LOWER PROVIDENCE

Gary Neights and his family decided to settle in Lower Providence when his work relocated him to the Philadelphia area in 2001.   Everywhere he goes, Gary seems to end up in a leadership role.  In Boy Scouts he learned to “leave things better than when you found them” and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.  He served his country as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, where he led people to achieve critical objectives.  Professionally, Gary is a senior leader in information technology.  In this role he negotiates contracts, establishes policy, leads complex initiatives, and interfaces with clients and partner organizations. Gary also serves the Temple University’s Fox School of Business as a consulting advisor to MBA students.  His students’ most recent project improved the School District of Philadelphia’s elementary school bus system.  Within the township he serves as president of his community association where he led a collaborative process to beautify the entrances, standardize operations, and adopt professional management.

Gary is married and has two daughters.  One daughter is a freshman at Methacton and the other is a freshman at Penn State on an academic science scholarship.  Both are active in music and competitive gymnastics.

Gary attended Penn State on a NROTC scholarship where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.  He also was an avid whitewater kayaker and club president.  Later he earned a M.S. in Business Administration from Boston University and a Lean Six Sigma Certificate from Villanova University.  Gary has held professional certifications as a PMP and a Six Sigma Black Belt.   He looks forward to applying his common sense, experience, and leadership to make Lower Providence an even better community.

Cara Coless, her husband Lou and their 2 children have lived in Lower Providence since 2002 when their jobs brought them to the area. It was the great public schools, proximity to county parks and the reputation of the community that attracted them to Lower Providence.

• Cara has been an active volunteer in youth soccer for over 10 years, she coached both her children in YMCA youth soccer and then at Methacton United Soccer Club where she coached her daughter through intramural and then travel soccer for four years. Most recently she was the risk management director for the club.
• Her two children attend Methacton public schools and are active in club and school sports.
• Cara has worked 20 years in recruiting and HR. Currently she works for a local aerospace & defense  company managing large projects related to Talent Acquisition and ensuring success across the company.
• Cara grew up in Houston, TX and went to college at Stephen F. Austin State University in the east Texas town of Nacogdoches. After graduating college,  Cara moved to Baton Rouge Louisiana and received her MA degree in Sociology from Louisiana State University.

It is with effective management, transparency and governing for all that Cara plans to ensure Lower Providence is able to thrive for residents and business, to increase property values and foster a strong sense of community.