Our Pastors & Staff

Rev. Lynn Bartlow

Senior Pastor

Rev. Lynn Bartlow was appointed to St. Mark’s in July 2021. She has served congregations here in Arizona – including Trinity Heights UMC in Flagstaff – in Illinois, and in Florida before becoming a pastor. She graduated from Florida Southern College (Lakeland, Fla.) and from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evanston, Ill.).

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Rev. Stuart Salvatierra

Associate Pastor

Pastor Stuart was appointed to St. Mark’s in July 2018 as our full-time associate pastor. He administers our congregational care ministries and the Wednesday evening service,  “Soul Station.”  Pastor Stuart assists in Sunday worship and with special services, preaching and worship leading as needed. Stuart also works with several committees.

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Kim Ogle

Christian Formation and Outreach Pastor

Kim and her family came to St. Mark’s in 1988, and she worked with our youth from 1999 to June 2021. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Management and Development and a license for Pastoral Ministry. Kim is the Christian Formation Team Leader and liaison to several committees and task forces. She is also site director for our second worship site, Dove Mountain, which opened Oct. 20, 2019.

Lois Britton

Bookkeeper

Lois handles payroll and HR, maintains the general ledger, and prepares reports for staff and committees. She is in the office Tuesday through Thursday. Lois worked for St. Mark’s several years ago in a similar position. She writes a Polish food blog and shares her home with Ellie and Rigby, two former pound puppies.

Tricia Chester

Administrative Assistant for Hospitality

Tricia has the extremely important job of manning the front desk of the church office which includes answering phones, assisting office visitors, distributing mail, making copies, and assists the rest of the staff! Additionally, she focuses on visitors and new members to our congregation, coordinates the Membership 101 class and is the staff liaison to the Church Growth and Hospitality Committee. Tricia also teaches Holy Yoga at church on Sundays and Mondays.

Shelley Coltrin

Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Some of Shelley’s many responsibilities include editing and designing the Messenger newsletter; creating, updating and monitoring the St. Mark’s social media presence; updating the St. Mark’s website; producing publications and marketing materials and producing press releases.

Shelley earned a Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) in Journalism from the University of Arizona. Her professional experience is extensive and includes working several years for local news media organizations.

She has been a member of St. Mark’s since 2006.

Julie Eblen

Children and Family Ministries Coordinator

Julie began in this newly created part-time position in July 2021, but she is no stranger to the St. Mark’s staff. She was the PreTeen youth leader, a child-care worker and the Soul Station Children’s Ministries Coordinator. She feels that the children of St. Mark’s are an important part of the congregation, and she enjoys being part of their faith journey and supporting their Christian learning. She is a member of the Christian Formation Team and works with the Children’s Education Committee and the Children and Family Ministries Committee.

George Halvorson

Office Manager

George was a church member first, joining with his wife, Darcy, in early 2019. He has a background in the U.S. Navy and as a proposal manager, making him a great fit in the position of office manager. He oversees the church facilities and calendar, the rest of the administrative team, and the overall flow of the office, all while offering a sense of levity. In his spare time, George likes racquetball, collecting model trains, and cooking.

Nick Hiratsuka

Technology Coordinator

Nick is a recent Northern Arizona University graduate with a degree in Creative Media & Film. Nick has attended St. Mark’s since 2012 and served on the technology committee. In 2016, for the church he made his Eagle Scout project, which was an anti-cyberbullying short film. For his work on the project he received the Good Samaritan’s Award from the United Methodist Men.

JoAnn Luther

Bell Choir Director

JoAnn began attending St. Mark’s in 1994, and it was here she picked up her first handbell. She says she was immediately hooked! In 1999, she also became a founding member of Sonoran Bells, a community handbell ensemble. (She continues to ring with them.) In 2008, JoAnn became the director of the Bells of St. Mark’s.

Rachel Mosher

Youth and Common Grounds Coordinator

Rachel grew up participating in Sunday School and Youth Ministries at St. Mark’s and served as the interim Youth Coordinator in early 2007. She holds a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Arizona. As Youth Coordinator, Rachel provides leadership for youth ministries (middle and high school) and leads the Confirmation class. She also leads the Common Grounds ministry (a group for young adults in their 20s-40s), offering fellowship activities and spiritual growth classes.

Susan Proebsting, Ph.D.

Counselor-in-Residence

Susan earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Emory University in 1997 and has practiced in a variety of settings. She uses a research-supported approach called Internal Family Systems Therapy and works with individuals 16 years and older to offer short- and long-term counseling for anxiety and worry, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, shame, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions and changes, grief and loss and body image issues. She will oversee the long-running grief support group going forward.

Liesl Scalzitti, Ph.D.

Counselor-in-Residence

Liesl is a licensed clinical psychologist treating teens, adults, couple and families for depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, marital and relationship conflict, grief and loss, major mental illness such as psychosis and bipolar disorder, and life transition issues. Her general therapeutic stance involves one of curiosity, gentleness, warmth, and inquisitiveness. She strives to make people feel well understood and comfortable. Most importantly, she loves what she does.

Jordan M. Shomper

Music Ministries Coordinator / Chancel Choir Director

Jordan is excited to be at St. Mark’s and is enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts program in choral conducting at the University of Arizona. He has been on faculty at Albright College and Ursinus College and taught music for five years in public school.

He received his bachelor’s in music education from Millersville University and master’s in choral conducting at West Chester University.

Jordan enjoys cooking, participating in triathlons, and spending time with his wife Joie and golden retriever Maisie.

Johnny Slovak

Maintenance Coordinator

Johnny began at St. Mark’s in April 2021. He works full time Monday through Friday. Johnny maintains the entire church campus and also oversees all table setup and repair requests. He brings a wealth of experience maintaining church and church school facilities. He worked in Dallas and Oklahoma before moving to Tucson. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, he says, because he just loves the smell of saw dust.

Sherry Walker

Administrative Assistant
Membership, Finance, and Meditation Gardens

Sherry came to St. Mark’s with her family as a young teen, remaining a member who raised her own children here. Sherry joined the staff in June 2013 and handles membership transfers and other church records (baptisms, marriages, etc.). She is also responsible for accounts receivable. Additionally, Sherry is the person to talk to if interested in purchasing a niche in the Memorial Garden.

Laurie Walsh

Early Childhood Center Director

Laurie began teaching Kindergarten at St. Mark’s ECC in 2007 and joined the church in 2009. Laurie was hired as the ECC Director in June, 2016. She has a Bachelor’s degreen in Elementary/Special Education, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Laurie has taught preschool through 6th grade in public and private schools in Arizona and southern California.