Newsmakers for February 18

Feb. 19—Rodale Institute

Andrew Smith, Ph.D. has been named chief scientific officer for the Rodale Institute, an agricultural research and education nonprofit.

The first to occupy this newly created executive leadership position within the Institute, Smith will lead research and farm operations activities at all Rodale Institute campuses in the U.S. and Europe and facilitate a global, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research program.

As chief scientific officer, Smith will also spearhead the organization's efforts to further incorporate its scientific priorities into a broader scope of operations.

Formally Rodale Institute's chief operating officer, Smith has more than 20 years of experience working in the organic industry as an agronomist, researcher, and farmer. He earned a Bachelor of Science in agronomy at Cornell University and a Master of Science in entomology at the University of Maryland. After two years in the Peace Corps assisting a cooperative of small-scale vegetable farmers in Guatemala and 10 years farming organically full-time in Pennsylvania, Smith attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he earned his Ph.D. in environmental science with a concentration in molecular and population ecology.

Smith owns a 140-acre organic farm with his wife where they raise Shetland sheep and grow fiber and fruit crops.

RKL LLP

RKL LLP has announced the admission of Walter Goodfield, Cliff Horst, Thomas Kaizar, and Stephane Smith, to the firm partnership, effective Jan. 1.

Walter Goodfield joined RKL in 2014, and serves as chief business officer for RKL eSolutions. He is responsible for driving customer success and revenue growth through new customer acquisition while managing strategic partner alliances.

For nearly 30 years, Goodfield has helped business leaders solve challenges through automation and optimization. Before RKL, he managed sales and delivery teams at three of the world's largest mid-market software publishers. Goodfield holds a B.S. in business administration from Cleveland State University.

Cliff Horst is the Sage X3 practice director with RKL eSolutions and oversees X3 consulting implementations, customizations and support activities. He also holds expertise in various platforms, including SQL Server, Crystal Reports, Sage 500, Salesforce and Slack.

With more than 25 years of IT consulting experience, Horst is dedicated to building relationships with clients and finding better ways to achieve their organizational goals. He attended Messiah University with a B.S. in business information systems.

As a partner in the Tax Services Group, Thomas Kaizar has developed a skillset in tax planning and compliance services that lends itself well to working with clients across various industries. He has recently specialized in working with health care industry clients to refine financial and operational processes.

Joining RKL as an associate in 2015, Kaizar also works with companies in the real estate and manufacturing and distribution industries. He holds a B.S. in accounting from York College of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in taxation from Villanova University.

As vice president of workforce strategies for RKL Virtual Management Solutions, Stephanie Smith directs the firm's comprehensive suite of outsourced HR, payroll and compensation analysis services. She leads a team of HR advisors who fill key roles for employers, including payroll processing, compensation analysis, performance management, compliance, recruitment and complete outsourcing of the HR function.

For more than 20 years, Smith has helped employers effectively manage their workforce, drive growth and achieve organizational goals. She graduated from Millersville University with a B.A. in psychology.

Barley Snyder

Barley Snyder has announced that Stephen P. Linebaugh has been elected to the board of directors for the Northern Central Railway of York (NCR), a nonprofit and charitable organization.

Linebaugh is a retired judge with the York County Court of Common Pleas who joined Barley Snyder in 2019. He chairs the firm's Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Team and is a member of the Litigation Practice Group.

NCR is based in New Freedom, and offers historical, educational, and entertaining railroad excursions. Founders William H. Simpson and D. Reed Anderson, both local community leaders and avid train enthusiasts, created the railway with the goal of attracting tourism to York County. NCR now offers its passengers an authentic experience with a replica Civil War-era steam locomotive as well as a mid-20th century diesel locomotive. As a board member, Linebaugh will be responsible for overseeing the development of the railway to promote growth as a main visitor attraction in York County.

In addition to his involvement with NCR, Linebaugh has volunteered his time in leadership positions to nonprofit organizations such as the Margaret Moul Foundation, Bob Hoffman Dover YMCA, York County Crime Stoppers, the Boy Scouts of America, YouthBuild and the York County March of Dimes.

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