Meet the Board of Directors
Since our beginning in 2017, the building of this retreat center has been funded and operated by Saint Joseph's Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) non-profit. As more of our support has come from the public over the past year, we have desired to have public oversight with a Board of Directors, and to this end we have received final IRS approval of Patris Corde Hermitage, a 501(c)(3) public charity that will take over the assets of Saint Joseph's Foundation. A special thanks to each of our Directors for their guidance and counsel.
Ashleigh Ryan
Ashleigh is the co-founder of Patris Corde Hermitage along with her husband John. While retreating at Pacem in Terris in Minnesota, she experienced the desire and need for this unique encounter with God. She and her husband heard a call to take care of a retreat center with their family that offered a similar place for others to encounter the Lord. Ashleigh is also a founding partner of Premier Payment Resources, a business that serves clients in the payment processing industry. She currently homeschools her six children and actively supports the development of Patris Corde Hermitage.
.png)
Jason Simon
Jason Simon is the President of the Evangelical Catholic. In 2007, he graduated with a Master’s in Divinity from the University of Notre Dame and began leading the Evangelical Catholic. Under his leadership, the Evangelical Catholic has experienced consistent expansion in equipping Catholic laity for apostolic impact in the world. He has seen first-hand the power of lay evangelization fueled by the institution of the Church. Jason lives in Madison, WI with his wife and six children.
Fr. Brady Wagner
Father Brady Wagner is a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver and a member of the priestly association of the Companions of Christ. Ordained in 2011, he currently serves as the Director of the Spirituality Year, the first year of formation, at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.
Fr. John Nepil
Father John Nepil is a priest of Denver, Colorado and a member of the priestly association of the Companions of Christ. Having completed a doctorate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce in Rome, he now serves as vice-rector and professor of theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.
Ed Van Pelt
Ed Van Pelt is currently CEO of Truth in Processing, a service centric organization supporting companies who utilize credit cards. Previously, Ed Van Pelt has begun and run businesses as well as held executive level positions with Carlson Companies, American Express, Rockwell International and Westinghouse. He is active in his Church and community, a former Trustee of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a current board member of the Outpost Center, a nonprofit located in Chaska, MN. He and his wife Lisa have six children and reside in Chanhassen, MN.
Dudley Mitchell
Dudley Mitchell is a member of the Board of Directors at Panattoni Development Company and a member of the Archdiocese of Denver Real Estate Committee. He has been a real estate developer for 43 years, a part-time rancher for 20 years, and has previously served as CEO at Panattoni and as President and Board Member of Domus Pacis. Dudley is a member of Saint Mary's Parish finance committee, and has been married to his wife Nancy for 42 years; they have three children and six grandchildren.
