About Us

The Country Place Retreat and Conference Center is owned and operated by Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO), a global consulting company specializing in transformative leadership development programs. CEO founders Herb Kaufman and Dr. Sylvia Lafair purchased The Country Place in the late 1980s, recognizing that this pristinely beautiful yet easily accessible property was the ideal site for CEO's headquarters and private educational center.         After several years, Herb and Sylvia decided this rejuvenating environment was too special to keep to themselves, so they opened The Country Place to outside groups seeking a unique venue for their gatherings. Now, in addition to housing CEO programs and offices, The Country Place has become a favorite destination for church and spiritual retreats, personal growth workshops, environmental conferences, "spa days," educational seminars, and corporate meetings.

Our Staff

Jane Evans is the Vice President of Operations for Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO). She is responsible for overall operation of the facility, along with developing client relationships and ensuring total guest satisfaction for all visiting groups. Jane additionally manages our human resources, purchasing, budget and finance, payroll and scheduling. Jane has over 31 years of business and leadership experience and has held a number of critical managerial positions in major companies representing a variety of industries throughout the East including banking, federal health care, manufacturing, stock brokerage and leisure entertainment.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mary Jane Saras, B.A., LCSW, is the Vice President, Leadership Development for Creative Energy Options, Inc. (CEO) at The Country Place. Her leadership has been instrumental in increasing visibility and programming of CEO. She co-founded a teen leadership program, "Young Leaders in Action", held annually at The Country Place Retreat and Conference Center. Mary Jane brings years of experience in group development, group process, team building and strategic planning to help organizations grow in creativity and collaboration. As a facilitator of "Total Leadership Connections", a four-session leadership development course, Mary Jane educates leaders about how to identify patterns that lie beneath the surface and impact all levels of individual, team and organizational success. She conducts other CEO programs as "The Power of Patterns", "Get the But Out of Your Yes" and "Team Challenge Course", a custom-designed low ropes course.

"Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their carvings." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross