Throughout his professional career, Gregg Perelman has been a trendsetter. As CEO of Walnut Capital, he has brought his vision of innovation to bear in a city that is becoming synonymous with urban rebirth. Gregg has been instrumental in creating and implementing Walnut Capital’s aggressive acquisition and development strategy. A hands-on developer, he often supervises construction and renovation projects in the field and takes prospective tenants on tours of apartments and townhouses He jointly oversees the company’s property management arm, leading a staff of more than 100 people with vision and enthusiasm throughout the day-to-day operations, marketing, and management of all the firm’s residential, office and commercial properties. Gregg built his career around a philosophy of marketing, customer service and attention to detail. Long before the words “corporate social responsibility” or “social entrepreneurship” existed, Gregg lived by those principles. He wants to change the landscape of the city he calls home: “You start with an idea, a seed. You nurture it, and you see the whole cycle. Legacy is very important to me.”

Todd has expertise in real estate and corporate law, specializing in commercial real estate acquisition, financing, leasing and development. He jointly oversees the operations and staff at Walnut Capital Management that coordinates all aspects of development, management, and brokerage services. He is the point person for the many investor and lender relationships involved in Walnut Capital’s owned and managed properties. As a member of City of Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission for eight years, Todd learned from the inside out how public policy shapes development. There, he forged the network that would help him understand the impact of his work on future generations and the value of public-private partnerships. Todd is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is an experienced real estate attorney in Pennsylvania as well as a licensed commercial real estate broker.  He is a long serving member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center and has served on the Boards of The Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, Phipps Conservancy, Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh and the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce.

Richard is the President and CEO of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Since 1994 he has led the Pittsburgh institution from public to private management, restoring the original conservatory and expanding its flower shows, exhibits, and educational programs. He is responsible for Phipps green transformation including: the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, a net-zero energy and water building and the only building in the world to meet, the Living Building Challenge®,  LEED® Platinum, WELL® Platinum (the first), SITES™ Platinum (the first), BREEAM Outstanding for Operations and Maintenance (first in U.S.), Fitwel 3 Star and Zero-Energy certifications. Other work includes the opening of the first LEED® certified visitor’s center in a public garden; the first LEED® certified greenhouse (LEED® Platinum EBOM); the Tropical Forest Conservatory, one of the most energy-efficient conservatories in the world; the Nature Lab, a zero-energy Petal certified modular classroom; and the zero-energy, Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certified Exhibit Staging Center. The sustainability efforts Piacentini initiated at Phipps are based on recognizing the vital connections between people, plants, health, and the planet. This regenerative based way of thinking influences the organization’s actions and programs.

Piacentini led the creation of The Climate Toolkit (https://climatetoolkit.org) to assist museums, gardens, zoos, and aquaria to address climate change. He is a past Chair and Treasurer of the Board of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and now serves on its Advisory Board and is a past President and Treasurer of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). He is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Biophilic Cities Network, the Global Commission for Healthy Indoor Air, the Global Network for Zero, and the Mission and Community Needs Committee for Magee-Womens Hospital, and a former member of the Pennsylvania One Health Task Force and Biophilic Design Initiative. He has received US Green Building Council (USGBC), ILFI, and APGA leadership awards.

Richard and his family live in Squirrel Hill in a net-zero  energy house with his wife, Jan, and two kids who are in college right now. They also have two dogs, Katie and Ruby. Richard’s favorite hobbies are to garden, cook, and sail. He doesn’t get to sail much living in Pittsburgh, but when he is traveling, he goes whenever he gets the chance. (Richard’s first real job was as a sailing instructor).

Piacentini holds a MS in Botany from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island. He is a WELL® Accredited Professional.

Meryl is the Executive Director of the Philip Chosky Charitable & Educational Foundation. She is retired as the Business manager of the law firm, Ainsman Levine, LLC. Additionally, she has spent most of her adult life as a volunteer and leader in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. She is a past Board Chair of the JCC and of The Jewish Federation of  Greater Pittsburgh. 

Meryl’s most important role is as a mother to her four children and their spouses, and Mimi to her eight children, most of whom reside in the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill.

Squirrel Hill Health Center (SHHC) is a federally qualified community health center (FQHC) providing primary and preventive medical, behavioral health, and dental care to anyone who needs it, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.  Created through the efforts of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation in 2006, SHHC is a completely independent nonprofit, governed by a patient majority board of directors, and dedicated to serving everyone who resides in our region.  

Through the years, SHHC has grown significantly and in 2025 cared for nearly 9,000 patients.  SHHC  provides primary and preventive medical care for patients of all ages (prenatal through geriatrics); integrated behavioral health care  for primary care patients (psychiatric evaluation and medication management, individual and group therapy, peer supports, and medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders); and preventative, restorative, and emergency dental care, as well as lab services, access to affordable prescription medications, care coordination, support in applying for health insurance, and linkage to other social services.  With offices in Squirrel Hill and Brentwood, SHHC also partners with community organizations to bring its mobile medical unit to sites across Allegheny County.   SHHC further increases access to medical and behavioral health care via telehealth, as well as house calls to homebound patients.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center,  SHHC receives a base grant from the federal government, must abide by federal regulations and requirements, and is subject to rigorous renewal standards to maintain FQHC status.  Federal funding covers only about 20% of SHHC’s costs with patient revenue and private foundation and individual contributions making up the remainder.  SHHC accepts all types of insurance, including Medicaid, Medicare, and most commercial products;  and  may provide an income based sliding fee scale for some patients.  

Since its inception, SHHC has valued its relationships with other community organizations and agencies that are also engaged in helping all area residents live healthier, happier, and more productive lives, regardless of who they are or what their background may be.  SHHC is proud to be rooted in the Squirrel Hill community, playing a role in ensuring that our vibrant, diverse, and welcoming neighborhood continues to thrive and grow into the future.