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Welcome to the Center for Spiritual Care in Vero Beach, Florida

Charlotte 'Shotsi' Cain Lajoie is the proud mother of three adult sons. She is a  psychological educator and consulting coach as well as a practicing psychotherapist since 2005,. She is an adjunct professor in  business and human services in the undergraduate degree' and in counseling in postgraduate degree, She currently serives on the Indian River Rowing Club/s board of directors.  Served on the Samaritan Center Board and Catholic Charities advisory board.

Debbie Padnuk has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1998 and is certified in Integrative Restoration (iRest) and IYT Yoga Therapy. She is a retired Registered Nurse. Debbie serves as the facilitator for Vero Beach KIND and has volunteered with Hope Hospice, the Whole Family Health Center, Sunrise Rotary Community Corps, and the Center for Spiritual Care. She is deeply appreciative of the Center’s programs that support well-being, community, and the arts.

Robert Howlett, Ed.D., whose professional life revolved around education and who is a former New Jersey Superintendent of Schools, also has focused for many years on spirituality. He holds certificates in Pastoral Studies from the Blanton-Peale Institute and in Spiritual Direction from the Archdiocese of Newark. He is an experienced retreat director and has presented workshops and lectured on various aspects of spirituality throughout the Northeast and on the West Coast. His degrees are from Maryknoll, Hofstra and Nova University.

Carol Ludwig, spiritual director, supervisor, teacher and retreat leader, presents widely in the U.S. and overseas. She served on SDI’s Coordinating Council (2001-07) and is a Presence Editorial Review panelist. Carol was formed in the contemplative-evocative style of spiritual direction through the Washington Theological Union, the Shalem Institute and Mercy Center. Carol has served on the faculties of Audire, Loyola (New Orleans) University, Mercy Center, Sacred Heart University and the Shalem Institute.

Allan Teger, Ph.D., brings to the Board long experience in academe, administration and management, and the arts. His degrees are from Lafayette, Delaware and SUNY-Buffalo. He taught psychology at Boston and Princeton Universities and the University of Pennsylvania before becoming Social and Development Psychology Program Director at the National Science Foundation. His book, Too Much Invested to Quit (Pergamon Press) deals with conflict theory. He is the former Chairman of the psychology staff of HELP Inc, the community clinic in Philadelphia. For many years, he has been a full-time artist, and has shown his photographs in juried shows and galleries throughout the United States and abroad.

Richard Schlitt is a certified spiritual director and local businessman. He has been a Youth Minister for the past 50 years. He facilitates retreats with men, youth, young adults and parenting groups and currently serves as Director of Youth Ministry for Kiwanis Youth On a Mission in Vero Beach providing missions in the summer and service projects throughout the school year. He is currently the President of St. Vincent de Paul society in Vero Beach, and serves on the boards of Youth guidance and United Against Poverty. He has lived in Vero Beach most of his life and is married to Janice Schlitt. He has three sons, two daughters, three wonderful daughters-in-law and 10 grandsons.

Jovany Cossio is a husband to Jenny and father to Roman and Jiovany. He was raised in Miami, then moved to Texas for about six years before living in an RV and traveling the country for two years. He came to the Treasure Coast in early 2023 and is now a resident of Vero Beach. Jovany received his bachelor of accounting from Florida International and Master of Taxation from Nova Southeastern. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been in public accounting since 2008. He has been part of service organizations since 2017 serving in Texas and then Fort Pierce. He also served in multiple churches in children ministry. In his spare time, Jovany enjoys the beach, paddleboarding, hiking, jiujitsu and family time.

Pam O'Donnell and her husband, Gene, moved to Vero Beach 14 years ago from the Boston area.  Pam worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 + years in the sales management and training development areas.  She has a BS in Cognitive Psychology from FAU.  As a Rotarian for over 20 years, Pam has been involved in numerous projects involving youth services, the aging community, mental health and health and wellness initiatives, literacy, and our IR Lagoon environment.  She volunteers with Youth Guidance, United Against Poverty, and the VB Kind campaign.  Giving back to the community has been her lifelong goal.