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Welcoming Three New Board Members

John Paul II Center cannot speak of our successes without praising the fantastic work our Board of Directors has done. Board members have played an essential role in multiple capital campaigns and continue to steer the non-profit in the right direction. We is thrilled to announce three new additions to our board of directors: Patti Brown, Carla Leibold, and Rebecca Shemanski.

About our new board members:

Dr. Patti Brown

Dr. Patti Brown graduated Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College and went on to earn her M.D. Degree from Jefferson Medical College. From 1992 to 2018, Dr. Brown operated her own private practice that focused on strokes, chronic pain, spinal injuries, Multiple Sclerosis, Post Polio Syndrome, Spasticity Management, and Electromyography. She currently serves as Staff Physiatrist at both Penn State Health, St. Joseph and Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Reading. Dr. Brown is also part of the Berks County Medical Society’s Executive Council and has been since 1995.

Dr. Brown is a Berks County native, graduating from Wilson High School. She is married to Michael T. Brown, MD, partner at Surgery Consultants of Berks County. Together, they have four children: Megan (Brown) Nice, wife of Maxwell Nice (Exeter), Michael (Baltimore, MD), Gergory (Hershey, PA), and Doulas (Philadelphia, PA).

Carla Leibold

Carla Leibold serves as the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of Customers Bancorp, Inc. (a bank holding company) and Customers Bank. She is also a member of the Office of the Chair.

Ms. Leibold joined Customers in 2013 as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller. In 2018, Ms. Leibold was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller. Prior to joining Customers, Ms. Leibold served as the principal accounting officer for Farmer Mac where she was the Vice President and Controller from 2010-2013. She also served as the Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting of Farmer Mac from 2007-2010.

Ms. Leibold started her career in public accounting and held various roles of increasing leadership responsibility at Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac before joining Farmer Mac. A native of Slatington, Pennsylvania, Ms. Leibold holds a B.S. in Accounting from The Pennsylvania State University. She is an actively licensed Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She and her husband are residents of Blandon, Berks County.

Rebecca A. “Becky” Shemanski

Rebecca Shemanski earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. After previous careers in journalism, personnel management, and real estate, she served as Communications Director for Custom Processing Services for 20 years. During that time, she also volunteered at Immaculate Conception Parish as CYO girls basketball coach, capital campaign solicitor, and office aide. She is currently a lector/commentator and was recently named to the Executive Committee of the newly formed Diocese of Allentown Catholic Women’s Society of Giving.

Shemanski and her husband Gregg are proud supporters of Catholic Education. They both graduated from Central Catholic High School, as did their two children, Stephanie and Michael. They have also joined building campaigns at Berks Catholic, Alvernia University, and JPII.

Shemanski and her husband currently reside in Birdsboro while their daughter lives in Arlington, VA, and their son in Reading. She is looking forward to the opportunity to serve the students of JPII and help the Board carry out its mission.

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