| Board of Directors |
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OfficersMarie Meakin, RN: President; Board member since 2008 Marie is a Registered Nurse, childbirth educator and doula. She graduated from the University of Maryland School of Nursing with her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1989. Since her graduation, Marie has worked at length with children, pregnant and laboring women. Currently, she is a nurse on a busy labor and delivery unit in Albuquerque and also serves as vice president on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery (FAM). She holds memberships to the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), Doulas of North America (DONA) and the Childbirth and Postpartum Association (CAPPA). Marie is also persuing her certification of midwifery. Abigail Lanin Eaves, CNM: Founder, Vice President and Executive Director; Board member since 2007 Abigail is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). She received her Bachelor's in nursing with honors in 2000 and Master's degree in nursing with a concentration in nurse-midwifery in 2002, both from the University of New Mexico. Since graduating, she has worked as a full scope Certified Nurse-Midwife with ABQ Health Partners and Lovelace Women's Hospital where she provided well-woman care, prenatal care, attended normal and complicated vaginal births, and worked in collaboration with physician colleagues to care for high-risk women. Once FCM is open and offering care to women, she will be one of the lead nurse-midwives working at the center. She holds memberships to the American College of Nurse-Midwives(ACNM), American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. Chris Jacobsen, CPA: Treasurer; Board member since 2008 Chris is a retired Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He received his BBA degree with honors from Kent State University in 1970 with a major in accounting. He has had extensive experience in finance, as well as business start-up. His many professional accomplishments include practicing as a CPA in Arizona, being chief financial officer for several different companies, and creating and managing Winning Coffee Company, which he subsequently sold five years later. He still acts as the company's accountant and general business advisor and prepares their payroll, all financial statements and works closely with the company's CPA to prepare their annual tax returns. Chris is also a non-medical caregiver for senior citizens with dementia and works for a company called Home Instead. He was awarded the "Caregiver of the Year" award in 2006. Shelley Black, CHt: Secretary; Board member since 2008 Shelley is a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CHt). She received her BA in English from the University of New Mexico in 1997 and received her certification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist in 2007. She owns her own business, Perspectives Hypnotherapy. She provides therapeutic hypnosis for a wide range of clients and specializes in providing hypnosis for pregnant women in order to manage anxiety, pain and minor complications that can be associated with childbirth. As the owner of the business, she also manages aspects such as finances, marketing, scheduling and client relations. Additionally, Shelley has a variety of business experiences, including as customer service supervisor for Kendall-Jackson Wines and many years of editing experience for several companies. Board MembersHollyJean Encinias; Board member since 2009 Holly is a fitness instructor with a specialty in women’s fitness, specifically pregnant women and postpartum mothers. She was the regional director of PregnaFit, a program that serves a local fitness club in Albuquerque. She is also a group fitness instructor and teaches prenatal and postnatal yoga, prenatal aquatics, low-impact conditioning and a stroller strength class where mothers can bring their young children in order to exercise. She was also in charge of the marketing for the PregnaFit program and has an extensive network within Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. She is a native of New Mexico and attended Central New Mexico Community College where she earned a major in the Fitness Technician Program. She has received national certifications in group fitness, personal training and pre-and postnatal fitness. She is currently working on a nursing degree and is interested in directing FCM fundraising programs. Frank Durcan, MD; Board member since 2009 Frank is a retired Ob/Gyn doctor who received his degree from University College in Dublin, Ireland in 1967. He came to the United States shortly thereafter and completed his internship and residency at Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. He became a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1978. He was a private practice physician between 1971-2005. He moved to Albuquerque after he retired and joined our board because of his "continued interest in the evolution of obstetrical care and expanding choices to pregnant women in their decision on a birthing experience." He also volunteers in the public schools as a reader. Jessica Eaves Mathews, Attorney; Board member since 2010 Jessica is the Principal of Eaves Mathews, PLLC, a boutique law firm that provides legal services in a wide variety of business transaction and litigation matters, real estate, art and equine law. For the past 14 years and before moving back to Albuquerque, Jessica practiced in Seattle as a business lawyer, advising businesses on a variety of matters including business entity formation, commercial real estate issues, purchase and sale issues, distribution issues and intellectual property and copyright issues. In addition, she advises, drafts and negotiates various business contracts including construction contracts, distribution agreements, purchase and sale agreements and commercial leases. She has extensive experience with business and commercial litigation including the areas of contracts, employment law, non-disclosure agreements, wage disputes, sexual harassment, securities fraud, intellectual property piracy and antitrust. She has specifically worked with owners of closely held businesses and partnerships in structuring their businesses, drafting and negotiating contracts, and as an advocate in partnership and corporate disputes. In 2001 and 2002, Jessica was chosen by her peers as a Washington Law and Politics "Rising Star" which honors the top five percent of attorneys in the State of Washington under the age of 40. She also served for two years as an Adjunct Professor of Art and Cultural Property Law for Seattle University School of Law. Jessica has been a founding member of two non-profit boards in Seattle, the Seattle Opera Bravo! Club and Bridges International Theatre. Bogdan A. Pathak, Electrical Engineer; Board member since 2010 Bogdan graduated from the University of Kansas with his bachelors of science in electrical engineering in 1999 followed by a bachelors of arts in biology in 2000. He then received his masters in electrical engineering with honors in 2008, also from the University of Kansas. He was the principal research engineer and co-developed the Integrated Ocular Examination Device (IOED) used for certain eye examinations and designed to be taken into rural areas by non-ophthalmology medical professionals. He has a patent pending for the IOED. He currently spends his time between Albuquerque and East Lansing, MI where he is working at the Department of Epidemiology at Michigan State University. His interest in the birth center is from the belief that "current medical thinking about pregnancy, childbirth and women's health needs to be tempered by common sense and as an integrated view of women as individuals experiencing a natural phenomenon, not a 'disease state'." If you are interested in knowing more about our board of directors or if you would like to serve on our board, please email Abigail. |