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McNees’ Kelley E. Kaufman Selected for YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Women of Excellence Award Winner

March 24, 2017
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HARRISBURG, PA – McNees Wallace & Nurick member Kelley E. Kaufman was selected as a YWCA Tribute to Women of Excellence 2017 award recipient. It is the 28th year the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg has hosted the Tribute to Women of Excellence event.

Kaufman will be presented the award at a celebration dinner on Thursday, March 23 at the Hershey Lodge. Since its inception, the Tribute to Women of Excellence awards ceremony has honored more than 550 women for their contributions to the workplace and community and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of YWCA programs for women, children, and men.

“Leading by example in supporting the advancement of women in both law and work in the community, Kelley is a first-class lawyer with an exceptional track record of achieving excellent results for our clients,” McNees Chairman David Kleppinger said. “We are very pleased that Kelley is the recipient of this well-deserved honor.”

Kaufman practices in McNees’ Automotive Dealership, Labor & Employment, and Education groups, she performs pro-bono work for a number of local non-profit groups and businesses, and regularly defends clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, as well as defending clients in employment-related litigation in federal and state court.

She also provides day-to-day counseling to employers on a wide range of labor and employment law topics, including issues relating to compliance with federal and state employment discrimination laws, wage and hour obligations, family and medical leave, employee relations, non-compete and separation agreements, employee performance management, unemployment compensation, employee benefits, and litigation avoidance.

Kaufman has been a Junior Board member at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg since 2011 and an Executive Committee member for three years, including a term as President of the Board from 2013-14. She was a Committee Chair and Co-Chair for the Race Against Racism in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and has served as a committee member for Power of Style in 2016 and Women of Excellence in 2014 and 2015.

Under her guidance this past spring, the Race Against Racism has become a marquee event locally with similar races held in York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg. This year’s race in Harrisburg attracted 300 participants and it was followed by a Humanity Festival featuring culturally diverse entertainers, food, vendors and fun activities for children of all ages.

In addition, Kaufman is a member of the Historical Society of Dauphin County, where she served on the Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2014 and on the Personnel Committee in 2014 and 2015. Since 2015, she has also volunteered as a Committee member for the burgeoning Capital Area Girls on the Run, which seeks to empower school-aged girls through distance running, working as a mentor to teach young girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident.

Additionally, Kaufman is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Network where she is further committed to the welfare of women and children in the region. She is also a member of the Junior League of Harrisburg, and served as the Done-in-a-Day Projects Committee Chair, the Grants Committee Chair, the Meetings/Social Committee Chair, and as a Parliamentarian.

Through the Junior League, Kelley has volunteered with other community events and organizations, including the Humane Society and the Cultural Enrichment Fund.

Kaufman received her B.B.A. from The College of William & Mary in 2002, and her J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 2009.