Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is proud to introduce you to the McFaddin Family, who have built a life centered on exploration, service and making memories together. Whether they are leading Cub Scout meetings, volunteering in the community, traveling to experience nature or simply watching deer wander past their picture window overlooking Bartram Covered Bridge, Neal and Joelle McFaddin believe that the best lessons in life happen through shared experiences. Since moving to Newtown Square in 2019, they have embraced the community while becoming familiar faces in Cub Scouts Pack 315, where they have dedicated countless hours to helping local children grow in confidence and character.
Forrest “Neal” McFaddin spent his childhood in rural Florida, attending several private schools and even homeschooling for a period of time. Long before computers became an everyday part of life, he was fascinated by learning. “My favorite thing was finding encyclopedias and absorbing as much information as possible,” he said. “I was always thinking about how that knowledge could be applied to invent something new.” By high school at Flagler Palm Coast High School, that curiosity had shifted toward computers, graphic design and technology. He joined Air Force ROTC for a year while teaching himself graphic design and learning how to modify computer games by creating his own playable maps.
His passion eventually led him to Daytona State College’s Advanced Technology Center, where he began taking college courses while still in high school. There he and several friends created their own computer club, hosting weekly LAN parties where students gathered with custom-built computers to share ideas, play games, and learn from one another. “It was a great experience getting like-minded people together,” Neal recalled. “This was before internet gaming was really common, so it became a place to socialize while showing off the computers we had built ourselves.”
Although he initially pursued graphic design, Neal ultimately discovered his true calling in information technology, earning degrees in General Education and Computer Networking. During college, he worked multiple jobs within Daytona State’s IT department while also freelancing as a graphic designer for a simulation company.
Those experiences laid the foundation for nearly two decades in technology, spending much of his career with the Institute of Internal Auditors before
joining Keyfactor, where he now helps organizations strengthen cybersecurity and manage digital certificates.
“What I enjoy most is solving problems,” Neal said. “Sometimes it’s a difficult technical challenge, but more often, it’s about recognizing where
communication breaks down between teams and helping everyone reach a mutual understanding so projects can keep moving forward.”
Joelle’s childhood took her from Phillipsburg, New Jersey to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania after the loss of her mother. At Liberty High School, she excelled both academically and athletically, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, competing in track and field, and serving as News Editor for the school newspaper. Outside of school, she cheered for the Bethlehem Steelers and developed a lifelong appreciation for staying active.
She attended Slippery Rock University, studying Environmental Education and Park and Resource Management while competing on the equestrian team. Although her path eventually led in a different direction professionally, those experiences strengthened her love of nature, animals and the outdoors, passions she continues to share with her children today.
After moving to Florida in 2012, Joelle worked at the Institute of Internal Auditors, when she was promoted to a Certification Program Manager. It was then, on her very first day, that she met Neal. “He worked in Desktop Support and helped set up my computer,” Joelle said. What began as a workplace introduction quickly developed into a friendship and then a relationship. The couple became engaged the following year before exchanging vows at Casa Feliz in Winter Park, Florida, a historic Spanish farmhouse they describe as a magical setting surrounded by family and friends.
Following the wedding, they celebrated with a Caribbean honeymoon filled with unforgettable adventures. “We swam with dolphins, visited a sea turtle sanctuary and spent time with friends who had been married on the same day one year earlier,” Joelle recalled. Soon after returning home, they purchased their first house in Casselberry, Florida, where they would begin raising their family.
Joelle eventually stepped away from her corporate career after the birth of their daughter to focus on family life. Today she owns Functional Fit Home Organizers, LLC, serving clients throughout Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties. “Doing meaningful work is very important to me,” she said. “People invite me into their homes and trust me with spaces that are often tied to emotions, memories and major life changes. Sometimes we’re helping someone sort through decades of accumulated belongings, while other times we’re creating organizing systems that make life less stressful for busy families. I love knowing that what we do has a lasting impact.”
Their journey to Newtown Square began after a difficult chapter in Joelle’s life. Following the unexpected passing of her father in early 2019, she felt a strong pull to return to the Northeast. “That event prompted me to want to return to familiar surroundings and be near my closest friends,” she said. “One of my best friends from high school lives in Glen Mills, and our children are the same age, so we started looking throughout the area.” When they discovered their home on Boot Road, they immediately knew they had found the right place. “We fell in love with the small town feel and beautiful scenery,” Joelle said. “Being able to see Bartram Covered Bridge from our window made it even more special.”
For Neal, the move also brought his family closer together. His mother later relocated from Florida and now lives in nearby Chester County, while Joelle has family throughout the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey. The couple appreciates living in a community that feels connected while still offering peaceful surroundings. Wildlife frequently visits their property, from deer and newborn fawns to foxes and countless bird species. Neal even has
a Northeastern bird identification poster hanging beside the family’s picture window so everyone can identify each new visitor. “We enjoy having so much nature around us while still being close to everything we need,” Joelle said. “We really can’t imagine a better place to raise our kids.”
Both Neal and Joelle have plenty of interests that keep life interesting. Neal laughs that he has “too many hobbies.” He operates a seasonal 3D printing business creating toys and holiday items, enjoys photography, plays both guitar and piano, maintains several aquariums, experiments with amateur radio, repairs just about anything that breaks and occasionally relaxes by playing computer games. His photography has also become a valuable contribution to Cub Scouts Pack 315, where he documents many of the Scouts’ activities and adventures.
Joelle’s hobbies align perfectly with her profession. “I know it sounds funny,” she said, “but I genuinely enjoy organizing, even when I’m home.” She also enjoys designing home improvement projects, listening to science fiction and fantasy audiobooks while working, practicing yoga and Pilates at the YMCA and planning future renovations for the family’s home.
Their children have embraced many of those same interests. Xander, now ten, is an Arrow of Light Scout who loves science, wildlife, Legos and music. After performing with Team Twirl II at Walt Disney World earlier this summer, he hopes to continue exploring both music and science while someday becoming a marine biologist. Eight-year-old Aleena, one of the first girls to join Pack 315, dances with Team Twirl I, participates in gymnastics and dreams of working at the Brandywine Valley SPCA because of her lifelong love of animals.
While the McFaddins enjoy staying active, nothing has shaped their family’s life in Newtown Square quite like Cub Scouts Pack 315. Neal first became involved when Xander joined as a Lion Scout during kindergarten at the tail end of the pandemic. “Parents and leaders were still wearing masks, so it was definitely an unusual way to begin,” he said. The following year, he volunteered to become a den leader and quickly discovered how rewarding the experience could be.
When Cub Scouts welcomed girls into the program, the McFaddins became strong advocates for making Pack 315 a family pack. Aleena had often attended her brother’s meetings and desperately wanted to participate herself. “We saw so many younger siblings tagging along,” Neal said. “It just made sense that when they became old enough, they should have the same opportunity to experience Cub Scouts.”
Joelle joined the leadership team first as a committee member and later as co-den leader for Aleena’s Lion, Tiger, and Wolf dens. “Once Aleena joined, Cub Scouts really became something we all did together,” Joelle said. “Campouts, hikes, community service projects, Pinewood Derby races and field trips became family events instead of just activities for one child.”
The McFaddins especially appreciate that Scouting teaches practical skills while encouraging service, leadership and teamwork. Neal enjoys watching children become more confident as they try things they might never have experienced otherwise, from outdoor camping and hiking to learning first aid, public speaking and community service.
“We’ve had so many experiences through Cub Scouts that the kids wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Neal said. “It’s exciting watching them discover new interests while learning to work together and help others.”
Among the community service experiences, one annual tradition stands above the rest. Every December, Pack 315 hosts Cards, Cookies and Cocoa, where Scouts gather to decorate Christmas cards while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies before delivering the handmade cards to residents at Dunwoody Village.
“Delivering a Christmas card during the holiday season and chatting with a resident, even for only a couple of minutes, undeniably brings some joy to their day and mine as well,” Neal explained. “It feels so small to me, but also one of the most selfless things I could do. I’m really glad I can show my kids that.”
Joelle agrees those simple moments often leave the biggest impression. “Watching the kids realize they can brighten someone’s day just by spending a few minutes with them is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Those are the kinds of lessons they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
That passion led to one of the family’s favorite stories. After attending a Cub Scout Animal Appreciation Party at the SPCA, Aleena became attached to a kitten named Stella. “She cried all the way home yelling, ‘Stellaaaa!’” Joelle laughed. “It reminded me of the famous movie scene, and I knew I had to do everything I could to make sure Stella became part of our family.” Today Stella joins fellow cats Tuna and Pepper, Bean the Chihuahua and more fish than anyone has bothered counting.
The McFaddins love traveling together, choosing a different destination each year, but one of their favorite adventures remains an Alaskan cruise where they watched humpback whales breach, spotted bald eagles and sea otters, admired massive glaciers and shared the trip with extended family.
Whether they are exploring Alaska, volunteering with Cub Scouts, helping neighbors or simply watching wildlife from their living room window, the McFaddins believe the best memories are created by spending time together and giving back to others. “We don’t really have a family motto,” Joelle said, “but we try to live our lives respecting nature, helping others and cherishing our family, including our furry family members.” It is a philosophy
that has served them well and one they hope their children will carry with them for years to come.