CONTACT US!
Fill out the form below to contact our office staff and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call our office at (985) 951-2215.
Click here to meet our staff!
Click here to meet our Board of Directors!
Click here to meet our staff!
Click here to meet our Board of Directors!
OUR STAFF
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BRIAN BUTLER
Executive Director brian@echocommunity.us Brian is executive director and co-founder of Echo Community, which cultivates chastity and authentic masculinity and femininity with teens, young adults and families via the lens of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Brian has authored several books and programs, including “YOU: Life, Love & Theology of the Body.” He has produced numerous initiatives as part of the New Evangelization, including the original productions of GARDEN, the musical. He is the founder of a dynamic retreat for teens and young adults called ECHO, and his latest book is entitled GARDEN Meditations. Brian’s bachelor’s degree is in Communications and he holds a Masters in Theology. He has 20+ years of ministry experience at the parish, school, diocesan and non-profit levels, and is a popular speaker and trainer around the country. Brian enjoys music, sports, the outdoors, and spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. |
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ADAM FUSELIER
Managing Director adam@echocommunity.us Adam has been with the Echo Community team since 2013. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Ave Maria University in 2011, and he completed his Master's degree in Theology at the Augustine Institute in August 2018. He served at AMU for two years as a Residence Director and as Coordinator of Student Activities, overseeing all student-led clubs, ministries, and apostolates before moving to Louisiana to work with Echo Community. He enjoys spending time outdoors, long-distance running, and copious amounts of coffee. He has a passion for living in the heart of the Church and inviting others into relationship with Jesus Christ. Adam is very grateful to God for the gift of serving on such an awesome team with Echo Community and looks forward to all that God has in store. |
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JANET HOWELL
Office Manager janet@echocommunity.us Janet comes from a background of 20 + years of working in the corporate world as a Weapons Contract Analyst, Fleet Logistics Manager, and Wedding Coordinator. With this background, it may seem like a crazy fit for Echo Community, but she's excited to utilize all of her gifts she's acquired along the way to serve this ministry. From discovering more about the gift of the Theology of the Body, to working with the team, and being empowered in her vocation as a wife and mother, Janet is excited to see what more God has in store! Janet lives in Mandeville, Louisiana with her husband, Tim, and two children. |
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RITA GERNON
Creative Outreach rita@echocommunity.us Rita joined the staff in 2020 after 7 years of partnering with Echo Community - from serving at ECHO retreats, to directing the summer missionary program, and providing music for parish missions. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Southeastern Louisiana University and over ten years of experience leading worship and speaking, both nationally and internationally. She’s written, recorded, and released 2 albums. She has also collaborated with other Catholic artists on collective recordings and is a founding artist of NOVUM Records. Rita enjoys the cozier things in life - a cup of freshly roasted coffee, flipping through magazines of beautiful houses, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Rita lives in the Houma-Thibodaux area with her husband, Roch. |
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LISA BUTLER
Administrative Assistant lisa@echocommunity.us Lisa is first and foremost, a daughter of God the Father, then the wife of Brian, (our Executive Director), mother to four wonderful children, and just began an official job as staff support in December of 2022; although, she has served the ministry in many varied capacities since its beginning. She uses her God-given gifts to assist wherever possible. Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University. She has a passion for serving and is happy to silently work behind the scenes. Lisa loves sports, board games, great movies, cooking, reading, especially if it’s a Michael O’Brien novel, and spending time with family and friends. |
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ROB STAMPER
Director of Young Adult Outreach Rob is the Director of Young Adult Outreach for Echo Community. Rob, his beautiful bride Lauren, and son James moved to join the Echo Community from Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining the team, Rob worked for the Ruah Woods Institute bringing Theology of the Body curriculum and formation to Catholic schools across the United States and world. Before that, he worked in a regional young adult ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington DC, became certified as a high school English teacher, and tried his best to fix aircraft while serving in the US Marine Corps. Rob loves spending every moment he can with his family, being outdoors, and reading a good book. His greatest joy in ministry is helping people understand that every encounter with another person is an encounter with Christ and that every time we meet someone for the first time should be a great joy because that is hopefully the start of an eternal relationship with them. How cool is that!? Rob looks forward to serving the young adults on the North Shore for years to come! |
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MATTHEW LACOUR
Financial Assistant After a life-changing experience serving as a summer missionary with Echo Community in 2022, Matthew is super excited to join the team and help Echo Community continue to further its mission in building "mini civilizations of love" through its work with Theology of the Body. He is grateful for all that the Lord has given to him through this community and the people in it and is looking forward to giving back to both in any way he can. A lifelong resident of Louisiana, Matthew graduated from Jesuit High School in 2019 as a co-valedictorian. He will graduate in May 2023 from the University of Dallas with a bachelor's degree in Classics. He enjoys the outdoors, reading, studying languages, and spending time with his friends and family. |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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JORDAN HADDAD, Ph.D.
Jordan Haddad, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology and the Director of Lay Ministry Programs and Lay Formation at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA. In addition to his role at NDS, he is also a Co-Founder and Co-Director of The St. Louis IX Art Society, a Scholar Associate of the Society of Catholic Scientists, and the Director of Lay Formation and Parish Renewal at Divine Mercy Parish in Kenner, LA. He has previously served as an assistant campus minister at Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, LA, and a theology teacher at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. Jordan met his wife, Shannon, at ECHO in Summer 2012, and has benefited tremendously from the ministry of Echo Community ever since. He currently lives in Kenner, LA, with his wife, Shannon, and their two daughters, Lily and Elizabeth. |
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DAVID CUSIMANO
David Cusimano has been working for over twenty years with small and middle-market private companies in capacities ranging from entrepreneur to middle-market investment banker and M&A advisor. He has led numerous business value growth, M&A, valuation, financial analysis, and CFO engagements. David sees business as a calling through which we get the chance to live the Gospel in our ordinary lives. He has enjoyed teaching several college level courses in economics and business and leading the financial modules of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. David holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, an M.A. in Economics from University of Texas at Arlington, and an M.B.A. with finance and international business concentrations from Tulane University. |
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JEREMY CALL
Jeremy Call is an associate with the Law Offices of Treadaway Bollinger, in Covington, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School and received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University, where he majored in Accounting with a specialization in Internal Auditing, and minored in Political Science. Jeremy received his Juris Doctorate degree and Diploma in Comparative Law from the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law Center. He is a fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. Prior to joining Treadaway Bollinger, Jeremy was privileged to serve as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge Ralph Tureau for the 23rd Judicial District of Louisiana. Jeremy is the husband of Sarah Call, and the father of three Holy Family students. In addition to being an Echo Community board member, he also serves as the Vice President for the Board of Directors of the Holy Family Homeschool Apostolate. |
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JEREMY REUTHER
Jeremy Reuther is the Assistant to the President for Mission at Jesuit High School, working with faculty and staff on curriculum and Catholic identity. He has been with Jesuit for 16 years serving as a theology teacher, campus minister, department chair, and communications director. Jeremy lives in New Orleans with his wife Kate and their three children, Charles, Julia, and Michael. Jeremy serves as Vice President of Echo Community’s Board of Directors. |
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YVETTE LACOUR
Yvette LaCour joined the Board of Echo Community in January of 2022. Yvette served as the Director of Development at Notre Dame Seminary from 2010 until 2021, managing all aspects of fundraising for the seminary including grants, events, annual fund, campaigns, alumni relations, etc. She is currently managing a family business. Yvette has served as a volunteer with the Louisiana Youth Seminar Board of Directors, the Catholic Women in Action committee of the Catholic Community Foundation, the St. Clement of Rome Pastoral Council and School Board, and the Archbishop Chapelle High School Advisory Board. Yvette has been married to her husband, Greg LaCour, for 26 years and they are the parents of five children. |
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KATIE IBARRA
Katie Ibarra is married to Jerome, and also a mom of 4 children, two living and two in heaven. She teaches theology at Dominican High School, an all girls high school in New Orleans. She worked on staff for Echo Community from 2013-2016 and has been so blessed by the ministry both personally and professionally. She is passionate about relational ministry and meeting people in the beautiful mess of their lives! |
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FR. MATTHEW JOHNSTON
Fr. Matthew is currently the pastor of St. Benilde Church in Metairie, La. He was humbled and excited to be asked to walk with Echo Community as God continues to lead us to serve the people of God. Fr. Matthew grew up in Mandeville, attended St. Pauls in Covington, and graduated in 2003. He went to college at Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech before entering the seminary in 2008. He spent two years at St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College and then four years at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained in 2014 and his first assignment was at St. Clement of Rome from 2014-2016. He was then assigned to St. Joan of Arc, where he served as Parochial Vicar from 2016-2019. Finally, he was named pastor of St. Benilde in 2019. In 2015, Fr. Matthew was asked to study Canon Law, completed his degree in 2021, and has been working part time for the Archdiocese as a Canon Lawyer. He is currently in the process of joining the National Guard as a Chaplain and will be serving the military and their family here in New Orleans. |
