CAC Staff

Meet the CAC Staff

Anita Amstutz, M.A. M.Div, Mission Integration/Spiritual Formation

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.

Gary Atwood, Operations Work Intern

Gary was born in Indianapolis, IN, but came to the CAC from San Diego, CA, where he taught a Humanities block in History and English in the Gifted and Talented program for 10th grade. He received a BA in Speech and Philosophy, a MS in Educational Psychology, and an MA in Political Science, specializing in international relations. He worked in New York and Philadelphia as a researcher for the Institute of Studies for Human Issues (ISHI) and the Institute for War and Peace; has published articles in academic and policy related journals; and wrote and produced a children’s play. A lifelong anti-war activist and protester, he received conscience objector status from the military and performed alternate service in San Francisco during the Vietnam War. More recently, Gary has worked for Pathfinder’s Recovery Homes in San Diego and volunteer service for the Alpha Project, and for St. Vincent DePaul’s homeless shelter. Gary attended several CAC conferences and listened to Fr. Richard on the road which drew him to the internship program. He is greatly inspired and influenced by the life and writings of Thomas Merton, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Baba Ram Dass, Dan Berrigan, and Bill Wilson. Along with reading classical literature and a love for the novels of Louise Erdrich and Don Delilo, he also has a passion for Miles Davis, film noir, basketball, and cats of any order, especially his familiars Molly and Molloy.

Joelle

Joelle Chase, Operations Work Intern

Joelle returns “home” to the southwest from 25 years of roaming, most recently teaching in a one room school in Montana. She looks forward to growing into self, community and world during her time at the CAC. Joelle is working with Cece in the Operations Department.

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

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.

Peter Knipper, Sustainability Work Intern

Peter comes from the grand state of New Jersey. He has just graduated from Unity College, which is a small liberal arts college in rural Maine, with a BS in Ecology. He is spending his time at the CAC greening up the Center as the Sustainability Work Intern. He enjoys finding God in oceans, full moons, and thunderstorms. If he is not at his desk; he is probably frolicking in the garden, concocting a dish on the stove, or wandering afar by bike.

Liz Lopez, Programs Team Lead

Originally from Texas, Liz has lived in New Mexico since 1994. Over the last twenty-five years, Liz has served as music leader, Liturgical Director, RCIA Director, and Pastoral Assistant in New Mexico and Texas Dioceses. She has co-led an annual RCIA retreat for several churches in Fort Worth Diocese for the last twenty years. She has also worked in the areas of HIV, Developmental Disabilities, and most recently, Substance Abuse Prevention Experiential Education. She is currently the Artistic Director for the New Mexico Women’s Chorus. She enjoys music, reading, writing, movies, good food, spending time with family and friends and the occasional tennis game with her partner, Pennye

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, Programs Team Logistics Coordinator

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.

Greg Mellor, Men's Work Intern

Greg was born and raised in Upper Dublin, PA, and he has also lived in Baltimore, Sacramento and Chicago. His work experience includes serving as a prison chaplain, high school religion teacher, high school campus minister, and toy store warehouse worker. Although Greg was first attracted to the CAC because of the MROP and MALEs programs, he also greatly appreciates the educational opportunities and the contemplative practices that CAC promotes. Aside from men’s work and prison ministry, Greg is interested in further investigating an obsessive American sports culture plagued by immorality.

Paula Montoya, Data Manager/Registration 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.

Luci Neumann, Chief Operating Officer

Luci joined the CAC staff in September 2009 after serving 8 months as a consultant. She came to know the CAC through Life in the Trinity Ministry (LTM) in Dallas. Prior to working with CAC and LTM, Luci enjoyed a twenty plus year career in health care administration. Luci worships at Cochran Chapel UMC in Dallas, where she serves as a Trustee. She also serves on the boards of two other non-profits, The Barnabas Journey and My Treehouse.

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, Executive 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.

Fidel Ramirez, Mission Expression Work Intern

Fidel was born to a big family, the second youngest of nine children, and spent the majority of his childhood in Guanajuato, Mexico. He came to the US during the early 90s and has lived since then in several cities, including San Antonio, TX, where he has lived for the past nine years. He attended the University of the Incarnate Word, and graduated with a BA in Psychology/Philosophy and a minor in Spanish. He received an MA in Community Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio in December 2005. Prior to coming to the CAC, he worked mainly in the nonprofit arena. Experiencing the Men’s Rites of Passage in April 2007, and continuing his journey of spiritual discovery was a big part of why Fidel came to the CAC. He is currently attempting to become a Vegan, though cheese has been a big obstacle to reaching that goal (Argh!!). His favorite sport is soccer. He is a lover of the outdoors (trees in particular!) and of laughter. His sense of humor is a bit non-traditional, but he takes every opportunity to laugh with Mucho Gusto!!

Judy Rammel, Mission Expression Work Intern

A 1 year intern from Ohio, Judy has never been away from home or her husband of 49 years for more than 2 weeks! She feels called to be a voice for the Earth, which she has been passionate about since childhood. She is here to hopefully give back a little to the CAC for all that she has received from Richard’s teachings.

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!

Dorica Sever, fmm, Resource Center Work Intern

Dorica was born in Slovenia, and as a teenager was so inspired by Saint Francis, she entered in the international Institut of Sisters Franciscaines Missionaries of Mary. Her life as missionary revealed to her the Beauty of the Real Presence of our God in the world today, even through challenge and suffering. She worked as missionary in French Guyana and was privileged to be close to the poor in Latin America. Right after the war in Bosnia, she helped to relieve the wounds of hatred, founding together with her sisters a community which was called to live reconciliation and peace. She lived in Vienna, Austria, as a servant leader, and spent the last 10 years in the Canadian Arctic living among Inuit people. They taught her how to live simply, and how to love the emptiness and solitude of the vast landscape. She finds living at Stillpoint to be a special grace: an environment that is safe, pure and radiates a harmony which makes it easy to look inside and open to the Beauty of Everything, of Everybody.

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, Director of Operations

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 for 7 years 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, reading, playing outside (especially golf!), time with friends and family, most especially her partner Amme, their kiddo Sarah, and their golden retriever, Parker.

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.

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