Meet the people who make Franciscan Peacemakers such a special organization!
Steve Przedpelski
Executive Director
Deacon Steve Przedpelski grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lives in West Bend, the city that Deacon Steve and his wife Debbie have called home for nearly 40 years. While working as a manufacturing manager, Deacon Steve entered diaconate formation at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1994.
Mary Leach-Sumlin
Associate Director
Mary is a lifelong Milwaukee resident having attended and graduated from MPS schools to include a concentration in Chemistry at Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School, now Bradley Tech. Mary worked in various positions in the health insurance industry while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.
Katie B. Coffey
Director of Social Enterprise
Katie B. Coffey was born-and-raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a Sherman Park and Washington Heights native, she grew up alongside the soap shop at 34th & Lisbon where her mother started a non-profit. After attending Pius XI High School, Katie went to John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. At JCU she was a part of the Arrupe Scholars program—a scholarship cohort for emerging social Justice leaders—and graduated with a business management degree.
Shinichi Hamilton
Production Manager
Shinichi was born in Memphis, Tennessee and moved to Milwaukee with her family when she was only 2 years old. She understandably calls Milwaukee home. She graduated from South Division High School and headed south to attend Grambling State University in Louisiana.
Cynthia Perkins
Outreach and Recovery Assistance Specialist
Cynthia Perkins is originally from a small city in Pennsylvania. After completing her high school studies, she joined the PA Army National Guard where she studied Missile Maintenance. While serving in the National Guard, she met her now former husband. They share three adult children and 2 beautiful granddaughters.
Darlene Dyson
Advocate and Case Manager
Darlene Dyson is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee and a graduate of John Marshall High School. In 2003, she earned a Human Services degree from MATC. Throughout her 20 year career in Human Services, she has been trained in topics important for working with the at-risk population such as deescalation, trauma-informed care and sexual assault advocacy.
Shannon Ripple
Sales Manager
Shannon Ripple grew up in Lake Country near Delafield and attended UW schools in LaCrosse and Milwaukee, graduating from UWM with a Business degree. She moved to North Carolina in 2002, to work in several businesses - always drawn to companies that cared about human flourishing and development.
Phyllis Diggins
Retail and Warehouse Manager
Phyllis was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin at the age of 6 years. Milwaukee has become her home.
She is the mother of four beautiful children and received her High School Equivalency Diploma in the year of 2000. Phyllis struggled with drugs and alcohol for a period of time was introduced to Narcotic Anonymous in 2006.
Our Team
Meet the people who make Franciscan Peacemakers such a special organization
Executive Director Deacon Steve Przedpelski grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lives in West Bend, the city that Deacon Steve and his wife Debbie have called home for nearly 40 years. While working as a manufacturing manager, Deacon Steve entered diaconate formation at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1994.Steve Przedpelski
Associate Director Mary is a lifelong Milwaukee resident having attended and graduated from MPS schools to include a concentration in Chemistry at Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School, now Bradley Tech. Mary worked in various positions in the health insurance industry while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.Mary Leach-Sumlin
Director of Social Enterprise Katie B. Coffey was born-and-raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a Sherman Park and Washington Heights native, she grew up alongside the soap shop at 34th & Lisbon where her mother started a non-profit. After attending Pius XI High School, Katie went to John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. At JCU she was a part of the Arrupe Scholars program—a scholarship cohort for emerging social Justice leaders—and graduated with a business management degree.Katie B. Coffey
Production Manager Shinichi was born in Memphis, Tennessee and moved to Milwaukee with her family when she was only 2 years old. She understandably calls Milwaukee home. She graduated from South Division High School and headed south to attend Grambling State University in Louisiana.Shinichi Hamilton
Outreach and Recovery Assistance Specialist Cynthia Perkins is originally from a small city in Pennsylvania. After completing her high school studies, she joined the PA Army National Guard where she studied Missile Maintenance. While serving in the National Guard, she met her now former husband. They share three adult children and 2 beautiful granddaughters.Cynthia Perkins

Advocate and Case Manager Darlene Dyson is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee and a graduate of John Marshall High School. In 2003, she earned a Human Services degree from MATC. Throughout her 20 year career in Human Services, she has been trained in topics important for working with the at-risk population such as deescalation, trauma-informed care and sexual assault advocacy. Darlene Dyson

Director of Sales Lori grew up in Whitefish Bay and currently lives in Mequon, WI with her husband Chris. After college, Lori started a career in sales and marketing with Pitney Bowes, Inc. and then decided to stay home and raise her family while also volunteering at several local non-profit service organizations.Lori Didier
Sales Associate Originally from Chicago IL, Shenise Davis came to Milwaukee in 2002 to pursue a better and positive lifestyle, leaving behind her family and acquaintances. In Milwaukee, she could be away from negative influences but should an emergency arise, travel time was minimal. In her effort to establish positive connections, she was introduced to the Franciscan Peacemakers and met Deacon Steve.Shenise Davis

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