Terry is a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is an experienced therapist and family counselor. Terry has a passion for helping fellow veterans heal from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and military sexual assault. Her work has also led her in helping military families navigate transitions.

Michelle has more than 15 years of experience in information technology and business communications. After earning her Master’s degree from Purdue/Indiana University in Indianapolis, Michelle worked in Information Technology (IT) management for Fortune 1000 companies for more than 12 years.

Community involvement and volunteerism have been at the heart of Michelle’s endeavors outside of the corporate world. She was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in LaPorte County, Indiana, for seven years. Michelle then served as a board member of the Salvation Army and was pivotal in launching the Backpack Food for Kids program. Michelle has taught film classes at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana, and yoga classes as a certified yoga instructor. She now volunteers her time helping local nonprofit organizations launch and build their programs by aiding in grantwriting, marketing, social media, and IT endeavors. One of those nonprofits is Anam Cara.

Ayla is a soap maker and social media whiz from Three Oaks, Michigan. After graduating from Western Michigan University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in creative writing, Ayla spent seven years working in the craft beer industry and developing her skill as a soap maker. Ayla opened her business, AylamethystSoaps, in 2015, and she sells her soaps locally. She brings her talents to Anam Cara hoping to be a major part of its success.

Cathy has spent her entire career in “people helping” professions. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in health services management from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). Rather than resulting in a career in medical practice, Cathy accepted a position with the Foundation of St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, Indiana, and began a long, successful journey in fundraising for organizations. During her 25 years of event coordination, grant writing, program planning, and marketing, she has raised more than $3 million to benefit the organizations she has served. Among those efforts was a first-time homebuyer’s program for Mishawaka, Indiana, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Cathy shared her skills for 13 years as an assistant professor at Indiana University, South Bend, in the areas of community health, office practice management, nutrition, and ethics and jurisprudence. Cathy is currently a federal grants reviewer with expertise in the area of increasing access to healthcare for underserved and rural populations. She is also a member of the advisory board for HealthLinc, a federally qualified health center serving low-income residents of the Michiana area.

A life-long horse lover, Cathy became drawn to the use of horses for equine-assisted activities and therapies, and began volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center. She was director of development at the center for 10 years.

Cathy is currently a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in mental health and learning. She also designed, created, and implemented the “Nuzzles & Snuggles” program, which brings residents of care facilities to the horse barn to engage in therapeutic sessions. When she was introduced to Anam Cara by a friend, she knew immediately that she wanted to become involved with the organization, where she serves as an advisor for Anam Cara’s fundraising efforts.

Meghan is currently pursuing her EAGALA certification. Meghan has worked with horses in several different settings—stable maintenance, jumping, and groundwork. Her introduction to equine-assisted psychotherapy came from her own personal journey through trauma work and her recovery from an eating disorder. She is thrilled to be working and learning as a part of the Anam Cara team. 

An impressive leader, a tireless campaigner, and a committed advocate of health care policy, Carmen Velásquez has changed community health care for the Latino, predominantly Mexican, working-poor, uninsured, and immigrant community. As a former community activist, social worker, bilingual education specialist and founder of a not-for-profit community health center, Ms. Velásquez has spent most of her life advocating for universal health care, comprehensive immigration reform, and for workforce development. As a result of a passionate vision, strong partnerships and the crucial need for bilingual bicultural medical providers for the uninsured and undocumented, Ms. Velásquez founded Alivio Medical Center in 1989 as a bilingual bicultural, nonprofit community health center.

Velásquez has received numerous awards for leadership, vision, passion, community organizing and overall outstanding service and dedication to the community. Most recently in March 2016, Ms. Velásquez received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Mujeres Latinas en Accion.

At the present, Ms. Velásquez is focused on the Healthy Illinois Campaign whose mission is to make quality, affordable health care accessible to all people in Illinois, including the undocumented.As you can see, Ms. Velasquez is passionate about creating healthy communities; she brings her expertise and advocacy to expand healing and healthy communities from Illinois to the Greater Michiana area

Ann is a doctor and was a cofounder of the Alivio Medical Center in Chicago with Sister Sheila Lyne, CEO of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and Carmen Velasquez, an ambassador for Anam Cara. She served on Alivio’s Board of Directors for 18 years. During that time, Ann was a member on both the Quality Assurance and Finance Committee of the Alivio Board.

Because Alivio serves the Hispanic, predominantly Mexican,community, Ann, who is bilingual and culturally sensitive, had the kind of insight necessary to be a key player in the planning and design of Alivio’s health services and medical clinics. She continues to be available for consultation and has volunteered many hours advocating for Alivio, promoting the clinic’s public health agenda to the medical community, and working with the administration to generate strategic ideas for service expansion.

Upon learning of Anam Cara’s vision and mission, Dr. Garcelonimmediately knew she wanted to be a part of the organization’s efforts to address trauma and to bring holistic healing to communities.

Kathryn graduated from California State University Sacramento.  She retired from the California State Civil Service after serving over 25 years; Agencies included, Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning.  Her expertise included development and auditing of legislated programs including sexual assault/domestic violence prevention and juvenile justice and delinquent prevention. She was also actively involved in grant writing, request for funding proposals, as well as program monitoring and review. She now is focused in her retirement in LaPorte, IN to apply those skills to help Anam Cara Stables help individuals, families, and the community heal from trauma. 

Webb graduated from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He has 43 years of Financial Accounting experience in the Energy business in both California and Texas.  The years in California his expertise was managing the accounting of 30 Profit Centers, which included receivables, fuel payables, inventory, and exchanges for the second largest propane company in the United States at that time. The years in Texas were with Enterprise Products the second largest pipeline company in the United States.  He managed the out flow of cash for product purchases that averages 2 billion dollars a month.  Now in his retirement in LaPorte Indiana, he is utilizing his accounting expertise as a way to give back to the community by helping Anam Cara grow and help people heal from trauma.