Board of Directors
Hero
Khouria Kristina Abernathy
Director / Vice Chair
Kh. Kristina Abernathy is the Chief Development Officer of the Neighborhood Resilience Project. In this role, she leads the organization in all fundraising efforts to support the organizational programming to transform Trauma Affected Communities to Resilient, Healing and Healthy Communities. Her passion and drive for working at the Neighborhood Resilience Project comes to create a better and different future for her two children. She is married to Fr. Paul Abernathy. Together they labor - as the CEO and Chief Development Officer - to build the Neighborhood Resilience Project, which is now larger than a $2M organization.
Previously, Kh. Kristina served as the Clinic Administrator at FOCUS Pittsburgh through the FOCUS Pittsburgh Free Health Center (FPFHC) from the inception of the clinic in 2014. Under her leadership in this role, the FPFHC opened to see the first patients and expanded to include primary, OBGYN, psychiatric, counseling and dental care.
Kh. Kristina has a BS Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Chemical Engineering and a MS Degree from Duquesne University in Community Leadership. Prior to serving at the FOCUS Pittsburgh Free Health Center, she worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh for almost five years as a Development Intern and then as a Development Associate. In this role, Kh. Kristina organized, planned and implemented all Social Media efforts and Special Events for the organization.
Shamassy Kari Rossetti
Director / Secretary
Sh. Kari Rossetti has been actively involved with the TSCS Pittsburgh mission since its inception, serving as Vice-Chair of the Launch Committee and Chair of the Outreach Subcommittee. She, her husband, Dn. James Rossetti, D.O., and their family attend St. Moses the Black Orthodox Church in New Kensington, PA. She actively serves the Combined Eastern Dioceses of the Antiochian Archdiocese as Vice-Chair of the Diocesan Ministry Council and Co-Chair of the Creative Festivals. By profession she is a nurse, currently working at the Neighborhood Resilience Project as the Clinic Administrator for the Free Health Center. Sh. Kari also volunteers her time serving as a nurse at the Antiochian Village Camp.
Maria Terezis
Director / Treasurer
Maria M. Terezis is a client service associate and office manager for the Pittsburgh office of Fairview Capital Investment Management. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from John Carroll University, and a Master of Educational Administration from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Maria, her husband Nick, and their daughter Ava attend St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral where she serves on the parish council.
Priest John Charest
Director
Fr. John graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Elementary Education. He taught in North Smithfield Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, and St. Sava Academy Serbian Orthodox School. Fr. John holds a MDIV and is assigned to Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie, PA.
Fr. John has served as advisor to the Junior National Executive Board of the Ukrainian Orthodox League for three years and currently serves as their Spiritual Advisor. Fr. John is a member of the All Saints Camp Board and is the vice president of the Pittsburgh Area Clergy Brotherhood. Fr. John and his wife, Matushka Laryssa, have one child but keep the door to their home open for fostering children.
Mark Hamilton
Director
Mark C. Hamilton is a shareholder at the law firm of Tucker Arensberg, P.C. Mark concentrates his practice in general civil and commercial litigation and also represents individuals in guardianship and estate litigation. Mark serves as the General Counsel for the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and is a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks. He holds a BA in political science from Miami University (Ohio), an MA in history from the London School of Economics and a JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
George Bellios
Director
Dr. George Bellios holds a Bachelor's degree and a DMD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and their School of Dental Medicine. He has been in private practice for over 25 years until selling his practice in 2019. He is currently an assistant clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, a position he has held since 2001. George is a member of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh. He is currently on the Parish Council and has been since 1998, where he has served as President. He initiated and currently assists in administering, the Free Dental Clinic at the Neighborhood Resilience Project in Pittsburgh. He also serves on the board of Directors at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.