The Board of Directors
2023-2025
Sandra MacSweeney, MHA, FNP
President- Elect
A social worker with an early childhood degree, Claudia has been with Catholic Charities for the past 5 years. She also served as an Education Consultant for Tennessee's Early Intervention Services (TEIS) for 13 years.
Claudia moved from Buffalo, NY to Nashville in 1998 with Pete who has been the Voice of the Nashville Predators since then. Son Richard has been an instructor at Indiana University for some time.
Claudia Weber, BSW. MEd.
President
Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, Sandra is deeply devoted to Our Lady of Fatima. After moving to Nashville, she found her spiritual home at Holy Rosary in Donelson and joined NCBWL.
Sandra has a long-standing career and expertise in family and functional medicine and practices at Alivio Health (https://aliviohealth.org). She obtained her degree from Cornell University and has since dedicated her career to helping individuals and families achieve improved health and wellness offering a unique and holistic approach to healthcare, ensuring her patients receive personalized and comprehensive treatment plans that cater to their specific needs.
Karoline Mahoney
Treasurer
Karoline was born and raised in Hickory Hills, IL. She moved to Nashville in 2017 to begin her career as a royalties analyst at Warner Music Group and now works as a Manager in her department. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband Jack, walking her dog, fishing, kayaking, and running outside in warm weather.
Karoline prefers to read new books over watching TV and makes a conscious effort to grow in her faith by praying the rosary daily and reading the bible. After officially becoming a member of NCBWL in 2023, she is excited to be a part of the board as Treasurer, bringing her strong analytical and mathematical skills to assist NCBWL in every way she can.
Mary Rolando
Program Chair
Mary has contributed to statewide policy issues in mental health, integrated information systems, development of healthy children, and establishing resilient communities, with the intent to improve outcomes for Tennesseans. Mary, a B.S and M.S graduate of Southern Illinois University, has served on boards of a number of local organizations including Catholic Charities of Middle Tennessee, finance board of St. Henry Church and School, The CFMT Women's Fund and others.
Patricia "Trish" Cronin, MBA
Secretary
Trish serves as Executive Director of the Children’s Kindness Network, a nonprofit dedicated to instilling values of kindness in young children through the beloved icon “Moozie” the kind cow. Trish enjoyed an extensive career at JPMorgan Chase Bank and FIS/SunGard, based in New York City. Since moving to Franklin, TN in 2020, she has been a member of St. Philip parish and blessed to spend time with family, friends and community partners. She actively engages in volunteering, outreach, and mentoring activities centering on kindness, personal development and well-being, and faith. In baseball season, Trish and her husband are extra busy traveling to their younger son’s minor league games. Trish earned an M.B.A. from New York University Stern Graduate School of Business, and a B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from College of the Holy Cross.
Patricia M. Smith
Communications Chair
Patricia is in her fourth parish since moving here at 15. She started in St. Henry with the family, enjoyed the fellowship at the University Catholic while a college student, “grew up” at Holy Name and now worships and offers her voice as a lector at St. Matthew.
John (Zipperer, good one, hunh?) and she were gifted with two excellent children, Elizabeth and Andrew. Both were raised in the Catholic schools and enjoy life-long friends. Patricia exercises and likes long walks because Dad was called home at 96 and Mom is still praying at 98. And yes, she looks for tongue twisters to practice her voice work.
Connie Allison, Esq
Parliamentarian
A native Nashvillian, Connie is active in multiple ministries at Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood, from Parish Council to Flower Ministry to Bocce league and more. Cursillo and frequent daily mass attendance have been a deep source of grace and joy.
Connie attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville School of Law and University of Alabama - Graduate School of Law (LL.M Taxation/ Estate Planning, and LL.M Business Transactions). This training has allowed her to focus on Estate Planning, including custom Trusts, Business succession planning, IRS & Tax court work. She frequently consults for other attorneys and teaches continuing education for attorneys, as well as presenting to various lay organizations throughout the diocese.
Ellen Wade
Membership
Ellen Donlon Wade, born in Nashville, attended St. Bernard Academy and the University of Memphis, taught in Memphis City Schools before returning to Nashville and going to work for HCA in Telecommunications. Since retiring she enjoys spending time with her husband, John, family and friends. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, gardening and volunteering at Saint Matthew. She has been a member of the NCBWL for 20 years.
Carol Ann Fernandez
Publicity/Outreach
As Chief Operating Officer, Carol Ann is responsible for overseeing the 401k department and client retirement projections. Prior to joining Glen Eagle, Carol Ann worked in the Wealth Management Division at Merrill Lynch, Annuities Group at Prudential, and Global Capital Markets group at M&T
Bank in New York City. Carol Ann earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Notre Dame in addition to later returning to Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business for her MBA.
Carol Ann currently serves on the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) of Philadelphia committee in addition to serving as a Board Member for the DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to building a better tomorrow by educating students
today, to forge a financially literate America.
Kelley Jeanne Colopietro
Social Media
Kelley arrived in Nashville from Pittsburgh in October 2019, delighted to be a part of the Country Music Television mentorship program. Previously she was working on her Masters degree in Chemistry with an emphasis on nuclear mechanical engineering.
Her love of music came from her music teacher mother; the rest of the family is tone deaf! However, she still enjoyed her two sisters and brother while growing up in Geneva, NY. She began singing in church and continues on Sundays at 11:00 Mass at St. Matthew Parish.
She is currently performing regionally and writing songs!
Jennie Guinn
Spiritual Life
Jennie is a native Nashvillian who attended St. Edward School and Father Ryan High School. Jennie worked at St. Edward Church and School for 26 years as a teacher, administrator and Director of Religious Education. In 2021, Jennie followed God’s promptings to become a Catholic Life Coach. She encourages middle-life moms to strengthen their faith, reconnect in their marriage, gracefully navigate the relationship with adult children and their spouses, and to discover where God is calling them in this new season of life.
Jennie meets with women one-on-one, leads retreats, hosts a weekly podcast and weekly radio show on Nashville Catholic Radio called Catholic Moms in the Middle. You can learn more about Jennie’s coaching at Catholicmomsinthemiddle.com.
Tricia Casa Santa, BS, RHIA (Retired)
Hospitality
Tricia was raised in the Methodist Church in Jackson, MS, and moved to Nashville in 1986 upon accepting a supervisory position at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Health Information Management Department. After meeting Chris Casa Santa in 1993, she converted to the Catholic faith in 1996, and married him on 27-Nov-96 at the Cathedral, where they remain as parishioners. She joined NCBWL in 1997. After an 18-year career as a Health Information Management professional, Tricia had a 26-year career as a Data Manager with 2 contract research organizations, Covance and IQVIA. Tricia retired on 01-Apr-22 and enjoys volunteering as a Delivery Angel for the Heimerdinger Foundation (with Chris) and for the Ladies of Charity Emergency Assistance Office.
Lauren Barca
Special Events, Co-Chair
Lauren is a healthcare consultant that assists technology and case management companies, including startups, develop strategies for the marketplace. Prior to consulting, she served in state government for 5 years and later spent a decade at UnitedHealthcare. Her background is in public health nursing, and she is passionate about ensuring the quality of care for economically disadvantaged and medically underserved populations, particularly moms and babies.
Lauren resides in downtown Nashville and enjoys travel and volunteering with community organizations, especially the Nashville Diaper Connection.
Courtney Conklin
Special Events, Co-Chair
An Army brat and Veteran herself, Courtney grew up all over the world and finds the hardest question to answer is "Where are you from?" After moving to Nashville for her husband (who is also in the Army) to attend a Political Science pHd program at Vanderbilt, The Conklins landed at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. With two little girls at Overbrook (ages 10 and 8) and a budding real estate career, Courtney still finds time to play tennis and is so excited to plan this year's Pearls of Wisdom Gala.
The Board of Directors
2021-2023
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Lynne Warne, President
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Claudia Weber, President-Elect
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Lisa O’Neill-Sullivan, Programs & Second VP Elect
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Deb Fay, Treasurer Chair
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Janine Moore, Secretary Chair
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Cora Newcomb, Communications Chair
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Cheryl Pryor, Spiritual Life Chair
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Kim Hoover, Membership Chair
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Lisa Link, Publicity & Outreach Chair
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Faye Knochenmes, Hospitality Chair
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Veronica Moreland – Development & Pearls of Wisdom Co-chair
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Patricia Vance - Development & Pearls of Wisdom Co-chair
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Cindy Zwickel, Parliamentarian Chair
The Board of Directors
2019-2021
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Teri Hasenour Gordon, President
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Lynne Warne, First Vice President, Special Events
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Lisa O’Neill-Sullivan, Second Vice President, Programs
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Barbara Esteves-Moore, Communications and Marketing Chair
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Sandra Szejner, Treasurer
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Patricia Vance, Recording Secretary
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Donna Adams, Spiritual Life Chair
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Kim Hoover, Membership Chair
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Lisa Link, Publicity & Social Action Chair
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Deb Fay, Development Chair
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Deb Fay, Hospitality Chair
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Shelley Heile, Business Networking Chair
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Kathy Pohlid, Parliamentarian