2026 40 Under 40 Honoree: Molly Onufer (38)
“Treat others how you want to be treated; every person deserves respect; do good; leave everything better than you found it.”
PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA
Molly Onufer
Press Secretary for Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor
Molly Onufer is a self-described people person. Contrary to her mother’s instructions, she has always loved talking to strangers — something that makes her a natural fit for a career in communications.
As the press secretary for Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration, Onufer oversees both the Mayor’s Office and City of Pittsburgh communications. Before joining the O’Connor team, Onufer was the City of Pittsburgh’s community affairs manager, former Mayor Bill Peduto’s deputy communications director and the director of public affairs for Piatt Companies. She also was administrative director of the Piatt Family Foundation and headed its flagship Rock Reggae & Relief fundraiser.
In her spare time, she has organized litter clean-ups for her company and participated in the Garbage Olympics, a citywide cleanup competition. She has also served on various boards for local non- profits, including the YWCA, WQED and the PDP, and is involved in fundraising with organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Riverlife and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape.
