STEVE KURTZ
Founder of Kurtz Construction Company, historic preservationist, and community volunteer

Stephen L. Kurtz is a fifth generation German Township resident and the founder of
Kurtz Construction Company, Inc. which has become a widely respected leader in
preservation roofing throughout the Delaware Valley area and beyond.
Steve served in the US Army in Korea and when he returned to Philadelphia completed
his BS in ED at St. Joseph’s University. While teaching history at Roxborough High
School and taking graduate courses in history at Temple University he started roofing
ing in the summers for a local company. In 1971 he started Steve Kurtz Roofing which
eventually became Kurtz Construction. Steve’s interest in history and the location of
the business eventually led to working on the old structures of Germantown, Mt. Airy
and Chestnut Hill. These buildings taught Steve the skills and techniques which the
craftsmen of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries used to create these wonderful old
buildings. The skilled craftsmen at Kurtz Construction now work to the highest
specifications provided by some of the most respected preservation designers and
architects in the region. Along with many homes, churches and synagogues in the area
Kurtz is proud to have completed many projects at Historic Houses in Germantown,
Trappe, Historic Waynesborough and Fairmount Park. Many significant buildings at
educational institutions such as Swarthmore College, Haverford College, Bryn Mawr
College, Bryn Athyn College, Vassar College and the copper roof on the Chapel at West
Point Military Academy. From 1983-2000 Steve partnered with Southwest Germantown
Development Corp to form Hunting Park West Partners to redevelop five buildings by
setting up incubators for small businesses. In 1988 -2004 Steve joined with seven
partners to form The Northwest Group to purchase and revitalize the 6200 block of
Germantown Avenue. In 1991 Steve, with a partner purchased the Kendrick Building
and created small units for artists and commercial tenants. Steve has served on the
boards of The Wissahickon Rebuilding Project, Chestnut Hill Business Association,
Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation, Historic Rittenhouse Town, Historic Germantown
Preserved, and as Trustee of VFW Post 5205.

 

SARA M. LOMAX
President and CEO of WURD Radio, entrepreneur, and journalist

Sara M. Lomax is the president and general manager of WURD Radio, LLC, Pennsylvania’s only African-American owned talk radio station.  She hosted and produced HealthQuest Live radio show on WURD from 2002 through 2013. Prior to her work with WURD, Sara co-founded HealthQuest: Total Wellness for Body, Mind & Spirit, and the first nationally circulated African-American consumer health magazine in the country.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Sara also served as an adjunct professor of communications at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. She has taught a collaborative course at the University of Pennsylvania with Dr. John Jackson titled “Urban Ethnography” which taught students how to create audio documentaries that aired on 900AM-WURD.
Sara has received numerous awards including: the Woman of Substance Award from the National Medical Association; the “Tree of Life” award from the Wellness of You; and, HealthQuest Magazine received the Beacon of Light Award from the Congressional Black
Caucus for outstanding health coverage. Sara was recognized as one of the “100 People to
Watch” by Business Philadelphia Magazine, and in 2010, she was selected for the “Women of
Distinction” award given by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Most recently, Sara received the
2012 PECO “Power to the Community” award given by the National Coalition of 100 Black
Women of Pennsylvania.
Sara sits on a variety of boards including The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Pennsylvania
Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Community of Leaders.

 

URSULA RUCKER
World-renowned poet, recording artist, and activist

Poet, mother, activist and recording artist. Ursula has toured throughout North America, Europe,
Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, sharing her poetry…her heart and soul. She is
dedicated to art as/for social change and committed to freedom fighting, truth-telling and peace-
making (and a little trouble;) through her chosen art form. Rucker is known for a diverse
repertoire, and for using techniques that catch her listeners attention. Rucker was born and
raised in Philadelphia where she was a graduate of Temple University’s journalism
program. She is of African-American and Italian descent. Rucker had been writing poetry since
adolescence but kept her writings to herself until she read poetry in 1994, at Philadelphia’s
Zanzibar Blue, which is credited as her debut.
That same year, Rucker was invited to collaborate with numerous recording artists, and
producers including Wax Tailor, King Britt, 4hero, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Josh Wink, Alix Perez
and most notable, the Roots.
Rucker garnered a reputation for unique poetry techniques and stage presence which were
described as “strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging”. King Britt gave Rucker recognition and
invited her to create her first spoken-word recording, the 1994 club hit “Supernatural”. Dance
music fans and DJs quickly appreciated Rucker’s vocals and rhythm, which was described as
“mystical”.