Name: Mary Babinat
Age: 44
Residence: Newton
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
Parish: Sacred Heart, Newton
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
Sacred Heart Finance Council
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
We had been discussing in our Why Catholic? group how God puts people in your path. The next day, Sister Laura Goedken called and asked to meet with me to discuss serving on this Foundation board. It would have been easy to say “no,” but instead I said “yes.” I think that the foundation is an appropriately planned organization to provide assistance to the Davenport Diocese. I will do my best to serve the foundation.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
I think that being an informed, active director is very important. I think that my background in accounting will be useful; however, I think the time I’ve invested in my parish, Sacred Heart, will be even more valuable as a director of the foundation. I’ve just completed multiple terms as trustee, where we did a capital construction campaign. I’ve worked with the youth programs, attended development/stewardship seminars, as well as participated in numerous committees. I am active in small group studies, as well as a supporter of renewing our parish library. I believe that being familiar with parish programs, as well as my accounting experience, will be the gifts I bring to the foundation.
Name: Stan Reeg
Age: 62
Residence: DeWitt
Family: Wife of 41 years, Betty; one son and his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.; one son and his wife in Norwalk, Iowa; four grandchildren.
Occupation: Investment advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors.
Parish: St. Joseph, DeWitt.
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
N/A
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
I felt like maybe I could make a difference.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
I have over 25 years in investment experience and provide investment advice to other foundations.
Name: Tonja Jirak
Age: 32
Residence: Keosauqua
Family: Husband, Kurt; children Kelby, Alexis, Ella, TJ and Sophia.
Occupation: I graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in accounting and worked as a CPA for a public accounting firm. After our second child was born, I left my job to be at home full-time with my children. I’ve continued to assist several clients with accounting needs and served on some local boards on a volunteer basis. I currently am working part-time, as project director and grant coordinator for the Van Buren SAFE Coalition, a substance abuse prevention organization. However, at this point in time, my primary “job” is that of a homeschooling mom.
Parish: St. Mary, Fairfield.
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
I have been involved with the youth program in our parish and have volunteered with the RCIA program as well.
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
I felt this was a great opportunity to serve the church in a capacity that was consistent with my professional background.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
I feel that I can help by providing perspective of how diocesan issues and activities affect and appear to a smaller, more rural parish.
Name: Joe Welsh
Age: 60
Residence: Lovilia.
Family: wife of 41 years, Kathy, three children and five grandchildren.
Occupation: Retired IT executive.
Parish: St. Peter, Lovilia.
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
Diocesan Pastoral Council, Diocesan Planning Commission, Parish Finance Committee, and St. Peter Parish Council. I am a 4th degree Knight and have been a member of the Knights of Columbus since age 18.
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
To represent the Ottumwa Deanery.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
It is my goal to work with the others on the Catholic Foundation to help rebuild our diocese from the ashes of bankruptcy and to do so in a way that will protect the asset base and provide funding for the future. I hope my background in business, technology and communication will assist the board.
Name: Doug Young
Age: 67
Residence: Iowa City, Iowa
Family: wife of 46 years, Jo; daughters Tracy and Angie; son Justin; four grandchildren, Emmie, Charlotte, Teagan, TJ.
Name: Molly O’Meara Schnell
Age: 45
Residence: Davenport
Family: Paul, Maggie, Nicholas and Bridget Schnell.
Occupation: Attorney/ Shareholder, Schnell & Hancock, P.C., Davenport.
Parish: Sacred Heart Cathedral.
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
Finance Council, trustee — Sacred Heart Cathedral; Board of Education, Diocese of Davenport; Finance Committee, All Saints Catholic School; Scott County Catholic Schools Advisory Council
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
I can contribute due to my long history with finance matters regarding the diocese, its parishes and schools through prior boards and committees; I have a good working knowledge of foundations, investments and finances; and finally, it’s a way of giving of my talents.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
My legal and accounting backgrounds will stimulate discussion and questions that may be necessary when considering certain Foundation decisions. Further, my involvement with Catholic schools, extracurricular activities related to the schools and my parish will allow me to be a good source of “heard on the street” type of feedback.
Occupation: Semi-retired from the University of Iowa (45 years). For the last 25 years director of Financial Management/Budget and university secretary.
Parish: St. Patrick, Iowa City
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
I was just confirmed at Easter at St. Patrick’s.
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
I am interested in serving and it seemed like a good fit, given my background. Also, how could you ever say no to Sister Laura?
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
After our first meeting, I was very pleased and impressed with the quality of the board members Sr. Laura has assembled. My contribution is yet to be determined.
Name: David Miller
Age: 61
Residence: Burlington
Family: Wife of 36 years, Gretchen; three daughters, Sarah (husband is Dan), Gina and Laura; two granddaughters, Talia and Miela Miller-Jacobs.
Occupation: CEO of The Growth Coach
Parish: Ss. John & Paul, Burlington
What other boards, councils or committees do you serve on in your parish or the diocese?
Past president of the Burlington Notre Dame Foundation; served as the first chairman of the Notre Dame High School Pot O’ Blue & Gold $100,000 Raffle, Burlington; past trustee and Finance Committee member of Ss. John & Paul.
Why did you agree to serve on the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport?
I believe starting the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Davenport will help build our Catholic community now and in the future.
How do you think you can best help the Catholic Foundation?
By being a good steward and encouraging others to build for the future.
Name: Jim Nepple
Residence: Muscatine
Occupation: Estate planning attorney, Nepple Law, PLC.
Parish: Ss. Mary & Mathias, Muscatine.
