PHOTO: Jim Warfel (center) holds the commemorative photo collage of CMS memories presented to him by CMS Board President Michael Yeager (left) and Executive Director Jeff Reed (right). The board recognized Jim’s retirement with a luncheon and accolades at its final meeting of the 2024-2025 year on June 9, 2025.
Longtime Board Director and Vice President James Warfel, Ed.D retired from the CMS Board of Directors on June 30, 2025, after 13+ years of dedicated service. Jim joined the CMS Board in 2012 and served as Vice President from 2016 to 2025. The board honored Jim’s service with a luncheon during the Board of Directors Annual Meeting on June 9, 2025, where he was presented with many accolades and a commemorative photo collage of CMS memories.
Jim was recruited to the Board in 2012 by then CMS Board President, Bob Nagle, who coincidentally was the uncle of current CMS Board President Michael Yeager. In addition to being neighbors in New Tripoli, Jim and Bob were well acquainted professionally through the Northwestern Lehigh School District, where Bob was Superintendent. Bob first hired Jim as a curriculum coordinator for Northwestern. Over the next 15 years, Jim became the District’s first Assistant Superintendent and then the first principal of Northwestern Lehigh Middle School. To advance his 46-year career in public K-12 and higher education, Jim earned a B.A at LaSalle University in Political Science/Education, a M.A. at the College of New Jersey (Trenton State College) in Special Education, and an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration at Temple University. During the war in Vietnam, he served as a First Lieutenant in the First U.S. Army Infantry. He initially studied to be a phlebotomist, but was then recruited to be an adviser to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion.
Jim fondly recalled that Bob was known for recruiting people to join him in his nonprofit endeavors and then quickly depart. As expected, Bob soon retired from his service at CMS, but thankfully, Jim stayed. Over his 13+ years of service to CMS, Jim led and was closely involved in many pivotal strategic decisions that shaped and advanced CMS to the organization it is today. Each initiative was undertaken with Jim’s hallmark calming presence, thoughtful questions, and unwavering dedication to the mission of CMS and its students. In 2014, when former CMS Director Carolyn Clarke announced her retirement, Jim headed the search committee that ultimately recruited and hired Jeff Reed as Director, now Executive Director of CMS in 2015. Of that particular experience, Jim says that the “best aspect of my service to CMS was leading the search committee that resulted in Jeff’s hiring.” Jim also played a key role in the 2017 strategic planning process that guided the move of CMS from the second floor of Miller Symphony Hall on Sixth Street to its current home at 1544 Hamilton Street. He was also instrumental in refining the organization’s key strategic objectives during the 2021 strategic planning process.
Even in his “retirement,” Jim and his wife Mary, also a longtime CMS volunteer and Brunch committee member, remain steadfast in their commitment to supporting the mission of Community Music School and its students. Over the past 13 years, they have both generously given of their time, talent, and treasure as loyal donors, table sponsors and volunteers at many Brunch fundraisers, helpers at musical instrument petting zoos at community events, and ushers at many student recitals, open houses, and other events. Mary especially dedicated countless hours collecting donations for the Brunch silent auction, creating baskets, and helping ensure the Brunch ran smoothly – even when CMS had to pivot to a “drive-thru” Brunch during the pandemic. More recently, at our Gala Recital Donor Receptions, Jim shared his bartending expertise and Mary showcased her cookie-baking skills.
Jim’s public education career came “full circle” at CMS back in 2021, when one of his former middle school students, Greg Kuhn, joined the CMS Board of Directors. Now President & CEO of Omega Protective Services, Greg shared that he became well-acquainted with Jim when he was a “challenging” 12-year-old middle school student and “Dr. Warfel” was the principal at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School. Jim remembered Greg quite well from those middle school days and was very impressed – -and tickled- with the successful businessperson and philanthropist that Greg has become. At the June 9, 2025 meeting, Greg shared the following in appreciation of Jim’s service: “At my interview, I was welcomed by Dr. Warfel with proverbial open arms—despite his firsthand knowledge of the conduct of the 12-year-old Greg. From day one, he treated me as an equal, which speaks volumes given the depth of his contributions to CMS over the past 13 years. We should all aspire to measure up to the impact he’s had on this organization. I want to personally thank Dr. Warfel for the opportunity to serve alongside him in this second chapter of our relationship—not just as principal and student, but as colleagues.” In fact, Jim and Greg now serve together on the board of the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation, along with five other of Jim’s former middle school students.
Mary and Jim are both active in the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation, Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, Lowhill Food Pantry, and most importantly, in the busy lives of their two sons and six grandchildren.
We sincerely thank Jim and Mary for their dedication to CMS and its students over the last 13 years and wish them all the best in their retirement!
Additional Board of Directors Updates
At the Board’s annual meeting on June 9, 2025, John Wittenbraker, Ph.D. was elected to succeed Jim as Vice President of the Board of Directors. John was elected to the board in March 2024. John comes from a family of music educators and artists with a lifelong interest in the performing and visual arts. John’s professional life has been focused on applied behavioral science in marketing, design, and public policy for Fortune Global 500 companies and government agencies.
In June, the board also welcomed new director Nanditha Mudigonda. Nanditha Mudigonda is Head of Enterprise Portfolio at Guardian Life Insurance, where she leads planning and governance activities for the company’s $150MM portfolio. She brings over 22 years of experience in strategic initiatives, results-driven management, and transformational thought leadership to the CMS Board. Nanditha resides in Upper Macungie Township with her husband, Rakesh Gope, and their two daughters, Ananya and Maanya, who are both longtime CMS students.
In September, the Board welcomed Ken Laliwala, Executive Director of Tax at Air Products and Chemicals Inc. With over 27 years of experience and practice in US and international tax law, Ken has provided strategic advice and tax planning initiates on various corporate transactions.
The CMS Board’s Officers for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are President: Michael Yeager, Retired CEO, Community Insurance Company; Vice President: John Wittenbraker, Ph.D., Social and Behavioral Scientist; Treasurer: Tom Fenstermacher, Retired CFO, Hospital Central Services, Inc.; Secretary: Mark Stein, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Muhlenberg College. Directors: Michael Horvath, Attorney, Gross McGinley LLP; Gregory Kuhn, President & CEO, Omega Protective Services, LLC; Mary Hahn, Healthcare Executive; Ken Laliwala, Executive Director of Tax at Air Products and Chemicals Inc.; David Livert, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Penn State Lehigh Valley; Kathleen Matthews, Retired Sr. Director of Business Ethics & Compliance, PPL; Bill Moyer, President, West Region & Allentown Campus, St. Luke’s University Health Network; Nanditha Mudigonda, Head of Enterprise Portfolio, Guardian Life; Elyse Pillitteri, Shareholder, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C; Vance Powers, Chief Financial Officer, Long Ridge Energy Terminal; Vicki Ferrence Ray, Non-Profit Executive & Consultant; Dail Richie, Retired Executive Director, Berks Youth Chorus & CMS faculty member; Ellen Roberts, Retired Volunteer & Community Activist; David Yeager, Retired Assistant Vice President, Guardian Life Insurance. Faculty Representative: Joe Wagner, CMS teacher of guitar, composition, & recording.