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.
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.
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.
Sondra Franks
Organist and Celebration Singers Director
Sondra has blessed the church with her musical talents since moving to Tucson and becoming the St. Mark’s organist in 1999. Additionally, she directs our Celebration Singers and the Summer Choir.
Shelley Gault
Administrative Associate
As the full-time staff member in the front office, Shelley is the glue that holds us all together! She maintains the church calendar and schedules all room usage. She also assists the Senior Pastor with many forms of worship coordination and creates the bulletins for weekly worship and special services.
Cathy Harris-Herchenroeder
Praise Team Director
Cathy has led the Praise Team at The Gathering (our 11:15 contemporary service) since 2005. In addition, Cathy was a high school chorus director for 15 years and is currently a high school special education teacher in ELA.
Ruth Kester
Administration and Finance Coordinator
Ruth became a member of St. Mark’s in 1999 and joined the staff in 2011. She serves as the Administrative Team Leader overseeing the front office, communications and outreach, membership and the memorial garden, and maintenance. She also handles accounts payable, payroll, and various other accounting duties, as well provides support and record-keeping for the Finance, Endowment, and Nash Neighbors committees.
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
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.
David Ragland
Technology Coordinator
David joined the St. Mark’s staff as technology coordinator in July 2021. David’s technology experience in audio/video/web streaming stems from his time in event coordination at the University of Arizona and as a lifelong musician with a background in live performance, songwriting and recording. David’s history with St. Mark’s UMC dates back to 2010 when he began contributing to worship and community events as a guest musician/worship leader. He led the contemporary worship music group at St. Paul’s UMC in Tucson from 2007 to 2017 and helped with audio/video content throughout that time.
Elizabeth Schauer
Chancel Choir Director
Elizabeth Schauer has served at St. Mark’s as Chancel Choir director since 2004. She leads the choir in Sunday morning worship and for special programs including cantatas and the annual Community Carol Sing. Dr. Schauer also is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona. Those interested in singing with Chancel Choir can contact Elizabeth at erschaue@arizona.edu.
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.