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Lincoln 200 Team
Dianne Semingson, co-founder
Dianne Semingson founded DLS International in 1990, following successful careers in both the public and private sectors. Headquartered in Philadelphia, DLS specializes in strategic market planning and marketing communications. DLS consults with many of the Philadelphia region’s most recognizable companies, foundations and community organizations.
Dianne is recognized as a dynamic leader and creative problem solver. When the City of Philadelphia wanted to energize its image, city leaders tapped her as City Representative and a member of the Mayor’s cabinet. She worked with government officials and chief executives throughout the United States and abroad and led cultural and trade missions to Europe and Asia.
Dianne served as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Commerce, overseeing economic development programs in the six-state Mid-Atlantic region. For 5 years, she and her staff provided briefings for the White House and the Secretary of Commerce on regional economic and industry affairs. Upon leaving government, she was named Director of Government and Industry Affairs for ARCO Chemical Company. Dianne also served as Corporate Vice President for Marketing and Communications for The Hill Group, Inc., an international construction consulting and engineering firm. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Dianne has completed executive management programs at Duke, Harvard and Northwestern universities.
Dianne is a member of the Board of Directors of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, one of the few for-profit children’s hospitals in the country; PNC Women’s Financial Services Advisory Board; VP & Secretary, Semingson Enterprises. Past: Board of Directors of Mellon/PSFS Bank. Dianne is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
In 2003, she was named to Pennsylvania’s “Best 50 Women in Business”. She received the 2002 “Women of Distinction” Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and National Assn. of Women Business Owners. Other recognition includes the 1999 “Take the Lead” Award from the Girl Scouts, “Woman of the Year” from the Philadelphia Chapter of Business and Professional Women and the Silver Medal from the Philadelphia Club of Advertising Women. She has been inducted into the Delaware Valley Women of Achievement and won the President’s Award, Sales and Marketing Executives International. She is named to PA’s Honor Roll of Women. Ms. Semingson is the author of the study, Women-Owned Businesses: Work in Progress.
Mary Hagy, co-founder
Mary Hagy's professional background covers a broad spectrum of experience and accomplishments in the heritage development, education and entertainment arenas. Inspired by the intersections of art, music, theatre, history and opportunity, she is the creator of many unique and successful projects. She is the author of three non-fiction books and numerous newspaper and journal articles, and is producer of more than two dozen public service and documentary television programs that showcase American citizens at their best. She has appeared on more than 100 radio and television programs worldwide.
In 1992, Mary co-founded Pinnacle Performance Group, dedicated to delivering consultative services and conceiving, developing and producing special projects that have lasting impact. In addition to Lincoln 200, Ms. Hagy has created theatrical plays, special exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives designed to inspire others.
In 2008, Mary was awarded the United States President's Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteer Service. In 2001, as Co-Founder of the Civil War History Consortium, Mary played a key role in initiating the Philadelphia region's preparations for commemorating the U.S. Civil War Sesquicentennial. Her work contributed to a civic initiative that she hopes will reveal new experiences for the thousands of visitors who come to Philadelphia to learn American history. The first step along that journey was Lincoln 200.
Mary is a Vietnam Era Veteran of the U.S. Army who earned the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Mary was one of the few civilians selected to serve the US in Kuwait during Desert Storm. She graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and has earned diplomas with honors from in-residence executive management programs for Public Affairs, Broadcasting and Journalism from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Rachel Dukeman, project director
Rachel Dukeman is a next-generation cultural marketer, with substantial facility with new media and a growing expertise in enlivening public experiences in ways that appeal to diverse audiences. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Museum Communication from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Her background in studio arts and communication influences her creative approach to audience engagement, strategic planning and content development.
Rachel has established a niche for developing new audiences for arts and cultural institutions. Her work developing adult programming at the Rosenbach Museum & Library introduced a younger audience in their 20s and 30s to the institution. The annual membership drive Rachel produces for the Museum Council of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley has augmented the institutional diversity by age and cultural background. Her research through the Richard C. von Hess Fellowship enabled the Baltimore Museum of Art to welcome new audiences with the advent of free admission.
Rachel’s creative thinking and expert communication skills offer institutions a fresh, vibrant appeal. An adept writer and editor, her articles on Arts and Culture appear in The Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Bulletin, and on Philly2philly.com.
Kathy Spencer, sponsorship + special events
Spencer Consulting, Inc. is a full-service special event management company, which can support and manage a variety of special events. Spencer Consulting, Inc. provides expertise in fundraising and sponsorship solicitation, advertising, marketing, public relations, invitation production, catering needs and overall event logistics.
Kathy Spencer has close to 20 years experience in the special events industry. Before launching Spencer Consulting, Inc. in 1998, Kathy spent the previous 10 years working for a variety of organizations assisting in and producing special events. During this time she was employed by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Business Association of Manayunk as the Executive Director, the Manayunk Development Corporation as Director of Marketing and Public Relations and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Development and Public Relations. As a result, Kathy has extensive experience in working with volunteers and people with diverse backgrounds.
Kathy is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Communications. Spencer Consulting, Inc. is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Kathy is also a founding member of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) and served as YPN Co-chair for two years and on its Board of Directors for four years. Kathy is also on the Board of Directors for the Wynnewood Civic Association.
Andrew Coldren, civil war curator
Andrew Coldren specializes in Civil War history, most recently as curator of the collection at the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum in Philadelphia, PA. As curator of Lincoln 200, Andrew oversaw the historical context of the festival, worked alongside partnering museums and private collectors, and wrote the accompanying narrative to the "Lincoln: The Definitive Years" exhibition.
Andrew graduated from Temple University in 1993.
Sean Brescia, executive in charge of production
Sean Brescia has a diverse background in event and entertainment-based production, management and promotion. He has extensive experience directing live production, event management and logistics, thematic and creative direction, program coordination, marketing and promotional strategies, and sponsorship development; bringing this unique blend of insights to the overall coordination of projects. Mr. Brescia is the President and Executive Producer of Baltimore-based Clearpath Management (www.clearpathmangement.com) and a co-Founder and Executive Producer at Alexandria, VA-based Brightline Productions (www.brightlineproductions.com).
Sean's work includes the Rock the Vote Awards, Outdoor Heritage Days sporting festival, Maryland Festival in the Country, private entertainment arrangements for the Vice President’s Residence in Washington, 2007 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Inauguration, Pennsylvania Governor’s Outdoor Conference, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’ Noche de Gala, 2008 Philadelphia Mayoral Inaugural celebration, American Eagle Outfitters fashion show and conference, Mortgage Bankers Association annual conference, George Washington University President's Ball, Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference, Pennsylvania Governor's Conference on Tourism, the National Governors Association Centennial celebrations, the Jay Z Change Has Come concert, and Heroes Red, White and Blue Ball for the 44th Presidential Inaugural, Lincoln 200: The Bicentennial Celebration, and the Roosevelt Institute Four Freedoms Awards.
Simon Public Relations
Simon PR is Philadelphia’s premier boutique public relations agency. Located on the Avenue of the Arts in the historic Bellevue, the Agency enjoys an excellent reputation, one that has been earned over 20 years in business. Our expertise is in strategic public relations planning, media relations, community relations, consumer marketing, corporate communications, social media, publications and grassroots publicity.
We know Philadelphia, we know arts and culture, we know events and we know the media.
~ For Lincoln 200, our extensive media relations and social media campaign resulted in 31 broadcast placements, 22 stories in print, and 35 online stories for more than 8.6 million media impressions.
~ We’re raising the profile of the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center—placing stories on this hidden cultural gem in The Inquirer, on CBS3 and on KYW Newsradio.
~ We’ve driven attendance for Philadelphia’s one-of-a-kind tasting events Phiz Fest (champagne and sparkling wine) and Sake Fest.
~ We represent the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia’s key cultural destination.
~ In 2009, we helped our client PNC Financial Service Corp launch PNC Arts Alive, a 5-year, $5 million investment in the visual and performing arts.
~ We put the first-annual National Public Gardens Day on the map in Philadelphia in partnership with the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and Longwood Gardens.
~ We promote events throughout the year for shopping malls we represent through Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, partnering with non-profit arts organizations ranging from the Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra to Musicopia.
Simon PR is the Philadelphia partner of Worldcom Public Relations Group, the global network of independently owned public relations firms.
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