Headshot

Erin Port

Development Manager

Erin Port is the Development Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Erin holds a certification in interior design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. Her professional journey began in the construction industry, where she honed her skills as a kitchen designer for two local construction companies. Additionally, Erin has more than a decade of experience in office administration.

For 25 years, Erin steadfastly supported her husband’s career in the U.S. Marine Corps. During this period, they relocated several times, moving every two to three years, both nationally and internationally.

Erin lives in Newport, Pennsylvania, with her now-retired husband and their daughter. They are also blessed with two grown sons—one currently serving in the U.S. Navy, while the other pursues his college degree in Austria.

In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her family, baking, and seeking new opportunities to decorate her family’s newly acquired home.

Education

Education Spending Poll

  • August 26, 2014

Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania voters underestimate the amount the state spends on education. And when informed of the facts, support for boosting education funding by hiking taxes dropped significantly.

Poll

Read More: Education Spending Poll

Taxes & Economy

Podcast: Profiles in Perseverance, Overcoming Poverty

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 25, 2014

Bobbi was struggling. A single mom of two kids, she had a job but no place to live. Thanks to Opportunity House in Reading, Pennsylvania, Bobbi found a home…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Profiles in Perseverance, Overcoming Poverty

Taxes & Economy

Landowners Will Bear Burden of Severance Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 21, 2014

Randy Walker’s Armstrong County farm has been in the family for three generations. On 72 acres they grow hay, corn, oats, and care for cattle. A few years ago, Randy…

Media

Read More: Landowners Will Bear Burden of Severance Tax

Education

Pension Costs Forcing Teacher Layoffs

  • James Paul
  • August 20, 2014

We’ve debunked on this blog the “billion dollar education cut” myth time and time again. Yet another common refrain—even among those who admit state…

Media

Read More: Pension Costs Forcing Teacher Layoffs

Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership

  • August 20, 2014

This post first appeared on Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. As part of National Employee Freedom Week, we sat down with two western Pennsylvania teachers who successfully left their teachers’…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership

Public Union Democracy

Audio: 81% in PA Support Employee Freedom

  • August 19, 2014

Should workers be penalized for leaving a union? 81 percent of Pennsylvanians say “no.” So why hasn’t a policy change happened to free workers from having to pay a…

Media

Read More: Audio: 81% in PA Support Employee Freedom

Education

Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership

  • August 19, 2014

As part of National Employee Freedom Week, we sat down with two western Pennsylvania teachers who successfully left their teachers’ unions last year. John Cress is a middle school…

Media

Read More: Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership

Education

School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 18, 2014

Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…

Media

Read More: School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity

Regulation

Pennsylvanians Win: Liquor Markup Increase Nixed

  • August 18, 2014

Finally some good news for booze consumers: the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has decided against increasing the markup added to each wine and spirits product, according to PLCB…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Win: Liquor Markup Increase Nixed