Raymond W. Kahle, Ph.D, Th.M, Director
Raymond is past President of the Sierra Nevada Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team located in Reno, Nevada. He is currently an instructor of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), and teaches classes in Individual Crisis Intervention; Peer Support; Pastoral Crisis Intervention, and Group Crisis Intervention. Raymond received his Ph.D. in December 2006. He works with law enforcement personnel, other first responders and our returning Military as a Traumatologist and chaplain in and around the Reno, Nevada area, as well as northern California. He is the director of Kindred Spirit Counseling. He also teaches the Incident Command System, a standardized system of emergency scene management, to local first responders and city administrative personnel.
Raymond’s area of passion lies with assisting those in law enforcement and Military personnel who have experienced on-duty crisis situations and career-related trauma. Prior to entering the chaplaincy field nine years ago, he devoted eight years in the Military (Southeast Asia Operations), 29 years with the Department of Defense (DOD), and Department of Energy (DOE), serving our Nation’s “National Laboratories” with emphasis in special operations. He also worked nine years as a reserve deputy sheriff for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. His experience provided additional responsibilities serving with the United States Volunteers - American (USV-A) as the Commander for the State of Nevada. Specific duties include Final Military Honors and Commanding the Community Services, which support transition, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) counseling.
His conviction towards the importance of PEER understanding led him to visit Iraq in 2009 and another trip in 2011.
Melinda (Mindy) Kahle, Secretary
Mindy’s 32 year career in the law enforcement profession included approximately 19+ years of patrol experience, with Police Departments and a Sheriff’s Department, and as an investigator with a local county District Attorney’s office. Her assignments included but were not limited to: sex crimes investigations, family protection unit, Academy TAC officer, hostage negotiator, canine handler, bicycle & boat patrol, and cold case investigations. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Long Beach in 1978, and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge in 1994. Mindy is trained in the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model for first responders, and is a past member of the CISM team for Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Reno, NV. She has participated as a team member in many post-incident meetings with those who experienced on-duty trauma during their career. Mindy has taught the Incident Command System (ICS) for first responders and was employed part-time with the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office as a death investigator, conducting in-field investigations and autopsy exams for approximately 7 years. She is a past member of the Registry for the American Board of Medico-Legal Death Investigations (ABMDI). She served six years as a reserve officer, both before and after her full-time career. Mindy currently holds an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification which she renews every two years. She found gratification in working alongside families who experienced death and trauma. Mindy has competed in many of the games offered by the California Police Athletic Federation since she first entered the Law Enforcement profession in 1979, including competing in the World Police and Fire Games. She emphasizes that her events, both in track and field and an event called the Toughest Competitor (an all-day competition that includes 8 events), were a good motivator to keep herself in shape for the rigors of the job. Mindy enjoys living in Montana with her husband Ray, their dog Jenny, and the myriad of deer and other wildlife that pass through the acreage of their rural setting on a daily basis.
Daniel B. Paixao, B.S., Board of Directors
Daniel’s patriotism and concern for others began early in life and directed him towards serving a four-year enlistment in the US Air Force, at which time he received his Associate of Science Degree in Electronics. During this time he worked at Whiteman A.F.B. Missouri as a Missile Systems Analyst. After his discharge, Daniel he began his career in broadcast television as an engineering intern for a television ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina. While there he received an Associate of Science Degree in Video Technology at Heritage School of Evangelism and Communication. Shortly after the completion of his internship he moved to California to work for a local television station. During this time, he married his wife Christy, and continued his college education. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, from California State Hayward, in 1996.
Throughout his career as a Chief Engineer, his position has brought him alongside field photographers and reporters who cover traumatic events, sometimes at risk to their personal safety. His concern for the cumulative effects of human suffering on these professionals motivates him to find resources that will provide support to them to keep them productive in their careers. It’s Daniel’s desire that Kindred Spirit Ministries shall be such a resource even for those who cover events from a media perspective.
Daniel is currently working as a Chief Engineer for a broadcasting network. Daniel brings his expertise in cutting edge media and technological innovations to the ministry to help it expand across the United States and abroad to our first responder’s and military personnel.
Daniel lives with Christy and their two daughters in the tranquil State of Idaho. He has served on the board of Kindred Spirit Ministries since May 1996.
Tanya Kelley, Board of Directors
Tanya is the Treasurer of Kindred Spirit Ministries. Tanya was born and raised in Ohio, then joined the US Air Force in 1999 and went on to serve 20-years before retiring from the Security Forces career field. She earned her Associates Degree in Criminal Justice while serving this great nation and raising her daughter Jayla. Tanya’s first duty assignment was RAF Mildenhall, UK followed by Tyndall AFB, Panama City, FL; then on to Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany; and her last stop was Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, MT. During her career, she provided security at the installation entry control points, on flightlines housing several types of aircraft and helicopters, in nuclear weapon storage areas, as well as performed law enforcement duties. She was also selected for several office positions during her career to include reviewing and submitting law enforcement reports, traffic citations etc...and worked closely with local law enforcement. She inspected base security programs verifiying procedures were adhered to for squadrons housing Air Force resources such as armories, funds, aircraft, fuel, classified materials, as well as rewrote/updated policies and checklists, and worked in Anti-Terrorism. Furthermore, she became a Flight Chief, leading 50+ Airman performing security and law enforcement duties during their shifts. Tanya was also an active member of the Booster Club, leading events that helped raise funds for the squadron. After retirement, Tanya worked Loss Prevention at WalMart for 4 ½ years where she met her husband who is a retired Great Falls police officer. During a traumatic incident in Tanya and Shawn’s lives, they were introduced to Ray and Mindy Kahle who helped them overcome several hardships and so gracciously hosted their wedding. Tanya and Shawn departed Montana following the passing of Tanya’s mother and are residing in Ohio/Michigan area and snowbirding in Florida this winter.
