Deana Whitman began working for the Pa House of Representatives in 2022 as the Legislative Aide to State Representative R. Lee James (64th District) in his Titusville Office. The 64th District encompasses all of Venango County and parts of Crawford County.
Deana hit the ground running and has managed the Titusville Office with professionalism and know-how. And in that short time, constituents have come to depend on her guidance and direction in handling state-related issues, with a few local and federal thrown in just to mix things up.
Deana’s favorite part of the job is that no two days are the same. A wise man once said, "Treat each person as though their issue or concern is the most important issue or concern in the world," and Deana does just that. As a matter of fact, Deana has several constituents she would consider "regulars" who stop in just to chat and catch up on what’s going on in the region.
Before joining Rep James' team, Deana worked for sixteen years as a Pharmacy Technician/340B Auditor at Titusville Area Hospital, as an assistant teacher at the Child Development Center and local high school where she worked as a technical support staff assisting children with social needs. And the job that raises everyone's eyebrows: one week after graduating high school, Deana enlisted in a six-weeklong boot camp in SCI Camp Hill to become a corrections officer. After training, she started working at the Venango County Prison.
Active in her community, Deana is a member and past secretary of the Rouseville Volunteer Fire Department. Deana has a knack for organization and event planning, which makes her a very sought-after volunteer not only at the fire department but also with the Rainbow Archery Club, where she is co-secretary. Deana is a member of her church's Event Planning Committee, where she is happiest using her culinary skills to gather the congregation for food, fun, and fellowship.
Deana has made a home in Rouseville with her husband Bill. She and Bill have been married for 32 years and have three children, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. Although Deana's children know that she loves and adores them, they have accepted the fact that their fur siblings, labradors Emmy and Sadie, are secretly mom's favorites.
When not working, Deana appreciates the time she can spend cooking and baking for family and friends. Her family especially enjoys when she is practicing new cupcake designs/decorations and are more than willing to sample her concoction.
Deana enjoys a relaxing day of shopping, but more to the point, shopping for beach vacations. Each year, she looks forward to the week that she spends with family, making lifelong memories.
In 2024, Deana started on a health journey. At first it was to lose some weight and get healthy. Having no interest in running, Deana started out as a long-distance walker, but as her endurance improved, she decided to give running a try and completed her first 5K. Deana will tell you that the biggest hurdle in starting a health journey is getting to the point where you appreciate exercise and the benefits it provides.
