Linda Topoleski serves as Vice President for Talent Strategy and Programs at the Allegheny Conference.

In her role, Linda directs talent attraction and retention initiatives, including a regional Talent Council

which focuses on making the Pittsburgh region more competitive in attracting and retaining talent.

Linda was instrumental in the development and stakeholder outreach for the Conference’s landmark

workforce report, Inflection Point: Supply, Demand and the Future of Work in the Pittsburgh Region. This

report has become a defining element of workforce strategy in the region and a model studied by other

regions across the U.S. She’s most passionate about the Pittsburgh region’s ability to come together at

pivotal times in our history to solve the biggest challenges we face and create an example for the world

to follow.

Prior to the Conference, Linda provided marketing, communications and strategic planning expertise to

regional and global corporations and nonprofits in the education, economic development, health care

and technology fields. Clients have included: Alcoa Foundation, Apple, Bayer, National Science

Foundation, and The Pittsburgh Promise.

She has been recognized nationally and regionally with public relations and advertising industry awards,

including the CIPRA (Creativity in Public Relations), the Edward L. Bernays Award for Excellence in Public

Relations, the Public Relations Society of America-Pittsburgh Renaissance Awards, and ADDY Awards for

her role in directing regional and national advertising programs.

Linda holds a B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the board of

directors of Partner4Work, and is a member of the Carnegie Science Center STEM Advisory Committee,

the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information Workforce Advisory Council, and the

Remake Learning Council.

Mike is an experienced Senior VP of Real Estate with a demonstrated history of working in the commercial real estate industry for over 20 years. Mike was a Naval Officer on active duty from 1994 to 2001 and then a Naval Reservist until 2003. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Old Dominion University with a Masters in Engineering Management.

Mike has a solid real estate background skilled in land development, project management, property management, and ground-up construction. Mike has been with RIDC for just over two years leading Construction/Development, Property Management and Asset management. Previous to RIDC Mike spent five years with Al. Neyer LLC is leading its design-build and development practice in the Pittsburgh market. Before that, Mike spent over six years with the international Real Estate Services Company – JLL. He started and grew the Project and Development Services practice in the Western Pennsylvania market. Previously, Mike spent over eight years working for Millcraft Investments and Oxford Development Company – two of the more well-known real estate developments firms in the region, managing third-party and self-developed projects in the Pittsburgh area. Major projects he has worked on include Mill 19, Carrie Furnace, Fairywood Industrial, JLG/Oshkosh – Findlay Township, Theater Square, UPMC Shadyside – Posner Tower Addition, Market Square Place, and ANSYS Headquarters – Southpointe.

Bomani M. Howze is Vice President of Development for the Buccini/Pollin Group, a real estate company that focuses on the acquisition, development and management of hotels, commercial and residential real estate. Bomani’s primary focus is on commercial office and multifamily housing. This includes advancing financing, entitlement approvals, leasing and Greenlining efforts.

Mr. Howze played a key administrative role in the recent commencement of construction for the 26 story, FNB Financial Center in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District.

Prior to this role he founded OLMEC Development Company and has helped secure an award of 500+ residential, mixed income units.

Steve Mazza was born and raised in Sheraden, Pennsylvania. Steve brings more than 30 years of building trade experience as well as community relationship building through the projects he has worked on, and the committees and organizations for which he serves. As a Council Representative for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (Formerly Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters), Steve works firsthand with contractors, politicians, engineers, architects, union leadership and the membership to achieve overall goals for projects and the community.

Steve has been actively involved in politics and community service throughout his entire career, with a significant focus on jobs and building the region. Steve is one of the Vice Presidents of the Pittsburgh Building & Construction Trades Union and is currently the Chairman of the Pittsburgh Construction Tax Fraud Task Force. He has held several notable positions as a member of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and Local 432, including Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Delegate. Before rising through the ranks and becoming a Council Representative, Steve worked on many significant union projects, including PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the Heinz History Center.

Steve is a long-time member of the Allegheny County Labor Council and is the Parade Chairman of the annual Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade, coordinating with 75,000 union members and families. He is an appointed representative of Pittsburgh’s Land Bank, a Rebuilding Together Board Member, and a 20th Ward Committee Person for more than 15 years.