Appointed: 2001; Chair 2012-present

Highlights: Board Member, Hershey Foods Corporation; Board Member, Neighborhood Youth Association, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling and tutorial services to at-risk and/or underprivileged youth in west Los Angeles; Member, MHS Alumni Council; Recipient of Investors in Education Award of Excellence. A member of the MHS Class of 1977.

Appointed: 2011

Highlights: Milton Hershey School class of 1982, an attorney from Chicago and past president of the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association. Heist is the owner and sole shareholder in the law firm of R. Connor & Associates, P.C. and received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2008. He is involved with a nonprofit organization that helps provide opportunities to children in need.

Appointed: 2007

Highlights: Health Economics Consultant and Former President & CEO of Capital BlueCross; graduate of Penn State University, Vice-Chair of Capital BlueCross Board, member of VCS Financial, Inc., Past-Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and is currently on the boards of the Hershey Trust Company, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the Greater Harrisburg Foundation.

Appointed: 2007

Highlights: Chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, and chairman of The Swarthmore Group, Inc. which he co-founded in November 1991. Prior to starting The Swarthmore Group, was an investment banker for Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., Inc., and Prudential Bache Securities, Inc. Also practiced law as counsel in bond transactions with the law firm Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll.

Appointed: 2003

Highlights: Serves on the Board of Directors, Capitol Blue Cross; Board of Directors, The Greater Harrisburg Foundation; Education Committee Working Group, PA Business Roundtable; Chair Emerita of the Board of Trustees, Harrisburg Area Community College.

Appointed: 2001

Highlights: Testified during Minnesota State Capitol hearing as an advocate of residential education. Works with children on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation and the Wayzata High School football team, Minnesota. Twice named one of the ten Most Outstanding Minnesotans for Charity Work for his volunteer work with children. A 1974 graduate of Milton Hershey School.

Appointed: 2010

Highlights: Spent much of his career in the area of education. He spent 12 years as a teacher, coach, and department chairman early in his career. He later served as General Counsel to the Pa. Department of Education, where he helped to develop state educational standards, and then as General Counsel to Pa. Governor Tom Ridge, where he oversaw a department of 500 lawyers across the state. He was instrumental in the development of the Educational Tax Credit Law and Charter Schools legislation. Sheehan retired from Milton Hershey School where he was Vice President, Legal Affairs & External Relations, and General Counsel. Sheehan also served as General Counsel to Hershey Trust Company and to M.S. Hershey Foundation. Board Smember of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Past Board member of Pennsylvania State University.

Appointed: 2011; Vice Chair 2012

Highlights: Former Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Headquarters Marine Corps and a 1970 graduate of Milton Hershey School. Zilmer has served the Marine Corps around the world throughout his 36-year military career, from a Series Commander for recruits at Parris Island to the Commanding General of a Multi-National Force in Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2007, Zilmer was responsible for the operations of more than 30,000 U.S. service members in Iraq. He has earned numerous honors, including the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device and the Distinguished Service Medal. He was Milton Hershey School Alumnus of the Year in 2004.