Staff Profiles

Stephen S. Pennington

Mr. Pennington has been serving as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program since 1986. He has extensive experience in the development and implementation of training for Client Assistance Programs and has served on the NAPAS CAP Training Advisory Committee and the NATCAP CAP Training Advisory Committee. Mr. Pennington is an active lecturer and regularly conducts training seminars for advocacy programs on disability issues. He has written many articles relating to employment law and is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association. Mr. Pennington is an active member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations and serves on various committees concerned with the delivery of legal services to persons with disabilities. He is also a member of the Plaintiffs Employment Panel for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Pennington graduated from Temple University in 1979 and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.

Jamie C. Ray-Leonetti

Ms. Ray-Leonetti is the Assistant Director of the Client Assistance Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a 1999 graduate of Temple University School of Law, where she was a Note/Comment Editor for the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. She received her undergraduate degree in 1995 from York College of Pennsylvania. She is admitted to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Ms. Ray-Leonetti is the 2004 and 2005 Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Committee for Delivery of Legal Services to Persons with Disabilities. Her personal essay, “Tapping My Potential” is featured in the 2004 book “What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew Reflections from a Different Journey” (Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D. and John D. Kemp Editors).

She is the author of Class, Conduct and Confusion: The Third Circuit Analyzes the Scope of Section 1985(3) in Lake v. Arnold, 8 Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review 217 (1998), a note exploring the applicability of section 1985(3) of the Civil Rights Act to individuals with mental retardation. She is also the co-author of several articles related to employment discrimination litigation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including, The Substantial Limitation Approach to Defining Disability: Why Does it Create an Insurmountable Barrier to Individuals Who are Regarded as Disabled?, 9 Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review 333 (2000) (with Stephen S. Pennington).

Ms. Ray-Leonetti has provided training to Client Assistance Program (CAP) personnel for the last 4 years on topics including the impartial hearing process, basic evidence for CAP advocates, client confidentiality, and preparing your client for the impartial hearing. In 2004, she developed and provided a disability sensitivity training workshop for the Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning, “Full Circle” Theatre Project. She has also been a frequent presenter at the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living (SILC) Conference, and has presented at several continuing legal education seminars sponsored by the Plaintiff’s Employment Panel, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Temple University Political & Civil Rights Law Review.

Margaret Passio-McKenna

Margaret Passio-McKenna is an Senior Advocate for the Client Assistance Program. Ms. McKenna is a 1991 graduate of the Temple University School of Law. She was admitted to the practice of law in 1992. Ms. McKenna has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and is working toward a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She is a member of the National Who’s Who and the National Honor Society. In addition to her work as an attorney/advocate, Ms. McKenna tutors elementary-aged children.

Lee Lippi

Lee Lippi is an Advocate for the Client Assistance Program. He recently retired from the City of Harrisburg where he was the Assistant Director of Neighborhood Services. In his role as a CAP advocate, Lee serves on the Advisory Committee for the Blind, is a member of the grassroots advocacy group “Accessible Communities Today” (ACT), and represents CAP on the Veterans’ Retraining Project. He has over twenty years of managerial experience, and is actively involved in his community.

Cindy Crissman

Cindy Crissman is the Outreach Coordinator for the Client Assistance Program..  She has a degree in Business from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She has many years of experience both working with, and advocating for individuals with disabilities.