Casa de Peregrinos

George Miller-Chairperson

            George Miller served as a US Army Engineer at White Sands Missile Range for 37 years. He was on the Las Cruces City Commission (Council) for four years, founded the Southern Rio Grande COG for seven countries, and at the request for Henry Kissinger, was on the US Commission UNESCO for two years. He was a major player in the development of the city’s Community of Hope and now serves as a liaison from the Casa De Peregrinos to the COH Board. George helped the entire Community of Hope obtain federal and state funding by working through our Senator Domenici; he continues to play a vital role in obtaining funding. In addition, he volunteers as a client interviewer.  

Tom Packard- Vice Chairperson

Retired pediatrician (10 years in group practice, 15 in solo rural practice plus 15 years as traveling locum tenens) moved to Las Cruces in 2002, active volunteer for Chihuahua Desert Nature Park (Now the Institute for Science education), Southwest environmental center on planning committee on the river/for the river and raft the river events, mentor and sex education instructor, for J. Paul Taylor Juvenile Justice center, active on several committees at the Unitarian Universalist  Church of Las Cruces. Volunteer at Casa de Peregrinos and new member of the board.

Richard Miernyk-Secretary

            Dick Miernyk was the manager for Corporate Reliability and Compliance for Navistar International in Indiana. In that capacity, he was responsible for four departments and the company’s relation with the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He is past president of the American Association of Parliamentarians, Northern Indiana Chapter. He was a volunteer for 15 years at St. Vincent de Paul Society in Indiana.  He is an officer and board member of several organizations in Las Cruces, is a member of the Pastoral Council and is involved with La Bodega food bank at St. Albert’s Newman Parish. He works on the acquisition of food for Casa de Peregrinos and has spent a considerable amount of time researching food bank operations in New Mexico.

Barbara Head-Treasurer

            Barbara Head works as a CPA for Ebbs, Roberts and Co.   She recently served asTreasurer of the Board for the American Red Cross.   She does the Casa’s monthly reconciliations and helps prepare the budget.

Rebeca Renteria-Executive Director

Rebeca Renteria has been at Casa De Peregrinos for ten years. She has worked in every job in Casa and has an intimate knowledge of its operation. She manages the operation of Casa from working with the clients to financially running the operation. She has maintained good relations with the Board, the volunteers, the clients and other staff. The Casa de Peregrinos operation runs smoothly with her at the helm. By the By-Laws, she is a non-voting member of the Board.

Michael A.E. Hughes-Board Member

           Mike Hughes was a Board member for International Strategy for Xerox in Europe, and Vice President for Marketing and Technical Service for Xerox in the US. He is Chairman of the Board of HSR, an archaeology firm; President of the Country Archaeological Society; President of Strata, Inc., a planning consultancy, and he leads the social action committee of his church. In that capacity, he has done a great deal for Casa de Peregrinos, especially inspiring church members to volunteer. He has spent a considerable amount of time researching food bank operations in New Mexico.

Joyce L. Campbell-Layman - Board Member