizations to cultivate employment, improve neighborhoods, and strengthen the five-county region. Find out if your organization is eligible and take the next step towards partnering with DVREDF by filling out our pre-application.

Staff & Board

Thomas J. Ellis, Esq., President and Board Chair

Thomas Ellis is an attorney at the law firm of Duane Morris. He serves as Special Counsel to Duane Morris LLP in its Corporate Practice Group, concentrating in municipal finance. He also is Managing Director of Pennsylvania Government Affairs for DMGS in its Philadelphia office. Mr. Ellis has served as a Cheltenham Township Commissioner, Chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Montgomery County Treasurer. He served on the board of Independence Blue Cross and was Governor’s representative to the SEPTA Board from 2010 until February 2015, having been Montgomery County’s representative for ten years prior to that. Mr. Ellis also served on Governor Corbett’s transition teams for both transportation and state. He also served on the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers (“PABL”) and continues to be an active member of PABL. Mr. Ellis served as Pennsylvania Counsel to the Delaware River Port Authority, and currently serves on the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.

Anthony DiSandro, Treasurer

Tony DiSandro is the former CEO of PSB Bancorp, a public bank holding company, and CEO of its subsidiary, First Penn Bank. Tony held this post for 29 years and worked in the banking industry for more than 40 years. He is dedicated to DVREDF’s mission of regional job creation and community development.

Gaetano P. Piccirilli, Secretary

Gaetano Piccirilli is a partner at the law firm of Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP. Gaetano is active in the civic and non-profit realm. Presently, he is the Chairperson of the Caring People Alliance, a large non-profit serving families and communities in Philadelphia. In 2019, CPA was awarded a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to serve as Philadelphia County’s Early Learning Resource Center—the largest in the state. Since 2016, Gaetano has been a member of Philadelphia’s Tax Review Board. Additionally, in 2019 he was reappointed as a member of the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, the regulatory body responsible for the regulation, licensure, and discipline of 50,000 real estate professionals in Pennsylvania. He previously served from 2008-2013, and in 2013, he was elected Chairman of the Commission.

Board of Directors:

Albert Mezzaroba

Al Mezzaroba is the former president and CEO of Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, Pa. Prior to his position at the hospital, he completed a five-year tenure as President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and served as Chief Legal Counsel for Anna Verna, President of the City Council of Philadelphia.

Executive Director:

John Coffman

As Executive Director of DVREDF, John Coffman spearheads the organization’s mission to provide financing to eligible businesses and non-profits for projects dedicated to creating jobs and economic development. John has experience in government, grantmaking, and not-for-profit business. He is the former Director of External Affairs at Lower Bucks Hospital. John was the liaison between the hospital and government agencies. He was the spokesperson and represented the hospital at various committees and community events. In addition, John managed marketing and grant writing for the hospital. Prior to Lower Bucks Hospital, he worked for Senator Robert M. Tomlinson of Bucks County .

For information about the DVREDF back-to-business loan program, please check back in July. Details on partnership organizations and how to apply for loans will be shared at that time. Details on our other loan programs can be found on the Financing section of this website.