NYDIS Staff

Mr. Gudaitis is the Chief Executive Officer of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), a 501(c)(3) faith-based federation of human service providers and charitable organizations that work in partnership to provide disaster readiness, response, and recovery services for New York City. NYDIS networks with local, state, and national agencies involved in facilitating the delivery of secular services, resources, and information to religious communities, underserved victims, and impacted neighborhoods.

Mr. Gudaitis has over 20 years of experience in faith-based philanthropy, program management, and social services administration. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Associate Director of Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of New York, where he managed community-based outreach and youth grant programs and also directed relief and recovery programs in the wake of 9/11. In prior positions, he distinguished himself in college and EMS chaplaincy, congregational ministry, and social outreach program development.

Mr. Gudaitis has eight years of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) experience, having served as an EMT, EMT-I, and EMS Chaplain for rural and urban EMS companies in Tennessee and Connecticut. In addition to his advanced life support certifications, he received training in Mass Casualty Incident Command and Pediatric Trauma Care. From 1992 to 1996, he served as an EMS watch supervisor in Fairfield County, Connecticut. He is trained and experienced in both Basic and Advanced CISM debriefing by ICISF.

Mr. Gudaitis holds a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church and a B.A. from Kenyon College. He completed CPE training through the Healthcare Chaplaincy at Beth Israel Medical Center and has Emotional and Spiritual Care training from the Salvation Army. He participates on many local and national boards and committees in a variety of capacities, including: the Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee of National VOAD; the Board of Directors of NYC VOAD, for which Mr. Gudaitis is President; the Board of Directors of the Human Services Council of New York City and its Disaster Preparedness & Response Committee; the Citizens Corps Council of New York City; the Working Group on Citizen Engagement in Health Emergency Planning at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Biosecurity; the Department of Homeland Security's National Response Plan and National Incident Management System Review panel. He was recently appointed to serve on the Domestic Disaster Preparedness and Response Advisory Council of Episcopal Relief and Development.

Mr. Gudaitis speaks and offers instruction nationally and internationally on interfaith partnerships and faith-based disaster readiness, response, and recovery services.

Ms. Wenger coordinates NYDIS’ education programs, developing curriculum and delivering seminars and workshops as requested by member organizations and others. She brings a creative approach to community resilience and disaster preparedness, having spent thirty years working with diverse communities in NYC promoting conflict transformation, community-building, and holistic spirituality across faiths and cultures.

Following four years as a member of the Board of Directors, Ms. Wenger joined the NYDIS staff to coordinate Community Outreach and Training in September 2007. Her work at NYDIS also included management of STAR NYC, (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience), a program developed after 9/11 for religious leaders and care providers to help them understand the role that unhealed trauma plays in repetitive cycles of personal and systemic violence.

As project manager for the Restoring Hope Project operated by Mennonite Disaster Services in NYC after 9/11, Ms. Wenger helped houses of worship meet the emotional, spiritual, and economic needs of their communities experiencing the ripple effects of trauma.

Ms. Wenger is a member of the Association for Conflict Transformation, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Bronx Action for Justice and Peace.

In addition to ongoing work for STAR NYC, representing Mennonite Disaster Services on the NYDIS Board of Directors, and coordinating training for the National Disaster Interfaiths Network, Ms. Wenger is pastor of North Bronx Mennonite Church and moderator of the NYC Council of Mennonite Churches. She holds an M.A. in Education from Columbia University Teachers College in NYC; her B.A. is in English and Secondary Education, magna cum laude, from Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mr. Riquelme earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from the Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Escuela de Arquitectura y Diseño, Chile and his Master's of Business Administration from the Universidad de Viña del Mar, Chile. While at Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, he worked alongside colleagues to develop a variety of innovative constructions and solutions to benefit the local communities.

Prior to Mr. Riquelme's arrival at NYDIS, he worked with an architecture, multimedia, and website design company, where he designed and developed websites, database systems, multimedia CDs, and a new system for expense reports. He also worked as a consultant, developing business plans for start-up, small businesses.

Mr. Riquelme has developed and designed the HOWCALM® system, which will offer community outreach in times of crisis or disaster by providing detailed information about each institution and the services that they are able to offer. Along with this project, he is also in charge of the information technologies within the office.