Leadership and Staff
Clarence Payne
President
Clarence worked in manufacturing as a Vice President of Operations for two companies and left that career to start a sales/Marketing company in 2002.
Clarence Payne
President
Clarence worked in manufacturing as a Vice President of Operations for two companies and left that career to start a sales/Marketing company in 2002. He retired in 2008. With a background in engineering, supervision, management, sales and marketing, he has often said that his professional career was the Lord’s way of grooming him for his responsibilities in St. Vincent de Paul, a ministry that gives back to you much more than you give to others. Clarence started the conference in March 2010 and was blessed with a great staff to enable the tremendous progress and success that has been experienced.
Gail Payne
Case Counselor Coordinator
She is a retired Chemical Engineer. Have enjoyed positions in supervision and management.Background in training and task force projects.
Gail Payne
Case Counselor Coordinator
She is a retired Chemical Engineer. Have enjoyed positions in supervision and management. Background in training and task force projects. Been involved with St. Vincent de Paul since 1996, working in Home Visitation in Chicago. Loves people, cooking and an avid reader. Joined the St. John Vianney Conference in March, 2010 as Home visitation coordinator.
Joe Bibeau
Treasurer
Joe spent 45 years with a major U.S. automobile manufacturing organization. As a graduate mechanical/electrical engineer.
Joe Bibeau
Treasurer
He worked primarily with facilities, maintenance, controls, & energy conservation. He eventually moved into a leadership position in the organization at several U.S & international plants. During a 3 ½ year assignment in India as Vice President of Manufacturing, Joe and his wife became integrally involved with both the St. John Bosco Salesian Missionaries and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. This exposure to helping “Those in Need” led to their interest in being a part of St Vincent de Paul after his retirement in 2005. Joe and his wife Carol are originally from Northern California. They have four children and nine grandchildren, most of who now live in Tennessee. Joe is presently the Treasurer of SVDP, and he and his wife Carol are also involved as case managers. They believe being part of SVDP allows them to give back some of the many blessings bestowed upon them and their family.
Conny Erlenbaugh
Secretary
Conny came to St. John Vianney’s from the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Diocese of Phoenix.
Conny Erlenbaugh
Secretary
Conny came to St. John Vianney’s from the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Diocese of Phoenix. She was involved in several ministries; Eucharist Minister, Communion to the Homebound, Choir, Soup Kitchen and she also served as a parish secretary for seventeen years. She became involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Conference by volunteering in the resale shop, food pantry which provided food to 450 families. She also served as secretary to the conference for five years before her move to Tennessee. Her faith has led her to the service of others in many different situations. A life journey took her from Wisconsin to Arizona to Gallatin. At each step of her journey she found great joy in doing for others. She moved to Gallatin to be close to her daughter and grandsons. She has a tiny house and shares it with her two puppies Grace and Frankie.
Conny Erlenbaugh
Secretary
Conny came to St. John Vianney’s from the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Diocese of Phoenix.
Conny Erlenbaugh
Secretary
Conny came to St. John Vianney from Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Diocese of Phoenix. She was involved in several
ministries; Eucharist Minister, Communion to the Homebound, Choir, Soup Kitchen and she also served as a parish secretary for seventeen years. She became involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Conference by volunteering in the resale shop, food pantry which provided food to 450 families. She also served as secretary to the conference for five years before her move to Tennessee. Her faith has led her to the service of others in many different situations. A life journey took her from Wisconsin to Arizona to Gallatin. At each step of her journey she found great joy in doing for others. She moved to Gallatin to be close to her daughter and grandsons. She has a tiny house and shares it with her two puppies Grace and Frankie.
Karen Selvaggio
Spiritual Advisor
Karen was born in Jersey City, NJ. She is one of 6 children in a large Irish Catholic family that had deep roots in their local community and parish family at St.
Karen Selvaggio
Spiritual Advisor
Karen was born in Jersey City, NJ. She is one of 6 children in a large Irish Catholic family that had deep roots in their local community and parish family at St. Mary’s of the Lake in NJ. Karen and her husband (whom she has known since they were 2 years old!) retired and moved to Tennessee 4 years ago to be closer to their daughter and granddaughter. Karen feels blessed to have found her spiritual home at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, where in addition to being part of St. Vincent DePaul, she is a Eucharistic Minister and an active member of the Legion of Mary. She is the current Spiritual Director for our chapter of St. Vincent DePaul. Karen lives in Portland with her husband, daughter, granddaughter, and an assortment of well-loved cats and dogs.
Jim Opalek
Vice President
Jim worked in electronics and computers and retired as a Technology Specialist from HCA / Parallon Business Solutions Group
Jim Opalek
Vice President
Jim and his wife, Donna, have been parishioners of St. John Vianney since they moved from Chicago to Gallatin in 1978. They sang with the choir for several years, and joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 2018, serving primarily as case managers.
Jim says he is honored and blessed because his continuing quest for spiritual growth has led him to be a Fourth Degree member of the Bishop Choby Council of The Knights of Columbus as well as a member of St. Vincent de Paul.
Jim worked as a foreman for Bigelow Rugs and Carpets, then as a supervisor in the calibration lab for Toshiba America before embarking on his IT career. His hobbies include family, music, astronomy, pickleball, and meeting and helping people,
Tom Nicholson
Prison Ministry / Job Opportunity Chair
Graduated from the University of West Florida with BA degrees in Industrial Engineering and Computer Systems Science.
Tom Nicholson
Prison Ministry / Job Opportunity Chair
Graduated from the University of West Florida with BA degrees in Industrial Engineering and Computer Systems Science. Spent 22 years with Electronic Data Systems and 11 years with IBM focusing on Process Engineering, Computer Systems Solutions and New/Existing Customer Account Management for many fortune 500 companies. Developed the company’s first Transition Management Training Program with the purpose of strengthening the skills of existing Customer Account Managers.
Joined the SVdeP Saint John Vianney Conference in 2011 as the Spiritual Advisor for our SVdeP members and those clients that need support. In 2013 started the exceptionally rewarding Prison Ministry effort for SVdeP in the Sumner County Jail.