RACHEL GLEASON
Executive Director
Rachel is Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, the legislative and regulatory advocacy arm of the third largest coal producing state in the nation.
With more than 150 member companies, Rachel works closely with elected officials and regulators at on the state and federal level to advance the interests of the bituminous coal mining industry and educate policymakers, elected leaders, and the public on the economic and social benefits of Pennsylvania’s coal industry. In this capacity, she works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement under the U.S. Department of Interior, the Mine Safety and Health Administration under the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and other state and federal agencies with regulatory and enforcement responsibility for coal production and utilization. Rachel also interacts regularly with state legislative leaders and committee chairs to promote the interests of the PCA and its members. Rachel serves on the Mine Families First Response and Communication Advisory Committee, as an alternate on the state’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board, as the staff liaison to the PCA-appointed members of the Pennsylvania Board of Coal Mine Safety and is a board member of the Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America.
Before joining the PCA, Rachel served as Executive Director for the House Majority Policy Committee, as well as positions with a public affairs consulting firm and a legislative reporting company. In these capacities she navigated various policy initiatives and managed and advised state legislators on the development of legislative proposals. Rachel has regularly testified and provided comments on key regulatory and legislative matters impacting Pennsylvania’s energy, environmental and manufacturing landscape. Her leadership on these issues was recognized by City & State Pennsylvania, which named her to its 2023 Energy & Environment Power 100 list.
BETSY FRANCES LEIBFRIED
Manager
Member Relations & Administrative Functions
Betsy came to the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance shortly after the PA Coal Association and FORCE merged in 2012 to form the PCA. Prior to joining the PCA she spent 15 years in the Pennsylvania House and Senate serving as a District Director in constituent service offices. She is a licensed Registered Nurse and Notary Public. Her primary job with the PCA is to manage all of the administrative tasks that the organization requires, along with being a resource for members, and spearheading the annual fundraising efforts.
Betsy lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Glenn, and is the proud mom of two grown sons and a little dog named Chase.