BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meet the members of our Board of Directors

Click on each photo for the board member's bio.

DAVE DONSELAR

Board Chairman | chair@americanpilgrims.org

I walked the Camino Francés with my wife and oldest son, arriving in Santiago 36 days after leaving St. Jean Pied de Port. The memories that remain the most vivid are the smaller things…the warmth of the freshly dried clothes in Roncesvalles, the smell of bread on the way up to O’Cebreiro and the group of pilgrims singing in the gentle rain as we approached Santiago. The most rewarding experiences were the people…the exuberance of fellow pilgrims as we walked into town each afternoon, the thoughtfulness of the hospitaleros each evening and the kindness of strangers when we took wrong turns. I’m excited to serve on the Board as we work together to connect the global community of pilgrims right here at home.

DAVE DONSELAR

BARBARA ZANG

Vice Chair

I set off in May 2013 from St. Jean Pied de Port, France on my first Camino. After collecting my Compostela in Santiago, I walked to Finisterre and then on to Muxia. The abundant, unexpected Camino kindnesses I received along the Way stayed with me when I returned home. How could I ever repay fellow pilgrims for their generosity of spirit? I trained as a hospitalera in 2014, served in Grañón in 2015 and volunteered in the Pilgrim’s Office in 2016 and 2017. The Camino Portugués beckoned in 2017. Joining the board in January 2018 has meant a continuation of that repayment on a totally different level--from helping chapters get their start to overseeing the production of “La Concha.” I enjoy volunteering for an organization whose values so closely align with my own.

BARBARA ZANG

CARMEN MARRIOTT

Secretary | secretary@americanpilgrims.org

It took me a long time to process my first Camino experience. Although I attended local chapter meetings, visited the American Pilgrims on the Camino website and requested my credential, and had become a member of American Pilgrims, I didn’t really appreciate the essence of the organization. The mission called me, “Fostering the enduring tradition of the Camino by supporting its infrastructure, by gathering pilgrims together and by providing information and encouragement to past and future pilgrims.” The organizational values of gratitude, simplicity, community and service are also my personal values. The opportunities provided to members, such as hospitalero training, allow us to live the Camino. I've loved every hour of my work with the organization.

CARMEN MARRIOTT

STEVE LYTCH

Treasurer | treasurer@americanpilgrims.org

Beginning in 2008, my wife and I would walk a portion of the Camino Francés each year when visiting our daughter in Madrid. In 2017, a friend and I walked the entire length from Saint-Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. While living in Europe in 2018, I walked portions of a Camino whenever I got a chance. Whenever I’m with fellow pilgrims, whether at the national Gathering, a local chapter event or a chance encounter, I relive that feeling of peace and joy and welcome that calls me back to the Camino. The gifts we receive are too precious not to be nurtured and shared. That’s why I’m grateful for American Pilgrims on the Camino.

STEVE LYTCH

Ruben Mendoza

A few months after retiring in 2017, I embarked on a journey along the Camino Francés from St. Jean Pied de Port with my wife and daughter and arrived safely and full of gratitude on June 30 2018 in Santiago. The experience on the Camino was full of positive and rewarding human kindness from pilgrims on the Camino and servers. As I walked through the classroom of silence, Simplicity, Gratitude, Community and service resonated loudly in my mind. The human kindness observed and experience propelled me to find ways to give back a little to the community of pilgrims on my return. I enjoy volunteering for an organization that sponsor values aligned with my own and a vision that looks forward to inspire pilgrims. I’m excited to serve on the board as we work together to connect the global community of pilgrims.

RUBEN MENDOZA

TOM LABUZIENSKI

Board Member

I hiked and biked the Camino Francés with my two oldest sons in August 2016.. It was a memorable bonding experience for us as my sons are in their 20’s and live in New Orleans and Seattle, while I work for public radio in South Bend, Indiana. Returing home after my first Camino, I started teaching ten week courses about the pilgrimage at the Forever Learning Institute. This has helped keep the experience alive for me and subsequently inspired many to do their own Camino. In fact, last semester we talked on speakerphone regularly to class graduates LIVE from their own Caminos in Spain. The classes are held each spring and fall and one of my star students and I helped create the new American Pilgrims on the Camino local chapter in South Bend. I also teach hiking classes in two Community School Systems. In June 2018, my youngest son and I hiked Japan’s Kumano Kodo as part of his high school graduation present. I am grateful that the Camino has had such a positive impact on my life, my family, friends and students. I have a strong passion for sharing that powerful experience with others and I am honored to serve the Camino on the board of directors.

TOM LABUZIENSKI

JEFF STYS

Board Member

With my first Camino back in 2003, I never thought the Camino de Santiago would play such a big role in my life. I try to make it back to the Camino at least once a year. For me the joy of the Camino is about time for prayer and meditation and the physical experience of walking day after day. I love American Pilgrims on the Camino because it lets me share the joy of pilgrimage and my experiences with others who have walked or will walk in the future. I believe my role as board member is the best way to support “the enduring traditions of the Camino.”

JEFF STYS

BILL ARTZ

Board Member

As many other American pilgrims have, I discovered the Camino from watching the movie, “The Way.” I completed my first Camino in 2014. After walking the first day from St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles, I cycled from Roncevalles to Santiago de Compostela.

American Pilgrims on the Camino played a key role in helping me prepare for my Camino and enriching my overall Camino experience. After committing to do the Camino, I joined and became a member. The information provided on their website helped me to learn more about the Camino and to plan and to prepare for my trip.

Through my local chapter, I participated in monthly hikes, which helped me to prepare for the physical part of the Camino. More importantly, I found other pilgrims who were willing to share their Camino experiences and guide me and answer all my questions. Their willingness to share their experiences and guide me truly helped to enrich my first Camino experience and embodies the Camino Spirit.

I am honored to serve on the Board of an organization that provides me with an opportunity to give back to the Camino and to work and to interact with so many amazing pilgrims who share common goals and values in support of the Camino de Santiago in so many ways. I never imagined my own Camino experiences would lead me on this path.

BILL ARTZ

SARA GRADWOHL

Board Member

Committing to walk the Camino is a big decision and like many Americans, I requested my first credential from American Pilgrims on the Camino. I first walked in 2015 but didn’t become a member until after I returned home when I was searching for a way to stay connected with the Camino and the greater community of pilgrims. I’ve since returned to walk the Camino Francés, Camino Portugués and Camino Inglés, and I completed the Kumano Kodo in 2018. Membership in American Pilgrims and participation in a local chapter are wonderful ways to make new friends (we all like to talk about the Camino) and I feel energized being among people with such an incredible shared experience. If you have never attended a Gathering, it’s an exciting, inspirational and meaningful experience and I wouldn’t miss it. I am thankful for the information, support, encouragement and connections American Pilgrims has given me and I am honored to serve the community of pilgrims and give back as a member of the board.

SARA GRADWOHL

The hardworking, all-volunteer board of directors helps members of American Pilgrims on the Camino give back to the Camino by ensuring that we fulfill our mission to support the Camino, gather pilgrims together and inform and encourage past and future pilgrims.

Board members serve a three-year term that is renewable once. The board meets four times per year.

The board works with members to

develop and help local chapters thrive
identify recipients of grants
publish “La Concha”
maintain a vibrant web site
grow membership
host the annual Gathering of Pilgrims
develop the financial resources needed to accomplish our mission.

Rev 12/03/19