Sr. Rachel Dietz, a licensed clinical and social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist, has given many retreats and workshops for individuals and groups for more than 20 years. Currently she directs the Spiritual Director Formation program at St. Scholastica Retreat Center and has a small counseling practice.

Cari Kaufman, former Army officer, stay-at-home Mom, and professional speaker, is the founder and director of Strings Attached Ministries, which brings groups and teams together to common ground to build up women’s ministry groups all over the world.

Kathy Schmelzer is the Director of St. Scholastica Retreat Center.

Nicholas G. Cole, MD, has been practicing prayer since attending his first ten-day retreat in Snowmass, Colorado in May, 1990. In 1991 he was commissioned to teach the prayer and has presented numerous introductory workshops. He began serving retreats at Snowmass (St. Benedict's Monastery Retreat Center) in 1993. Nick is now retired from the active practice of medicine. He does some volunteer medical clinic work and teaches in the residency program in the University of Colorado in Denver. He also continues to share the prayer through retreat work and centering prayer workshops. He is married to Carolyn and they share five children and nine grandchildren. Nick and Carolyn divide their time between Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Morrison, Colorado.

Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB is the Abbot of Subiaco Abbey, a founding member of Little Rock Scripture Study and the author of Twelve Keys to Prayer, The Eucharist in the New Testament, and Don’t Trust the Abbot: Musings from the Monastery.

Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB is a member of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith. She is well known for her writings and her retreat ministry. Her latest work, Abide: keeping vigil with the Word of God, was released by Liturgical Press in September, 2011.