People of EPC

Since 2003, hundreds of volunteers have spent thousands of hours working to make the Endorphin Power Company one of Albuquerque’s most respected and admired non-profit organizations, especially in the field of addiction recovery. Volunteers continue to be some of EPC’s most valuable assets along with its staff and board of directors. It is their love and kindness that sustain the EPC community and its important work.

EPC Staff

Melissa Endean

Operations Director

Melissa Endean As Operations Director, Melissa is the glue that holds EPC together every single day. She keeps the rooms filled, the buildings functioning, the bills paid, and everyone happy to be here. As a member of the EPC community, Melissa is an EPC success story and an inspiration to all. Growing up, Melissa will be the first to tell you, she made a few mistakes that led to bigger mistakes and a few more after that. She found herself adrift in winter 2008 searching for anything in Albuquerque that resembled "good" and stumbled upon EPC which had opened its transitional housing – Waterman Power House - only two months earlier. “I didn't know what to expect. And to be honest I'm not sure anyone at EPC knew either. In the early months of my stay I was sucked into working on a climbing wall/stage. I'd never done anything like that before. Working hard and laughing together forged friendships that were different than any in my past -basically, good people doing good and enjoying each other’s company in the process.” Melissa is grateful to have found EPC. EPC feels the same about her.

Jeff Holland

Program Director

Jeff Holland Sometimes referred to as EPC’s version of Siddhartha, Jeff has traveled a journey that’s included seeking empty pleasures and paying the price for his choices to searching for meaning and truth through education and service. The fact that some of Jeff’s lessons have not been taught, but rather have come from his own struggles and experience, makes him an invaluable leader and mentor as EPC’s Program Director. “I am passionate about helping people and I love to see people succeed in life. If there is a way that I can help facilitate that then I am more than happy to do what I can. I love my family, I love my friends, I love music, I love my dog, and I love life. I believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be here at the Endorphin Power Company (or should I say the Endorphin Power Family).” Jeff is currently pursuing a dual Masters in Social Work and Business Administration.

Janice Mancuso

Executive Director

Janice Mancuso Janice is serving her second term as Executive Director. While living in California, in 2007 she began her love affair with EPC as a volunteer during construction of the Waterman Power House. She moved to Albuquerque and assisted with the launch of the residential housing program as EPC’s first ED. Janice then returned to San Diego. In 2010, Janice was drawn back to New Mexico, this time by the opportunity (under the auspices of EPC) to make her 20+ year goal to produce a wellness conference for doctors a reality. Because of EPC’s incredible team, especially Melissa and Jeff, Janice is able to work on the conference and oversee EPC. “I believe my experience, skills and interests complement the mission and purpose of EPC. I have said for many years that my best work is in front of me. Now is the time. This is it!”

Board of Directors

Officers

David P. Currier, Treasurer

David P. Currier joined the board in November 2005 as Treasurer. David is the Founder of Bound Tree Medical, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of Emergency Medical Products. The company was formed in Henniker, New Hampshire in 1978 becoming the nation's largest distributor of its kind serving public safety professionals worldwide. He has served on the Board of Directors of Pyng Medical, the NH Public Risk Management Exchange, Merrimack County Telephone Company and currently serves as a trustee for New England College and Magdalen College. David's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond the business community having distinguished himself in politics as well. He served as a local Selectman for 12 years, a State Representative for 3 terms and 4 terms in the NH State Senate. He was also an emergency medical technician and served as Chief of the Henniker Rescue. A charter member of the Henniker Lions Club, David also spends time with local charities, his church, the NH Marine Patrol Auxiliary and the Lake Massasecum Improvement Association. David served in the U. S. Coast Guard and the reserves for 23 years before retiring in 1985. He is a Life Member of the American Legion and the Viet Nam Veterans of America.

Regina "Gigi" Gallegos, EMT-I, LPN, Secretary

Born in Southern California, with time divided between the west coast and central New Mexico, I now call Albuquerque my home. I grew up loving horses and later in life became very involved in horseracing; owning two horses that raced in the NM racing circuit. I left horse racing behind after a horse accident that resulted in a head injury. In 2003, when the closure of an Albuquerque semiconductor plant put over 600 people out of work, including me, it was time for a career change. I left behind my family in the device engineering group and trained as an emergency medical technician, and during my preceptor practicum in the emergency department I began nursing school.

My involvement with EPC began in late 2003. I found myself unemployed and returning to school to try out some new paths. I had been involved with the Girl Scouts for many years. But in 2003 I also felt interested in assisting the homeless population. I became acquainted with EPC and I attended meetings in the UNMH cafeteria. I found what I was looking for; the ideas and concepts had me hooked, not to mention the people.

At the end of my first semester of nursing school and the last semester of EMT-I training I became a resident at the EPC facility. My studies in school kept me busy and the work at EPC kept me sane. Since graduating from nursing school I now work as a nurse and the rest of my time is spent doing many different innovative tasks at EPC.

Marti Miller, RN, MSN, C-ACNP, Vice Chair

Marti Miller has eighteen years of experience in emergency and intensive care nursing. Marti graduated from Syracuse University and George Mason University. She later attended George Washington University for post-graduate studies. At present, Marti is the Director of the Trauma ICU at University Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Prior to becoming a nurse, Marti worked for Senator Metzenbaum and with a consulting firm, Mark Battle and Associates. Aside from surviving childhood as a military dependent, there were two significant influences that fueled her interest in the vision of the EPC: A yearlong expedition around the world to study comparative religion and anthropology and seven years of living in Africa.

For Marti, the EPC is an opportunity to participate in the invention of circumstance, purpose, and new options for those in our own backyard.

Sam Slishman, MD, Founder and Chair

For my background and some EPC history...

Math and physics were my academic passions at Wesleyan University. When I finished a thesis on electronic Rydberg states of helium, it was the last time I felt like an expert at something. But to break out of the basement lab, and to find a little more human interaction, somehow I found myself in med school at Washington University. I learned plenty, but those 4 years were a spiritual low. Despite my perfecting a few new paper airplanes, creative thinking and inventing were pushed aside for rote memorizing, pre-rounding, scut work, and board preparation. Luckily I discovered emergency medicine, which at least kept me interested and awake. And more luckily, the UNM ED training program let me in.

As a resident, I discovered the Science and Technology Corporation (STC), of UNM. I unloaded some medical device ideas on them, and a few patents percolated out over the following years. Of the ideas, the "Slishman Splint" went the furthest... even though I have yet to break even... not even close.

Once residency was complete, I found myself adrift. I tried a number of different medical gigs over a couple years, taking me from Jackson Hole, to Kona, to New Zealand, to Tasmania, with night shifts at UNM sprinkled in between. I continued to push the splint product along, which kept me thinking and learning. And the experiences of designing, patenting, prototyping, manufacturing, setting up a website, and selling, taught me more than any class in any school. It gave me confidence to ignore naysayers. But it also taught me that I have no business in sales, as I found myself giving away most of my stock to any friendly face.

This all leads finally to EPC and the corny story of its beginning. While traveling in Europe on a splint-tuning trip, I found myself under the Eiffel Tower, facing an army of miniature Eiffel Tower "pushers." It made me think about how little these people and their wares contribute to the planet. I didn't resent them. But it occurred to me that I'd rather give them cash to sit on exercycles to generate electricity, than to pay them for stupid little trinkets. Even though not much could be generated, at least it'd be something positive. Plus they'd get an endorphin kick. So in May 2002, I coined the name Endorphin Power Company. Initially I considered building a fitness center aimed at the general public loaded with exercycles on generators. But then realized it could be a good thing for people with various addictions. Perhaps by replacing their exogenous opiates (heroin, methadone, oxycodone, etc) with endogenous opiates (endorphins), they could be helped.

For the remainder of 2002, the idea festered in my head. And in December 2002, I faced the decision to stay in Tasmania, or move back to Albuquerque to give it a go. Strangely enough, it was the war in Iraq which tipped the scales. The anti-US sentiment at that time, even in Australia, was so intense that I wanted to come back to build something so drippingly good that no religious zealot, or political party could take issue with it. And I wanted to build something that could eventually be useful everywhere. (Wishful… but why not?)

It's yet to be seen if this adventure will turn out as I'd like. But so far the achievement is something I didn't plan. EPC has become a wonderful mechanism for gathering the most caring, creative, non-money-grubbing, good people I've ever met. It seems I've instead invented for myself a quest, and a second family.

Members

William Campbell

Born and raised up and down the Rocky Mountains, but ultimately hails from northern Idaho, where his ancestor's bones lie beneath the ponderosa. Made his way off the farm in Coeur d' Alene and onto the campus of Reed College, where he received a BA in English. Inordinate amounts of literary theory left an impressionable youth perilously adrift, but blessedly William soon found himself practicing the craft of stonemasonry, in Santa Fe. For fifteen years William did stonework and ran his business, testing over time his philosophies against the brute truth of stone. He discovered an artistic ability he never knew he had, learned how to command a gang of brutes, realized just how low people will sink to make a buck, and generally became acquainted with the ways of the world. More importantly, he started a family of his own, and began to think in new ways about how to give back to the world. A few years ago, just as he was returning to school, he helped install a stone patio at EPC, and the way appeared.

William is currently in the first year of the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at UNM, studying verbal behavior, attachment and substance abuse treatment.

Nancy Hawk, RN

Nancy fell in love with EPC the moment she showed up looking for a place to teach yoga nearly three years ago. The fact that she is a cycling enthusiast reinforces her belief that EPC is the perfect place to channel her considerable energy. She joins the board with the expectation of contributing to the continued success of the company and its mission. Nancy is the current president of Mossman Neighborhood Association, the neighborhood where she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband Kevin. During her salary-earning hours, Nancy works as a registered nurse at University Hospital.

Manjeet K. Tangri, AIA, AICP

Born in India, I have lived in the United States for nearly 40 years in Boston, Minneapolis and, since 1990, in Albuquerque. I hold degrees in architecture from Punjab University, India and Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

I first learned about EPC in 2003 and was struck by its mission and the vision of its founder Dr. Sam Slishman when he made a presentation to the board of my neighborhood association. A few days later I visited 509 Cardenas; the variety, commitment of volunteers, staff and now the residents won my heart and I have been a volunteer ever since. I love and totally believe in the mission of EPC.

Throughout my long career in urban planning, policy development, urban design and architecture in two continents, I have believed in and successfully created environments that meet the physical, social, aesthetic and spiritual needs of their users. I strongly believe that achieving such a balance does not have to be costly especially if addressed at the beginning of a project. I learned from my public health engineer father that the needs of users of a building, a park, a neighborhood or a city are more important than creating a monument.

Remona "Mona" Yazzie

Mona Yazzie Mona graduated from the University of New Mexico earning her Bachelor of Science in Health Education and currently works as a Community Resource Organizer and Health Educator for St. Joseph Community Health. She has worked with many non-profit organizations in Albuquerque and with local New Mexico communities to help build better healthier communities by focusing on health disparity issues. She coordinates the bicycle program with a goal to open a full function community bike shop! Although she has grown up in Arizona, she calls Albuquerque her home away from home.

Emeritus Members

Reuben Last, MD

Reuben Last joins the board after working on the construction and rehabilitation of the EPC van and facility since its beginning.

Reuben is the 1987 New York City District Council of Carpenters "Golden Hammer" recipient, and has been the Committee Clerk for the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. Prior rehab jobs include the first New York City Habitat for Humanity project, where he learned sub-flooring installation from President Jimmy Carter. He learned ceiling installation in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center and interior trim in Long Island College Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital. He also helped with the rehab of the Centre de formation en Boulangerie et patisserie franciases orphelinat, in Hue, Viet Nam.

Prior to completing a surgical residency at UNMH and a vascular fellowship in Sydney, Australia, Reuben did a pediatrics externship in Calcutta, India. Today he works as staff general surgeon at the VA hospital of New Mexico.

He now knows he returned to work at EPC because of the inexplicable pull of the New Mexico "Bungie Cord"... "Once a person has been in Albuquerque long enough to nail one end down, they may leave, but at some point they will fling back just as fast."

Peter White, PhD

Peter is a professor of English and American Studies at the University of New Mexico where he has taught since 1977. He specializes in early American literature and religious history and has published books on American literature, technical writing, and the folklore of New Mexico. In 2000 Professor White became the first Dean of University College, where he oversaw the creation of a wide variety of innovative undergraduate programs including the Freshman Learning Communities, Freshman Convocation, Freshman Family Day, the Sophomore Seminars in Career Awareness, and the Research Service Learning Program. Together these programs have helped increase the size of the freshman class and have significantly improved retention and graduation rates at UNM. Peter's successes in these areas led to his appointment in 2006 as Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education. In addition to his commitment to offering high quality undergraduate education at UNM he has also practiced the art of violin making for over thirty years, producing over 200 violins, violas, cellos, and mandolins.