The day-to-day operation of Mercy Investment Services is managed by a Board of Directors. The board approves committee recommendations for the principal investment and social responsibility policies, as well as overseeing the committees and Chief Investment Officer.
The board includes members of the Sisters of Mercy, chief financial officers of several Sisters of Mercy Communities and others with backgrounds in such areas as ethics, social justice, audit, legal, finance, investments, strategic planning and communications.
Lois Artis
Arthur Borduas
Helen Marie Burns, RSM
Patricia Cochran
Karen Donahue, RSM
Suzanne Elliott, RSM - Chairperson
Richard Flannery
Beth Fluharty
Carol Kelley
Bryan Pini
José Santillian
R. Lois Artis, CPA, MBA, M.Div, is the chief financial officer for the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. For more than 30 years, Lois has provided leadership to not-for-profit organizations including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada; North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources; Duke University; University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Lois holds a bachelor of music degree from Catholic University of America, a master of business administration from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master of divinity from Duke University.
Arthur J. Borduas, CFA, is vice president of R.M. Davis, Inc., a Portland, Maine, registered investment adviser overseeing $2 billion of assets on behalf of individuals, nonprofits and corporations. Art’s professional career spans 40 years. Prior to joining his current firm in 1986, Art held leadership positions in investment research and portfolio management with Union Mutual Life Insurance Co. (now Unum) and was trust investment officer for Maine National Bank. Art is a graduate of Boston College and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He has served on many community boards, including St. Joseph’s College of Maine, the Catholic Foundation of Maine, the Investment Advisory Committee of the Maine State Public Employees Retirement System and the Diocese of Portland Finance Council.
Helen Marie Burns, RSM, is vice president of mission integration for Mount Aloysius College, a Catholic, liberal arts college in Cresson, Pennsylvania where she assists the president in promoting and enabling the mission and vision of the college, its Catholic identity and Mercy heritage. She has spent more than 20 years in leadership roles within the Sisters of Mercy, most recently as vice president of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Sr. Helen Marie has a doctoral degree in religion from the University of Iowa. She currently serves on the boards of Call to Action, the University of Detroit Mercy, Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women, and the Center of Concern.
Patricia Cochran, CPA, chief financial officer of VSP (Vision Service Plan), manages several areas including financial and regulatory accounting, taxes, treasury, internal auditing, and financial analysis. She also manages the company’s charity care program, Sight for Students, which annually provides free eyecare to more than 50,000 needy children nationwide. Patricia has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1977 and currently serves on its national board of directors and governing council. She serves on the board of directors for Catholic Healthcare West’s Sacramento Community Hospitals and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and Mechanics Bank. Patricia is also a member of the Advisory Council for the College of Business Administration for California State University, Sacramento.
Karen Donahue, RSM, a member of the West Midwest Mercy Community Justice Team, has been active in local, national and international justice ministry for almost 40 years, serving on the Institute Justice Team, Mercy International Justice Network and local justice coordination in Chicago and Detroit. She serves on the steering committee for the Catholic Caucus of Southeast Michigan, chairs Mercy Investment Program’s Social Responsibility Committee and works with many other groups, including the LCWR Region VII justice promoters, Coalition for Corporate Responsibility for Indiana and Michigan (CCRIM) and Michigan Peace Team. Sr. Karen has traveled widely and has participated in international efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
Suzanne Elliott, RSM, is special assistant to the president for mission and planning at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. In this position she serves on the president’s administrative team and is responsible for the oversight of mission-related services, human resources, information technology, and the implementation of strategic planning. Sr. Suzanne also spent more than 14 years in community leadership. She is a past member of the Institute Finance Committee and the Institute Search Committee for the Institute chief financial officer and chief investment officer.
Richard Flannery is the chief executive officer of The Investment Fund for Foundations (TIFF), a cooperative-style investment organization that manages about $8 billion for more than 700 nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining TIFF, Richard was executive vice president of the global investment firm Delaware Investments. Richard serves on several boards, including the board of the Nelson Foundation, a charity focusing on the unmet needs of children. He holds a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in sociology from St. Joseph’s University and a juris doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School.
Beth Fluharty, CPA, has been the chief financial officer for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community, Inc. since its inception. Prior to that, Beth served as the chief finance officer for the Sisters of Mercy of Rochester since 1992. Previously, Beth worked as senior vice president and chief financial officer for Columbia Banking Savings and Loan Association in Rochester, New York. Beth has her bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. She has served as a consultant to the National Association of Treasurers for Religious Institutes and the National Religious Retirement Office as well as serving on the boards or finance committees of several local organizations.
Carol Kelley, CPA, is the community financial officer of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, West Midwest Community, Inc. She joined the organization in November 2007 during its merger preparations to form the new community. Prior to this role, Carol held the position of chief financial officer at hospitals in Iowa and Southern California. She started her professional career in public accounting firms in California. Carol holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master of business administration degree from Drake University. She is a member of several boards and board committees.
Bryan J. Pini, CFA, CPA, is the president and chief investment officer of Mercy Investment Services. Prior to joining the organization in September 2007, Bryan was the treasurer and chief investment officer of Saint Louis University. Previously, he served as the director of finance and administration for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the director of treasury services for Sisters of Mercy Health System. Bryan holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Bradley University and a master of business administration degree in finance from Washington University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Certified Public Accountant, and a member of numerous professional and community organizations.
José Santillan, CFA, is senior vice president, head of investments, with Harris Private Bank, which provides comprehensive financial services to affluent clients. José joined Harris in 2008. He has 29 years of investment experience and earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst. José earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and his graduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago. He is an independent director with the Holland Growth Mutual Fund and serves on the nominating committee with the CFA Society of Chicago, where he was previously a board member. José is on the board of directors for Trinity Health and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and also served on the DePaul University Graduate School Advisory Council.
