OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lauren Fink, President
Lauren Fink lives in New Orleans, LA where she owns/operates Cherry Coffee Roasters. After moving to New Orleans from Portland, OR in 2011 she was driven to start her own business and opened a pop up coffee shop inside Steins Deli. Three years later she opened her brick and mortar location in Uptown New Orleans in an old firehouse.
When shes not roasting coffee or running a business you can find her with her 2 rescue blue nose pitbulls or playing classical piano. Lauren is driven by curiosity and loves to learn new things and always continue improvement on current projects/hobbies.
Lauren started coming to the Flowering Lotus Retreat Center in 2016 where it was her first introduction to Buddhism. She has found healing power in the dharma and sanga. “Ive seen the teachings work first hand. It changed my perspective, helped me open my heart to grow, and taught me how to be my best ally.” She wants to help the dharma be accessible to as many
people as possible.
Elizabeth Maxwell, Vice President
Liz Maxwell is a creative producer, communications director, and facilitator with 15 years of experience in nonprofits, arts/media, and the impact economy. A New Orleans native, Liz’s winding professional path has led her to spend significant time in New York City, Italy/Europe, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and South Africa. Liz currently serves as Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives with The Idea Village, a non-profit that cultivates entrepreneurship and innovation-based economic development in the Gulf South region. Liz has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of New Orleans, that culminated with her capstone research on "Measuring the Implementation of Cross-Sector Partnerships for Emissions Reduction." Liz was a 2019 Women4Climate Fellow and is an award-winning theatre director for devised and original work. For over 3 years, Liz served as Artistic Director for the Art Monastery Project, living and working as part of a year-round intentional community; the “Artmonks” applied contemplative practices to creativity and professional artistic practices, and simultaneously activated underused historic monasteries through artist residencies, non-dogmatic contemplative exploration, and international cultural exchange. Liz is thrilled to be part of the Flowering Lotus Board of Directors and support accessibility to mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhist teachings for diverse communities across the South. She strongly believes that awakening is possible and that we can only live the practice one day at a time.
John Cochran, Treasurer
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John Cochran's interest in Buddhist meditation was sparked while in the Jazz Studies program at Southern Mississippi through musicians like Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane This interest developed as John went on to do his Graduate Degree in Jazz Performance at Middle Tennessee State University.
After finishing Graduate school John incorporated Buddhist principles and meditation into his role as guitar teacher at University of Mobile, Coastal Alabama Community College, Southern Miss, and Middle Tennessee as well as in his own music with groups like The Bodhi Trio, an instrumental trio based on improvised creative music.
In addition to playing and touring actively throughout the United States during his career as a guitarist, John was active in music promotion. Most notably, he was the Executive Director, promoter, and booking agent for the Live at Five Concert Series in Fairhope, Alabama. The Live at Five Concert Series is a non-profit concert series whose mission was to provide grants to musicians in need along the Gulf Coast for equipment, lessons, studio time, and more. During his time at Live at Five John was responsible for booking bands like Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Sister Hazel, Wet Willie, and dozens more.
John is also in recovery and works as a meditation teacher at A Reprieve for Men and is currently in nursing school- with an interest in incorporating meditation, psychedelic therapy, and music into people's lives to help them recover from addiction, overcome grief, and heal from trauma. John is also studying in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition under the guidance of Tauin Michael Elliston Roshi with the goal of becoming an ordained Zen Buddhist teacher.
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Betty Sue O’Brian, ND, Secretary
Betty Sue has lived and worked on the Mississippi Gulf Coast all of her life. For twenty five years, she taught at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She is past-President of the International Iridology Practitioners Association.
A herbalist and naturopath, Betty Sue uses safe and natural therapies to help a person bring the body into balance. She is dedicated to teaching better ways to eat, drink and ‘live it’ through dietary and lifestyle adjustments that provide good nutrition and proper exercise for the body, mind and spirit.
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Betty Sue is a mother of 3 and a grandmother.
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She has BS – Emphasis in Food and Nutrition
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A Masters in English Literature, ND – School of Natural Medicine, Boulder, CO. Master Iridologist, School of Natural Medicine
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Sclerologist, The International Sclerology Institute
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Diplomat Instructor, International Iridology Practitioners Association, Ascension Reiki Master; Usui Reiki Master
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Living Food Educator
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Member of the American Herbalist Guild and American Botanical Council
William H. Kelly, Retreat Director
William H. Kelly, III, also known as William “Phoenix Heart” Michael, is a Shaman, Spiritual Teacher, Multimedia Specialist and Media Consultant in Jackson, Mississippi. William began his meditation practice about 8 years ago as he began seeking truth, peace, and answers to his life and life in general as he started college.
Plagued with depression, anxiety, stress and other spiritual, emotional, and mental health imbalances, he was urged to seek natural and holistic healing after a mental health breakdown in the middle of a college class. Now he helps others along their paths through various methods, with intuitively guided meditations and visualizations being one of them.
William believes that meditation can truly change lives and the world we live in and recommends it to anyone he meets no matter their beliefs, background, or lifestyle. He has watched it change the lives of others, and himself, through the Flowering Lotus Meditation retreats and consistent solo practices as well. William attended his first retreat in 2019 and saw his life change forever.
One way William likes to lead and inspire others to try meditation is by hosting his “Meditation @ The Trace” event once a month, at The Overlook at Natchez Trace. William is also from Houston, Texas and is a graduate of Jackson State University, where he currently works in University Communications as a photographer and writer. He believes that taking it one breath at a time is truly all we need on our path to inner peace. He views Buddha as a close friend and spirit guide that has been with him all of his journey, even when he didn’t realize it, and was gifted an opportunity to visit the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka while studying abroad in 2017.
Julie Martin, Board Member
Julie is a native of Mobile, Al and is currently living in Birmingham. Her spiritual awakening happened in 2020 when she first started her journey in sobriety. After a relapse in 2022, she realized something was missing and rediscovered her love of yoga and began to meditate. She discovered Recovery Dharma, which is a Buddhist-based recovery program and began studying Buddhism in her spare time.
She has since made incredible changes in her spiritual life and in her physical and mental health. Not only has the quality of her sobriety improved, she lost 30lbs, quit taking antidepressants for the first time in 23 years, and quit smoking cigarettes. Her relationships improved with others and more importantly her relationship with herself has improved. She is actively working with Sensei Elliston who is a Zen teacher from the Soto Zen Center in Atlanta, Ga. She is also active in helping lead the Recovery Dharma meetings in Birmingham and helped start a new meeting in Auburn, Al.
She is also a Reiki II practitioner who is passionate about holding compassionate space for others. She is currently studying for her Death Doula certification and is also pursuing a career in Holistic Healing utilizing diet, energy work, counseling, meditation and spiritual coaching.
Alis Monét, Board Member
Alis Monét, widely known as The Spiritual Plugg, brings a unique blend of passion and expertise to her role as a board member at Flowering Lotus Meditation. Alis embarked on her spiritual journey in 2016 when she made the conscious decision to detach from traditional religious practices and instead forge a connection with her Authentic Self.
Having resided in vibrant cities like Houston, TX, and Phoenix, AZ, Alis gained a diverse range of experiences that have shaped her worldview and spiritual understanding. A native of Madison, MS, she always harbored the intention to enhance her skillset and return home to contribute to the betterment of her community.
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Alis boasts a rich background in public relations, radio, event coordination, and project management, reflecting her multifaceted talents. Her journey with Flowering Lotus Meditation began with first attending, then leading community meditations in the Dojo at Wolfe Art Studio; and she recently attended a transformative retreat, where she discovered the profound impact of mindfulness and silence on her personal growth and well-being.
Elated by the awakening experiences at Flowering Lotus Meditation, Alis Monét is eager to contribute her skills and insights as a board member. Her commitment to expanding the mobile sangha aligns seamlessly with the organization's mission, and she looks forward to playing a pivotal role in fostering spiritual growth and community connection.
Beth Herzig, Executive Director
Beth Herzig is a mom and meditation enthusiast and a serial volunteer! She has been an active board member and volunteer for Flowering Lotus Meditation since 2017. Retreat management is her passion. Beth has been organizing the retreats at FLM since 2019.
Beth has a firm belief that retreating away from our day-to-day is a key that can unlock our potential. Getting out our “normal” routines, getting into nature, connecting with others, and communing in healing practices can be life changing. Beth has dedicated much of life to helping others find solace in meditation practices and introducing people to the power of retreat.
She leads twice weekly in person meditation in the Jackson, MS area. She completed Meditation Instructor Training with Susan Piver in 2018. Recently, she completed One Dharma's 2022 Dharma teacher training. Beth's Dharma name (given in 2022) is appropriately: Blooming Lotus Heartmind.
When Beth is not practicing meditation, doing retreat work for Flowering Lotus Meditation, or running her business Discount Trophy, Beth enjoys traveling, and exploring local spots with her teen daughters.
IG: @takeabreathwithbeth
Beth dedicates the merit of her volunteer hours to liberation of all beings.