 |
|
|
ABOUT US |
Meet the CAC Staff
Anita Amstutz, M.A. M.Div, Action Coordinator
Anita works 10 hours a week to create outreach and liturgical events in
conjunction with events/conferences. She also facilitates the newly formed
Sustainability Committee (2007), to create "green" opportunities for the
CAC.
Anita is an ordained minister at Albuquerque Mennonite Church. Originally
from Ohio, she completed her seminary training at Pacific School of Religion
in Berkeley CA, graduating with an M.Div and M.A. in Theology and the Arts.
Her first vocation was social work, primarily in community organizing,
teaching and crisis counseling. She is married to Kenneth Couch.
Lou-Anne Dillard, Internship Coordinator
Lou-Anne Dillard retired after 24 years at the phone company and through a friend discovered Fr. Richard and the CAC. She did an internship in June of 2002 and stayed on as a volunteer. She was hired as Conference Coordinator in Sept 2002 and after the year beginning conference moved on to serve as Tepeyac Manager for a year. She left for a year to travel and be retired but couldnt stay away. She came back in January 2005 and has served as the Resource Center Manager. She recently bought a house in Albuquerque so maybe she will settle downwho knows!
Catherine Dowling — Work Intern
Catherine is from Dublin, Ireland. She participated in the 9 day internship programme at the CAC in October 2007 and decided to come back for more. She did a Masters in History at the University of Montana in Missoula but a stint teaching in the Bronx, New York sent her looking in other directions. On returning to Ireland she took a part-time job co-ordinating the development of adult education services in one of the poorer neighbourhoods in Dublin. She also trained as a breathwork therapist and has run a breathwork psychotherapy practice in Dublin for the past 15 years. A long series of co-incidences that began with a visit to Missoula in 2006 and inspired by the writing of Daniel O’Leary and Richard Rohr has led her to the CAC.
Monique Estrada, Graphic Designer
Born and raised in Albuquerque, Monique was brought up with the love of Broadway Musicals. Mimicking the talents of Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole and other greats her passion for music bloomed into a fully active career of singing Jazz throughout New Mexico. Although its rare that you find her performing today that creative ambition has sparked into a new love. Who knew that all the little singing mementos that she kept and placed ever so exact in her scrap book would lead to the profession of Graphic Design? Monique joined the CAC as the Graphic Designer in April of 2007, and it is with deep belief that through prayer God has sent her to be a part of the wonderful staff at The Center for Action and Contemplation.
Brian Gorman, Work Intern
Brian Gorman comes from Odenton, Maryland as a recent graduate from the University of Maryland with degrees in music and English literature and writing. Prior to arriving at the CAC, he spent time living at the Rutba House, a Christian community of hospitality and discipleship in Durham, NC. He is at the CAC as a summer intern, working in the Resource Center Department, and will return to Washington, D.C. at the end of the summer to live and work at Cornerstone, a community for formerly homeless men. In his free time, Brian enjoys playing the piano and writing, and long term looks forward to teaching music as an instrument of peace in broken communities
Vanessa Guerin, Communications Manager
Vanessa joined the staff of the CAC in January of 2004 as Volunteer Coordinator. In addition to volunteer coordination, Vanessa is Editor of Radical Grace, the CAC publication. Although Vanessa is a native of New Mexico, she grew up in Latin America. After graduating from High School in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she began her studies in art at the Corcoran School of Art, in Washington, D.C., where she lived and supported her self as an artist for 12 years. Vanessa completed her education at the University of New Mexico in Fine Arts and Religious Studies. Vanessa feels blessed to have the opportunity to further the mission of the CAC.
Shirin McArthur, Office Manager
Born in California and raised in New Mexico, Shirin came to the CAC in December 2006. Shirin spent the past 18 years in Boston, Massachusetts, attending seminary at Boston University and working as an administrator for Childrens Hospital in Boston and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Shirin is a photographer, sacred dancer and Kripalu DansKinetics instructor, and mosaic and ceramic artist. She is married to Henry Hoffman, with whom she shares a passion for the life of the Spirit, a love of photography and unflagging support for the Boston Red Sox.
Rich Meixner, Administrative Assistant / Receptionist
Rich works as the receptionist at the CAC, after serving in the data entry and resource operations. Rich came to the CAC via a class on centering prayer, a practice that he discovered in 2002 as part of his faith journey. Rich served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica and then worked for a number of years in the environmental consulting industry on a variety of soil and water remediation projects. Rich enjoys reading, gardening, and other outdoor activities.
Tara Mendez, Data Management/Production Associate
At the age of 18 years, Tara emigrated from Vietnam to realize the American dream. She proudly completed her Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Tara started her professional career as an engineer at a biotech start-up company in Silicon Valley. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Albuquerque where they had three children. In anticipation of returning to the workforce and eager to learn something new, she enrolled part-time at a community college to study computer science and database management. In her free time, Tara volunteers to teach chess at her children’s school. She enjoys solving chess puzzles, cooking and exercising with yoga or dance.
Yvonna Pardus, Work Intern
Yvonna is a lover of the land and Earth. She sees Mystery’s beauty in the earth, sea and sky. Currently, she is looking for ways to help humanity live sustainably on Earth. Yvonna enjoys gardening, golf, music and the outdoors. She is journeying toward being more “fully alive.”
Paula Montoya, Programs Team
Born and raised in Albuquerque,
Paula is married to Juan and has three children (Emmanuel,
Frankie and Teresa), lives in the South Valley, and is a member
of Holy Family Church. She came to the CAC in March of 2006
as the Data Entry/Copy Clerk and feels privileged to work
with a community that is rooted in the teachings of Jesus
and the Gospels. Paula enjoys traveling, reading, and anything
that involves playing in the water.
Mary Jo Picha, Mission Integration Manager
Mary Jo joined the CAC in September 2000. Since then she spread her energy across many aspects of the CAC. Since the end of 2006, Mary Jo has focused her energies to develop the new Work Internship Program. This work brings together most of her passions: intentional inner work, relationship, experiential learning, contemplative practice, the CAC and being personally challenged by it all. Her background in spiritual formation includes an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Kinesiology, a Master's in Pastoral Studies, an intensive, 12 month internship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as a chaplain, and many other formation experiences including formal programs, volunteer social outreach, and LIFE. All of this is underscored by a life long drive to understand how it is that ‘everything belongs’. She appreciates everything that tends us toward healing, particularly shadow work and contemplative practice. Among her greatest passions are being married to Stephen Picha, the CAC Director and getting to be a mom to Grace Ann and Luke Jonah.
Stephen Picha, Director
Stephen joined the CAC in September of 2000 to assist with the guesthouse and to coordinate the Internship Program. In July of 2001, he was named Director of the CAC. Stephen grew up in Waco, Texas—part of a large Czech family. He graduated from Texas A&M University and began teaching eighth graders in Conroe (north of Houston). After five years of teaching, he entered seminary to study philosophy and theology earning an MA from St. Thomas University. Stephen enjoys growing on his spiritual journey with his wife, Mary Jo, their daughter, Grace, and son, Luke.
Cynthia Ranke, Production/Office Assistant
Cynthia came to the CAC as a Work Intern in September, 2004, after early retirement from the Genesee County, Michigan Prosecuting Attorney's office. Her previous internship at Sojourners magazine in 1999–2000 was a life-changing experience, which inspired her to offer her clerical and hospitality skills to the ministry of the CAC. Upon completing her Work Internship assignment, she accepted a position in the Resource Center, where she is involved in Production and various assignments related to the ministry of the Book Store. She feels her commitment to the Center is a privileged opportunity to participate in work which has profoundly influenced her life for many years. Also, she gets to be in the New Mexico climate, where she can enjoy the sunshine and outdoor activities, two of her favorite pastimes!
Raul Robles, IT Support
Born and raised in Mexico City, he moved to Albuquerque to continue his studies in Computer Engineering from "Instituto Politecnico Nacional", ESCOM University. He is currently going to CNM majoring in Computer Science.
Albuquerque is a small city compared to Mexico, and he enjoys the tranquility of Albuquerque. He feels blessed to work at the CAC and help the center with the mission while doing what he loves. Raul enjoys to play the guitar in his spare time, watch movies, play videogames. He was recently married to his best friend Heather.
Adonna Rometo - Mission Expression Manager
Adonna is originally from Ohio and comes to the CAC via the mystical lands of Tucson, AZ. A scientist by training and a seeker by nature, Adonna is excited to enter more intentionally into the dynamic, dazzling, and sometimes devastating journey that is life. Adonna has been known to sneak out in the late hours of darkness, when the moon is overhead, to dance… barefoot and wildly… while chewing gum… to the gentle hum of hymns of peace.
Cece Shantzek, Programs Manager
Cece feels blessed and grateful to have found work so aligned with her heart and spirit in supporting the Center's mission of personal spiritual formation and non-violent social change. She comes to Albuquerque by way of Atlanta, where she enjoyed 6 years as an administrator at Atlanta Institute of Music. Originally from Miami, where she graduated from the Honors Program at Miami-Dade College and served as Communications and Publications Manager for Coconut Grove Playhouse, she is very happy to be back in a place where the sun shines almost all of the time! She loves music, hiking, yoga, reading, time with friends and family, most especially her partner Amme, their kiddo Sarah, and their golden retriever, Parker.
Herb Schueneman, Work Intern
Herb comes to the CAC from the Monterey California area and is serving as a 3-month intern with a huge smile. He is currently involved in facilities repair and maintenance at the CAC and enjoys the friendly family that works here. The prayer experience is really special for him as he learns the finer points of contemplative prayer, centering, and the true self discovery process. In California, he teaches in the Packaging Program at San Jose State University and (in his spare time) operates an environmental testing laboratory with locations in San Jose and San Diego with 30 fantastic employees. He enjoys the outdoors especially camping, hiking and ocean kayaking. Above all, he feels blessed beyond words for the opportunity to be part of those carrying on the message and methods of Fr. Richard Rohr.
Doug Spence, Product Development
Doug lives in Albuquerque and is part of the team at the CAC Mustard Seed resource center. He considers it very rewarding to help people find the specific teaching of Fr. Richard that best addresses their needs. Previously he was involved in community economic development and conservation projects in rural northern New Mexico, Guatemala, and India.
This page last modified on .
Copyright © 2002-2008 Center for Action and Contemplation - All Rights Reserved.