Leadership

OFFICERS

Gay Woodhouse, President - Cheyenne
Tom Botts, Vice-President, Jackson
Robert E. Grady, Treasurer - Wilson 
Rita Meyer, Secretary - Cheyenne

BOARD

Bishop Steven Biegler, Ex-Officio - Cheyenne
Mike Easley - Sundance
Jeff Marsh - Torrington
Very Reverend, Gary Ruzicka - St. Patrick, Casper

 

The Most Reverend, Steven R. Biegler, Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne, is a native of Timber Lake, South Dakota. He attended the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City before earning a BA degree from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota. He also holds a bachelors of sacred theology degree (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a licentiate of sacred theology (S.T. L., Scripture) fromthe Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on July 9, 1993.    

His past assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City; administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, Bonesteel, St. Anthony Parish, Fairfax, and St. Xavier Parish, Ponca Creek; co-pastor of St. Bernard Parish, McLaughlin, with missions at St. Bonaventure Parish, McIntosh, St. Bede Parish, Wakpala, St. Aloysius Parish, Bullhead, Assumption Parish, Kenel, St. Michael Parish, Watauga, Director of Pastoral Formation and Pastoral Works, Pontifical North American College in Rome; chaplain of the Rapid City Catholic School System and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Newman Club; diocesan administrator, Diocese of Rapid City, pastor of Our Lady of the Black Hills Parish, vicar general, Diocese of Rapid City, pastor of Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City.    

Bishop Biegler has also served on the Diocese of Rapid City Spiritual Life Committee, 2007-2010 and most recently on the College of Consultors as well as various other committees. 

Cardinal Blaise Cupich of Chicago, a leading advocate for modernization and change in the Church gave the homily at Bishop Biegler's incardination in 2017.

Tom Botts grew up on a family ranch near Riverton and graduated from the University of Wyoming. He began working for Royal Dutch Shell in the United States and transitioned into roles of increasing responsibility including Division Production Manager, Director of Planning and Treasurer. He continued with positions in London and Scotland where he served as UK Oil Director, UK Gas Director and Executive Vice-President for EP Europe. In 2009 he moved back to the United States and assumed responsibility for all of Shell’s global refineries and petrochemical plants. His management expertise, skills in planning and corporate governance and his engagement in his church and community brings strength to Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation.  He serves as the President of the University of Wyoming Foundation and Chair of the Our Lady of the Mountains Finance Council in Jackson, where he is also active in the parish music program. He joined the board of Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation in 2019 and was elected as Vice-President.

Robert E. Grady is a cum laude graduate of Harvard and received a graduate degree from Stanford School of Business.  He has served as Communications Director for former New Jersey Governor Thomas Keane, and was a speechwriter and senior policy advisor to President George H.W. Bush and also served the administration in roles at the Office of Management and Budget and as a NASA advisor on the International Space Station.  He served as campaign advisor to his life-long friend, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He is American venture capitalist and investor, and former public official. He has worked at Cheyenne Capital, managing the State of Wyoming’s private investments and was a volunteer economic advisor to Governor Matt Mead. He has held positions with such leading investment firms as Robertson Stephens and The Carlyle Group. Currently he leads the Development Growth Group at Gryphon Investors and holds a position on the Wyoming State Banking Board and the board of Jackson Hole Resort. He joined Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation in 2019 and offers a deep well of expertise in financial management, organizational growth and strategic planning.  Bob belongs to Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson.

Mike Easley is an electrical engineering graduate of Oklahoma State University and holds a master’s degree from the Ken Blanchard School of Business at Arizona State University. He serves as the CEO of Powder River Energy Corporation, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative that serves 12,000 members throughout northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana. Mike serves as an appointee of the Governor on the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and held the position as Chairman until 2016. He also holds a position on the Wyoming Business Council and assists state policy makers in advancing the economic health of the state through work with industry, energy producers and the nonprofit sector. He joined the board in July 2020 and is a member of St. Paul’s of Sundance.

Jeff Marsh holds a degree from Eastern Wyoming College and a bachelor’s degree from University of Wyoming in elementary education and a MA in counseling. He is a founding partner and principal of BOLI Strategic Partners. Serving bank owned insurance programs, he offers guidance and experience in the administration and management of long-term insurance and life insurance for businesses. Jeff serves as Chairman of the Board of the University of Wyoming and as a member of the University of Wyoming Foundation. He has also held the positions as Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer for the University of Wyoming.  His experience also includes service on boards such as Platte Valley Bank, Eastern Wyoming College Foundation, the Community Healthcare Foundation and the State Board of Education. He lives in Torrington and is a member of St. Rose.

Rita Meyer has embodied the definition of leadership throughout the state of Wyoming in her professional life and as a volunteer for countless organizations.  She served as a member of the Wyoming National Guard, and upon retirement she had obtained the rank of full colonel. She is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. She was Chief of Staff to Governor Jim Geringer and served as the Wyoming State Auditor from 2007 – 2011. She served on the board of trustees at the University of Wyoming. She has served as a board member for St. Mary’s Cathedral and has been an advocate for Catholic organizations such as St. Mary’s School and St. Joseph’s Children’s Home. Rita joined the board of Wyoming Catholic Ministries Foundation in July 2020 and is a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Esther McGann obtained her MBA from the University of Wyoming and served as a planned giving officer at the University of Wyoming Foundation for fifteen years. In 1999 she opened her private practice. She is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, the Financial Planning Association, and the Southeast Wyoming Estate Planning Council. She has served as a member of the WCMF board since 2009. She also serves as treasurer of the Downtown Clinic in Laramie, and is a member of St. Paul’s Newman Center parish.

Stuart Palmer operated a camp for youths in Jackson Hole for many years providing youth from across the country with outdoor experience and learning. He was the business manager for Our Lady of the Mountains parish in Jackson, serving at the time the new church was being built.  He is deeply involved in Rotary International and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole and as District Governor of District 5440.  He has served on the Board of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole where he was actively involved in the grants committee.  Stuart is active in the Knights of Columbus as well.

Gay Woodhouse is a graduate of the University of Wyoming Law School and began her career as an attorney in 1978. Her practice areas include: Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Land Use and Easements.  She worked in the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and held the position of Wyoming Attorney General for three-years. She also served in the United States Attorney’s Office before Founding her own firm which is now Woodhouse Roden & Nethercott, LLC.  She is a member of the Wyoming State Bar and held the offices of Wyoming Bar Commissioner; Wyoming State Bar Vice President; Wyoming State Bar President-Elect; Wyoming State Bar President. She is board member of the Domestic Violence Elimination Council; Southeast Wyoming Mental Health Center Board; Pathfinder, Inc. Board; Prevent Child Abuse Board of Directors; SAFE Harbor, a Children’s Justice Center Board of Directors; Laramie County Commissioner; Rotary of Cheyenne and High Noon Toastmasters. Gay is a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral.