ABOUT US
The Verona Community Group was established in 2018 as an organization of Verona residents with a mission to connect and engage all community members of Verona to collaborate for a better borough. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization spearheaded by four officers, consisting of a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer as well as multiple member-at-large positions.
We welcome all community members to join us for meetings, happy hours, and special events! Our community is full of talented, diverse individuals and families just like you. As a united group, we can work to build an even better Verona.
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JESSICA VARONE
Chair
Day Job: Project Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs national office.
Why Verona? I moved to Verona with my husband in 2017 because we loved the small town feel and walkability of the community, along with its close proximity to the city.
Fun Fact: I’ve been told I make the best margarita you’ve ever tasted!
KATHY MATTOCKS
Vice Chair
(Member of the Financial Committee)
Day Job: Supervisor of Banking and Cash of the UPMC Treasury Department.
Why Verona? I was working in Verona in 2006 where I met my husband who has been a Verona homeowner since 2000. We are still in the same home though it has been converted from the bachelor pad that it was. I’m happy to call Verona home.
Fun Fact: I am passionate about litter! My husband and I clean up litter regularly on the streets of Verona. I created the ‘Litter Gitters of Verona’ Facebook group and recently reinstated the Adopt-A-Street program.
Luke Mattocks
Secretary
Day Job: Purchasing Agent at Bunting Graphics in Verona
Why Verona? I built my first boat at the age of fifteen and have always been drawn to water. Prior to buying my house in Verona, I lived directly across the river on the water in Blawnox.
Fun Fact: I’ve done a lot of water skiing in my time including a season that began in April and ended in November (wet suit)! I have also triple barefoot skied with a friend and brother on Rice Lake in Canada.
RHEA HOMA
Treasurer
(Member of the Financial Committee)
Day Job: Project Coordinator for ReImagine Food Systems of the Turtle Creek Watershed and Environmental Activist.
Why Verona? Kismet. My partner and I were drawn to a lovely house in Verona in 2018. Once moved in, I fell in love with the welcoming nature of fellow Veronians, walkability, variety of fun events, and opportunities to get involved within the community.
Fun Fact: I live with 5 ferrets who are named after different places that I have traveled. I also loved talking about all things eco and lead Verona’s SEE Green Sustainability group.
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BRIDGET SEERY
Member at Large
Day Job: Union Organizer for United Steelworkers
Why Verona? After looking for a commercial building for 2 years Robert Geiselhart and I found a great building on Allegheny River Blvd. which was affordable and of good size for his sports performance facility. It also happened to be 5 minutes from his parents at the time which was a bonus. Proximity to downtown was also something we liked about the location.
Fun Fact: I am an avid scrapbooked and run a small business selling Creative Memories.
TURQUOISE RICHARDS
Member at Large
Day Job: I’m a full time mother of a 12 year old boy!
Why Verona?: I moved to Verona In October 2022. I wanted to start off fresh to get away from the city life for a while, and I also wanted to move to a community where I could make a difference.
Fun Fact: I’m a very outspoken person, I love to work with the kiddos and I believe in changing for the better.
ERICA MURRAY
Member at Large
I moved to Verona in 2013 from Bloomfield where I had lived most of my adult life in Pittsburgh. I grew up in Monroeville and have a BA in Writing from Pitt. After college I moved to San Francisco where I lived for 10 years before returning to Bloomfield momentarily before then moving to Seattle. In 2010 I returned to Bloomfield and began nursing school at Shadyside SON. I began to fall in love with Verona while seeing patients as a hospice RN and was lucky to be able to buy a house on Penn St, which I adore. I enjoy my garden and being able to easily kayak and I am excited to finally become involved with the Verona community!
DONATIONS
Your donations to VCG are tax-deductible!
If you’d like to contribute to the Verona Community Group, you can do so in several ways:
Check: Made payable to Verona Community Group, P.O. Box 95, Verona, PA 15147
Venmo: @veronacommunitygroup