2020 Vestry Nominees
Each year Good Shepherd elects new members to serve on our Vestry which is the governing body of our Church. The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church's mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances. Vestry members are elected at the annual parish meeting.
Here are the candidates for the class of 2020:
Casey Creenan
My Family and I are new members of the Good Shepherd congregation, having attended regular Sunday service for nearly a year. I was raised in Roman Catholic faith in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, attending Catholic school through my elementary studies. Upon reaching young adult hood I moved away from organized religion while maintaining my faith and relationship with God on a personal level. As a father of 2, my wife and I decided we wanted to ensure our daughters were given the same opportunity and education in religion that we received as children. We were fortunate enough to find Good Shepherd where our daughters were recently baptized. I am eternally grateful for God leading me to join the congregation as I have rediscovered my love of religion and community.
In my professional life I have spent the last 10 years working as a security analyst in the financial world, project manager and currently working as a consultant for a healthcare IT company located across the world. In my role as a consultant I work with clients around the country to understand their business needs. Working with associates at all levels from Customer Service to CEOs has allowed me to hone my communication skills as well as developing an acute ability to understand issues and needs.
I look forward to my continued participation with Good Shepherd and finding new ways to serve the church, my community, and most importantly God.
Michael Louie
I recently moved to Colorado from North Carolina with my wife, Miriam, and Charlie and Lilly our children, this past July 2019, and found our spiritual home with Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church and my wife, Miriam, is a cradle Episcopalian. I was received into the Episcopal church by Bishop Michael Curry when we lived in Greensboro, NC. I served in the Peace Corps in Jamaica and then I became a board member for the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Organization serving in various roles such as webmaster, grant writing, and treasurer in multiple locations as I moved around as a Park Ranger with the National Park Service. After receiving my master’s degree in Park Planning, I worked as an Outdoor Recreation Planner for the National Park Service. Since arriving in the Denver area, my family has been enjoying the outdoor life. We currently live in Highlands Ranch and I work for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Human Resources. I look forward to giving back to such a warm and welcoming congregation.
Anne McMahon
I’m a “cradle Episcopalian” and have been at Good Shepherd for 22 years; first bringing my daughter to Sunday School and Acolyte service, being on various committees, and now bringing my granddaughter. Many of you will know me from leading the Greeter ministry and being on Stewardship – both of which are important to me.
Background: raised in northern California, (Marin county) and received my BA from University of the Pacific, including a year oversea in India and studies at Cambridge in England; various corporate positions in product development (Bank of America, Microsoft) and fundraising (Educate America, United Way, Mullen High School). Most recently a 15-year business owner in the service segment specializing in seniors relocation and transition. Married to my patient (non-attending) husband for 38 years, who during his corporate career, had us move all over the US – (Seattle, St.Louis, Charlotte, San Francisco).
I hope to bring to the parish a focus on genuinely welcoming in newcomers and increasing our percentage of participation in Stewardship for a strong financial base, towards the goal of doing more in our community.
Duanne Namaksy
I grew up in Montgomery, Al and attended the University of Alabama majoring in accounting. My business management career included a pathology laboratory, an automobile dealership and a large CPA firm. Joe and I met and married when he was at Air Command and Staff College. We became Lutherans in 1974 when we married and were very active in our home church in San Antonio, TX. In 1996 we bought a motor home and intended to tour the U.S. for a year or two. After 21+ years, we sold our last RV and settled in Lone Tree to be near our son and his family.
We found Good Shepherd in May 2018 and knew immediately that it was our new home church. We attended Fr. Gary’s “Episcopal 101” class and, in June of 2019, were received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Kym at the Denver Cathedral. I’ve served on the Good Shepherd welcome committee, I am a counter, Joe and I usher, and I’m on the Congregational Care Committee. We also enjoy being part of the Hungry Flock. Good Shepherd has become a very important part of our lives. To paraphrase a comment from Fr. Gary’s Christmas message-----God’s “marvelous light” keeps beckoning me forward.
Dennis Phillips
As a new member of Good Shepherd and having recently joined the church earlier this year, I'm honored to be considered for a position on the Vestry. The welcoming staff and people of Good Shepherd made me feel as though I've been a member of the church for many years. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attended Catholic school for eight years and moved to Colorado in 1963. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSU/Pueblo. I'm currently retired and living in Centennial with my two best four-legged friends Molly and Maggie.
After 34 years of service I retired from Delta Dental Plan of Colorado as Vice President of Business Development. I then accepted a position as Director of Marketing for the Colorado Contractors Trust Health Plan. I retired from this position in 2010.
My community involvement has included serving on the following non-profit boards:
Provenant Health Partners Senior Care/Eldercare Division 1989-1995 (Chairman of the Board,1990,1991 and 1995, Vice Chairman 1992-1994)
Hospice of Peace 1993-1996 (Secretary/Treasurer 1994-1995, member of Strategic Planning Committee, 1994-1995)
Member of Joint Steering Committee between Provenant Health Partners and Catholic Charities to establish formation of Hospice of Peace
Nine Health Services, Inc. Board of Advisers/9Health Fair 1998-1999
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Board 2002-2004 (member of Nominating Committee and Communication Committee (2003-2004)
After retiring, I volunteered at Freedom Service Dogs as a handler. This position allowed me to assist in training service dogs for individuals with a physical or developmental disability. Also, as a fund raiser for FDS I volunteered as Santa at Murdoch's store. Families and their pets could have their picture taken with Santa for a donation. Since being a member of Good Shepherd I have had the opportunity to volunteer through St. Clare's ministries serving meals to those in need. I look forward to contributing to the mission and goals of Good Shepherd and its congregation.
doris truhlar
A member of Good Shepherd since 1989, Doris Truhlar is a practicing attorney who has previously served on the Vestry twice. Raised as a Southern Baptist, Doris says that the Episcopal Church has been a “wonderful religious home” for her family.
Doris has been honored in the legal community repeatedly, including numerous awards for pro bono services provided to low-income or needy clients. “Providing legal services to those in need is an important part of practicing law,” she said.
In addition to her job as a practicing lawyer, Doris also works (“very part-time”) for a local weekly newspaper, The Villager, covering the City of Centennial, where she lives and has served as an elected member of its City Council.
Doris’ law practice is owned with her husband, also a Good Shepherd member, Bob Truhlar (who also has served on Vestry). Doris has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, and holds a law degree from the University of Denver, where she graduated near the top of her class.
An active member of the church for many years, Doris notes that she loves Good Shepherd, and the Episcopal Church, and recalls that, early in her career as a lawyer, she and her partner represented an Episcopal Priest who was in a dispute with the church, including the then-Bishop. At that time, she and Bob were searching for a church in which both of them could participate. Not long after, they were led to Good Shepherd by Bob’s brother, who was dating a woman from Good Shepherd.
The next few years will be extremely important to Good Shepherd, she commented, adding that many in the United States have turned away from religion. “It is important for Christians to reach out to the broader community,” she said. “We have a duty to bring our message about Christianity to our community,” she added.
Noting that she has served on “virtually every ministry” except the Saturday morning Men’s Group, Doris welcomed any members of Good Shepherd who have questions to give her a call on her cell ‘phone (720) 934-4645. In addition, there is more information about Doris, Bob, and their law firm at www.truhlarandtruhlar.com.