2026-2028
State Officers

SARA RUPPEL
President
Sara Ruppel is thrilled to be serving as the Pennsylvania State President. She began her GFWC journey as a member of the Federated Women’s Club of Hershey and is immensely grateful for their continued support .
A Lancaster County native, her teachers selected her to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) seminar in 1998 as an ambassador and she continued to volunteer at the seminar and on the Board of Trustees for a number of years, focusing on Leadership development opportunities and Alumni programming.
It was through HOBY that Sara learned of GFWC and she encourages members of both organizations to continue working together. Leadership development for all ages continues to be a passion.
She represented Pennsylvania as the 2016 LEADS candidate at the International Convention in Baltimore. Sara has served as GFWC PA International Outreach Program Chairman, GFWC PA Education Chairman, the South-Central District Director, GFWC Pennsylvania Second Vice President and Dean of Chairman and most recently as the GFWC Pennsylvania President Elect and Dean of Directors.
While serving as the International Outreach Program Chairman, Sara became involved in Shot at Life and her (and her husband) are active volunteers traveling to Washington DC, when possible, for the organization’s summit as part of the GFWC delegation.
Sara resides in Marietta, Lancaster County with her husband Mike and their two very spoiled Maine Coon cats. She works in insurance operations. Sara enjoys spending time with her large extended family, traveling, and reading. She loves honeybees and Disney – especially Winnie the Pooh.
CONTACT

sue O'Day
1st Vice President & Dean of Directors
Sue has been a member of GFWC Abington Heights Civic League, Inc. since 1989. She has served her Club as: President for several non-consecutive terms, First Vice President (Fundraising and Programs), Recording Secretary, multiple terms as Treasurer, Chairman of the Dance Department for over 10 years and has served as chairman and committee member on numerous committees.
She served as the Northeastern District’s Art Chairman for 2012-2014, the Crafts Chairman for several years and served as the Northeastern District Director in the 2018-2020 administration. During the 2014-2016 GFWC Pennsylvania administration, she was the chairman of the Education Committee. She was co-chairman of the GFWC Signature Project-Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention for the 2016-2018 administration, held the office of Treasurer for the 2020-2022, Leadership Chairman for the 2022-2024 and 2nd Vice President for the 2024-2026 administrations.
Sue was the recipient of the GFWC PA Jennie Award in 2016, and runner up for the Middle Atlantic Region. She represented Pennsylvania as the LEADS candidate in 2017.
Returning to college as an adult, she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Keystone College in 2008. For the past 30 years, Sue worked for the Abington Heights School District, as Director of Business Services. She retired from this positon in January 2026 and currently works part-time for a School Business Consulting firm.
Sue is an avid biker, book reader, and a collector of rabbits (not real ones!). She lives in Scott Township with her significant other and has a son, a daughter, six granddaughters and one grandson!
CONTACT

Dr. Carrie Ann Wood
2nd Vice President & Dean of Chairman
Dr. Carrie Wood has been an active member of GFWC since 1998 and currently serves as the North Central District Director. She has been the GFWC Pennsylvania convention photographer since 2017. At the club level, she is a past president, as well as the chairman of several committees and projects. Currently she is the Community Impact Program chairman, leading the Christmas decorating and tear down at the town square, litter pickups, and financial reality fairs for high school seniors in six area schools. Carrie is a 2022 LEADS graduate.
Carrie chaired and organized several free community soup giveaways for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Carrie has spoken on Identity Theft and Financial Literacy at state conventions and Summer Leadership, District, and club meetings.
Even though Carrie works full time, she has volunteered an incredible number of hours to area communities, including DuBois Educational Foundation Board Member and Membership Committee, Curwensville Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) Board Member, various sports booster clubs, and softball coach, to name a few. At her church, Carrie is an active member, serving as church lay reader, financial committee chair, Administrative Council, Children’s Church volunteer, former Worship Committee Chair, and Angel Tree volunteer.
In her professional life, Carrie holds a Doctor of Business Administration, Leadership, from Liberty University, and is employed by CNB Bank as a Senior Vice President of Experience (Onboarding & Engagement, Learning & Development, Financial Education, Client Experience, and Experience Analytics). She holds the Certified Financial Marketing Professional credential. Formerly, she served as the CEO of a small credit union for 16 years, in addition to holding positions in marketing, information technology, and management. Carrie received a 2023 Top 12 Volunteer Award at CNB Bank and was Curwensville School District’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year.
Carrie and her husband Aaron were married in 2002 and have two beautiful children, Parker, 20, a sophomore at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA (exercise science and kinesiology), and Isabella, 17, a senior at Curwensville Area JSHS. They reside in Curwensville with their children and 10-year-old labrador retriever, Maxwell Blue.
CONTACT
Coming Soon

Tracy Mueller
Secretary
Tracy Mueller joined the Federation in 2018 with the Pocono Mountain Women’s Club and quickly immersed herself in all things club-related. To fully understand what all the different projects were, she took on the role of Reports Chairman. With a passion for fundraising, she assumed the role of Fundraising Chairman as well.
She was elected to the board and served as 2nd Vice President and President. During her time with the Pocono Mountain Women’s Club, she led the club women to win 6 state-level awards, inspired participation in the arts programs, and formed an ESO book club. She is proud to have won 3rd place at the international level in member photography in 2023. Tracy was also the Pennsylvania State Leads Graduate for 2023 and served as the Northeastern District Membership Chairman. She was also honored to be selected to serve as a member of the very first GFWC International Membership Taskforce.
Tracy moved on and is a member of and the Legislative Chairman of the Abington Heights Civic League and Founding Member and Treasurer of The Keystone Cyber League of GFWC PA. She is also serving as the GFWC PA State Secretary for the 2026-2028 administration.
Professionally, Tracy retired from the casino industry in 2020 after 25 years in table games. She dabbles in direct marketing as an Independent Sales Representative with Market Place Global and also as a Kleo Kolor Brand Partner. She is currently the Judge of Elections in the Pocono 4 District. Her hobbies include traveling with her husband, Larry, dog shows with her Saint Bernards, kayaking, cardmaking, and all things bling!
CONTACT

kathy cassel
Treasurer
Kathy has been an active member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs for 27 years. She joined The Woman’s Club of Perkasie in 1996 having served her club as President (2000-2002), Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer as, as well as chairing numerous departments and committees through the years, including Membership, Evening Division, Movie night, Festival of Arts (Arts and Culture), Fashion Show and assisting with publications for events.
Kathy has also held positions at the County level for Bucks County serving as President for three (3) terms, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and chaired numerous departments and committees.
At the state level, Kathy is presently serving as Southeastern District Director (2022-2024), and has previously served as Arts and Culture Chair (2020-2022) and served one term on the Bylaws Committee.
Kathy is presently working as a Pennsylvania licensed Realtor with RE/MAX Reliance. She has been a Realtor for 36 years during those 25 years she owned her own Property Management Company for 300-500 units. Management included handling budgeting for all the units, showing, processing applications, verifying information, running both credit and criminal background checks, and overseeing Escrow accounts for all the units. During the ‘80s she managed three (2) HR Block offices, and was finance chair of her church for 6 years (2012-2018).
Her interests include horses, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and spoiling her 5 grandchildren. Kathy, and her husband, Ken, who are Junior High School sweethearts have been married for 47 years. They have one son and two daughters / two wonderful sons-in-law and five grandchildren ranging in ages from 8-18.
CONTACT
“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”
— Helen Keller
Join a Club Near You
Reach out to our membership chairman for help finding a club near you.
For general inquiries, contact Headquarters below or the Chairman of a specific program or advancement area.
1301 Allegheny Street, Suite 119
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
T: 814-317-6489
info@gfwcpennsylvania.org



