Our People

Generous mission-driven volunteers and staff are committed to strengthening families so they can live the fullness of God’s plan for their lives.

Board of Directors

The Board, collectively, has over 150 years experience in working as missionary disciples strengthening families in their parishes, schools, and beyond.

 

Image
Micheal Halloran
Mike Halloran
President

Vice President of Development and Operations

Catholic School Center for Excellence

Minneapolis, MN

Image
Patrick Mealey
Patrick Mealey
Vice President

Lead Software Engineer

Thomson Reuters

Eagan, MN

Image
Tom Janas
Tom Janas
Treasurer

Owner and President

Storms Welding and Manufacturing

Cologne, MN

Image
Jeannine Backstrom
Jeannine Backstrom
Secretary

Cana Executive Director Emeritus

Crystal, MN

Image
Fr. Joe Bambenek
Fr. Joe Bambenek
Chaplain

Assistant Director of the Archdiocesan Synod

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, MN

Image
Pam Datillo Website Pic
Pamela Datillo

Attorney

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., MN

Image
Mary Everett
Mary Everett

Community Volunteer

Edina, MN

Image
Laura Hemler
Laura Hemler

Community Volunteer

Eden Prairie, MN

Image
Mary Hodgdon
Mary Hodgdon

Community Volunteer

Edina, MN

Image
Edward Ricklick
Edward Ricklick

International Product and Marketing Manager

Hearth and Home Technologies

Lakeville, MN

Image
Jean Schmitz
Jean Schmitz

Bookkeeper

Church of Saint Peter

Sauk Rapids, MN

Image
Tom Schulzetenberg
Thomas Schulzetenberg

Mission Advancement Officer

University of Mary, ND

Image
Todd Sester
Todd Sester

Technician Manager

Die Technologies

Rogers, MN

Image
Mary Jo Sherwood
Mary Jo Sherwood

CEO and Founder

PERSIS Worldwide

Eden Prairie, MN

National Staff

Staff members at the Cana Headquarters in Crystal, MN oversee and guide the operations in four dioceses.

 

Image
Joseph Masek
Joseph Masek
Executive Director
Image
Madalyn Montemorano
Madalyn Montemorano
Director of Operations
Image
Karen Sester
Karen Sester
Program Director
Image
Jon Hickman Website Pic
Jon Hickman
Major Gifts Manager
Image
Gabe Kopp
Gabe Kopp
Development and Marketing Associate
Image
Frances de Kooker
Frances de Kooker
Donor Relations Manager

Mission Outreach Leaders

Mission Outreach Team members in the dioceses of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Galveston-Houston, Covington and Cincinnati provide front-line quality programming and one-on-one guidance to leaders and families in parishes and Catholic schools.


Archdiocese of Cincinnati
 
Image
Cross
Elizabeth Conner
Mission Outreach Director
Image
Beth Brink
Beth Brink
Training Manager
Image
Maria Aknin
Maria Aknin
Cana Coordinator Manager
Image
Cross
Kristine Sharpshair
Trainer
Image
Kim Heyob
Kim Heyob
Trainer
Image
Kaitlyn Siebenaller
Kaitlyn Siebenaller
Trainer
Image
Mary Ellen Moeller
Mary Ellen Moeller
Trainer
Image
Cross
Cari Davis
Trainer
Image
Christina Regala
Christina Regala
Trainer
Image
Cross
Ricky Mathews
Trainer
Image
Cross
Deacon Mike Huffman
Trainer
Image
Cross
Steve Conner
Trainer
Image
Cross
Stephanie Stachler
Trainer
Image
Karla Huwer
Karla Huwer
Trainer
Image
Shelly Hartings
Shelly Hartings
Trainer
Image
Cross
Vicki Buschur
Trainer
Image
Cross
Kelly Jo Siefring
Trainer
Image
Brenda Hemmelgarn
Brenda Hemmelgarn
Trainer
Image
Katie Wesseling
Katie Wesseling
Trainer
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
 
Image
Stacy Turlington Website Pic (1)
Stacy Turlington
Mission Outreach Director
Image
Amy Dyer
Amy Dyer
Training Manager
Image
Cross
Laura Alvarado
Cana Coordinator Manager
Image
Cross
Stephanie Barakat
Events Manager
Image
Emily Rodriguez
Emily Rodriguez
Trainer
Image
Cross
Nancy Valdivia
Trainer
Image
Laynne Martinez Website Pic
Laynne Martinez
Trainer
Image
Candace Glasgow
Candace Glasgow
Trainer
Image
Cross
Christie Birney
Trainer
Image
Cross
Jennifer Castanon
Trainer
Image
Cross
Jessica Silva
Trainer
Image
Josh Glasgow
Josh Glasgow
Trainer
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
 
Image
Leah Nguyen
Leah Ngyen
Trainer
Image
Anne Marie Molen
Anne Marie Molen
Trainer
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
 
Image
Gina Downs
Gina Downs
Mission Outreach Director
Image
Cathy Carson
Cathy Carson
Partner Success Manager
Image
Cross
Anna Schmitz
Events Manager
Image
Jacinta Traxler
Jacinta Traxler
Trainer
Image
Margaret Cotter
Margaret Cotter
Trainer
Image
Anne Nicklaus Website Pic
Anne Nicklaus
Trainer
Image
MP web
Marie Peterson
Trainer
Image
Cross
Jennifer Tomaschko
Trainer
Image
Cross
Patrice Rajkowski
Trainer
Image
Jody Pellegrene
Jody Pellegrene
Trainer
Image
Elke Stephan Website Pic
Elke Stephan
Trainer
Image
Cross
Mike Pellegrene
Trainer
Image
Cross
Tom Wooden
Trainer
Image
Mark Steeves
Mark Steeves
Trainer
Image
Hal Knecht
Hal Knecht
Trainer