CSEC Board of Directors and Advisors
Hello CSEC community!
We would like you to know more about us - the CSEC Board of Directors and the Board Advisors. Our strengths and engagement experiences are summarized below.
We would also like to learn more about YOU and your faith community! Please contact us with your ideas, insights, and questions. Let us know how CSEC can support you as you introduce, develop, and sustain strengths and engagement in your faith community.
CSEC Board of Directors
Jan Hann
Chicago, Il is my home where I am a member of Saint Clement Parish and currently serve as the Chair of the Strengths for the Journey Community.
My top 5 were Responsibility Learner, Relator, Arranger and Adaptability; after a few years of retirement, I retook the assessment and today my current top 5 are: Strategic, Individualization, Relator, Arranger and Adaptability. I must admit I was very surprised that Learner dropped to 25 though learning is never far from my day-to-day activities.
I am grateful for the strength’s development opportunities afforded by Gallup Conferences and Online resources and my participation with CSEC, and other strengths focused opportunities. These have given me the confidence to design and facilitate workshops in person and using Zoom for my parish and for the Girl Scouts of USA in my volunteer roles.
While not identified until I got involved with strengths through my parish, I can certainly see how they fed my passion for the development of individuals, teams, and organizations. To this day I can recall my first boss saying “you always jump to the way to do it” before the rest of us get there. “Slow down” was her recommendation. I didn’t. Strategy is indeed “my most often used strength.”
What I would later assess as my strength themes served me well in my graduate degree in Organizational Development from Loyola University Chicago and in my career choices with the Girl Scouts of the USA, the National Association of Realtors, The National Alzheimer’s Association, and Career Directions, Inc.
Currently, I strive to put my strengths to work with Saint Clement Parish, with the Girl Scouts of the USA as a National Volunteer Partner, my family, and my Condo Community. I look forward to my service with the CSEC Board of Directors.
Bruce Baumann
Hello! My name is Bruce Baumann and I am the Director of Faith Formation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano, TX. I have been in full-time ministry for 25+ years and have had the honor and privilege of teaching, presenting and training many different groups in several different settings. Since being introduced to Strengths Finder in 2009, I have been able to incorporate these concepts into many of my trainings.
I was certified as a Strengths Coach several years ago and it is always such a joy to walk with individuals and groups as they discover their God given talents.
My Top 5 Talents are Input, Learner, Harmony, Intellection and Connectedness. The internet is an Input-Learners dream, and I am no different. I love having the world’s library at my fingertips! 😊 I enjoy collecting ideas and being able to share those with others.
The Connectedness that runs so strong within me is a big reason why I have loved doing ministry for so long. I can honestly say I have never experienced one ounce of burn-out. Everyday I wake up and pinch myself – so grateful that I am blessed to journey with people as they seek the Lord!
Speaking of connecting with people, I look forward to doing so in my role with the CSEC Board! Please call or email anytime. Would love to touch base!
Anne Murray
Anne’s Top 5: Strategic | Arranger | Connectedness | Positivity | Input
Anne is passionate about developing People and utilizing a Strengths based approach to maximize their performance and drive higher levels of engagement. She launched Murray Leadership Group to share her expertise and thought leadership after a twenty-seven-year career with Southwest Airlines, a company well known for its People and Culture.
While at Southwest, Anne held numerous senior leadership positions. Most recently, she served as Senior Advisor, Employee Engagement, championing the strategic development of the Employee Experience of the future. Prior to that role, Anne served as Senior Director of Marketing Communication and led the strategic planning and development for the Southwest brand across all Customer communication channels.
Anne’s current focus is on the non-profit sector and working within her local community to develop individuals, leaders, and teams to improve their performance.
Leisa Anslinger
Leisa’s Top 5: Ideation, Input, Futuristic, Connectedness, Arranger
I was a pastoral associate at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cincinnati when I first learned about parishioner engagement and strengths development from Fr. Bill Hanson in 2005. I had traveled to his diocese to present a workshop on whole community catechesis, and Fr. Bill gave me a copy of Living Your Strengths and his parish’s most recent ME25 survey. I was immediately taken with the process — not only did the engagement research explain much of my experience of parish life at its best, my talent themes resonated with my understanding of myself better than any instrument I had experienced before, and that was saying a lot, since I had a Master’s degree in counseling and had been “inventoried to death.” Not only this, I had studied Dr. Don Clifton while in the Master’s program, and had been intrigued from the beginning with his positive approach to people and relationships. I could immediately see the potential benefit of using tools that were founded on such extensive applied research.
I have lost count of how many workshops, leadership days, articles, and processes I have presented in the past 15 years, as I have introduced engagement and strengths development to parish, diocesan, and school leaders in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and am grateful beyond measure to have been one of the founders of CSEC - this grassroots organization that took shape out of the desire to draw pastoral leaders together in order to strengthen the life of faith communities and through them lead people to a deeper and more fulfilling life of faith.
CSEC Board Advisors
Msgr. Bill Hanson
Top 5: Connectedness, Ideation, Learner, Self-Assurance, Responsibility
I was ordained in 1972 and was Pastor of St. Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Rockville Center in New York from 1990 - 2015. Along with Fr. Chris Heller as co-pastor until 2004, we introduced Stewardship and Sacrificial Giving at St. Gerard Majella in 1994. Parish participation in ministry had more than quadrupled in that time period. In one year 38 new catechists volunteered, with 21 the following year! Over 800 parishioners participated in small groups to learn their God given talent through the Clifton Strengths Finder, and how to give the time to use their talent in the parish and the community.
St. Gerard Parish was among the first three churches in the Unites States to apply the research and tools developed by Gallup and its Faith Practice division in 2003. The use of this research has given the parishioners specific and concrete ways to live out the US Bishops’ Pastoral on Stewardship at home, in the parish, and in the workplace. St. Gerard Majella Parish was chosen by Gallup to be the subject of Chapter 7 of Gallup’s book Growing Engaged Churches.
Since 2015, I have been pastor of Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport, NY. One third the size of St. Gerard, this assignment has given me an opportunity to relive the process steps of introducing Gallup’s analytics and application for engagement. While encountering predictable resistance as in the past, the 2020 Easter collection increased beyond even the increased amount budgeted, with no one being able to attend due to the pandemic. The Gallup mantra “belonging leads to believing” has been shown to be true once again!
In addition to presentations at the annual conference of the International Catholic Stewardship Conference, I have been invited to share my parochial experience of pastoral renewal using Gallup’s faith practice research in more than four dozen dioceses around the country
Sharon Ehrenkranz
Top 5: Input, Maximizer, Positivity, Achiever, Responsibility
I am the Director of Parish Life for St. Laurence Catholic Church, a parish of over 7,700 families in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Among our parish’s strengths is a love of liturgy, a great generosity in serving others and the rich cultural diversity of this area. Visitors and newcomers can sense the joy here – and it is my joy to help people discover their gifts, connect to one another, and serve with gladness. I believe that discovering our Strengths is a spiritual journey. It is a journey that leads us to live in this world authentically, lovingly and joyfully, as God intended for us.
It is a privilege to be a part of the CSEC community! I am grateful to all members who strive to include, inform and inspire others to embrace their Strengths and understand that all is GIFT.
Jo Ann Miller, OSF
Top 5: Maximizer, Responsibility, Activator, Connectedness, Relator
Presently I am co-director of the Strengths Development Center in Milwaukee that I set up in 2015 upon my return after 40 years at SRI/Gallup, to continue the “Strengths Legacy” of my friend, colleague and mentor, Don Clifton, inventor of CliftonStrengths. The Center’s mission: To provide training to individuals equipping them to use their strengths in developing the strengths of others for meaningful engagement in life, service and work, especially in education and non-profit organizations.
A member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, I began my educational ministry in 1960 in Chicago as a history teacher. Then, as a director of ACM’s Urban Teaching Program, I arranged and supervised student teaching experiences for 20 students a semester from 12 participating liberal arts colleges. While there, I discovered the pioneering talent-based research of Dr. Clifton, met him, used his Teacher Perceiver Interview and after his persistent recruiting efforts, accepted his invitation to extend his education mission in K-12 schools, joining his young company, Selection Research, Inc. in 1974 in Lincoln, NE.
For all those years I consulted and conducted seminars with education and church leaders throughout the United States and Canada on the talent-based approach to selection and development. For 25 years, I led the SRI Human Resources for Ministry Institute, a non-profit, offering the Catholic community selection tools for ministry leadership positions and Catholic schools. I am the co-author of Gallup’s book, Teach With Your Strengths, 2005.
As you see, I have not personally “moved strengths” in the Catholic community, especially in parish life; however, over the years since I met Fr. Bill Hanson, I have supported and admired any and all who have been involved in that ministry. I am at your service!
I have a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.
Sue Lehocky
Top Five: Ideation, Maximizer, Activator, Connectedness, Adaptability
I am currently serving as an Evangelization Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago. I was previously Director of Evangelization and Lifelong Formation at Divine Mercy Parish in Winnetka, Illinois. I first became involved in stewardship and engagement, strengths and spiritual gifts, as a Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph Church in Libertyville. I became a certified strengths coach back in 2009 under the Gallup Faith Division (which no longer exists).
I am passionate about helping others discover their God given talents, strengths and spiritual gifts as a way of growing in the knowledge of the incredible love and mission that God has for each of us.
Mary Kennedy
Living and LOVING my Strengths – Mary Kennedy, Minneapolis, MN
I first learned about Gallup StrengthsFinder while attending an International Catholic Stewardship Conference in 2006. One of the breakout presentations concentrated on how to learn about and harness one’s individual God-given gifts to become the person God calls each to be. As I listened to Dr. Al Winseman, the late Curt Liesveld, and Fr. Bill Hanson share their insights about Living Your Strengths, I immediately thought of all of the parishioners at my church who insisted they didn’t have any gifts to share. More than one parishioner thought that gifts shared with church were limited to singing, lecturing, ushering, or counting money. By learning about one’s God-given unique gifts, new possibilities for ministry and engagement could be borne. This breakout session was a ministry-changing moment for me.
I hurried down to the Gallup booth after the breakout, bought two books – one for me and one for my boss. Back at home, I took the assessment and was astounded how a few minutes spent assessing 180 pairs of statements could result in such an accurate representation of my strengths. Some of my strengths were well-loved and utilized talents of mine, another I had never put into words, and one I had always considered to be my Achilles heel. As I learned more about my strengths, I saw where I used them in my life’s challenges as well as in my achievements. God had blessed me abundantly with gifts that could be formed and nurtured and used in every area of my life - my relationships, my career, my family, AND my faith.
My top five strengths are Strategic * Positivity * Empathy * Communication * Activator.
I lived and loved my Positivity and Communication – both were “go to” implements in my personal toolbox. Telling the story, using written or oral communication with humor was the essence of me. I realized that my Strategic gift of getting me or my group from point A to point B had sure been handy in eliminating red tape in many a situation in my life. Activator, or my over powering drive to get going once a decision has been made, kept my projects heading toward the finish line. In tandem with Strategic I found that a false start often resulted in a better plan B. Most surprisingly, I learned how my Empathy was not a weakness, but a powerful gift, allowing me to tune into others feelings. Though I still may cry at “Hallmark Commercials,” I know that my Empathy can guide me as I serve others by offering caring encouragement.
From a parish perspective, I see how powerful this program can be to assist individuals in learning about, nurturing, and sharing their unique gifts. When someone has the opportunity to recognize the gifts and harness those gifts to generously share with others, it is a transformative experience. Living Your Strengths empowers the individual to be their best self. New ministries, new ways of aligning ones faith with ones work and relationships, centered on giftedness is truly life-changing for the individual as well as for the faith community.
I became a Faith Certified Facilitator in 2007, although that certification is no longer used by Gallup. I live and love my strengths every day and have worked tirelessly to share this great program with others in parishes around the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis at local conferences, as well as twice at the ICSC Conferences. I have served on the Catholic Strengths and Engagement Board since 2015 and am part of the CSEC-MSP Meet-Up group, a local group that meets quarterly to discuss best practices with strengths and engagement.
Kirsten Hangas
I live and work in Missoula, Montana.
Title: Excavator of Human Awesomeness. I help people in our community explore and understand their talents, and work to help everyone find their place and feel like they belong.
Experience: I was trained as a CliftonStrengths (individual and team) coach about nine years ago (under the faith umbrella when Gallup was still doing that).
We have done three ME25 surveys: 2013, 2016, 2019
The best thing I've done with Strengths is a couples group. It is so amazing to see couples look at each other in a whole new way!
My Top 5: Input, Woo, Adaptability, Connectedness, Maximizer
Fun fact: 7 of my bottom 8 talents are Executing talents. I REALLY need people with high Executing talents to help me turn my ideas into reality.
I completely believe that we are all, at any given moment, both teachers and students. PLEASE share what you are doing with Strengths and Engagement in your community so the rest of us can learn! THANK YOU!
Martha Buelt
I live and work Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am an independent strengths-based talent development consultant, serving people in business, higher education, nonprofit, and faith community contexts. I have a passion for equipping organizational leaders to facilitate and sustain a strengths-based culture in their organization – including faith communities!
My Gallup training started in 2010 with Gallup StrengthsQuest Training and then Gallup Faith Practice Training with Curt Liesveld. About that same time, I was also working on my Masters in Pastoral Ministry at St. John’s University, School of Theology·Seminary in Minnesota. During graduate school, I was able to integrate Gallup talent development training into my course work. A few years later, I decided to become Gallup-certified coach and completed Gallup’s Accelerated Coaches Training.
My Top 5 dominant Talent Themes are Responsibility, Connectedness, Learner, Belief, and Achiever. Some of my talents that come from my Learner, Connectedness, and Developer (#9) dominant Talent Themes include “I love the process of learning,” “I learn best alongside others,” and “I look for ways to help others learn.” Over my lifetime, I have invested in these talents to develop a strength of “developing, piloting, and writing strengths-based curriculum.” For example, you can find my campus ministry seminar processes at the CSEC website – free to download.
I believe in human development and that each person is created in the image and likeness of God with talents to cultivate and use in all aspects of their life! It is awesome to be able to guide people in faith contexts to be intentional about articulating and developing their talents and strengths in the light of their faith!
The CSEC community continues to equip and encourage me to do the work that I do every day! Thank you for being engaged CSEC members – sharing your insights, ideas, and energy with the community!