Shelly Buck
President, Riddle Hospital
Founded in 1963, Riddle Hospital is one of the four acute care hospitals in the Main Line Health System. It offers a full range of primary care services as well as a variety of specialty care services. Shelly Buck became president of Riddle Hospital in September 2019, and she is the first female to hold this title. With degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Maryland, and Old Dominion University, Shelly brings almost 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership to the table. In her role as President, she provides leadership and operational oversight to identify strategies for success and to ensure that the execution of those strategies effectively aligns with Main Line Health's mission, vision, and values. Shelly credits her two grandmothers as being her most influential role models – one was an entrepreneur and sold Avon, and the other was an English teacher who earned her doctorate degree. Both women taught Shelly that anything is possible despite obstacles that may arise.
What makes you smile on a bad day?
Thinking of my grandchildren always brings a smile to my face.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I love the outdoors! Fishing is one of my most cherished activities, and I especially love crabbing and pier fishing.
What are you most proud of?
Personally, I am extremely proud of my children and all of their successes. Professionally, I am most proud of how I have been able to successfully and effectively work with teams of expert
physicians, nurses, and staff members to save and improve lives in our community.
What would you tell your younger self?
Take time to pause, breathe, and enjoy the journey.
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Peg DeGrassa
Senior Editor, Delco News Network
The Delco News Network is made up of The News & Press of Delaware County and Town Talk Newspapers and serves as a popular source for the county’s breaking news, local news, sports,
entertainment, and more. Senior Editor Peg DeGrassa is a lifelong resident of Delaware County, a proud graduate of Neumann University, and has served in her current position with Delco News Network since 2000. A born storyteller, Peg was the editor of both her high school and college newspapers, and one of her first professional jobs was to cover the music scene at the
Jersey shore for the Beach Haven Times. As a busy young mom raising her family, Peg still kept her storytelling juices flowing as a freelance writer and eventually went on to become editor of News of Delaware County as well as Town Talk-Ridley. Peg readily admits that she is more comfortable being the interviewer as opposed to the interviewee, but her decades-long career
has made her a household name in the community. Just this past March, the Delaware County Women’s Commission honored Peg as a Woman of Achievement for her many talents in
producing news, pursuing truth, and reflecting on society.
What makes you smile on a bad day?
Any time I talk with any of my children makes me smile.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I appeared twice as a contestant on Family Feud, and I play the accordion.
What are you most proud of?
I like to make other people look good, so whenever I can use my writing skills to promote a business, highlight an accomplishment, or bring awareness to a benefit or worthy cause, then I
know I’ve done my job and I feel really good about that.
What would you tell your younger self?
Everything works out for the best in the end. You may not realize it at that moment, but you just need to have faith.
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Trish McFarland
President, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based business advocacy organization with more than 1,300 members, and it has been in existence for more than 130
years. Trish McFarland has held the title of President since 2015, and she is honored to be the first female to hold that position. A lifelong Delaware County resident and proud graduate of
West Chester University, Trish acknowledges that she was blessed to have a variety of powerful women in her life who mentored her, warmly took her under their wings, and encouraged her to give back to the community.
What makes you smile on a bad day?
My family always makes me smile, and my children are definitely my “why.”
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I LOVE to coach sports. I’ve been an assistant coach for 5th and 6th-grade CYO girls’ basketball
teams and for 7th and 8th-grade girls’ soccer teams.
What are you most proud of?
I’m extremely proud of my staff at the Chamber – we are small but mighty, and together, we consistently achieve truly amazing things. I’m also proud to have such a wonderful Board of
Directors. They’re very supportive, and they graciously give me the autonomy I need to do my job effectively and successfully.
What would you tell your younger self?
Don’t take life too seriously. I have a favorite John Mayer quote that really resonates with me: “Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile
through the tears, be strong, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.”
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Sandra Samuel
Library Director, Media-Upper Providence Free Library
The Media-Upper Providence Free Library is a nonprofit organization providing materials and services for the public’s educational, recreational, and vocational needs. The building underwent renovations in 2016 and features the library collection, cozy public areas in which to read and relax, a variety of meeting rooms, and access to public computers. Library Director Sandra Samuel is a proud graduate of George Washington University and the University of Maryland. After serving as Library Director of the Lansdowne Public Library for six years, Sandra took on the role of Director at Media-Upper Providence Free Library in 2017, bringing a wide and worldly perspective to the table. As a result of her father’s career with IBM, Sandra spent her formative years living abroad, specifically in France, Germany, and Japan. She often found herself in the local library and was especially drawn to folk and fairy tales. In fact, Sandra spent most of her childhood in a fairytale-like setting. While in France, her family lived in a 500-
year-old home with a grand entrance, mosaic floors, a ballroom, and a marble fireplace in every room.
What makes you smile on a bad day?
Fairy tales still make me smile. We moved around a lot when I was younger, but literature was, and still is, a constant companion.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
When my family lived abroad, we would often return to the States to visit relatives. My father preferred to travel by boat rather than by plane, and our mode of transportation was the luxury
ocean liner, the SS United States. The ship held – and, incredibly, still holds today – the fastest transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner. Despite the fact that the SS United States is now
retired and has been docked in Philadelphia for more than 25 years, I still treasure my collection of photos, menus, and program books from our travels on that “Grand Lady.”
What are you most proud of?
As a mother of five, my greatest joy and achievement is having a hand in helping my children become the wonderful adult individuals they are. Professionally and personally, being a
librarian allows me to keep exploring and to help others on their path to discovery. Whether your passion is literature, history, gardening, the arts, or something else – everything,
everywhere, can be found at the library!
What would you tell your younger self?
Take nothing for granted, and be present in the moment because the moment will pass. We are all on a voyage – make sure you take time to truly enjoy and appreciate the trip.
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Kwinn Tucker
Executive Director, CityTeam-Chester
From meeting immediate needs to providing lasting solutions, CityTeam restores lives and rebuilds communities. This faith-based organization offers innovative programs that address systemic issues of intergenerational poverty, food insecurity, and addiction. Born and raised in Arkansas, Kwinn Tucker committed to a one-year internship with CityTeam in 2002 after graduating from Williams Baptist College – and she never looked back, making her home and career here in Delaware County. Kwinn has served in a variety of positions throughout the years, and she ultimately took on the role of Executive Director in 2012.
What makes you smile on a bad day?
We share the workload at CityTeam, so once a week, I get to work at the front desk. It’s the highlight of my week because I get to meet so many amazing people – whether they come in to
ask for help, to support us with donations, or to volunteer their time. We make everyone feel welcome and feel like they belong, and that warm feeling of community truly fuels me.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I love to bake, and French macarons are my specialty. I’ve also run 4 half marathons. I like to try new things and really challenge myself; I even have a sign in my office that reads “Set Goals and
Crush Them.”
What are you most proud of?
Professionally, I’m most proud of our recent capital campaign and the launch of our CityTeam Turning Point for Women, a transitional housing program for young women and young
mothers. This has been a great need in our community, and it’s something I’ve been praying for my whole career. Now we are providing important services and residential programs for both
men and women equally.
Personally, I’m incredibly proud to have made peace with adjusting my professional ambitions through delegation and paced timing so that I can be present with my husband and two sons. I’ve learned that you can’t make up time at home once it’s gone.
What would you tell your younger self?
Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed and grow, and pay less attention to anyone who wants to discourage you.
"Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed and grow, and pay less attention to anyone who wants to discourage you." (Kwinn Tucker)
"Take nothing for granted, and be present in the moment because the moment will pass." (Sandra Samuel)
