Who We Are

Leadership

The Founders

Dr. Margit Winstrom Riley, MD
Dr. Margit Winstrom Riley started her Houston family practice in 1970 with services that cover the broad spectrum of a family’s medical needs. She preserves a nearly forgotten approach to medicine, calling her practice “The Good Old-Fashioned Family Doc Clinic.”  A graduate of the Medical School of Pennsylvania, she did her family practice residency in Minneapolis, before moving to Houston.  She is a Charter Fellow of the American Board of Family Practice, a member of the Texas Medical Association  and the National Association of Women Business Owners. When not serving patients, she is an active Rotarian, a card-carrying “Red Hatter” and the co-founder of The Clearing in Brenham, Texas.  She also has a keen interest in modeling and promoting sustainable agricultural and building practices.  Dr. Margit Winstrom has been married to Neurologist William J. Riley, M.D. for more than thirty years and enjoys hosting their eight children and five grandchildren.

Dr. William J. Riley, MD
Dr. William J. Riley is a Neurologist with offices in Houston, where he has practiced since 1969, and Brenham. He received his premedical training at the University of California in Berkeley, and earned the Master of Science and Medical Degree from the University of Chicago. He completed a Ph.D. in neuroanatomy and neurology at the University of Minnesota in 1965. Before coming to Houston, Dr. William Riley served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award. After relocating to Houston, he joined the faculty at Baylor College and served as founding Chief of Neurology at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. As the University of Texas Medical School was founded, he joined their faculty as well. He continues to serve both institutions.

Dr. William Riley has held numerous elective and appointive positions in the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association and Texas Neurological Society, the latter of which awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. He has also been a long-time member of Serra International, a Catholic organization devoted to fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life, having served in a number of leadership positions.

Dr. William Riley has been married to Dr. Margit Winstrom, for more than thirty years, and together they have raised eight children.

A personal note from the founders:

“Between us in our eighty plus years of medical practice we have seen much pain and suffering, but we are convinced that the most destructive epidemic in our land today is failed marriages. Children need and deserve their parents best marriage . Refuse to be reconciled to a “married but single” status quo marriage.

 We are committed to making the resources available for you to be proactive and  achieve the marriage you were meant to have.  Your kids, your family, your employer, your country, and all whom you care about including your God, will be well pleased.”

Counseling Team Leader

Tricia Cunningham, LPC, MA

Tricia is the lead therapist for The Clearing, and has demonstrated her wisdom and compassion in counseling couples who have come to our Marriage Intensive Retreats and Marriage Enrichment weekends. She began her career as a counselor at Gary Smalley’s counseling center, Today’s Family. She later became a certified lead therapist, director and executive team member at the National Institute of Marriage. She is also a Certified Professional Life Coach. Tricia grew up in Argentina, the daughter of missionaries, and has spent her adult life in ministry with her husband in the Midwest. She has been married for eighteen years and has three children.

Counseling Team

Dr. Scott Sticksel- Co-founder of The BridgeWorks Group, LLC

Scott Sticksel, PysD is one of two founding partners of The Bridgeworks Group, LLC, a consulting firm focusing on capacity building for privately-owned companies and national ministries. Throughout the year he speaks to a variety of audiences across Canada and the U.S. on topics including parenting, relationships, marriage, education, and community. He is a regular guest on national and international radio and television programs and is a contributing writer to several marriage and family publications, including Parent Life, Shine, and Honor Bound.  He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary’s graduate school of psychology. Dr. Sticksel also holds masters degrees in Psychology and Christian Leadership from Fuller’s graduate school of psychology and graduate school of theology, respectively.

Scott Sticksel's personal goal:

"To instill hope by helping a couple feel safe, feel understood, see how they can succeed, learn the skills, and get on the path to the marriage they want. It is not a cure all, not a destination, but a journey. It's not an event, but a process."

Board of Directors

Father David Ivey
After graduating from Texas A&M University, Fr. David entered seminary and was ordained by Pope John Paul II. He has spent many years as a military chaplain and has seen most of the world, especially the East during his ministry. Originally from El Paso, TX, Father David speaks fluent mandarin Chinese and enjoys tending his own concoction of tropical plants in the back yard of the rectory at Saint Mary, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Brenham, Texas where he serves as rector.

Charles Keese
Charles has a multi-disciplinary education with training in construction and architecture from Texas A&M University.  With more than thirty years of experience, he has completed projects of various sizes and complexity throughout Texas, including Brenham Airport Terminal which was named “Airport of the Year – 2004” by the Aviation Division of the Texas Department of Transportation. Charles also owned and operated a successful construction company in the Brenham area for eight years while continuing to operate a full service design firm. 

Dr. Larry Pitcaithly
Dr. Pitcaithly is a founding Senior Partner of The Capitol Consulting Group currently teaches a variety of leadership related subjects for supervisors and managers. The majority of his career was dedicated to the development of supervisors, managers and executives for Conoco and was one of the founders of Conoco University. Prior to his career in the oil industry, Dr. Pitcaithly was a member of the faculty of the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University, and taught courses in Finance and Management. Dr. Pitcaithly holds bachelors degrees in Finance and Economics, an MBA in Organization and Administration, and a Ph.D. in Behavioral Management. 

Timothy Riley
Tim Riley was one of the initial members of the board of directors and currently serves as the board vice president and treasurer.  Tim completed his degree in business marketing at Ithaca College where he was a three-time NCAA All-American lacrosse player. Tim served as construction superintendent for a custom home builder in Colorado before returning to his roots in Brenham to manage the cattle operation at the family ranch.  Entrepreneurial in nature, Tim recently opened a real estate brokerage office and currently is engaged in the commercial land brokerage business.

John Stanley
Mr. John L. Stanley is the founder and president of The Legacy Group, an advisory firm that provides counsel to heads of philanthropic families and helps navigate charitable giving by staffing their private foundations. The Legacy Group, Private Asset Management Magazines’ Family Group of the year in 2006, provides consulting and management in three practice areas, private foundations, corporate giving programs and the public charities. He is Chairman of the Board of Nativity Jesuit Middle School, an inner city school serving Latino boys; a philanthropic advisor for the Family Wealth Alliance; a Philanthropy World Magazine’s Advisory Board member and serves Camp Manito-wish YMCA as a member of the Leadership and Financial Development Committees. He has authored numerous published articles on philanthropy and is a frequent platform speaker to donors, family foundations, professional advisors, charity board members and nonprofit executives.

Special Advisors to the Board

Byron Gossett – Business Planning & Marriage Movement Advisor
Mr. Byron Gossett is one of two founding partners of the Bridgeworks Group, LLC, a consulting firm focusing on capacity building for privately-owned companies as well as national ministries.. Mr. Gossett was involved in agribusiness, banking, and investing in private businesses. In that context, he has developed both expertise and a broad experience base in asset management and risk management. He has served as a director of four separate financial institutions over a three-decade time span, beginning when he was 25 years old. Currently, Mr. Gossett serves on the Community Board of Wells Fargo in Amarillo. Mr. Gossett has served at both state and national levels in the livestock industry as an elected and an appointed leader in such organizations as the National Livestock and Meat Board and the National Beef Council.

Barbara J. Elliott – Philanthropic Advisor
Barbara Elliott is the founder of the Center for Renewal in Houston, a resource center for faith-based nonprofits.  As a frequent speaker, analyst and a practitioner, she has trained nonprofit leaders, studied their best practices, and planted effective models. She is the author of Street Saints: Renewing America’s Cities, as well as Equipping the Saints:  A Guide for Giving to Faith-Based Organizations.  She received an Award for Human Rights from President George W. Bush and has served as an advisor to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. She has social entrepreneurial experience in nonprofit startups, having served as the founder of a The WorkFaith Connection, which finds employment for people leaving prison, addiction, and homelessness, and in launching multiple chapters of Kids Hope USA, a national mentoring program for at-risk children. She earned a Master’s degree in theology from the University of St. Thomas. She is certified by the Peter F. Drucker School for Nonprofit Management.
           
Allison Elder – Legal Advisor
Ms. Allison Elder is a senior attorney with Braun & Associates and Executive Director and Land Conservation Director of the Bexar Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization working to conserve natural resources in Texas’ Bexar County area. As first staff person, Alison led growth of the start-up organization across the board, substantially expanding its programs and capacity. Alison has worked closely with many natural-resource organizations throughout Texas, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the San Antonio River Authority, the San Antonio Water System, the Texas Land Trust Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Allison is a member of the San Antonio Conservation Society Board of Directors & Advisory Board Member, and the Land Heritage Institute Foundation Board of Directors

John Madsen – Financial Advisor
John R. Madsen, CPA, is a partner in the accounting firm of Parmet, Chapman & Madsen, P.C. The firm has operated since 1984 and performs services in most aspects of auditing, taxation, estate planning and consulting for small and medium sized businesses as well as not for profit organizations. John served thirteen years as a Controller and Vice President in industry, with Weekley Homes and American General Corporation, and has audited numerous types of entities over the years, both for profit and not for profit. Currently serving fourth term as Treasurer of the Greater Houston Builders Association and previously on the Board of Directors of the Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce.

Deborah Kristen -- Program Director
Deborah is the Program Director of The Clearing. She is the person to whom potential participants turn as they explore coming to a Marriage Intensive. She is responsible for the intake of participants, scheduling, and orchestrating the events for each retreat. She brings to the task a heart for counseling as well as a Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling from the Luther Rice University and Seminary. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
  
Deborah has taught Scripture for more than twenty years with passion and devotion. In recent years she has given particular emphasis to Divorce Recovery in her work with others, which has included both individual discipleship and mentoring.

A personal note from Deborah:

“I have personally experienced the griefs and consequences of divorce and have walked along side many others as they learn to live again after a failed marriage. What a joy to participate now with The Clearing to restore to married couples the hope and expectation of the marriage they have always wanted, and that God has always intended for them.”

Staff

Intensives are led by experienced, licensed professionals who specialize in working with couples in crisis. Through their Masters and Doctoral training, and years of experience, our team of psychologists and marriage and family therapists is equipped with knowledge, skills, and experience for complex dynamics and deeper needs. These are specialists trained in this format to maximize its effectiveness.  The Marriage Intensive provides the perspectives and insight of two professionals rather than one.

The full clinical team has been trained with a specialization in short-term Intensive treatment.