Our Team

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Erin Tarica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of experience working in the field of aging, social services, and program development.  As a caregiver for her mom and other family members, she understands the complexity, struggle, and beauty of providing care for people she loves.  Her dream of building a nonprofit for family caregivers grew from these personal experiences and her career working with those who are ill, aging, dying, and bereaved. Most recently, Erin was the Director of the Jewish Care Program, the Jewish social services for the state of New Mexico.  She has master’s degrees in Social Work and Jewish Communal Service from University of Southern California and Hebrew Union College.

CARE NAVIGATOR

Bethany put herself through school as a professional caregiver, and this work eventually evolved into well over a decade of facilitating holistic well-being and meditation programming for older adults and people facing cancer in Oakland, CA. She is a cancer survivor/thriver, herself, and understands intimately the complexity and deep humanity that caring for one another in this modern era entails. She holds a BA in Sociology from Mills College with an emphasis on death and dying studies, and an MA from Dartington Arts in the UK, where she studied story and poetry. Bethany has been a care coordinator for the past five years, and is honored to be of service to family caregivers as the Care Navigator at FCCNM. Bethany maintains devoted practices of yoga, walking, and being a bookworm. She loves exploring the land of New Mexico, and her connection to the desert's beauty deepens every day.

CARE NAVIGATOR/PROGRAM MANAGER

Dana Howarth was born and raised in New Mexico, so she holds deep ties to the community. She has been working in the nonprofit field for almost a decade, and truly has a passion for mission-driven work. She previously worked as the Deputy Director of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, where she engaged with caregivers across the state. As a family caregiver herself, Dana understands that family caregivers are constantly in a balancing act in their lives. She is honored to be a part of FCCNM team as the new Care Navigator/Program Manager. She holds a Bachelors in Family Studies and a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Jean moved to New Mexico from Illinois in 1989. She practiced law at Modrall Sperling Law Firm and the Sutin Law Firm before joining UNM in 1995, where she became the Senior Associate University Counsel. She advised the University on all matters related to faculty and staff employment. In 2009 she joined German*Burnette Law Firm as “Of Counsel” where she continues to practice part-time. She is a frequent presenter at conferences for Higher Education on faculty and staff employment issues. Jean, her three children and her ”village” loved, laughed with and cared for her husband Doug Schneebeck during his seven year journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Having been blessed with a happy heart, Jean continues to enjoy life and her children and precious granddaughters. She enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Andrew Gans, MPH has lived in New Mexico for over 20 years. With over 30 years of experience in public health, he has worked for the New Mexico Department of Health since 2007, currently serving as the Infectious Disease Bureau Chief. Andrew previously worked as an independent consultant to over 25 non-profit organizations that deliver health programs, social services and educational services in New Mexico and California. Andrew has served on several non-profit Boards in New Mexico, including as founding co-chair of Casa Q, a residence for LGBTQ teens, and as a Board member and chair of the Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico and Solomon Schechter Day School. He and his husband Ronnie Chavez have plenty of parenting practice with 35 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Both Andew and Ronnie have experience in family caregiving for older generations in their families.

BOARD PRESIDENT

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Math from the University of Oklahoma, Ellen Goldstein was an actuarial analyst for top benefits consulting firms in Dallas. She moved to Albuquerque in 1996, and worked for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, performing compliance work for their pension plans. Since retiring, Ellen has had the opportunity to be involved in the community through volunteerism and activism. She participated in the planning and staging of the first New Mexico Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic, providing over $1 million of free dental services to those in need. She has volunteered with numerous non-profits and political campaigns, and served on the boards of Congregation Albert and Jewish Family Services. She enjoys playing tennis and coaching a high school team. She is grateful for the opportunity to have been a family caregiver for her father in his final years and is honored to be part of the Family Caregiver Center in his memory.

BOARD SECRETARY

Samantha Morales is based in Albuquerque and joined the board of the Family Caregiver Center in the fall of 2022. Samantha is currently a Senior Policy Advocate at Justice in Aging, a national nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance initiatives that improve equitable access to essential benefits for low-income older adults enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Samantha brings over 10 years of experience serving older adults in public service in the non-profit sector notably at the Medicare Rights Center and in state government at the New Mexico Aging and Long-term Services Department. Prior to joining Justice in Aging, Samantha served as the Director of the Home Health Care program at Encuentro, a community-based organization serving the Spanish speaking immigrant community in Albuquerque. Samantha holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Arts degree in Politics from the New School University in New York.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Sherwin Price is a seasoned healthcare leader with a passion for improving the lives of others through the delivery of exceptional healthcare services. As Vice President of Specialty Services at Presbyterian Health Services, he oversees a team dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to patients. A native New Mexican, Sherwin brings a deep understanding of the community's needs to his role. After completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology at The University of New Mexico, Sherwin then earned his Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) from the University of New Mexico, solidifying his commitment to the field. Throughout his career, Sherwin has championed innovative approaches to healthcare delivery. He is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) with extensive experience in family and couple’s therapy. Beyond his professional pursuits, Sherwin is passionate about his two children and his love for martial arts.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Sarah Winger is the Director of CareLink Services at UNMH and oversees the Adult and Pediatric CareLink Teams, multiple SAMHSA grants, and numerous Psychiatric Center initiatives. As a native south westerner, Sarah spent her childhood in Santa Fe before attending New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell for her high school education. Sarah studied Psychology and Human Resource Management at Northern Arizona University, then went on to earn her master's degree in counseling from Adler Graduate School in Minnesota. Since Sarah returned to the Land of Enchantment in 2012, she has dedicated her career to improving the access, availability, and quality of mental health services in our community. Sarah is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and has a master's degree in health administration from the University of New Mexico. Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors cycling, hiking, fishing, and loves traveling and exploring the world.

ADVISOR

Joanna Colangelo is the Principal of Razem Worldwide, a community impact, economic development and strategic philanthropy firm that focuses on investing and leveraging philanthropic resources to help communities build from within. Before founding Razem, Joanna served as Vice President of Community Impact at the Albuquerque Community Foundation where she oversaw nearly $5M of grants annually through the Foundation’s various grant programs, including leading the Foundation’s multiple COVID-19 emergency response efforts. During her tenure, she developed grant programs with local and national funders including, McCune Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, The Obama Foundation/My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and Facebook. In addition to her community work, Joanna is a writer whose essays have appeared regularly in the Huffington Post and the Columbia University Journal of American Studies.