Our staff and board of directors

We are blessed with a dedicated and caring staff and board of directors. Each person gives so much of themselves to help make Catholic Worker House what it is today — and they share in a vision for what it can be tomorrow.

Our Staff

Larissa Ruffin, House Manager

Larissa will be the first one to tell you she had made some bad choices. After graduating from City High in Iowa City in 1996, Larissa found herself in prison from 2004 to 2006. Upon her release, she started on a new path, earning a degree in criminal justice at Kaplan University in 2008, followed by jobs at the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter and AmeriCorps, and volunteer work at the Catholic Worker House. When the CWH lost their house manager, she applied, and took over the role in September 2009.

Because of her background, she’s able to connect with and help people that are where she was – just out of prison, facing eviction, homeless, or in a similar hardship situation. Her work at CWH is truly an inspiration, and her willingness to be open and authentic about her past and use her experience to engage with clients has done more good than anyone will ever know.

“Being able to show compassion and listen with empathy – that’s huge for me and for them,” says Larissa. “My goal is to help them find a way out and see that the current situation is not the end – that even prison can be just a step to making life better, not the end of the road.”

She loves being able to help people of all religious beliefs and backgrounds. Her biggest reward is when a client is able to go home. Larissa spends her days leading a staff of three, coordinating numerous volunteers, working with current, new, and past clients to make sure their needs are met, writing grants, and doing presentations at churches to share the CWH mission.

Jasmine Conwell

Jasmine first came to us in the fall of 2016. When Jasmine joined us she was working with the Kirkwood program ‘Creating Futures.’ She was also just returning to work after having her first son that summer.

Jasmine not only completed her internship, she also completed the work study portion and then was hired on as a Catholic Worker House employee in 2017. We are very thankful for Jasmine has chosen to share her talents with CWH. She plans to continue her education and go on to study social work in the near future and is the mom to two boys.

RaunaLive-in Staff

Rauna began as a volunteer at Catholic Worker House in 2019. In January 2020, Rauna became the live in staff for the shelter. Rauna, and her twin 17-year-olds Casey and Cathy, live in the staff apartment on the third floor. In November of 2020, Rauna became a part-time staff member of CWH and helps keep everything running smooth!

Loyce Atteberry

Loyce has been with Catholic Worker House for several years in some capacity. Over the year, she has been both a client and a staff person. At one time, Loyce served as the live-in staff on the third floor. She works evenings and weekends. Although Loyce has no family locally, she does have her Catholic Worker House family and she is a crucial part of the organization. Loyce has mothered and grand mothered many children over the years here.

“I am proud to be associated with the Catholic Worker House because of the helping hand up it offers families in times of great need. The Catholic Worker House is so much more than just a homeless shelter! The most rewarding aspect of being on the Board of Directors is to continually relearn just how much of a difference providing shelter and food for a family can truly be in restoring hope to all that the future can and will be better.”

– Robert B. Callahan, Former Board Member

Our board of directors

The Catholic Work House board of directors is made up of a dedicated team of community members who work passionately to support families in getting their lives back on track.

Jim Podgorski, ChairGeneral Mills, Retired

Jim is a member of the St. Joseph parish. He started with CWH as a house sitter in 2006 and has been on the board since 2008. Jim has been Board Chair since 2009. He and his wife Marilyn have thirteen grandchildren. Jim retired from General Mills in 2004.

Karen Volz, Vice Chair Ackley, Kopecky & Kingery, Partner

Karen has been a volunteer board member for over 20 years, which she finds highly rewarding. As an attorney practicing family law, she helps the board find advice on legal matters. Through her association with CWH, she realizes that the family stability she enjoyed growing up is only a dream for many kids and their parents. She especially loves the fact that CWH tries very hard not to be institutional, but welcoming, caring, and understanding of the various circumstances that cause a temporary lack of housing. A native of Cedar Rapids, Karen is the oldest of seven children. She is married to Lance and grateful for daily blessings.

Bea Rethwisch, SecretaryCommunity Volunteer

Bea and her husband Pete havetwo children, Kayla and Peter. Bea has been a member of All Saints parish for almost 23 years and a board member for CWH since 2012.

Dawn Barrett, TreasurerCRBT, Senior Loan Administrative Assistant

Dawn was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, attended school at St. Ludmila’s Elementary and LaSalle High School, and is a 1994 graduate of Mount Mercy University. She is a lifelong member of St. Ludmila’s parish. Dawn has worked at Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Company since 2005 as a loan administrative assistant and has been on the board of CWH as Treasurer since 2006.

Andrea Reed, Finance Co-ChairRockwell

Andrea has served on the CWH board for two years. After graduating from Loras College with a BA in Accounting in 2008, she went on to receive her masters of Accounting from UNI in 2009. As an auditor for the last seven years with the Department of Defense, she brings a strong sense of detail to the board.

Carol Steiner, Spiritual ChairCommunity Volunteer

Carol has been on the CWH board for more than a decade. She also provides a monthly meal to the house and delivers food baskets for us. A member of St. Ludmila’s parish, Carol and her husband Leonard participate in the church band and love to travel.

Kristin Schaefer, Finance Co-ChairTransamerica, Actuary

Kristin is an actuary with Transamerica where she has been employed for over 20 years. She is a member of St. Jude parish where she volunteers as a lector. She also co-chairs a Sweet Corn Festival Committee with her husband Jeff. They have two daughters and two grandsons. Kristin has been on the board since 2012.

Becky Picard, Public Relations Co-ChairCommunity Volunteer

Becky is a former high school teacher of German and French. After leaving teaching, she spent 15 years as Vice President of US Bank Milwaukee, working out of the Cedar Rapids area. She then became a Senior Vice President for Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust and its holding company, Quad City Bank and Trust. Now retired, Becky has two sons, four step-children, and four grandchildren. She is married to Denny and both are members of St. Pius X parish.

Steve Determan, Facilities ChairRockwell, Senior Electrical Engineer

Steve was born in Clinton, IA and moved to Cedar Rapids 35 years ago to take a job at Rockwell. He met his wife Jo Ann and married her in 1983 at Saint Joseph’s parish in Marion, where they are still members. They have two children. Since 2008, Steve has been involved with CWH and organizing semi-annual work days with the Knights of Columbus.

Rosemary Hays, Board Member Community Volunteer

Rose lives in Hiawatha with her husband Rick. They are blessed with three children and four grandchildren. Rose works for the Cedar Rapids School District in special education as a facilitator/coach. Rose and Rick are long time members of St. Patrick’s parish in Cedar Rapids. Rose has been on the CWH board since 2004.

Paul Gamez, Board MemberSimmons Perrine, Attorney

Paul is an attorney with Simmons Perrine. He and his wife Delvina have three children, Maria, Isabel and Lee, and are members of St. Patrick’s parish. Paul joined the Board in 2012 in response to a posting about the Catholic Worker House in the St. Patrick’s Sunday church bulletin.

Jennifer Schulte, Board MemberOperations Relationship Specialist, Transamerica

Jennifer has been humbled to serve on the Catholic Worker House board for more than seven years. Nobody wakes up one day and decides to be homeless and she is proud of how the shelter carries out the mission to serve the homeless in the community. She has been members of St Jude Catholic Church for almost 15 years. In her spare time she enjoys watching her boys play tennis, watching her daughter dancing on stage, and working out. She also enjoy home improvement projects and baking.

Melissa Beckius, Board MemberState Industrial Products, Customer Relations Manager

For 18 years, Melissa has worked for State Industrial Products as a Customer Relations Manager. She has been on the CWH board for 9 months. She belongs to St. Pius X in Cedar Rapids. She works full-time and is a single mother to an amazing 12 year old daughter. She have 2 puppies that keep her and her daughter busy with training, playing, and regular trips to parks for exercise. Her and her daughter like to spend time with family and friends, bike, roller blade, play around at tennis, and enjoy the arts. She is also secretary for the Parent Association at her daughter’s school.

Julie Harris Johnson, Board Member Community Volunteer

Julie is the retired Associate Director of Catechetics for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. She also served as a Faith Formation Leader in Cedar Rapids. Julie and her husband, Dr. David Johnson, have three grown children and six grandchildren. She is a member of St. Pius X parish and enjoys playing golf and bridge as well as reading and cooking.

Bob Bevenour, Honorary Chair

When Bob retired from working at Rockwell, he wanted to continue with the philosophy of serving others. In 1994, he volunteered to mow the lawn at CWH and that led to him serving on the CWH Board and editing the Reflections newsletter for 13 years. Bob officially retired from the CWH in 2007 and passed away in January 2020. He meant so much to the staff, clients, and board at CWH and his legacy lives on in all we do.

How you can help

Share your time and talents and make a difference. Check out our numerous volunteer activities.

Volunteer

Make (or order!) a meal and help keep bellies full and ready for the day. Sign up to deliver a meal or two.

Donate a Meal

Help families now and as they transition into new housing. Donate money, household items, and more.

Give Money or Items

Staff and Board

Leading today, planning for tomorrow