leadership team

The PLF Leadership Team provides direction and oversight to the three primary areas of focus of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation
– Leadership Development, Pittsburgh Prays and Community Service.

LEE KRICHER | PRESIDENT

Dr. Lee Kricher is the President of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, providing vision and oversight of the mission of PLF which brings leaders together for the good of our city. Lee is also the Founder of Future Forward Churches, and author of For a New Generation and Seamless Pastoral Transition, books about the dramatic transformation of the church he pastored from an aging, dying church into a growing, multi-generational church. Lee previously served as Vice President of Leadership Development for Development Dimensions International and Regional Vice President for Linkage, Inc. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Geneva College, a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

lkricher@plf.org

DOUG SMITH | DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Doug Smith helps to oversee the fulfillment of PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to learn. He is particularly passionate about investing in the Emerging Leaders of Pittsburgh. Doug is also the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission, a not-for-profit organization that brings hope and healing for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. He is the Founder of L3 Leadership, a leadership development organization that connects and develops next generation leaders through podcasts, training, and the L3 One Day Conference. Doug earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.

MATT GEPPERT | DIRECTOR, PITTSBURGH PRAYS

Matt Geppert is the point person for PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to pray, including bringing dozens of leaders together for prayer walks in various parts of our city, bringing hundreds of leaders together for an annual city-wide prayer breakfast, and bringing thousands of leaders together to pray at Heinz Field in July 2022. Matt also serves as the President of SEAPC, an international prayer and missions organization whose US office is located in Oakmont, PA, and whose mission is to witness a world connected through prayer and passionate about meeting the needs of others. He serves as an advisor and on the board of several non-profit organizations, churches, and international prayer/missions ministries. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and is an ordained minister through Elim Fellowship. 
matt@seapc.org

JOEL GRAY | DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SERVICE

Joel Gray helps to coordinate PLF community service events under the banner of “PLF Care,” which is all about turning our prayers for our city into action, and includes events such as Amen to Action -> the packing of one million meals each November in churches across our city for distribution by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and School Supplies for Kids -> the packing of thousands of educations packs for schools benefiting from The Education Partnership. Gray owns CoNetwork, LLC. Gray earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Sport Management and a Master of Science in Competitive Intelligence Systems from Robert Morris University.
joel@conetworkllc.com

LEE KRICHER | PRESIDENT

Dr. Lee Kricher is the President of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, providing vision and oversight of the mission of PLF which brings leaders together for the good of our city. Lee is also the Founder of Future Forward Churches, and author of For a New Generation and Seamless Pastoral Transition, books about the dramatic transformation of the church he pastored from an aging, dying church into a growing, multi-generational church. Lee previously served as Vice President of Leadership Development for Development Dimensions International and Regional Vice President for Linkage, Inc. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Geneva College, a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

lkricher@plf.org

DOUG SMITH | DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Doug Smith helps to oversee the fulfillment of PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to learn. He is particularly passionate about investing in the Emerging Leaders of Pittsburgh. Doug is also the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission, a not-for-profit organization that brings hope and healing for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. He is the Founder of L3 Leadership, a leadership development organization that connects and develops next generation leaders through podcasts, training, and the L3 One Day Conference. Doug earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.

MATT GEPPERT | DIRECTOR, PITTSBURGH PRAYS

Matt Geppert is the point person for PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to pray, including bringing dozens of leaders together for prayer walks in various parts of our city, bringing hundreds of leaders together for an annual city-wide prayer breakfast, and bringing thousands of leaders together to pray at Heinz Field in July 2022. Matt also serves as the President of SEAPC, an international prayer and missions organization whose US office is located in Oakmont, PA, and whose mission is to witness a world connected through prayer and passionate about meeting the needs of others. He serves as an advisor and on the board of several non-profit organizations, churches, and international prayer/missions ministries. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and is an ordained minister through Elim Fellowship. 
matt@seapc.org

JOEL GRAY | DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SERVICE

Joel Gray helps to coordinate PLF community service events under the banner of “PLF Care,” which is all about turning our prayers for our city into action, and includes events such as Amen to Action -> the packing of one million meals each November in churches across our city for distribution by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and School Supplies for Kids -> the packing of thousands of educations packs for schools benefiting from The Education Partnership. Gray owns CoNetwork, LLC. Gray earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Sport Management and a Master of Science in Competitive Intelligence Systems from Robert Morris University.
joel@conetworkllc.com

LEE KRICHER | PRESIDENT

Dr. Lee Kricher is the President of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, providing vision and oversight of the mission of PLF which brings leaders together for the good of our city. Lee is also the Founder of Future Forward Churches, and author of For a New Generation and Seamless Pastoral Transition, books about the dramatic transformation of the church he pastored from an aging, dying church into a growing, multi-generational church. Lee previously served as Vice President of Leadership Development for Development Dimensions International and Regional Vice President for Linkage, Inc. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Geneva College, a Master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

lkricher@plf.org

DOUG SMITH | DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Doug Smith helps to oversee the fulfillment of PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to learn. He is particularly passionate about investing in the Emerging Leaders of Pittsburgh. Doug is also the Director of Development at Light of Life Rescue Mission, a not-for-profit organization that brings hope and healing for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. He is the Founder of L3 Leadership, a leadership development organization that connects and develops next generation leaders through podcasts, training, and the L3 One Day Conference. Doug earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.

MATT GEPPERT | DIRECTOR, PITTSBURGH PRAYS

Matt Geppert is the point person for PLF’s mission to bring Christ-centered leaders of our city together to pray, including bringing dozens of leaders together for prayer walks in various parts of our city, bringing hundreds of leaders together for an annual city-wide prayer breakfast, and bringing thousands of leaders together to pray at Heinz Field in July 2022. Matt also serves as the President of SEAPC, an international prayer and missions organization whose US office is located in Oakmont, PA, and whose mission is to witness a world connected through prayer and passionate about meeting the needs of others. He serves as an advisor and on the board of several non-profit organizations, churches, and international prayer/missions ministries. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and is an ordained minister through Elim Fellowship. 
matt@seapc.org

JOEL GRAY | DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SERVICE

Joel Gray helps to coordinate PLF community service events under the banner of “PLF Care,” which is all about turning our prayers for our city into action, and includes events such as Amen to Action -> the packing of one million meals each November in churches across our city for distribution by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and School Supplies for Kids -> the packing of thousands of educations packs for schools benefiting from The Education Partnership. Gray owns CoNetwork, LLC. Gray earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Sport Management and a Master of Science in Competitive Intelligence Systems from Robert Morris University.
joel@conetworkllc.com