The Public Policy Committee (PPC) advises the Missouri Catholic Conference on issues in the public arena which impact Missouri Catholics. Each member serves a three-year term, is nominated by one of the bishops and approved by the Board of Directors.

The PPC consists of fifteen diverse individuals from around Missouri. Each one brings with them an extensive background in their field and are well respected within their profession.

Deacon Martin Goedkin of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph became the Chair of the PPC this year upon the completion of Richard Crawford’s term. Kevin Kast of the Archdiocese of St. Louis was elected Vice-Chair of the Committee. Our new members join current PPC members from: the Archdiocese of St. Louis - Jennifer Donovan, Al Kertz, Jeanne Stoll, and Timothy Wichmer; the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph - Br. Dale Mooney; the Diocese of Jefferson City - Fr. Joseph Corel; the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau - Don Emge.

Cynthia Haehnel from the Archdiocese of St. Louis currently works at Famers Insurance Exchange. She is a former assistant prosecutor dealing with felony criminal cases and juvenile court matters, and was staff counsel for the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services.

Cynthia, a member of the Missouri Bar Association, obtained her law degree from John Marshall Law School and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri. In the past she has been a member of the Public Policy Committee, the St. Louis Pastoral Strategic Planning Committee, and Co-chair of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Pro-Life Committee. She is currently her parish coordinator for the Katrina survivor relocation project and a volunteer attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Fund.

Cynthia is married, has five children and one grandchild. She is a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles.

James Landewe from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is a retired secondary education school teacher living in Springfield, Missouri.

During his thirty-five year teaching career, James has taught at schools in St. Louis, Ghana in West Africa, Tanzania in East Africa and Springfield, MO. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana he taught in a school run by the Society of Divine Word Missions for two years. His two years in Tanzania were spent teaching in a teachers college founded by the Benedictine Missions. Martin currently teaches English as a second language to a couple from Mexico.

James is married and a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield.

Martin Meyers is a lawyer in The Meyers Law Firm, LC in Kansas City. He has a Juris Doctor and has been practicing law for twenty-four years.

Martin currently serves as the Religious Emblems chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He is also a member of the Board of Regents of Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri. Martin is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He has testified on a number of occasions before various committees of the Missouri General Assembly.

Martin is married and a parishioner of Visitation Catholic Church in Kansas City.

Michael VanGundy from the Diocese of Jefferson City is the Director of Family Life Ministry for the Diocese of Jefferson City. He also works part-time as a chemical dependency therapist.

Michael is on the Executive Committee for the Jefferson City Council for Drug Free Youth, is the chairperson of the Communications Commission of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, and is a trained facilitator for the VIRTUS - Protecting God's Children Program.

Michael has a masters degree in Psychology with specialization in Counseling Psychology from Capella University and in Adult Community Development with specialization in Family Ministry from Regis University.

Michael has been married for 31 years and is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jefferson City.

Al Winkelmann is the Associate Superintendent for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Al has over thirty years experience in Catholic elementary education working with schools in the urban, suburban and rural areas of the archdiocese.

Al has served on parish council, school finance and philosophy committees and strategic planning committees in the archdiocese. He is currently serving on the Clergy Endowment Board. In addition, Al has served on the Cable Commission of St. Louis County for the past 15 years.

Al is married and has three daughters. He is a parishioner at St. Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church.