Staff

Gene Detre, Executive Director

Mr. Detre was appointed Executive Director of The Association of Catholic Student Councils in January, 2010. Prior to this position, he had been a member of the TACSC Board of Directors for 5 years and served as both President and Secretary of the Board. Mr. Detre has previously worked as a high-end retail buyer in several Bay Area based companies. He additionally managed the development of several successful products and, utilizing his public speaking skills, trained product presenters for major home shopping channels. Mr. Detre’s involvement in Catholic youth leadership began in 1983 when he attended his first summer conference as a student delegate. He has worked as a staff member since 1984 and has been involved in many different levels of the organization. Mr. Detre has organized and executed Student Leadership Days and Summer Conferences in several regions, as well as mentored individual students and staff through workshops and activities. He uses his extensive experience in training presenters to maximize the potential of the volunteer staff. He is passionate about Catholic youth leadership and is excited to help students identify, develop and maximize their leadership potential . Mr. Detre graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Psychology and is currently completing his Master’s in Education. Mr. Detre is married with two children and lives in Northern California.

Annette Finnane, Associate Director

Ms. Finnane graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. She spent 11 years in the Real Estate Group of Union Bank of California holding positions in account management, office management and as a senior credit officer. Ms. Finnane left Union Bank to stay home with her three children. She has held several volunteer positions at local schools including chairperson for many school events and programs. She currently acts as Committee Chair for a volunteer service program at the local intermediate school. Ms. Finnane is also an active member of her local Catholic parish and has been involved in many ministries. She served for four years on the Pastoral Council and was a member of the Pastoral Strategic Planning Committee. Ms. Finnane’s involvement in Catholic youth leadership traces back to 1975 when she was a student delegate at the Catholic Association of Student Council’s (“CASC”) Summer Conference. She subsequently served on the staff for several Summer Conferences. Ms. Finnane currently resides in Northern California with her husband and family.

Marilyn Thickett, Founder

Ms. Thickett is the Founder of The Association of Catholic Student Councils, which is now in its twenty-ninth year of serving Catholic Elementary Schools throughout the country. She has been directly involved in student leadership education for the past thirty eight years. Author of “”Student Government and the Elementary School”” and workshop leader for hundreds of students annually, Ms. Thickett has taught election techniques and mentored schools on how to best create leadership programs specific to their needs. As a former Student Council Moderator and Principal of one of the largest Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, she has taught middle and Jr. High School students in urban, suburban and rural areas. Ms. Thickett is a native of San Francisco and holds a California Life Teaching Credential as well as an Administrative Credential.