Program Staff
Lisa Hawkins, Coordinator of Congregational Life
Lisa has been a member of First Pres since 1986, and has served the church over the years as a volunteer in many capacities: elder, Stephen Ministry leader, Sunday School teacher, Women of the Church committee member, and even pew straightener. Lisa is married to attorney Scott Hawkins (another elder) and they are proud parents to one daughter, Allison. Lisa’s educational training took place at the University of Florida, where she earned both a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a Master’s degree in educational psychology. Areas of emphasis in her graduate study focused on aging and counseling older people.
Lisa’s work experiences have been many and varied, from counseling to retail work to classroom and office work at St. Mark’s Episcopal School. It has been her prayer that God would find a way to combine and use all of these experiences and interests in a way that would minister to those in His kingdom. She feels greatly blessed to work at First Pres in the area of congregational care. Lisa has always had a desire to help others, and believes that true healing ultimately comes through a relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sara McDonnell, Membership Coordinator
Sara has been a member of First Pres since 1986 when she moved here from West Virginia. She has served the church through the years as a Stephen Minister and Stephen Ministry leader, a deacon, an elder and as an adult Sunday school leader. Sara has two married daughters, Reagan and Ellen, one single daughter, Claire, and one grandson.
Sara retired in 2006 after teaching students in the public schools for 26 years in West Virginia and in Florida at Lake Worth High School and most recently at Suncoast Community High School where she was chairman of the social studies department. Sara’s educational training includes a Bachelor’s in History from West Virginia University, a Master’s in Sociology from Central Missouri State University and a Masters in Education from Marshall University.
Sara looks back to see God’s training and equipping for her present position welcoming new members and visitors through the Bible teaching at First Pres, Sunday School, retreats, and Stephen Ministry, as well as her eight years in Bible Study Fellowship, which included time as a discussion leader and as a children’s assistant leader. Sara’s other interests include traveling, gardening, photography, her extended family and her family home in Lewisburg, West Virginia.
Katie Gardner, Senior Adult Ministry
When you love your church, love the staff who works at your church, love the people who attend the church and love to work, it seems like a perfect fit: Katie Gardner as the new Director of Senior Ministries. When Katie heard the position was available, she volunteered to be available for hire.
Forty years ago, Katie and her husband, moved from the Miami area to North Palm Beach. First Pres was small then with one ladies circle and Jim Stout and Bob Kantner as pastors. Being Presbyterians, they wanted a Presbyterian church and First Pres was a perfect fit.
In 1980, following a divorce, Katie moved to Palm Springs, CA. What a leap of faith! Her 7 years of work experience with the Professional Golfer’s Association here made it easy for her to get a job with the LPGA Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Tournament. Katie worked for 15 years for P.G.A West. Her first week in California, Katie met a handsome, eligible man, Wayne Gardner. Wayne was Executive Director for Lumber Association of CA. Katie and Wayne have now been married 25 years.
In 1999, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus were instrumental in bringing Katie and Wayne back to North Palm Beach. So it was like coming home and First Pres was naturally her home church. Katie worked at the Bear’s Club for 10 years and then retired. But retirement is not for Katie. She loves people and loves to work. Katie is excited about her new job and we at First Pres are excited for her and wish her well and know she will have all the support and encouragement she needs.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Jay Arnn, Director of Music Ministries
Jay was born and raised in Danville, Virginia. Prior to coming to West Palm Beach, he was the Director of Music Ministries at Watkins United Methodist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, for five years. His musical resume includes numerous engagements with the Choral Arts Society of Saint Francis in the Fields, the University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale, the Louisville Chamber Choir, the Louisville Orchestra, and the Kentucky Opera. Jay holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisville, where he was a graduate assistant for Dr. Kent Hatteberg in the choral department. During this time, he appeared in numerous tenor roles including Rodolfo in La Boheme and Alfredo in La Traviata for university and community opera theatres. He is a past member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and the Ameican Choral Directors Association. While continuing to work as a musician, Jay has also maintained a presence in the business community. Presently Jay is the Assistant General Manager for MV Transportation in West Palm Beach. He lives in Wellington with his wife, Kristina, who is the Director of Children’s Music at First Pres.
Glen Arfsten, Organist
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Garrett Arnold, Audio Visual CoordinatorGarrett has recently rejoined our staff to oversee the Audio Visual department and the AV Technicians who manage the church service sound and visual effects. Garrett had been on staff prior going to college, and is very familiar with our services and AV needs since he grew up here at First Pres. Garrett is also the media coordinator at The Kings Academy in West Palm Beach and will be working with us part time. We are happy to have Garrett back with us on staff here at First Pres. |
Dr. Arfsten, a Minnesota native, earned a Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College, a Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University, and his Doctorate from the University of Alabama. A man of many talents, in addition to being an accomplished tenor, he can also be found playing piano, flute, harp, and organ. Dr. Arfsten has published study materials for high school choirs and 6 volumes of music for the harp. He is currently a teacher at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach.CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Diana Wise, Director of Preschool and Childcare
Diana was born in Bermuda in 1958. She married Blaine Wise in 1979. Together they have four children. Diana graduated from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1979 with a Bachelor of Physical Educaiton with minors in Health Education, Biology, and Elementary Education, and a Nova Scotia Teaching Certificate. She began working for First Pres in 1995, and continues today, as Childcare Coordinator in charge of Sunday Infant Nursery, Toddler Nursery, and Extended Care programs, and providing childcare for all church events.
In 1997, she was called to start the First Pres Preschool and has been the Preschool Director ever since. During the building and licensing of the preschool, Diana received her Florida Childhood Development Associate (CDA) and her National CDA. She is trained in CPR and First Aid. Diana completed her Director’s Credential in 2002. Diana is very active in the life of the church, serving on the Children’s Education Committee and Preschool Advisory Board Committee, and helping with children’s activities.
All four of Diana ’s children have grown up in the church and participated in the children’s programming and youth groups. Diana enjoys the family’s large get-togethers and reading, but most of all, being involved with her children, supporting them, their friends, and sports teams.
Cary Koepke, Director of Children’s Ministries
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Cary started at Frist Pres as a preschool teacher in 1998, expanding her ministry to become the Children’s Ministry Assistant in May, 2007. In March, 2008, she became the Director of Children’s Ministries. She has a teenaged son, Kevin, and married Rick Koepke in 2006. She moved here from Daytona Beach in 1993. Cary enjoys the beach and football – she’s a dedicated Steelers fan.YOUTH MINISTRY
Chris (“Suds”) Southard, Youth Directorcsouthard@firstpresnpb.org |
Brit Foshee, Middle School & High School Director
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Travis Tudor, Middle School Assistant and Praise Team Coordinator
“First Pres has been a great blessing in my life. I am so grateful for the relationships and the knowledge I have gained. This place has truly become my home.”-Travis |
Chris Southard, better known as Suds, serves as Youth Director at First Pres. He has been married to his better half, Brenda, since 1995, and are the parents of three sons, Joshua, Caleb, and Keegan, and a daughter, Jaden. Suds is a graduate of Guilford College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His post as teh head of the youth staff began in 2004. His areas of interest in ministry include adolescent spiritual formation specifically through dialogue with 12th century monasticism and in the area of adolescent psychological well being.
“Brit Foshee is the middle school and high school director at First Presbyterian. He has served in youth leadership for over 8 years. He is most passionate about youth, sports, music and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has faithfully the served the global church by preaching and teaching the Gospel to students up and down the Eastern coast of the United States at various camps, seminars and churches. “
Travis Tudor was born in raised in Crystal Lake Illinois but like many dreaded the cold, so for college he chose somewhere in a much warmer climate. Travis came to south Florida to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University, where he is working his way toward a degree in Christian Leadership… it was while attending PBAU that Travis realized his love for leading worship and working with middle school kids, helping them realize the relationship they can have with their Savior. Travis has been at First Pres. since September 2005. He has been serving as the interim Middle School director since August of 2010.