(Hershey) -- Michael Leader's family name is well known in Pennsylvania. His father, George Leader, served as governor for one term from 1955 to 1959. "My dad is a great role model, not only for me, but for a lot of seniors. Even at 94, he goes to the office every day, drives to the office, and loves what he's doing. He's never retired," Leader says. Michael Leader, himself, is the chariman and CEO of his family's company, Country Meadows Retirement Communities. He's also been involved with several community groups, having served on the boards of the United Way of the Captial Region and the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. As a note of disclosure, Leader also served on witf's board for nine years, including a stint as chairman. As part of our monthly Beyond the Bio series, Leader sat down with witf's Craig Layne in his Hershey office to explain how his father's actions outside politics molded his eventual career path...

Girl Scouting celebrates its centennial this month.  Doris Boswell got involved with the group in Harrisburg in the 1930s, rising to its highest rank.  As part of our Beyond the Bio series, witf's Craig Layne talks with Boswell, who is 91, about her work with the group that included founding a new troop of scouts and mentoring generations of girls.

(Orrtanna) -- Ed Gotwalt is the "Mr. Ed" in Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum. The Adams County candy and gift shop known for its thousands of elephant figurines has been his passion for nearly four decades. As part of our Beyond the Bio series, witf's Craig Layne talked with Gotwalt about his adventures - and about his impact on the people who've come through his doors.

(Reading) -- The Berks County seat's immediate former mayor, Tom McMahon, sees his role as a champion for Pennsylvania's cities - even though he decided not to seek a third term in office. "My way to look at this is as a series of adventures. The adventure I had for eight years as the mayor was great fun," McMahon says. He talks about his adventures with in the latest installment of our Beyond the Bio series. witf's Craig Layne caught up with the former mayor at the cafe in Reading's GoggleWorks - an old factory that's been turned into an arts center.

(Paradise) -- It's hard to wrap up a description of the National Christmas Center in one neat little package. The attraction in Paradise, Lancaster County, is the result of decades of work by its curator and historian, Jim Morrison. "I think the appeal for this is there's no other day in our lives like Christmas," Morrison says. In the latest installment of our "Beyond the Bio" series, Morrison talks with witf's Craig Layne about why he started a place where it's December 25th all year long.

(Lancaster) -- At the end of January, a new president will take the reins of the United Way of Lancaster County for the first time in more than two decades. The organization's current president, Susan Eckert, is stepping down after leading the nonprofit for 25 years. Eckert had originally planned to pursue a career in education, an area that attracted much of her attention during her tenure at the United Way of Lancaster County. "When I finished college, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. So, I went to Boston College to get a master's in special education and taught for a period of time," she says. "But, I discovered that teaching might not have been the right match for me."

(Hershey) -- Modern heart-assist pumps provide life-saving options for patients dealing with severe heart problems. A midstate surgeon and engineer pioneered the first pneumatic heart assist pump and has worked for decades on improving its design. Dr. William Pierce is a professor emeritus of surgery at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey. As part of witf's Beyond the Bio series, Morning Edition Host Craig Layne talked with Dr. Pierce about the heart assist pump and where he got the idea.

(Hershey) -- Modern heart-assist pumps provide life-saving options for patients dealing with severe heart problems. A midstate surgeon and engineer pioneered the first pneumatic heart assist pump and has worked for decades on improving its design. Dr. William Pierce is a professor emeritus of surgery at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey. As part of witf's Beyond the Bio series, Morning Edition Host Craig Layne talked with Dr. Pierce about the heart assist pump and where he got the idea.

(Carlisle) -- For 37 years, Carlisle Events has been hosting some of the largest car truck and motorcycle collector gatherings in the country. The well-known fall collector car swap meet starts this Wednesday at the Carlisle Fair Grounds. Bill Miller co-founded the company that's become an automotive entertainment juggernaut. As part of Beyond the Bio, witf's monthly look at a person who's made important contributions to the region, witf's Craig Layne talked with Miller about what keeps his motor running.

(Carlisle) -- For 37 years, Carlisle Events has been hosting some of the largest car truck and motorcylce collector gatherings in the country. The well-known fall collector car swap meet starts this Wednesday at the Carlisle Fair Grounds. Bill Miller co-founded the company that's become an automotive entertainment juggernaut. As part of Beyond the Bio, witf's monthly look at a person who's made important contributions to the region, witf's Craig Layne talked with Miller about what keeps his motor running.