Board of Directors.
The Franciscan Renewal Center is led by a Board of Directors comprising community lay volunteers, Casa leadership and friars. Board members are volunteers who — along with a passion for the Franciscan Renewal Center and for Franciscan spirituality — have a gift for looking at the “big picture” and deep experience in the areas of strategic guidance, financial management, human resources, health care, and more.
The primary work of the Board is to:
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Provide support and guidance that empowers the Franciscan Renewal Center to stay true to its mission, its values, and the broader mission of the Province.
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Ensure the Franciscan Renewal Center’s financial stability by providing financial oversight, inputting into the strategy, and assisting with the execution of fundraising and endowment growth.
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Engender interest from the community to actively participate in, and add greater value to, the Franciscan Renewal Center by becoming Board and Board committee members.
Meet Our Board of Directors.
Diane Catlin, Chair
Diane Catlin first came to the Casa in 2014 and has served on the Casa’s Finance Committee since 2015. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, a master’s degree in accounting, and she is a certified management accountant. Diane has experience in many sectors: banking, healthcare, restaurants, higher education/non-profit, and owning several businesses with her husband. Diane utilizes in-depth analysis, insights, and a collaborative approach to drive organizational improvements and the implementation of best practices while ensuring the highest ethical standards are continuously adhered to. Diane was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to Phoenix in 1996. She has been married to Chuck since 1984; they enjoy traveling, golfing, hiking, and simply appreciating the outdoors.
Richard Murphy, Secretary
Richard B. Murphy (“Rich”), a near native of Phoenix, AZ, graduate of the former Gerard Catholic High School (Phoenix), University of Arizona (1989) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law (1993), is the founder and managing member of Murphy Cordier Casale Axel PLC, a boutique law firm focusing on construction, real estate, and business matters. Mr. Murphy’s law practice primarily involves construction, real estate, and surety matters, from development through design and construction, claims and litigation. Mr. Murphy represents owners, developers, contractors, specialty contractors, suppliers, sureties, and others involved in the development and construction industry. He also serves as a private mediator and arbitrator in commercial litigation cases typically involving construction disputes. Mr. Murphy has served on the boards of the former Actors Theatre of Phoenix, St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, and Xavier College Preparatory, and as chair of the St. Francis Xavier Faith Community Pastoral Council. He has also completed one half of the requirements for a Masters of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of New Orleans.
Linda Christian, Treasurer
Linda became a member of the FRC Finance Committee in 2021 and began serving on the Board of Directors in 2023. Linda is a senior executive with extensive leadership and management experience in the US and internationally. Linda has broad proficiency in finance and accounting, call center operations, credit management, strategic planning, program management and compliance. Linda has demonstrated the ability to lead large teams through significant change. Currently, Linda is a Partner in WCM Global, LLC. The WCM Global team are unique consultants with intimate knowledge of what it takes to become and sustain operating excellence and market leadership. WCM translates knowledge to results. Linda earned a BSBA at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and an MBA from the University of Denver in Denver Colorado. In her free time Linda enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, outdoor activities and reading.
Charles Brown, Executive Director, Franciscan Renewal Center
Charles serves as a voting member of the FRC Board of Directors. On November 9, 1998, he was hired as FRC General Manager, forming a collaborative leadership model with Executive Director Fr. Joe Schwab. Charles became the FRC Executive Director on May 1, 2021, when Fr. Joe stepped down. He graduated from Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. Charles began his management career with Kmart Corp., was promoted to General Manager in 1988 in Vista, CA, and continued to larger volume stores throughout California. After his 14-year successful retail management career, he transitioned his skills to better align with his faith and spirituality, as well as spending more time with his daughters. Charles furthered his education by attending Harvard on scholarship and the ASU non-profit extension. He served as Chair of the Retreat Directors Committee for the Province of St. Barbara for ten years. Charles completed the two-year certification training as a spiritual director. In 2019, Charles was named a Virginia Piper Charitable Trust Fellow. Charles currently is a pilgrimage leader for Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs staff and has experienced or led pilgrimage to Assisi 10 times. He is a father of two lovely and faithful daughters, Amber and Bridget. He enjoys his lake cabin in Durango, fitness, travel, art, and always being a lifelong learner.
Anthony Coury
Anthony is a third-generation Arizonan who grew up in the Phoenix area and attended Brophy College Preparatory. He is a “Double Domer,” graduating twice from the University of Notre Dame, first with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and then again with a Juris Doctorate in 1997. Anthony also obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the University of San Diego in 2000. Anthony approaches his law practice with a philosophy that he tries to implement throughout all facets of his life: Treat others like they are family. He currently serves on the Development Committee at the Casa and has proven to be a valuable committee member.
Kathleen Flanagan
Kathleen Flanagan is a native New Yorker who worked her way West. She held senior executive positions in the e-commerce industry for over 20 years. A versatile executive, her career included leadership roles in start-ups and private and public companies, including eFunds, a publicly traded, international e-payments company based in Arizona and sold to Fidelity in 2007. While in Arizona, Kathleen became an active member of the Franciscan Renewal Center, where she consulted with the staff and board on strategic planning and gave retreats on contemplative prayer and spirituality and aging. After a brief early retirement from the corporate world, Kathleen’s spiritual stirrings led her to accept the position of Executive Director at Mission San Luis Rey, a non-profit ministry owned by the Franciscan Friars of California. In 2019, she left Mission San Luis Rey to become Executive Director of Mission Integration and Ministry Support for the Franciscan Province of St. Barbara. Kathleen has served on various arts, civic, and corporate boards, including the Portland Opera Company, the U.S.-India Trade Council, and as President of the Board of a Utah-based special purposes bank. She is committed to improving the dignity of the poor and has worked with non-profit organizations in the U.S., EU, Peru, India, and Rwanda to reduce homelessness, eradicate poverty, improve women’s rights and education, increase investment in small business, and care for HIV patients. Kathleen is on the boards of the Franciscan Renewal Center in Arizona and the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Kathleen is an avid traveler, a voracious reader, an occasional hiker, and a very blessed mother and grandmother.
Steve Hempelman
Bio coming soon.
Fr. Page Polk, OFM, Rector, Our Lady of the Angels Church
Fr. Page Polk, OFM, was born and reared in Dallas, TX, and has a background in education, psychology, guidance, and counseling. Before entering the Franciscan Order, he taught children with special educational needs. Fr. Page holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Texas State University and has advanced degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and East Texas State University. He also holds an M. Div. degree from The Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL. He is a member of the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati, OH, and continues to serve on their Provincial Council. Fr. Page has served as the Director of the Catholic Chaplain Corps for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and as the Director of Vocations for the Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist. He was part of an Inter-Provincial team of three friars the seven U.S. Provincial Ministers asked to research the process for revitalizing and restructuring Franciscan life in the United States. As Rector of Our Lady of the Angels Church, Fr. Page collaborates in the planning and execution of liturgical celebrations and provides pastoral care to the community. He also collaborates with the FRC staff responsible for the Adult and Children’s Catechesis and Faith Formation programs and supports Sustainability and Endowment endeavors. Fr. Page also leads Franciscan pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Fr. Sebastian Sandoval, OFM
Fr. Sebastian earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Riverside and a Master of Divinity degree from the Franciscan School of Theology. Prior to entering the Franciscans, Fr. Sebastian worked in the field of law at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. Throughout his time as a friar, Fr. Sebastian has served as Associate Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Sacramento, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Los Angeles and currently is in residence at Assumption Parish in Los Angeles. He has also served as a hospital chaplain at various hospitals in the San Francisco bay area and as Associate Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Oakland. Currently he serves as the Western Region Vocation Director for the new Franciscan province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Franciscan Renewal Center since July 2016.
Paul Walsh
Paul Walsh has been the CEO of six businesses spanning 30+ years; most recently, he was the Chairman/CEO of eFunds, a payments and risk management business headquartered in Scottsdale with clients in 85 countries. He has been on nine boards of private and public companies, including the board of Staples, Inc., for 27 years. Paul currently sits on the boards of three private companies, serving as the Chairman of the Board for two companies and Chairman of the Audit and Technology Committee for the third company. He has extensive experience in audit, nominating, compensation, and executive committees of boards of directors. Paul is a senior partner in a private equity firm where he has been for the past 15 years.
Board Committees.
Board Formation
and Governance
Development
Finance
Master Plan
Steve Hempelman, Chair
Charles Brown
Donna Chase
Bob Crawford
Kelly Daly
Shelby Jasmer
Mike Mencuccini
Rich Murphy
Suzanne Smith
Paul Walsh
Anthony Coury, Chair
Charles Brown
Marvin Brown
Amy Jo Hutchison
Patty Kenney
Nydia Montijo Soto
Terry Thorson
Linda Christian, Chair
Charles Brown
Cyndy Hynes
John LeMoine
Lora Nelson
Dennis O'Neill
Ron Pacione
Marty Teevan
Kris Wendt
Cris Caruso, Chair
Charles Brown
Bernie Hynes
Rich Murphy
Francis Slavin
Suzanne Smith
Mike Slivers