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2026 Board of Trustees Nominees

Michelle Takes, Susan Liddell, and Kevin Krumvieda
Scroll to see all candidate bios.

There are THREE open seats on the Board of Trustees. You can still self-nominate until January 10, 2026. You must be an active member of UCR. Email office@unitycr.org or contact one of the four members of the nominations team: Rachel Pennel, Glady McMellor, Brian Mahon, or Paula Land.

Michelle Takes

Michelle Takes

What spiritual gifts and talents do you think you can bring to the board of trustees?
Intuition, empathy, compassion, love, authenticity, healing.

What is your primary reason for wanting to serve on the board of trustees?
To answer the call from other members and from God to assist our community in spiritual growth.

What leadership qualifications do you feel you can bring to the board of trustees?
Certification in servant leadership, charge/lead nurse, past entrepreneurial experience, and current president on nonprofit cancer foundation.

What ministries do you currently serve on (or have you served) at Unity CR? What was
your role? What did you bring to that ministry?
Most recent helped with the grounds and the outreach ministry just a couple times; in the past helped with bringing healing sessions, drum circles, and various classes throughout the years. I served as both participant and facilitator, bringing either new ideas or just being an extra set of hands.

What Unity classes or discussions have you participated in?
Most recent are membership class, 15 commitments of conscious leadership, prayer ties demonstrations, peace day, but many classes and events throughout the years.

Bio
Currently, my profession is a hospice nurse at UnityPoint, with past experience as a charge nurse on a med/surg floor. I have a master’s degree in nursing and certifications in holistic nursing and death doula training. Prior to becoming a nurse, I was a massage therapist with certifications in Reiki, Healing Touch, and Shamanism. I started and owned Illuminations, where I managed a storefront, practitioners, classes, and events, as well as
doing readings, healings, and massages. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, which led me to sell Illuminations to focus on my healing, which ultimately brought me to my nursing career.

The leadership models that I have had the most training and experience in are servant leadership and sacred activism. These principles are the foundation of my leadership style. I have been a leader in my nursing career, in owning a business, and as a president on another nonprofit board for cancer patients. I believe in serving with love and compassion, with giving everyone a voice, especially the marginalized, creating solidarity and inclusion, and serving others so that they too will become authentic leaders. I feel that my life purpose is to alleviate suffering, with God guiding my path on where, when, and how to do that.

I have been a part of Unity Center in various ways since 2000. My mother first invited me to attend a service, and then together we would do drum circles, healing circles, and various spiritual classes. I participated on and off since then in different roles, until my mother passed away, which brought me back to Unity Center for her celebration of life. This made me realize how much I missed a spiritual community and knew that I had come back home.

My intention for UCR and board service is to engage with my full, authentic self, sharing my gifts and love of service, and to participate in a community where love and spiritual growth occur. I hope to bring forth unique energy that expands on our social justice programs, grows our community, and upholds our mission and purpose.

Susan Liddell

1. What spiritual gifts and talents do you think you can bring to the Board of Trustees?

  • A prayerful consciousness rooted in gratitude
  • An ability to lead and nurture other leaders
  • An ability to create connections and community.
  • A commitment to ensuring all are seen, heard and appreciated in an intentionally
    created welcoming environment.
  • Optimism, patience, humor
  • Historical insight and knowledge of UCR.

2. What is your primary reason for wanting to serve on the Board of Trustees?

  • To provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the Board of Trustees
  • A desire to be an active and contributing participant in the creation of a thriving, healthy “ministry led” spiritual community.
  • To represent the LULs to the Board of Trustees

3. What leadership qualifications do you feel you can bring to the Board of Trustees?

  • A Strong listener
  • The ability to mentor, support and encourage others as they grow personally and spiritually
  • To aspire to always be accountable for my actions
  • To exercise my ability to speak my Truth
  • To aspire to always know the Divinity and Divine Potential of all no matter the outward appearance.

4. What ministries do you currently serve on (or have you served) at Unity CR? What was
your role and what did you bring to that ministry?

  • Currently serve on the Board of Trustees [edited to add: non-voting member]
  • Safety and Security – Team Lead. Collaboration with other leaders, creative ideas.
  • Spiritual Care Team – A prayer presence
  • Exploring Unity – Team Lead Coordination of bi-annual event
  • UCR Bookstore Library – Bookstore Team Member. Organization of library

5. What Unity classes or discussions have you participated in?

  • Taught classes: Love Languages, Five Principles, Eye of the Storm, Finding Yourself in Transition
  • Classes attended:  Have attended many classes, book studies, leadership retreats, small group discussions since 2001.

Bio

  • Licensed in 2009 as a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUL). Pastoral Care emphasis
    • Taught classes (See above)
    • Provided Spiritual care
    • Pastoral care (i.e. hospital visits)
    • Special Services
    • Prayer room
  • Served / Serving in many Leadership roles, including Board Service, Ministry Team Leads and have been involved with numerous ministries, most recently, Safety and Security and Spiritual Care Team.
  • Served six year term as the Licensed Unity Teacher Representative to the Unity Great Lakes Region
  • Professional Experience
    • BA Social Work
    • 39 years with Linn County in various Social Work-related positions
    • Coursework completed for Master’s in Counseling
    • Spiritual Director 2028 Franciscan Spirituality Center, LaCrosse WI
    • Ser two terms as Vice President CR Pride
    • Assist with Tanager LGBTQ Center Parent group
    • Creator and Facilitator of the Welcoming and Affirming Congregations group
    • Participant in the Linn County Inter-Religious Council
  • Leadership Qualifications
    • I have the ability to create connection between people, organizations and entities.
    • I have the ability to mentor others
    • I have the ability to listen from my heart
    • I have the ability to create new ideas, carry them out and invite others to also participate in the plan
    • I have the ability to be patient, to let the process unfold.

Your intentions for UCR and Board Service

  • To create and support a space where Unity Principles are evident in all interactions
  • To create and support a space where all voices are heard and received at all times with love, patience and kindness.
  • To co-create a thriving, healthy spiritual community

Kevin Krumvieda

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
UCR Board of Trustees Application

My spiritual journey began back in 1971 when I met my partner in life, Barbara. She invited me to attend church with her. I asked her if she would continue to date me if I declined, and she said yes. This act of acceptance piqued my curiosity, and I agreed to attend. At my inaugural Sunday service at the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church, I met the Rev. Michael Cooney, a quite advanced spiritual being. Rev. Cooney trained at Garret Seminary in Chicago, IL and was a student of the great humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers. Barb’s acceptance, Rev. Cooney’s spiritual guidance, and the wonderfully welcoming and warm congregation led me to a new path, one that I’ve followed to this day. I served this religious community as a youth minister. Barb, Corrine and I moved to Montana, where we were told about a Unity center in Great Falls. We attended that center until we returned to San Diego and attended the Unity Center San Diego where the Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell was (and still is) the minister. When we came to Iowa we first attended the Unity Center of Des Moines, then Unity of Fairfield (where I worked on the grounds and served on the ministerial search committee). We were drawn to the Unity Center of Cedar Rapids in January of 2007 and joined in April of 2008. Since joining this wonderful, warm, open and talented community, Barb and I have contributed our time, treasure and talents in many ways. Barb sings in the choir. She served on the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2018. She has served on several ministries (e.g., Youth, Brunch). Together we served several meals to the congregation and participated in several activities (e.g., cleaning, grounds). I currently serve on the Audio/Visual, Grounds, and Building Maintenance Ministries.  I served on the Property Improvement Task Force and Ministerial Search Committee (2018-19. I’ve also volunteered my time on several occasions (e.g., help clean, paint, minor repairs). I’ve participated in several Unity classes and discussions.  I am concluding my first three-year term on the Board of Trustees where I served two years as Secretary and one year as President.  I volunteered to serve a second three-year term on the Board.

I’m a long-time member of Lions International and have held leadership roles in that organization. I held leadership positions in the Iowa Psychological Association (Executive Council for seven years) and served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Psychological Foundation.

I am honored to serve a second term on the UCR Board of Trustees. If elected, my intention is to continue to bring my spiritual and leadership experience to the service of this loving community.