Claire Anderson holds an Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is the Executive Director of Siena Retreat Center. She draws on global experiences, including living in Poland, in her exploration of cosmology, science, and faith.

Jane Czarnezki oversees the hospitality and volunteer aspects of Siena Retreat Center. Have you every thought of volunteering at Siena Retreat Center? Please connect with Jane!

Ben Brzeski joins the staff as Director of Donor and Community Engagement. Ben brings 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and ministry sectors to the Siena Retreat Center team. His experience includes a variety of leadership, development, and communications roles, and he has been fortunate to be on retreat here numerous times! Ben is a writer, musician, and lover of the outdoors, and he brings a passion for the Siena Retreat Center’s commitment to the building of a more just and compassionate world.

Nicki Steinmetz Nelson oversees and coordinates spiritual guidance at the Siena Retreat Center, including individual and group spiritual guidance, supervision for spiritual guides, the Spiritual Guidance Training Program, summer directed retreats, and other emerging programs. She has a MA in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI. You’ll often find Nicki with her nose in a book or deep in conversation about spirituality, psychology, social analysis, or how all of those converge in the experience of parenting. She loves spending time with her family in the kitchen, on the trail, or playing board games.

Vicky Curtiss leads retreats and programs, offers spiritual guidance for individuals, and collaboratively oversees and prepares for the annual retreat and program offerings sponsored by the Siena Retreat Center. She has an M. Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for forty years as an ordained clergyperson in the roles of pastor, spiritual director, and presbytery executive. She has also been director of three non-profits with mission outreach. Vicky loves reading, quilting, watching films, being in nature, and engaging in anti-racism work.

Christine Houdek joins the Siena Retreat Center team as Business Manager. Christine has spent 32 years in the healthcare field as a Certified Surgical Technologist, Medical Office Assistant and Patient Customer Service Associate. Her healthcare/patient customer service career has allowed her to build relationships with the people in the Racine community while assisting them with their healthcare needs. She grew up in Northern Ohio and has called Racine home since 1974…She enjoys baking, crafting, and spending time with her two grandchildren. She has touched many lives in the physical healing world and has now chosen to assist with touching lives in the spiritual healing world as well.

Nikki Madisen schedules groups and private retreats. She is a Racine native whose connection with the Siena Center began while attending retreats through St. Catherine’s High School and continued as she volunteered in the dining room. Nikki draws administrative coordinating experience from many years working with a local Montessori School. In her free time, Nikki enjoys participating in local craft fairs and spending time outdoors.

Susan Arvai receives and accurately enters retreat registrations and donation information. Susan is from Racine and has experience in finance and legal trust and estate planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Alverno College in Milwaukee. Susan enjoys art fairs, craft fairs and estate sales in her spare time.

Carmen Doubek enjoys the peace and tranquility of the Siena Retreat Center and loves to keep it clean and pretty. She took classes at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for several years but has been drawing and painting most of her life.