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 Martha Lester Harris has been involved with the
Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund since its inception in 1982. She
was elected President in January 2003. Martha has a strong commitment to
seeing more progressive women in positions of decision making in both the
public and private sectors. Her career has spanned both sectors. In 2001,
Martha co-founded InnerLink, Inc., an innovative health, safety and emergency
preparedness educational software company based in Lancaster, PA -
www.innerlinkit.com.
InnerLink presently employs 10 people and is headquartered at Liberty Place
in Lancaster.
In October, 2005, Martha was named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania by Governor Edward and First Lady Marjorie Rendell. She was nominated for this award by the Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund. Martha served for five years in the Cabinet of former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, as COO of the Team Pennsylvania Human Resources Investment Council, Advisor to the Governor’s Office for Workforce Development, Deputy Secretary for Workforce and Technology, and Deputy Secretary for Trade, Technology and Economic Development. She was appointed by Governor Ridge, following her successful tenure as founding director of SPIRC, one of Pennsylvania’s most successful industrial resource centers, and as Director of Economic Development for the Pittsburgh High Technology Council. Additionally, she has served as a Harvard University Research Fellow, Press Secretary to US Senator John Heinz and Associate Director of Pennsylvania’s Washington office, under former Governor Dick Thornburgh. She began her career as a broadcast journalist. Harris was awarded a BA from Dickinson College, a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She and her husband Randy reside with their 14 year old daughter Kathryn in Mount Joy, Lancaster County. In October 2005, Martha Lester Harris was recognized by Governor Ed Rendell and First Lady Judge Marjorie Rendell as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania. She was nominated for this award by the Pennsylvania Women’s Campaign Fund. In making the announcement, the First Lady said “Each Distinguished Daughter is a remarkable woman whose presence represents a powerful and lasting tribute to the spirit of community that has provided both strength and prosperity to Pennsylvania,” said Judge Rendell. “The Governor and I commend them for their leadership and contributions to the commonwealth.” To be considered for Distinguished Daughter selection, women must be nominated by organizations within the commonwealth for accomplishments of statewide or national importance. The Distinguished Daughters are honored with medals and citations at the Governor’s Residence. This year, the First Lady, herself a Distinguished Daughter in 1999, recognized the winners and presented the awards.
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