Staff of the Center for Courage & Renewal

Staff with Parker on his visit to Seattle in April 2013.

Terry Chadsey, Executive Director, is charged with leading a vital organization that strongly represents, supports and grows the Circle of Trust® approach.  The Center will thrive as we deepen our collaboration with the growing network of facilitators and expand our ways to engage a growing circle of supporters. Terry has been a Circle of Trust Facilitator since 2002 and on the staff of the Center since 2005. He worked in public education for 32 years, teaching grades K through 8 in Chicago, Australia and Washington for 22 of those years. After leaving the classroom he provided leadership to school and district improvement efforts and coaching and professional development to districts and schools, principals and teachers.

Anais Delamour, Office Manager, joined our staff in October 2011 after moving to Seattle from Sacramento, California, where she worked for several years at Sutter Health, a nonprofit health care system, providing staff support, managing an office collaboration site, and promoting wellness. Her professional experience includes providing organizational and operational support for over ten years in a variety of industries. 

Ann New, Development Officer, worked in regional educational non-profits for 20 years before joining our staff in 2007. She directed the Preparatory Dance Program at Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts, and Community Programs at IslandWood.

Hanna B. Sherman, Program Director, Health Care Programs, focuses on helping groups develop safe and trustworthy spaces for personal and professional growth, positive change, and improvement. Organizations Hanna has worked with include Mayo Clinic Florida, Mission Health System, and Cambridge Health Alliance. Since 2008, she has co-led Courage to Lead®, a Courage & Renewal retreat series for professional and personal development for leaders in health care and other serving professions. Hanna writes and speaks nationally about professional formation and relational trust in organizations.

Jade Goldschmidt, Bookkeeper, joined our staff in June 2012 after moving to Seattle from Fort Pierce, Florida. While in Fort Pierce she worked for McAlpin Cavalcanti & Lewis CPAs, performing bookkeeping services for corporate and non-profit clients. She looks forward to developing and implementing new bookkeeping procedures and processes to accompany the Center's growth. During her downtime, Jade enjoys exploring the Northwest's trails, food, and culture.

John Fenner, Program Director for the Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders, prepared for formation facilitation with Parker Palmer and the Center in 2003 and has co-facilitated numerous national Circle of Trust retreats as well as a seasonal series for nonprofit leaders. John also works as a consultant to nonprofits, churches, and communities on conflict resolution, dialogue, racial equity, and organizational/community change processes. Between 1989 and 2006, John served as Executive Director of the Center for Dialogue, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of peaceful communities and positive change in individuals and organizations. 

Marcy Jackson, co-founder and Senior Fellow, served as Co-Director of the Center for 13 years. Her primary responsibilities include leadership of CCR’s Facilitator Preparation Program, supporting the ongoing development of facilitators in the Courage Collaboration, and contributing to the dissemination of ideas and stories related to the Circle of Trust approach through writing. She has been facilitating Circle of Trust retreats since 1996 with people from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Previously, Marcy worked extensively with individuals, groups, and families as a child and family therapist, grief counselor and group facilitator.

Parker J. Palmer, founder and senior partner, is a world-renowned writer, speaker and activist. His wisdom has reached millions worldwide through his nine books, including Healing the Heart of Democracy, A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, The Active Life, To Know as We Are Known, The Company of Strangers and The Promise of Paradox. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, along with ten honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press, and major grants from the Danforth Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Fetzer Institute. In 2011, Palmer was named an Utne Reader Visionary, one of “25 people who are changing your world.”

Rick Jackson, co-founder and Senior Fellow, focuses primarily on developing programs for leaders and partnerships/special projects with kindred organizations. Rick has been facilitating Circle of Trust retreats since 1996 with people from a variety of backgrounds and professions. Rick consults and speaks with non-profit organizations and foundations on a range of topics, including sustaining the identity and integrity of teachers and leaders, community leadership development, and strategies to foster long-term social change. He was an executive with the YMCA for 25 years.

Robin Gaphni, Program Manager/Registrar, has been with the Center since the fall of 1998 in a variety of roles. She has a background in Adult Education and has been an instructor in Motheread/Fatheread, a national family reading and literacy program. Robin has worked and volunteered for nonprofits her entire professional life. Her passion is writing, and she has one unfinished middle-grade novel, numerous picture books in various stages of production and an older blog devoted to children’s books. She has recently started a new blog called Grief & Gratitude.

Rose Yu, Assistant Director, joined our leadership team in January 2012. She has been charged to assist Terry in building better systems throughout the Center to enable us to thrive and grow. Rose most recently served as an organizational development specialist at the University of Washington. Past experiences include serving as a leadership coach and psychotherapist, running a non-profit, marketing Boeing airplanes in Europe and Honeywell controls in Asia, and consulting as an aerospace engineer.

Shelly Francis, Marketing and Communications Director. Her focus is on creating strong, consistent messages about the Center's work to help "Tell Our Story," expanding our visibility and growth. Shelly recently directed the trade marketing and publicity for Sounds True, multi-media publisher of Parker Palmer's audio, An Undivided Life. Before that, she had her own website design agency for clients in healthcare, non-profits, education, and small business. Shelly is also author of Damocles' Wife, her memoir and resource on cancer caregiving and long-term survival. A newcome to Seattle from Colorado, she is having fun exploring the Pacific Northwest.