Board Leadership
Celia Asbell
Board Member
Celia Asbell is a Certified Public Accountant with Gallagher Flynn, LLP in South Burlington VT. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration with an accounting concentration from the University of Vermont, and a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans, LA, which led to the opportunity to teach an on-line course in the Religious Studies department. Read more...
Carol Boardman
Board Member
Carol Boardman was born and raised in Rutland Vermont, one of seven children. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to school, ski racing was a major focus in Carol’s life. She skied for UVM and after college she was a ski coach at the Stratton Mountain School, Swiss Challenge, and the Mount Mansfield Ski Club. After realizing that ski coaching was not her long-term career goal, Carol moved back to Burlington, where she spent the next seven years working for MONY and IDX Corporation. Read more...
Margret Brescia
BOARD MEMBER
Margret Brescia holds a degree in Sports Medicine/Exercise Science and a certificate in Accounting and she is currently finishing her Master’s Degree in Accountancy from Champlain College. She has worked for SymQuest Group in South Burlington VT for 16 years, starting out as their Accounts Payable Specialist, moving onto Staff Accountant, Finance Manager, and currently serving as their Division Accounting Manager. Read more...
Kelly Byers
Board Member
Kelly Byers was born in Rhode Island and raised in New Hampshire. After high school, Kelly joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served four years as an Infantry Squad Leader. Following his service, Kelly attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he graduated in 1998 with a B.A. in History. Kelly then worked with The Vanguard Group, earning his series 6 and 63, and assisting clients with financial planning. Read more...
Fr. Michael Carter, SSE
BOARD MEMBER
Fr. Michael Carter, SSE, is a native of Burlington, Vermont and was educated in local Catholic and public schools. Graduating with a degree in Religious Studies from St. Michael’s College, Colchester in 2012, Fr. Carter entered the Society of St. Edmund that same year and enrolled at Boston College obtaining a Master of Divinity degree in 2016. Read more...
David Evarts
Board Member
David Evarts came into this world after his mom, a former Sister of Mercy novice, had a change of heart. He traveled the US and Europe with his family while following his father’s Army career. After returning to Vermont, Dave attended Johnson State College, and graduated with a B.A. in Business/Management. He and his wife, Lisa have four children — three are former MCS students. They also have five grandchildren. Read more...
Jeffrey Firlik
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
Jeffrey Firlik was appointed to the Mater Christi board in 2018. He is a retired Pharmacist. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy, a Master of Science in Administration from Saint Michael’s College, leadership certification from Cornell University, and completed Doctor of Pharmacy courses at the University of Florida. Read more...
David Frechette
Board Member
David Frechette was born and raised in Boston, MA. He attended Saint Sebastian’s Country Day School in Needham, MA and graduated from Phillips Academy Andover. He earned his BA in political economy from Williams College in 1993. David has worked in global finance for more than 30 years. Currently David is the Global Head of Private Markets Distribution at Morgan Stanley, headquartered in New York City, NY. Read more...
Ken Gragg
Chair, Board of Trustees
Ken Gragg retired from the Vermont Air National Guard in 2008 as a Chief Master Sergeant after 30+ years of service. Read more...
Zsuzsanna Kadas-Foote
Board Member
After 34 years as a professor at Saint Michael’s College, Zsu (“Sue”) Kadas-Foote retired in 2019. She earned her B.S. in Mathematics and Physics at St. John’s University in New York City, and her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at Rutgers University, with research focused on mathematical modeling of biological systems. Read more...
Sister Jacqueline Marie Kieslich, RSM
BOARD MEMBER
Sr. Jacqueline Marie Kieslich was born in Burlington and lived on North Avenue with her parents, Albert and Lucille Kieslich and her two brothers. The family were parishioners of St. Joseph Church and served actively in parish activities. Read more...
Joanne Nelson
BOARD MEMBER
Joanne Nelson and her 5 siblings are alumni of Mercy education at St. Monica’s School in Barre, VT, and grew up in a family restaurant business in Marshfield. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Saint Michael’s College as well as Master’s Degrees in Education and Theology and Certificates in Catholic Campus Ministry, Clinical Pastoral Education, and Grief Support. Read more...
Manon O’Connor
BOARD MEMBER
Manon O’Connor serves as Associate Vice President, Major Gifts at the University of Vermont Foundation and the UVM Medical Center. Previously, Manon was appointed Acting Associate Vice President, University of Arizona Health Sciences from July 2018 to November 2019. Read more...
Michael Walsh
BOARD MEMBER
Michael Walsh was born and raised in Trumbull, Ct. He attended high school at Fairfield Prep, earned his Marketing Baccalaureate from the Arizona State University and received his MBA from the University of New Haven. Read more...