“As Programs Vice President, I work with the organization to reinforce the critical nature of its mission and re-engage all leaders in this mission,” he says. “Serrans need to maintain a focus on our critical need for vocations in our Church.”

Mr. Arians has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Wisconsin and earned an MBA from Augsburg College (MN) in 2012. His professional interests include serving as a business consultant for local companies, a USTA tennis umpire, and supplemental insurance agent. He regularly substitutes as a teacher at the Loyola Catholic High School in Mankato, Minnesota. He and his wife Ruth live in Madison Lake, MN, where they are active members of All Saints Catholic Church. They have two children.

Lay Advisory Committee to Des Moines Vocations Director 1999-2003.  Joined Serra 2003.  Offices held in Des Moines Serra Club:  VP Vocations, President, VP Communications.  Chaired two Region 9 Conventions in Des Moines IA: 2005 and 2015.  District Governor for Iowa 2013-2018.  Currently Chair, US Serra Leadership Committee.

President Cozzens

A cradle Catholic and a Catholic college graduate, Judy Cozzens is best known in Serra as the enthusiastic speaker and chairperson for College Connection for Catholics. She is no longer chair, but continues to advise and volunteer for the initiative, now called Newman Connection, which connects high school graduates with the Catholic presence at their college, especially ones that have campus ministry offices.

She is also a frequent speaker at Serra regional conferences on the topics of “Starting Parish Vocation Activities” and “Passing on Our Beautiful Catholic Faith.” Judy was honored as the Outstanding Serran of the Year for District 6 in 2006 and 2010.

Judy has held the offices of Communications and Programs vice president for the Serra Club of Southwest Denver. She is currently a member of the Twin Cities, MN club. She is the a member of USAC’s national Vocations Committee, and was the Vice President for Vocations from 2015-2016.

Judy is a very active volunteer in pro-life ministries and volunteers as support staff for training missionaries at NET Ministries, an organization which evangelizes to young Catholics via retreats, Masses, and other activities targeted to youth.

“My husband and I believe that we have been blessed with good health and time and should use our retirement to give thanks to the Lord and promote His work in our family, our community and our nation,” says Judy.

Last but certainly not least, Judy’s son, Andrew Cozzens, was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Dec. 9, 2013. He succeeds Bishop Peter Christensen as Episcopal Adviser for the USA Council on April 5, 2014. She asks for prayers for him in his new journey.

Anne Roat first encountered Serra in 1992, when she was invited by the chaplain of the Lafayette Serra Club to speak about her ministry as a Director of Religious Education at her parish. The local club was composed mainly of men and later welcomed both single and married women. In 2004, Anne and her husband Bill joined the Lafayette Serra Club. Anne served as a member of the Membership
Committee, Treasurer, Trustee, and member of the Bylaws Committee, while Bill served as President and Treasurer. Anne currently ministers as a Spiritual Director and works as the Adult Faith Formation Coordinator at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Lafayette. She has also been the Director of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana Office of Catechesis, parish Director of Religious Education, and a Catholic School Vice Principal. Anne holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation, and a theology certificate from the University of Notre Dame. Anne and her husband Bill have two adult children, five brilliant grandsons, and one beautiful granddaughter!

In her last two years as District Governor, she concurrently served as USAC’s Program Chair, assisting the Program Committee’s efforts to develop and execute a public relations/marketing plan for the Serrans Called to Holiness manual, conduct research for the development of the Liturgical Calendar and write articles for The Serran magazine.

Aileen received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in English Literature from Humboldt State University.  Her professional career is multi-faceted, having owned a destination marketing/tourism development sales firm and a manufacturing operation that created hand-crafted products designed for military, law enforcement and private citizens. Aileen has also been executive director for the YWCA, advertising director for newspapers and special publications, and development director for a retreat center.

Currently, Aileen is a practicing Secular Franciscan and Advisory Chair for Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church. As owner of Abbas Catholic Bookstore and part-time, licensed pre-need funeral planner and director intern, Aileen continues to work in evangelization, vocation development, retreat ministry and preparation for Eternal Life.

Her favorite past times are spending time with her husband Jim, engaging in daily contemplative prayer, Mass, taking long walks in the woods and canning.

A cradle Catholic, Cocot got her Catholic education from kindergarten through college. She earned a B.S. degree in Foods and Nutrition and is a registered dietitian. She has been a member of Serra since 2010. She has held several positions since she joined Serra. She was VP of Programs (together with her husband Morie), VP of Communications and is currently serving in her third year as Club President. Cocot has been an active parishioner of St. Patrick in Pasco, WA since 1992. She is also a volunteer chaplain, coordinator of the extraordinary Eucharistic ministers in all English Masses, secretary of the Women of St. Patrick, volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul’s clothing division, brings Communion to the homebound, and is a prayer warrior. She has two sons. One is a priest and Vocations Director of the Diocese of Spokane, and the other is an electrical engineer in the Air Force. Cocot and Morie have four grandchildren.

Mark may have been a Serran for only 12 years, but in those 12 years he has recruited 10 new members for his own club and led three different teams to charter three new clubs with a total of 94 members. “Two of the clubs are located in the Grand Island, NE Diocese, where there are more cows than Catholics!” Mark says.

Mark’s business career of over 40 years has focused on outside sales, marketing, and sales management. He owned and operated his own consulting business for 11 years.  Currently he is Senior Sales Associate at Orent Graphics of Omaha Nebraska.   He is a member of the National Speakers Association.

Gino went on to serve as chairman of the Parish Contact Team, club chairman of Vocations Committee, club president, District 51 governor in 2009, chairman of USA Council Vocations Committee in 2010, and USA Council Vice President of Vocations.

In his role as national Vocations vice president, Gino was able to bring Serra’s message to the wider vocations community. “With the assistance of members of the Vocations Committee and the feedback of Serra clubs, I was able to write an article on how parish vocation committees can influence a culture of vocations that was published in the Summer 2013 issue of Horizon Magazine,” he says. “This (magazine) is published quarterly by NRVC, an organization with which Serra has a working relationship in the area of vocation ministry.”

Gino is unmarried and works at St. Rita’s Medical Center as an occupational therapist.

Jerry Biese grew up on a farm near Green Bay WI with four brothers and six sisters.

His degree is in Industrial education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, WI. He was active in the Newman Club and served as president of the local club and was an officer of the region and finished as a national vice president.

Jerry’s career started in a medium security prison as a welding instructor. After a year, he learned of the movement to serve people with disabilities in the community. He served as executive director of a facility in Eau Claire, WI for 17 years and finished as President of Opportunity Partners in Minnetonka, MN for 11 years. Since then he has been doing either financial services and/or Medicare insurance working with individuals age 65 or older.

Jerry married Mary Beth in 1965, having 4 daughters and one son. They now have 21 grandsons and 15 granddaughters, all practicing Catholics.

Jerry’s membership with Serra started in 2006 when he was invited to a meeting by the late Mike Pohlen. Serving as President soon followed, the District Governor position followed and then a few terms as the District Treasurer of District 7 of Region 8.

Morie served on the Filipino American Association of Tri-Cities as president for four years, led a charismatic prayer group, and is a Knight of Columbus’ past Deputy Grand Knight. He was active in Boy Scouts of America until both of his sons became Eagle scouts. He had also been a Board member of the local college prep high school. Morie is an active member of St. Patrick Church in Pasco, WA where he and his wife serve as Extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, help in marriage prep, and is a volunteer hospital chaplain. Morie is a member of the parish council and a cantor in the choir.

Morie earned a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Central Colleges of the Philippines.

Greg joined Serra in 1983, in his longtime home Omaha, Nebraska.  He served in numerous capacities at the club level for many years until 1999-2000 when he served as club president.  His commitment to the Omaha club continued for six years at the board level until 2005. 

Subsequent Serra Leadership positions included,  District  9 W governor,  9 W,   USA Council Region 9 Director, USA Council Board Member, Trustee Serra International Board, Vice President of Vocations Serra International board, USA Council Vice President of Communications,

Additional responsibilities:  SI and USA Council Dialog committee representing Serra International;  Current Member of Combined Administrative Office (CAO) Committee; SI Audit Committee for three years; USA Council Audit Committee, 2014; Chairman, Long Range Planning Committee – USA Council.

Greg and his wife, Mary Lynn, have been married for over 40 years and have three grown children.  They have been long time members of St. Leo the Great Parish in Omaha.  Greg and Mary Lynn were active for over 30 years in TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreats in Omaha, and served on the national leadership team for over 10 years. Greg recently retired as president of L&M Construction Chemicals, an international, family-owned company which manufactured and sold concrete treatments for new and existing concrete placements.  Greg has worked in the concrete construction industry since graduating from Creighton University in 1974.