Gary Carlson, PhD  presents workshops and lectures on Sage-ing and Conscious Aging.  He is a founding member of the Conscious Aging Network of New Mexico, served on the Board of the Spiritual Eldering Institute, and is a leader of Sage-ing International (SI), a professional group for Sage-ing Leaders.  Gary  has received the first Reb Zalman Leadership Award, the Pioneer Award and been made a member of the Council of Honored Sages, all honors presented by SI.  Gary retired twenty years ago after a 31-year career as a research scientist and technical manager.  For over 25 years, he has participated as a leader and participant in human potential activities, including many New Mexico Men’s Wellness conferences, six New Mexico Conferences on Aging and various other local and national conferences.  Gary is currently Treasurer of CAN-NM.

Susan Benjamin, MS has resided at Los Alamos, NM since 1973. Raised in NYC, she earned a bachelor’s degree in child development from Cornell University and a master’s in education from Tufts University. She had a long career in classroom teaching from 1968 – 2004. She was honored as 2002 NM State Teacher-of-the-Year for her lifetime educator achievements. In addition, she has been a distinguished workshop facilitator in math and science education since 1992, serving teachers nationally and within NM.

Inspired by a weekend workshop by Reb Zalman Schachter-Salomi, Susan has been active in Conscious Aging since the mid-1990s. She helped found the “Breakfast of Elders” monthly wisdom group in Los Alamos. She has helped facilitate several sessions for this group. Susan serves on the CAN-NM  Steering Committee. She has enjoyed participating, presenting and sharing hospitality in Sage-ing International Conferences .

She enjoys grand-parenting, hiking, travel and theater with her husband Robert. Susan facilitates the only Multiple Myeloma Support group in New Mexico.

Other members of the CAN-NM Steering Committee are Susanne Hays, chair, Cori Hetzel and K. C. (Casey) Spivey.