CAC Staff

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.

Jim Baumgartner, Work Intern Special Projects

Jim is a former craft artist and art teacher. In 2006 he served in the Path Volunteer Program at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. In 2007 he was a Seasonal Staff member at the Omega Institute of Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY. Spiritual influences include Paramahansa Yogananda, Fr. Bede Griffiths, OSB, and Bullwinkle the Moose (from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show). He is currently serving a year-long work internship at CAC.

Mike Bennett, Facilities and Men's Work

Mike joined the CAC staff in June, 2005, moving from Grand Island, Nebraska, where he lived for most of his married life. After attending the Rites of Passage at Ghost Ranch in 2001, he stayed connected with the CAC as a volunteer working with the men's work program from his home in Nebraska. He currently divides his time between the men's work program at CAC and the building maintenance of CAC and Stillpoint. He and his wife, Wendy have three children who all still reside in Nebraska.

Erika Carpenter, Formation Supervisor

picture of Erica Carpenter Erika joined the CAC in September of 2007 after years of crossing paths with the Center and searching her heart for the next calling. With a background in Psychology and Clinical and International Social Work, Erika moved to Albuquerque in 1993 and worked for many years as a psychotherapist specializing in areas of relationship and attachment issues, trauma, grief and loss. She is inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit and the healing power of inner work and contemplative practices. As a Formation Supervisor, she feels fortunate to work with a group of people who are intentionally seeking and living out their deeper spiritual truths and callings. Some of Erika’s most cherished moments in life are spending time with her husband, Randy, and children, Zachary and Tyler, laughing, singing, playing,…and being.

Eric Lonzo Cox, Mennonite Work Intern

I graduated this year from Goshen High School, in Goshen Indiana. I was connected to the CAC through the Mennonite Service Adventure group. I’m serving for 10 months as a gardener and copy clerk. I am unsure about my college plans, but am thinking about pursuing a career in organic gardening. I can’t wait to return home to get married and start my life with my long time girl friend Adriana.

Lou-Anne Dillard, Resource Center Manager — External Events

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!

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.

Vanessa Guerin, Communications Manager

picture of Vanessa Guerin 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.

Paula Montoya, Event Coordinator

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.

Teresa Montoya, Data Entry/Copy Clerk

picture of Teresa Montoya Teresa, born and raised in Albuquerque, came to the CAC in May of 2007 replacing her mother as Data Entry/Copy Clerk. She feels privileged to be part of an organization that is so involved in making the world conscious to a better, more peaceful way of life. She loves getting to experience a wonderful work environment at such an early age and being able to work with her mother whom she has always felt extremely close to. In her personal time, Teresa takes pleasure in reading and being with her friends and family. She is very active in the local music scene and hopes to one day unite her love for music and social equality awareness to open the eyes of the younger generations.

Lucas Moody - Work Intern, Resource Center

Born and raised initially in Idaho Falls, Lucas Moody was later transplanted from the Idaho desert to the Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. After an excursion to the green isle of Ireland to rediscover his cultural roots, he moved to Spokane to gain an Art degree at Gonzaga University. Having been raised in a family that has had a loose connection with Richard Rohr over the years, he is now working in the CAC’s Resource Center.

Mary Jo Picha, Formation Supervisor

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

Raul was born in Mexico City and he moved to Albuquerque a couple of years ago. 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. Raul enjoys to play the guitar in his spare time, watch movies, play videogames.

Adonna Rometo - Work Intern, Formation

adona 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.

Ken Reno, Director of Operations

Ken joined the staff in January of 2007 after spending several periods as a work intern in 2005 and 2006. His decision to become a staff member and move to Albuquerque after 30 years in the corporate world was supported by his wife of 35 years, Anna. They have two married sons with two grandchildren, and counting! Ken has recently been named the Director of Operations after serving his first two months as Resource Center Manager. He is looking forward to using his past experience in this role as he handles the day-to-day business of the Center.

Cece Shantzek, Conference Coordinator

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.

Doug Spence, Mustard Seed

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.

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