Board of Directors
Tammy Dyer
Founding Member, Teacher Emeritus
Board Member
Tammy was trained as a licensed clinical social worker and worked as a mental health counselor for 20 years. She began attending meditation retreats in 2002 and founded what is now Insight Meditation Fort Wayne (IMFW) in 2004. Along with the Board of Directors, she helped find and renovate the current building of Sangha House at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, which was dedicated on June 3, 2018.
Tammy graduated from CDLP4 (Community Dharma Leadership Program), sponsored by Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Center in 2010. CDL is a training program for committed Dharma practitioners for leadership in their spiritual communities.
“I have sat retreats with Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzburg, Jack Kornfield, Gina Sharpe, Gil Fronsdal, and many others who are elders in the Insight tradition. My guiding teacher for the last eight years has been Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia to whom I offer deep gratitude for her support and guidance as I navigate the path of practice.”
Drew Consalvo
Guiding Teacher
Board Member
“As guiding teacher at IMFW, I tend to focus primarily on the practical applications of the Buddha’s teachings. My talks tend to be in rhythm with my own practice and are a reflection of the constantly changing nature of that practice. What I most love about leading a Sangha is seeing students become dedicated to their own practice and liberation. As yogis begin to understand that personal freedom is possible and begin to light up within, it inspires me to deepen my own practice and path for liberation.”
Drew has been studying Buddhism since the early 1990’s and is a student of the Pali Canon. Although largely an autodidact, Drew has studied with many of the leading teachers in the Western Theravada Buddhist lineage at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and elsewhere around the country. Drew has been a member of the sangha now known as Insight Meditation Fort Wayne since 2009 and has been teaching since 2015. Drew’s talks are rooted in his exploration and investigation of meditation and the Buddhist teachings found in the ancient scriptures.
Drew chooses to serve on the Board of Directors for Insight Meditation Fort Wayne as a way of giving back to the Sangha which he holds dear while helping to promote its mission in which he believes strongly.
Deb O’Kelly
President
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPRH), retired from Navistar, Fort Wayne, In.
I served six years as a member and then a chairperson on the Coordinating Panel for the Center for Nonviolence, Fort Wayne.
I believe in the transformative path that is taught here, in a spirit of acceptance and community. IMFW offers people a safe and open place to learn and practice meditation and a better way to live and interact in this world. I serve on this board because I believe we offer a valuable opportunity for change to the community of Fort Wayne.
Dora Rogers
Secretary
I came to Buddhism following an interest in the practice of meditation as a young adult. Studying various types of meditation led me to the writings of many Buddhist authors, and with my background in psychology, I became intrigued with how Buddhist teachings mesh with our current western understanding of the mind. It is through my practice that I’ve come to appreciate the benefits of meditation and the Dharma.
I welcome with an open heart the invitation to serve on the board of IMFW, and it is an honor to learn and grow alongside so many kind and knowledgeable people.
Monica Cardenas
Treasurer
I started my meditation and mindfulness journey over 10 years ago, just out of curiosity and wonder, using phone apps, reading books, and trying to immerse myself in it as much as I was able to at that time.
During the pandemic, a lot of other resources previously unavailable, became attainable with the touch of a zoom button, attending online training, webinars, meetings, etc., a new world of learning opportunities became available, and I took full advantage of it and enjoyed every minute of it.
Few years later, I stumbled upon Insight Meditation Fort Wayne… there it was! right in my backyard and I didn’t even know!
Learning about Buddhist practices from the great teachers at IMFW has come full circle for me, my spiritual, psychological and Buddhist beliefs all now mesh and intertwine together allowing me to more fully and gracefully offer peace, lovingkindness, and compassion to all beings, including myself.
As my journey continues, I will continue to teach my thoughts to “take the back seat”, while I enjoy this beautiful ride called life!
Josh Smith
Board Member
It all started when one day I picked “Buddha in Standard Time” by Lama Surya Das. This was the first book I had ever read, from cover to cover, in my life. My life up until that point was filled with dread and darkness. While I had good days, when the bad days came they were dark and immensely overpowering. I would numb myself with sleep to turn off the thoughts and feelings. So my introduction to Buddhism was not a coincidence, it was me desperately trying to find a better way to live.
I found self examination, investigation and truth through my actual lived experience rather than through dogma. This practical yet profound new view on life has given me the courage to be with the dark times now rather than sleeping them away. If only I knew how far this path would take me; I would have never thought I would be a part of a sangha let alone a board member. I honestly don’t know if my journey would’ve gone any further than reading a book if it wasn’t for IMFW. So with that being said, I owe a great debt of gratitude to IMFW and it is my honor to be serving as a board member.
Matthew Katinsky
Board Member
Matthew runs the IMFW web site and sends out the monthly newsletter. He was first exposed to Buddhism in the late 1980s when a friend lent him a copy of "Beginning To See" by Sujata. He spent decades dipping his toes into Zen Buddhism, and he is grateful to the IMFW sangha for exposing him to Theravadan traditions and helping him build a more consistent practice.