PAB - Board


Cynthia Crim, Chair

Cynthia Curry CrimCynthia Crim was named Chair of the PAB in 2022 and currently works as the Grants Manager for the Norman J. Stupp Foundation (Commerce Bank Trustee). Cynthia has more than fourteen years of management experience in the Nonprofit Sector. She has a passion for developing new programs, serving as a connector, technical advisor and coach when she works with people and organizations. Before joining Commerce Bank, Cynthia was the Director of Sector Relations for the Nonprofit Services Consortium. Her first job in the field of grantmaking was in Chicago, Illinois with the Steans Family Foundation as their Associate Executive Director. 

Cynthia has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia. Cynthia currently serves on the boards of the Senior Fund St. Louis City, the Missouri History Museum Subdistrict and the St. Louis Community College Foundation. In addition, she serves as a steering committee member to several community initiatives such as St. Louis Graduates and the Missouri Child Development Account. Cynthia relocated to St. Louis in 2002 from Chicago, Illinois with her husband and their two children. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, and biking. 

Carmen Mora, Vice Chair

Carmen Mora, Vice Chair, is Executive Director of Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity where she has worked since 2008.  She has also held pastoral ministry roles with various parishes in the Saginaw diocese.  She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Barry University in 1995 and a Master’s Degree from Loyola University in New Orleans in 2000.

Carmen’s life focus is to serve those at a disadvantage and give them a hand up.  Her volunteer activities are consistent with her work life.  She serves as a scholarship grant reviewer for Saginaw Community Foundation, has been president of the Mustard Seed Homeless Shelter, and served as a missionary to the Dominican Republic through Amor en Acción. 

Joseph Barker II

Joseph Barker II was recently appointed Executive Director of the Sr. Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation. Prior to assuming this position, Joe held various teaching and administrative positions with Cristo Rey schools in Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC. He has also worked in private industry and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering from Florida A & M University.

Joe has a strong commitment to helping African-American youth succeed and volunteers his time with community organizations such as The Black Man Lab, Unbound International Outreach, and West Atlanta Charter School. He currently serves as chair of the board formation committee for Aquinas Center for Theology at Emory University. 

Carla Mannings

Carla Mannings is Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager in the Commercial Banking Group for City First Bank. Prior to joining City First Bank, she held the position of Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Partners for the Common Good (PCG), where she served in an executive leadership capacity. During her career, Ms Mannings has also served as Relationship Manager for NeighborWorks America, Commercial Real Estate Loan Officer for Community Housing Capital, and Senior Commercial Loan Underwriter for Wells Fargo and Silverton Bank.

Ms. Mannings holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration from Brenau University. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, exploring the arts, and volunteering in her community.

Sister Mary Priniski, OP

Sister Mary Priniski, O.P., Ph.D. is a graduate of the University of Detroit; earned a Masters in Health Care Mission from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis and received her doctorate in Missiology from the Union Institute based in Cincinnati. She has served in various social justice ministries including coordinator of Connective Ministries, director of the Commission on Justice of the Glenmary Home Missioners and executive secretary of the Labor Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Mary is Project Coordinator for Gathering for Mission, a project of the Catholic Committee of the South engaging church leadership on all levels in dialogue with the voice and vision of Pope Francis. Previously she served as MidAtlantic Chapter Prioress for the congregation. She has spent most of her ministerial life engaging in social justice issues, particularly the rights of workers.

Sister Bibiana "Bless" Colasito, OP - Co-Liaison

Sister Bibiana "Bless" Colasito, OPSister Bibiana "Bless" Colasito, OP, was born in the Leyte Province of the Philippines and joined the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of Remedies in Pampanga, the Philippines, in 2000. That congregation merged with the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 2011. Sister Bless has been involved in school administration and social action, most recently serving as Head of the Commission on Family and Life for the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

Sister Corinne Sanders, OP - Co-Liaison

Sister Corinne Sanders, OPSister Corinne Sanders, OP, most recently served as Director of the Office of Sustainability for the Adrian Dominican Sisters and assisted the Office of Immigration Services as a paralegal. Before her election to the General Council in 2010, she was principal of Rosarian Academy, sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and located in West Palm Beach, Florida. She also served as Director of Mission and Ministry at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, and as Director of Formation for the Congregation.

PAB - Staff & Consultants


Kristine Cooper, Office Manager

Kristine CooperKristine Cooper started working with the PAB in October 2013 as Executive Assistant after serving six years as a receptionist at Weber Center. Prior to working on the Adrian Dominican Sisters Campus, she spent 17 years as a cashier at Adrian Public Schools. In 2018 Kristine assumed the title of PAB Office Manager and works in consultation with members of the PAB Board and the Director to keep the day-to-day operations of the office running smoothly. 

Kristine feels blessed with three wonderful sons. She was born in Tecumseh, MI and has lived her whole life right here in Adrian. Her hobbies include scrapbooking/card making and making beaded jewelry. She also has two dogs that keep her busy — Maggie, a yellow lab, and Hollie, a yorkie.

Pat Zerega - Consultant

Pat ZeregaPat Zerega joined Mercy Investment Services as director of shareholder advocacy in 2011 and became senior director of shareholder advocacy in 2013. Pat has more than 15 years of experience in corporate social responsibility, both with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and as an independent consultant. She previously served as director of the AIDS Interfaith Care Teams in Pittsburgh and as director of the Christian service department of the Archdiocese of Detroit. She serves on the board of directors of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Goodweave USA and Residential Care Services. Pat holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from West Virginia University as well as a certificate in Organizational Development from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

Sister Judy Byron, OP - Consultant

Sister Judy ByronSister Judy is Coordinator of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (NWCRI) in Seattle, Washington. The Adrian Dominican Sisters are members of NWCRI. Sister Judy engages companies on issues of global health, water, human rights and human trafficking and child labor in the supply chain.

Sister Marilin Llanes, OP - Portfolio Manager

Sister Marilin Llanes OP Sr. Marilín Llanes, OP, joined the PAB staff in 2022 as the Portfolio Manager for the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ community impact investing. She served as a member of PAB for the past six years, and the latter two years she served as board Chair. Sister Marilín has a strong commitment to create opportunities for building financially resilient communities that support people on the margins. 

While living in San Antonio, Texas, Sister Marilín managed legal clinics at St. Mary’s University Center for Legal and Social Justice. In addition, she founded the Urban Green Cleaning business for immigrants waiting for work permits. While working at St. Mary’s University, she obtained a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and continued graduate pursuits earning a degree in School Psychology from Trinity University. 

She practiced as a bilingual licensed school psychologist in San Antonio, Texas, Joliet, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan from 2002 to 2022, with particular focus in working with underserved populations. 

Sister Marilín is a recent graduate of University of New Hampshire School of Public Policy obtained a Master of Arts in Community Development Policy and Practice. She earned a Certificate in Community Development Finance (2018) from the University of New Hampshire and Opportunity Finance Network three-day workshop in Durham, North Carolina.  

A professed Dominican Sister of Adrian for 15 years, she resides in a community house located in Biscayne Park, Florida with three other sisters. She is blessed to be back on the campus of her alma mater of Barry University where the new PAB satellite office is located. Sister Marilín enjoys gardening, hiking nature trails, reading, going to the beach, and hanging out with family and friends.

Dee Joyner, Associate - Director of PAB, Director of Resilient Communities

Dee Joyner, Chair of Portfolio Advisory BoardDee Joyner, an Adrian Dominican Associate, is Director of Resilient Communities and oversees the Portfolio Advisory Board. She has worked at Commerce Bank in St. Louis, Missouri for 23 years. She began in the Commerce Trust Company, then moved on to Human Resources. Before that, Dee worked for 11 years for the St. Louis County Executive as planning director, economic development director, and chief of staff. She is active with the Adrian Dominican Associates in St. Louis and serves on the board of Aquinas Institute of Theology, a Dominican graduate school in St. Louis. Dee holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in government and urban planning from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and a master’s degree in business administration from St. Louis University.

2022 PAB Board and Staff

PAB Board Members and staff at their meeting in September 2022.
Members of the Portfolio Advisory Board are, from left, Kristine Cooper, Office Manager; Judy Byron, OP, Consultant; Joseph Baker II; Corinne Sanders, OP, General Council Liaison; Carla Mannings; Marilín Llanes, OP, Portfolio Manager; Mary Priniski, OP; Pat Zerega, Consultant; Cynthia Crim, Chair; Dee Ann Joyner, Director; and Carmen Mora, Vice Chair.

 

Portfolio Advisory Board,  Adrian Dominican Sisters | 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive | Adrian, Michigan 49221
Phone: (517) 266-3523 | Email: