DVI appoints LeAnne Burchik new Executive Director, promotes Mike Ritter to Deputy Director
Lebanon, PA
02/03/2021 02:53 PM
The Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Intervention (DVI) of Lebanon County today announced that LeAnne Burchik has been appointed to lead the agency as the next executive director, succeeding Jennifer Snyder, who is retiring February 5 after eight years at the helm and fifteen total with the agency.
For the past eighteen years, Burchik has worked as a structured settlement consultant in the insurance industry, helping personal injury victims nationwide rebuild their lives following an accident. Prior to that she served as Regional Claims Counsel for Nationwide Insurance in Harrisburg. She has held leadership positions and been a frequent speaker for industry groups in both fields.
A survivor of domestic violence herself, Burchik has served on the DVI Board of Directors for the past three years. She has also worked as a volunteer with Domestic Violence Services in Lancaster County.
“Domestic violence is like a cancer,” said Burchik. “When survivors seek out the shelter, it is at Stage Four. We need to catch it in the early stages. My goal is to help DVI expand its services in Lebanon County so that more victims can be reached and hopefully saved,” she added.
Burchik has chaired corporate events benefitting the United Way of the Capital Region and served on several funding committees. She is a long-time volunteer for the Mt. Gretna Playhouse and currently serves on the outreach committee of Hope Episcopal Church, where she initiated a program to help survivors of Hurricane Maria resettle in Lebanon.
Burchik holds a J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law and a B.A. in English from California University of Pennsylvania. She is admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and is a member of the Lebanon County Bar Association.
The Board also announced that Mike Ritter has been promoted to the brand new position of deputy director. Ritter has served DVI for the past ten years as public education coordinator, leading the agency’s community education and prevention initiatives. Most notably, Ritter chairs Connected Together, a collaborative task force under the Community Health Council of Lebanon County dedicated to preventing trauma and community violence by building healthy relationships and families. And because domestic violence and homelessness often intersect, Ritter has served as co-chair of the Lebanon County Coalition to End Homelessness for the past five years.
“LeAnne and I have been tasked with the bold vision of taking DVI to the next level,” said Ritter, adding “While I will still very much be seen out and about in the community, I am excited to re-center some of my focus on how we are working with survivors locally.”
Ritter hopes to be able to soon return to the Hershey Area Playhouse stage where he regularly performs and directs. He also recently completed a five-year stint as treasurer for the Playhouse. Ritter has also served in the past as treasurer for Lebanon Community Theatre and as president for RSVP of the Capital Region.
Ritter holds a Masters in Public Administration degree from Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and two Bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from Penn State. He holds current certification from Lakeside Global Institute as a trauma-competent professional.
