About Us

Board of Directors

Anna McDermott-Vitak, President, is a C-suite executive with more than three decades of experience in biotechnology/pharmaceuticals. Her diverse experience includes leadership in clinical development, finance, investor relations, human resources, government affairs, policy development, board management/ governance as the Managing Director Americas for the Drug Information Association (DIA). These experiences were gained in industry, Amgen and Centocor, and with non-profit associations, the Association for Accessible Medicines and DIA. Anna has more than 10 years of board experience on industry-related and non-profit boards, with leadership roles on key committees, including board governance and development roles. Anna has her MBA in Marketing and a BA in Biology, from LaSalle University. She has taken post-graduate-level courses at UCLA Anderson School of Management, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Executive Education. Anna and her husband, Joseph, have four children who attended Catholic elementary and high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Francesca Pellegrino, Executive Director and Founder, has 25 years administrative experience in the diplomatic community in Washington, DC. She is married with one son, who inspired her to create CCSE and become an advocate for children and you with disabilities. In 2022, Mrs. Pellegrino was a recipient of the Women Making History Award in Montgomery County, Maryland for her charitable contributions and service to others. In 2019, CCSE and Mrs. Pellegrino were awarded the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for Exemplary Models of Christian Service by the National Catholic Educational Association. Since 1984 Francesca and her husband Frank have been active members of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC where Mrs. Pellegrino created the disAbilities Ministry. She formerly served as an Honorary Commander at Joint Base Andrews and previously served on the Experiential Education Initiative (EEI) Community Council on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Mrs. Pellegrino has served on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Disabilities Constituent Advisory Committee, the Catholic University’s Early Childhood /Special Education Advisory Council and on the Montgomery County’s Commission on People with Disabilities. She has also served on the Board of Directors of a local performing arts organization. Mrs. Pellegrino is a native of Rome, Italy but spent most of her formative years in England, where she attended the Polytechnic of Central London (UK). She is fluent in English, Italian and French.

Mary Brogan, Vice President, serves as the liaison to the CCSE Parent Representatives. Mary holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Maryland. She has taught Special Ed in both Fairfax and Montgomery Counties and presently serves on the Board of Directors for St. Joseph’s House and on the Advisory Board for Teaching Together DC. Mary and her husband, Steve, have six children and are members of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Silver Spring.

Kathy Myers, Treasurer, lives in Kensington, MD with her husband, Jim and her three daughters, Katie, Georgia, and Emily who has Down syndrome. Kathy is an advocate for children with Down syndrome and previously served as the president of the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County as well as performing outreach to new families who received a diagnosis for their child. She graduated from Washington and Lee University with a B.S in Accounting and Administration and has worked for Arthur Andersen, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (NRUCFC) and Georgetown University. Her daughters attended Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, MD and Katie and Emily attended the Academy of the Holy Cross. Kathy is happy to serve on CCSE’s board because she believes all children benefit when children with special needs are included with their peers.

Frank Pellegrino, Secretary, Senior Engineer, Sunayu, LLC, is a 30-year plus resident of Montgomery County, MD. He has served on many non-profit organizations’ Boards of Directors. He brings a wealth of experience to CCSE both through his non-profit experience as well as through his professional management and sales background. He co-chairs the CCSE Believe in Me! Golf Tournament. Mr. Pellegrino holds a B.S. in Physics from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute. He enjoys playing the cello with several community orchestras. He is married to Francesca Pellegrino and is also an active member of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC.

Debbie Docal, Director, is a lifelong resident of Maryland and an alumna of Maryland Catholic elementary and high schools. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Maryland, Debbie worked in the banking and finance industry for 13 years before joining her husband, Orlando, in his growing CPA practice. Debbie and Orlando have been married for 35 years and have four children. Her youngest child has Down Syndrome. In responding to her interest in serving on CCSE’s Board of Directors, she said, “Once Ory entered our lives, I quickly became aware of the need for advocacy of people with differing abilities, as well as the need for educating others on the value and contributions they have to offer. Being a strong believer in the benefits of a Catholic school education, I have had to advocate for inclusion of my son in the same Catholic schools that his sisters attended.” Debbie and her husband are members of St. Louis Catholic parish in Clarksville, MD.

Maura Kelly Lannan, Director, serves as president of the Board of Education of the Archdiocese of Washington and is the web editor for the National Guard Bureau. Maura previously was a freelance reporter and has written for AARP, Bloomberg Government, Bethesda Magazine, The Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune and other publications. Maura also has been a writer, editor and producer for AARP, covering federal and state policy. She also has worked as a reporter for The Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Waterbury (Connecticut) Republican-American, mostly covering politics. While working for the Chicago Tribune, Maura was part of the staff that won a Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting for ‘Gateway to Gridlock,’ a 2001 series about air travel problems. Maura has received numerous other awards and honors for her reporting on a variety of topics. Maura is a member of the National Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists and the John Carroll Society. She has served as a volunteer for Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School and Church, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Gonzaga College High School and CCSE. A native of Trumbull, Connecticut, Maura graduated high school from the Academy of Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, in Milford, Connecticut, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Boston College and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill Graduate School of Journalism. Maura is a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Maryland, where her volunteer activities for the church and school have included serving as co-president of the Mercy Parent Teacher Organization, a member of the School Advisory Council and a member of two Principal Search Committees. She also has served as a Board of Directors member and Secretary for the Potomac Woods Swim and Tennis Club in Rockville, Maryland. Maura lives in Potomac, Maryland with her husband Robert and their three children.

Patrick Murphy, Director, is Chief Strategy Officer at CFM Partners, Inc., a governance, risk and compliance company in Washington, D.C. Previously, Mr. Murphy served as CFM’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for eight years where he was responsible for managing the company’s day-to-day operations. During this time, he led the design and development of the company’s Internet-based GRC platform and assisted in its funding efforts. In 2006, Mr. Murphy left CFM to enter the seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington. He spent four years in the seminary studying philosophy and theology at The Catholic University of America. He returned to CFM in 2012. Mr. Murphy received his B.S. in Finance for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and his J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

Christine A. Nawrot, CFP®, Senior Financial Advisor
With over 20 years of experience in financial services, Christine Nawrot delivers highly customized wealth management strategies tailored to the unique goals of high-net-worth individuals and families. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional since 2008, she operates with a fiduciary standard, offering advice rooted in integrity, expertise, and long-term vision.

Christine partners with clients to simplify complexity, manage their balance sheets effectively, and pursue meaningful financial outcomes. Backed by the robust resources of Wells Fargo Advisors—including advanced technology and a network of specialists—she provides sophisticated solutions and a seamless client experience.

“Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.”

Honorary Board Member

Carin Collins
Fernand A. Lavallee, Esq.
Melissa C. Lesmes, Esq.

Past Board Members

Roger Brown
Patrick J. Caulfield
David K. Ficca
Joseph B. Fitzgerald
Andrew Fois
David Kane
Ann Kern
Marguerite Kirst
M. Elizabeth Latimer, M.D.
Andrea W. McCarthy
Lucy Nolan
Maria Leonard Olsen
Matt Plunket
Marianne Rhoda
Patricia Staros
Kathleen Wach