CIS Board Member Spotlight – Adrian Marsh

Adrian Marsh joined the Board of Directors at Communities In Schools of Eastern PA (CIS of Eastern PA) in October 2022. Bringing his background of finance, operations and strategy from Olympus, Marsh uses his business expertise to further the organization's mission to support students on their path to graduation. He is a member of the board’s Finance Committee, which works to safeguard CIS of Eastern PA’s assets, providing long-range financial stability and ensuring the nonprofit is well-managed and remains fiscal responsible.

Marsh first learned of CIS of Eastern PA through his role as executive sponsor for Olympus’ Emerging Professional Employee Resource Group (ERG), aiming to create a more inclusive workplace for employees. His decision to get involved with CIS of Eastern PA was two-fold: he saw how Olympus’ initiatives impacted the organization, and he connected deeply with Bill Milliken’s founding idea that emphasizes the importance of mentoring in a school environment.

“We often focus on the benefits of mentoring in the workplace, something I’ve valued since joining Olympus in 2000,” said Marsh. “CIS stood out to me because it actively works to apply its Founder Bill Milliken’s guiding belief that relationships, not programs, transform young people’s lives.” 

Olympus employees actively engage in various CIS programs, including "Backpacks for CIS," "Ready, Set, Graduate!" and "Holiday Giving Tree." These programs not only raise awareness of CIS of Eastern PA but also demonstrate the positive impact that the organization has on students' lives. Olympus continued its support as a sponsor of the ‘Building Bright Futures’ event this past October as part of CIS of Eastern PA’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

From this January, Marsh will take on an expanded role with the board of directors as the new Vice Chair. He looks forward to the organization’s expansion into additional schools seeing the CIS model in action throughout Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Chester Counties.

To learn more about how you can get involved with CIS of Eastern PA or support its mission, visit www.ciseasternpa.org/.