COVID-19 INFORMATION

Meet Our Team!

Staff

Dick Young 2022_sqr

Dick Young

Executive Director

dyoung@zephyrpoint.org

Laura

Laura Mulato

Director of Guest Services

laura@zephyrpoint.org

Mark

Mark Ellender

Director of Facilities & Grounds

mellender@zephyrpoint.org

Jesus

Jesus Preciado

Director of Housekeeping

jesus@zephyrpoint.org

Aaron

Aaron Maffitt

Director of Food Services

amaffitt@zephyrpoint.org

Sara1

Sara Tillema

Director of Programs

stillema@zephyrpoint.org

Kerri

Kerri Wasko

Program Manager

kwasko@zephyrpoint.org

Kelsey

Kelsey Jones

Activities Coordinator

kjones@zephyrpoint.org

Dayna

Dayna Titus

Financial Controller

dtitus@zephyrpoint.org

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Jesse Preciado

Staff Accountant

jessepreciado@zephyrpoint.org

Barrett

Barrett Schuerman

Cabin Coordinator

cabins@zephyrpoint.org

Adena 2

Adena Edwards

Office Administrator

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Jose

Jose Palomera

Lead Maintenance Worker

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Cilvano

Cilvano Vasquez

Lead Maintenance Worker

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Pedro

Pedro Vargas

Construction Mechanic

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Claudia

Claudia Carizzoza

Lead Cook

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Katie

Katie Keith

Senior Engagement Associate

kkeith@zephyrpoint.org

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Alex Van Reenen

Conference Coordinator

conference@zephyrpoint.org

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Sheryl Wing

Conference Coordinator

conference@zephyrpoint.org

Tahoe Semester

David

David Williams

Director of Tahoe Semester

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Michele

Michele Williams

Operations Manager

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

ScottValentine2

Scott Valentine

Faculty: Professor of Earth Science

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Aron

Aron Tillema

Faculty: Religious Studies

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Shelby

Shelby Thompson

Community Life Coordinator

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Board of Directors

Samuel Roberts

Samuel Roberts

President Term: 2nd

1annointed1@gmail.com

Sandy Peirce_pic

Sandy Peirce

Vice President Term: 2nd

sjpeirce@gmail.com

Judy Austin

Judy Austin

Secretary Term: 2nd

judyaustin40@yahoo.com

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David Won

Treasurer Term: 2nd

davidwon@hotmail.com

Joshua-Trautmann Pic

Joshua Trautmann

Term: 2nd

pastorjoshua@genevapc.org

Angela Woodrow pic

Angela Woodrow

Term: 2nd

akwoodrow@yahoo.com

Michael Beadle

Michael Beadle

Term: 1st

michaelsbeadle@gmail.com

Deborah Wright

Deborah Wright

Term: 1st

avalondlw@aol.com

Jim Arce

Jim Arce

Term: 1st

jim.arce@realconcepts.net

Nan Noto

Nannette Notor

Term: 1st

nannotor@gmail.com

Paul Nibarger Pic

Paul Nibarger

Term: 1st

pnibarger@gmail.com

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Mark Frey

Term: 1st

marktfrey@comcast.net

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N’Yisrela Watts-Afriyie

Term: 1st

revnwa@gmail.com

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Tracie Lyons

Term: 1st

tracielyonsLLL@yahoo.com

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Brandon Lewis

Term: 1st

brandonl.upc@gmail.com

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Lindsey Santamaria

Term: 1st

lindsey.k.santamaria@gmail.com

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William Hughes

Term: 2nd

wrhcpa@yahoo.com

Ex-Officio

Mark-Hong-150x150

Mark Hong

markhong@synod.org

Nancy Martin Vincent pic

Nancy Martin Vincent

nancy@synodpacific.org

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Kathy Runyeon

statedclerk@synodpacific.org

Co-Opted

Bian Burns pic

Brian Burns

brian@synodpacific.org

Peter Gernold Pic

Peter Gernold

peter.gernold@gmail.com

Peggy-Hall-Pic-345x345

Peggy Hall

rozey@me.com

Carol

Carol Sandmeier

cjsandmeier@aol.com

Jim Upshaw pic

Jim Upshaw

jimupshaw@earthlink.net

Jan Hartman pic

Jan Hartman

janhartman95@yahoo.com

Deana Reed pic

Deana Reed

deanajreed@yahoo.com

Staff Bios

Dick Young the Zephyr Point Team as Development Director in August of 2019 after a 30 year career as a parish pastor in the PC(USA). Dick was appointed Executive Director in April of 2020.

Dick and his wife, Colleen, moved from Western New York where Dick was Head of Staff at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church for the previous 18 years. Colleen is an RN who specializes in Hospice Care. Dick & Colleen have three grown children. Their middle child, Maura, also an RN, followed them to Tahoe and works as a nurse at Barton Hospital in South Lake. Richard and Michael are both engineers currently living in Buffalo, NY. When not taking in views of Lake Tahoe from his desk, Dick enjoys spending time in the mountains, on foot, bike, or snowboard, depending on the season.

dyoung@zephyrpoint.org

Laura Mulato is the Director of Guest Services at Zephyr Point. She brings over six years of experience in Retreat and Conference Center Administration and a Business degree from Bethel University to her role in Guest Services. In blending business operations with retreat ministry, Laura aims to foster a healthy and welcoming environment for guests to be inspired by the beauty of Lake Tahoe. As a Minnesota native, Laura appreciates the striking Sierra Nevada mountains and sunsets over the lake. Away from the office, she enjoys exploring through hiking, biking, backpacking and visiting new places, especially with her husband Levi and their collie puppy Luna.

Laura@zephyrpoint.org

Mark Ellender is the Director of Facilities & Grounds at Zephyr Point.

mellender@zephyrpoint.org

Jesus Preciado is the Director of Housekeeping at Zephyr Point. Jesus Preciado started working at Zephyr Point on January 7, 2002 in the Housekeeping Department. Jesus obtained the position of Housekeeping Manager in 2003 and he came to live at Zephyr Point grounds with his wife Marisa and their two children Kevin and Jesse. Since then, he has been serving our guests and is currently the Director of the Housekeeping Department.

For Jesus, the most important thing is to be able to cover all the needs and expectations of our guests so that they enjoy their stay at Zephyr Point. What Jesus likes the most is enjoying time with his family.

jesus@zephyrpoint.org

Aaron Maffitt is the Director of Food Services. Aaron brings 3 decades of experience running some of the west coast’s top restaurants. A professor of Culinary Arts, Aaron has a passion for teaching and brings his motto of “Nourishing a Community” to our food services as a mission to give the opportunity to our budding culinary team and to create nutritious and environmentally conscious food for our guests. During his free time, you may catch a glimpse of him and his wife Laura, sailing past Zephyr Point on their boat Enchantment, sauntering the trails of the backcountry or skiing the steeps of the Sierra peaks.

amaffitt@zephyrpoint.org

Rev. Sara Tillema is the Director of Programs at Zephyr Point. Sara joins the staff as an ordained Teaching Elder in the PC(USA) with over 10 years of ministry experience, most recently in the field of campus ministry. She loves walking alongside individuals of all ages as they explore life’s big questions, and empowering all to see how their faith and passions can intersect to create meaningful change in our world.

Before joining the staff, Sara was a long-time participant at Zephyr Point and has experienced some of the most pivotal moments in her spiritual journey overlooking Lake Tahoe. In her capacity as Director of Programs, Sara aims to craft program opportunities that allow individuals to experience the fullness of the God who dances in Creation, and live in confidence that they are a beloved child of God. In her spare time, Sara’s favorite activities include curling up on the couch with a good book (particularly fantasy, sci-fi, and YA novels), drinking coffee, having philosophical discussions, and spending time outdoors with her family.

stillema@zephyrpoint.org

Kerri Wasko is the Programs Manager. She started her time here at Zephyr Point working on the waterfront in 2018 for our summer camp programs. She fell in love with Tahoe and the ministry at Zephyr Point. She has a degree in Psychology and a degree in Religious Studies from Virginia Wesleyan University where she was also a part of their NCAA DIII women’s basketball team. Kerri is passionate about helping kids foster a love for the outdoors and encouraging all to pursue restorative justice. In her free time, Kerri loves to do anything outside; snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking are some new sports she has grown to love.
Kerri grew up with 3 wonderful sisters and an incredible mom and dad in Virginia Beach, VA. She misses the salt air but couldn’t imagine giving up the mountain life right now.

kwasko@zephyrpoint.org

Kelsey Jones is the Activities Coordinator at Zephyr Point. Kelsey spent her summers in college as part of the Zephyr Point summer staff working with kids and teens in our Youth Programs. Her love for summers in Tahoe turned into a more permanent move in 2019. She loves Tahoe for all the beauty and adventure and she loves the mission of Zephyr Point because it creates such a welcoming atmosphere. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Azusa Pacific University and several years of experience guiding in the outdoors. As a Colorado native, Kelsey is used to enjoying the mountains with her family through a variety of activities. She loves skiing, mountain biking, swimming, running, hiking, backpacking, and trying new things. Her experience combined with Kelsey’s passion for adventure and fun inspires her to create activities that increase the guest experience at Zephyr Point.

kjones@zephyrpoint.org

Dayna Titus is the Financial Controller at Zephyr Point. Originally from the east coast, Dayna received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.   She received her MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.   Prior to joining Zephyr Point, Dayna worked in the healthcare industry in both sales and operations.  She is thrilled to have joined Zephyr Point in late 2021!   Dayna has three children – Andrew, Madison and Sage.   In her free time, Dayna enjoys all that the Tahoe Basin has to offer, especially skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and paddleboarding.

dtitus@zephyrpoint.org

Jesse Preciado is the Staff Accountant at Zephyr Point.

jessepreciado@zephyrpoint.org

Barrett Schuerman is the Cabin Coordinator at Zephyr Point.

cabins@zephyrpoint.org

Adena Edwards is the Office Administrator at Zephyr Point.

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Jose Palomera is a Lead Maintenance Worker at Zephyr Point.

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Cilvano Vasquez is a Lead Maintenance Worker at Zephyr Point.

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Pedro Vargas is a Construction Mechanic at Zephyr Point. Since 2008 Pedro has been a dedicated part of the Zephyr Point Staff. He was previously the Housekeeping Inspector.

zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Claudia is a Lead Cook at Zephyr Point. For Claudia, living in South Lake Tahoe with her husband and 2 children, family is everything! Her passion for Nourishing a Community comes to life in her role as Lead Cook. We are all blessed to have her in our Zephyr Point community.
zephyr@zephyrpoint.org

Katie Keith is the Senior Engagement Associate at Zephyr Point. She has a passion for connecting with donors. She coordinates volunteers, designs and hosts fundraising events, writes grant proposals, and assists with technical and administrative jobs in nearly every department at Zephyr Point. In the last few years through her work at Zephyr Point, and as a member of the Tahoe-Douglas Rotary, she has helped raise over 4 million dollars.

Katie grew up in southern California but now lives in Nevada with her husband Kai and eldest daughter Kaylena. Katie and Kai have 2 grown daughters, Kaylena and Kiyrah. Katie enjoys time with her family, traveling, community service projects, photography and baking.

kkeith@zephyrpoint.org

 

Alex Van Reenen is a Conference Coordinator at Zephyr Point.

conference@zephyrpoint.org

Sheryl Wing is a Conference Coordinator at Zephyr Point.

conference@zephyrpoint.org

Tahoe Semester

David Williams, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy and the director of the Tahoe Semester. In this role, he works with his Centre College colleagues to design the overall Tahoe curriculum while teaching humanities courses and facilitating the plenary course. He also arranges the co-curricular experiences (and really enjoys participating in them).
By training, David is a historian of philosophy specializing in Classical Greek thought. His areas of special research are Aristotle’s philosophy of mathematics and his philosophy of biology.
He and his wife Michele have four adult children. In his spare time, David enjoys skiing, mountain biking, dirt biking, backpacking and spending time with his family.

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

As Operations Manager for the Tahoe Semester, Michele handles program logistics and serves as liaison to Zephyr Point staff. She has a degree in Business Administration. (Bethel University, St. Paul, MN) and has coordinated a number of college programs, including study-away and study-abroad programs for international students studying in the U.S. Most recently, she managed business and administrative functions for a K-12 charter school.

Michele is married to David (surprise!) and they have four adult children. In her spare time, she enjoys trail running, hiking (sometimes with David) and spending time with her family.

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Scott Valentine, Ed.D., is a professor of Earth Science for the Tahoe Semester. He is the lead faculty member of the Earth & Environmental Science Department at Lake Tahoe Community College and he teaches a variety of classes ranging from Oceanography to Geology and Meteorology. He’s also spent time working as a professional raft guide and a U.S. Forest Service Hydrologist prior to his teaching profession.

Scott lives in the Lake Tahoe area and spends his time biking, skiing, and chasing his two kids around the mountains.

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Aron Tillema is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Religious Studies at the University of California, Davis focusing on Ancient Mediterranean Religions. Broadly, he is interested in the Hebrew Bible and language, but this interest manifests itself in a variety of theories, approaches, and fields that include semiotics and linguistic anthropology, parody and humor, and gender and sexuality.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, walking his dog, Pax, and spending time with his family. He was a student at Azusa Pacific University and studied abroad at the High Sierra program near Yosemite. He is looking forward to returning as an instructor for Tahoe Semester!

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Shelby Thompson attended Azusa Pacific University and majored in Liberal Studies for Special Education. During her time at APU she participated in an outdoors focused study-away program that greatly inspired her passion for the Tahoe Semester.

Shelby enjoys biking, running, hiking, surfing, and snowboarding, but also loves a good day indoors, enjoying a book or a movie. Most of all she enjoys quality time with good people and is looking forward to building a community through the Tahoe Semester!

mwilliams@zephyrpoint.org

Board Members

Sam is the current President of the Board of Directors at Zephyr Point. He began his second term as a board member in January of 2022. Prior to serving on the board, he had never been to Zephyr Point. Sam has served on the Personnel, Programs and Nominations Committees in his first term and currently serves as chair of the Long Range Planning Committee, and is a member of the Executive committee.

Sam is an ordained Teaching Elder in PC (USA). He recently retired as a chaplain from the Veterans Administration Hospital. Before the VA he served as pastor of a small PC(USA) congregation in the Riverside Presbytery.

Prior to studying Theology, he enjoyed a career in academia spanning more than twenty years; beginning at Columbia University in the City of New York as a Biochemist and culminating at the University of California Riverside in Molecular Mycology before entering San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Sam is married with 4 children. He was born in Georgia the son of an itinerant Methodist Minister. Sam enjoys traveling, fishing and golfing (not necessarily in that order).

1annointed1@gmail.com

Sandy Peirce has been blessed with a number of opportunities to visit Zephyr Point since her seminary intern days shepherding a youth group snow retreat in 1980. Since then she has attended Presbytery meetings, led session and congregational retreats, attended conferences with speakers including Ann Weems, Leonard Sweet and John Philip Newell and been a speaker for two women’s conferences. Always refreshed and renewed by the water, trees and mountains, Sandy finds Zephyr Point to be a spectacular setting for inspirational learning and community building. Sandy is an SFTS graduate and served the El Dorado County Federated Church in Placerville for more than 22 years. Now mostly retired, she lives in El Dorado Hills with her husband John and spends as much time as possible with their daughters, sons-in-law and 5 grandchildren. Sandy loves to travel, attend live theatre productions, read and bake the occasional batch of cookies.

sjpeirce@gmail.com

An historian and editor by profession, I’m theoretically retired. Former commissioner to and moderator of the Synod of the Pacific, I served on and chaired the synod’s Mission Finance Committee. of the synod. For decades I was recording clerk of Boise Presbytery. I’m a member of First Presbyterian Church, Boise, with a number of years on Session and still on the worship and personnel committees. I got to know Zephyr Point because the Synod of the Pacific met there at least once every other year. I’m in my fourth year on the board; the first three years I was board secretary. I live in Boise, Idaho, with my husband, three cats, and a yellow lab.

judyaustin40@yahoo.com

Joshua came to Geneva Presbyterian Church as the Pastor in February 2013, having just finished a residency and degree at VCU School of Allied Health. Joshua is a graduate of Bluefield College and Union Presbyterian Seminary.

Joshua has been married 15 years and he and his wife Menissa are raising two boys ages 14 and 11. Answering God’s calling to ministry, they moved from Virginia, Menissa’s lifetime home, to serve and help grow a church here in the Central Valley. Joshua’s focus has been to reach out to young families and help to continue to develop the legacy of who Geneva Presbyterian Church has been.

Joshua’s passions include photography, woodworking, swimming, cooking, and even rollerskating.

PastorJoshua@GenevaPC.org

Angie has been connected to Zephyr Point since 1986. Sharing programs with her family and then later years, facilitating retreats for her St Andrew, Yuba City, church family. Angie, the spouse to a retired USAF member, has had the opportunity to experience camps and conference centers all over the world. Zephyr Point is her ‘home’ camp and conference center.

Angie says”, “Zephyr Point is a favorite place for me to ‘just be’. I am always encouraged by the education, exploration and inspiration of the people and place that is Zephyr Point”.

Angie is currently in her 2nd term as a session elder at Columbia Presbyterian Church, her current church family, in Vancouver WA. She brings to the board her passion for nonprofits, curating resources and tools needed to adapt and change as an organizational development coach and consultant.

akwoodrow@yahoo.com

Michael Beadle began serving on the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January of 2021 and currently serves as the Chair of the Program Committee and a member of the Development Committee. Beadle is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hayward where he and his family currently attend. He has been to Zephyr Point numerous times with family for vacation, a church staff retreat as well as a couples retreat. He loves the outdoors, Lake Tahoe and the memories he makes with every visit.

Beadle works as a senior director of communications at Ubisoft, a leading video game company, where he helps lead corporate communications, product campaigns, Ubisoft Film & Television and worldwide media training. He enjoys bringing his vast work experience and a creative approach to the board and contributing to further the mission and work of Zephyr Point.

Beadle is married to his partner, Lauren Gibbs Beadle, who serves as Director of Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward and they collectively love and care for four children, three guinea pigs, four chickens and one Corgi. Beadle’s hobbies include watching the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, music, dancing, travel and, of course, playing video games.

michaelsbeadle@gmail.com

DEBORAH LONDON WRIGHT, Principal, PneuMatrix Ordained (PCUSA) in 1978, Deborah consults in adaptive change management, strategic visioning, program development, Positive Deviance and Design Thinking as a PneuMatrix Founder and Principal. An Alum of Duke University and San Francisco Theological Seminary, she has served as Associate Pastor of Calvary SF, Trustee of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation, adjunct faculty at SFTS, Board Chair of Marin’s Homeward Bound, and Director of Major Gifts at SFTS. Following her Ph.D. studies (GTU) she formed Avalon Enterprises, consulting in funds development, corporate chaplaincy, strategic visioning, and project management in religion, education, healthcare, and film. She has been a grant administrator and grant evaluator and has taught Adaptive Change Leadership. Clients include The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Google, Kaiser Permanente, and the PC(USA). She is new to Zephyr Point, having only visited twice – as a conference keynoter and for a Synod Exec retreat.

avalondlw@aol.com

Jim Arce began serving on the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January 2022. He serves on the Operations and Maintenance Committee, and the Long-Range Planning Committee. Arce is an Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, CA.
Arce is a semi-retired real estate asset manager. He enjoys teaching, woodworking, fly fishing travel, and is the Scoutmaster for Tiburon BSA Troop 48.
Arce is married to Pat Arce. They have three children and five grandchildren.

jim.arce@realconcepts.net

Before the Zephyr Point conference center grew to be what it is today, Nan Notor’s grandparents had a cabin at Zephyr Point. Long summer days of swimming, fishing, hiking and exploring are some of her fondest childhood memories. Over the years, she has attended Christian camps and conferences in many other locations, but she is looking forward to returning to those childhood roots at Zephyr Point.

At the end of 2020, Nan retired as a clinical audiologist and owner of a small mobile audiology and hearing aid practice. Currently, she serves as a ruling elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose, chairing the Personnel Committee and the Safe Church Committee. Nan also serves on a joint task force with the Presbytery of San Jose which is working on a major renovation of Westminster’s education building to create an urban ministry navigation center for underserved populations in San Jose. Nan was recently elected as Vice Moderator for the Synod of the Pacific.

Nan loves time spent in her garden, whether weeding, pruning or planting. Her newest hobby is weaving, and though clearly a novice, she is enjoying the challenge of learning a new skill!

nannotor@gmail.com

Paul joined the Zephyr Point board in 2023 and currently serves on the Administrative Committee, Presbytery of the Pacific (PoP), is the Treasurer of PoP, and serves on the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Finance Committee.  He is a long-time member of St. Peter’s by the Sea PC and has served there as an Elder and Treasurer.

He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Retired from the world of corporate banking and investment banking, he has served on numerous corporate boards, currently as Chairman of the Investment Committee of Volunteers of America Los Angeles.  He also serves with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (TA) program as a Tax Counselor, the Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Region, and is a member of the National Leadership Team, a 15 member board that serves the TA program nationwide.

pnibarger@gmail.com

Mark Frey joined the Zephyr Point Board of Directors in January 2022 and is pleased to serve on the Personnel and Nominations Committees. Mark is a retired Presbyterian minister who led youth ministries, served as a head of staff and was an organizing pastor in churches in Oregon and Southern California. For the second half of his ministry, he served as a regional representative/church consultant with the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is credentialed as a Certified Benefits Specialist and Retirement Plans Associate. Mark’s work with the Board brought him to Zephyr Point for pastors’ conferences, educational events and presbytery meetings numerous times. He is excited to be a part of this next chapter in the life of Zephyr Point.

Mark continues to serve the church as a Vice-Moderator for the Presbytery of the Cascades, and as a faculty consultant for both the Presbyterian CREDO and THRIVE programs of the Board of Pensions, which support pastors and church workers in the areas of wholeness and financial wellbeing.

Mark and his wife, Christie, make their home in Portland where they participate in the life of the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. Mark is a baseball and college football fan, and musician. He enjoys cooking and delights in exploring the natural beauty of Oregon. He feels especially blessed by his three grown children and their families, including eight grandchildren.

marktfrey@comcast.net

Ex-officio

Mark Hong

Mark is an ex officio member of the board due to his role as the Executive and the Stated Clerk for Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. He is a Teaching Elder who spent 34 years in the local pastorate before becoming a Mid Council Leader in 2017 and is starting his third three-year term in 2023.

Mark is a member of an immigrant community since coming from South Korea in 1971 and has been residing in the Los Angeles area since. He has a BA degree in Behavioral Science from Cal Poly Pomona and an MDiv degree from Fuller Seminary.

Mark has been married for 39 years and has two adult daughters. He has enjoyed participating in all types of sports but currently, mostly enjoys golf outings.

markhong@synod.org

Nancy Martin Vincent

Kathy Runyeon

Kathy Runyeon is a minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), ordained in 1987 by the Presbytery of the Redwoods. Following university and a short stint as a systems analyst, Kathy attended seminary and then served in three pastoral positions. Those gave her ministry experience in varied congregations. They also allowed her to work summers as a white water raft guide and to continue reveling in the glory of God’s creation. Kathy then served 12 years full-time at San Francisco Theological Seminary as an administrative staff and adjunct faculty. Beginning in 2002 and while still teaching Presbyterian History and Polity for SFTS, Kathy began mid-council ministry, serving as Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of San Francisco. Since 2017, she has been Stated Clerk for the Synod of the Pacific and very much enjoys that this position includes service on the Zephyr Board.

Experience at Zephyr Point has included participation and leadership in a variety of conferences and meetings onsite, including leading the San Francisco First Call Pastors Seminars, attending Interim Ministry Training, joining in many presbytery and synod meetings, and spending weekends and/or summer days enjoying the beauty of the lake and environs. Kathy is now on the ZP Program Committee and is the liaison to the Tahoe Semester.

Kathy enjoys kayaking, reading mysteries, square dancing, doing all kinds of puzzles, and attending and working at the PCUSA General Assembly (27 and counting!) She is wife to Ken Spira, daughter to Joan Runyeon, and mother to Katherine Charton, a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

 

statedclerk@synodpacific.org

Co-Opted

Brian Burns

Peter Gernold

Having moved out to San Diego from Orchard Park, NY to join my husband in 2017, I was excited a year after that to learn Dick Young, my pastor from my church back in OP had accepted a new position and arrived at ZPPCC. We visited the Young’s early on and fell in love with the beauty of this campus and the programs going on at ZPPCC. There was an early opportunity to help out with the Financial Sustainability Task Force and we made another visit back to ZPPCC to evaluate ideas for the short-term cash flow challenges facing ZPPCC. In 2019 I was asked to join as a Member at Large on the Finance Committee.

Before retirement in 2017, I was the Managing Director of the Captive Insurance Group at First Niagara Risk Management and an active member of the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. As an elder serving many years on the Finance Committee and earlier in my life as one of the three couples, along with our Assistant Pastor working as a Senior High Advisor to our fellowship group for 8+ years, I still remain a 50+ year member of that church. I enjoyed serving on a number of pastor search committees, and large gifts giving initiatives and co-chaired a number of stewardship years. With that connection, even as I have lived in San Diego for the last 4 years I have remained with that church connection.

We have two wonderful adult children living with their families in Rochester, New York and in London, England while also enjoying our 3 wonderful granddaughters as much as possible. Traveling, bike riding and visiting family are a big part of our lives today.

In San Diego, I serve as an advisor to the San Diego Opera Company Board. The SDO announced that it was closing 6 years ago and with my love of music this was disappointing. With new management and a reengineering on the Board, there has been a rebirth and now a great future that SDO is facing. We love opera and music and are trying to support the future here at the SDO for the next generation is a priority.

peter.gernold@gmail.com

Peggy Hall

Peggy Hall was a Zephyr Point board member 2014 through 2019 and was President of the Zephyr Point Board in 2018 and 2019. Peggy is currently a co-opted member of the Guest Services Committee. Peggy started attending Zephyr Point about 20 years ago for church officer retreats. Her family currently rents cabins throughout the year and she also enjoys volunteering during the summer months at the guard house. Peggy is currently a Synod of the Pacific commissioner from Nevada Presbytery where she is chair of the Mission Finance Committee. She also is currently Vice Moderator of Nevada Presbytery and a member of Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church in Sparks, Nevada.

Peggy plays trumpet in a brass quintet called Boca Brass and is active in the women’s music organization, Sigma Alpha Iota. Peggy and her husband Tom live in Reno and they have five adult children and five grandchildren. In Peggy’s free time, she enjoys baking pies. Peggy’s favorite color is orange!

rozey@me.com

Carol Sandmeier

Carol Sandmeier has been involved with Zephyr Point since 2005 when she and her husband moved from Southern California to Gardnerville, NV. Having been active in the San Fernando Presbytery it was suggested that they might want to help out at Zephyr Point which is a short 30-minute drive from the Carson Valley. Very soon Carol’s husband was on the Board and then President of the Board. After his passing, Carol finished his term as a Board member and then served her own term. Carol has also volunteered at special events, worked in the gift shop, planted flowers, helped with office tasks, and filled some summer shifts at the front entrance. Currently, she serves as  a co-opted member of the Board and is part of the Guest Services Committee.

Carol’s professional career included teaching English and History, Director at the Wm S. Hart Museum and as a Volunteer Coordinator for the LA Philharmonic. In Carol’s free time she enjoys gardening and is a Master Gardner.

cjsandmeier@aol.com

Jim Upshaw

Jan Hartman

Jan Hartman joined the Board of Directors in 2016 and brings a strong commitment to Zephyr Point along with experience gained while serving as a youth leader, Elder, and Deacon in 3 congregations; advocating 20+ years within the denomination for full inclusion of PC(USA) members who are LGBTQ; and working 37 years in the corporate world cultivating skills in organizational leadership, training & development, and strategic planning.
Recently retired, Jan also volunteers regularly with the ALS Association, the NE (Portland) Food Pantry, and loves traveling just about anywhere with her spouse of 26 years, the Rev. Dr. Deana Reed. That includes Europe, 44 U.S. states (so far), countless National Parks, and even the grocery store in times of COVID! Hiking and backpacking in the nearby Cascades and camping at the Oregon coast nurture her deep love of the outdoors.

Deana Reed

Presently I am a co-opted member of the Guest Services Committee. I have served on the Board of Directors for many years, rotating off 6 years ago.
My relationship with Zephyr Point began in the late ’80s as I brought Youth Groups up from the church I served in Napa.
Over the years Zephyr Point became “home” for our Annual Family Camp in both winter and summer as we enjoyed Lakeview Lodge, the splendor of Lake Tahoe and the wonder of Zephyr Point!
I served five churches over the course of my ministry, beginning and ending in Napa, CA. Week-long conferences and weekend retreats at Zephyr Point were always a time of reflection and re-filling for my mind and soul!  In retirement, my spouse Jan Hartman and I moved to Oregon in 2019 (my home state).

deanajreed@yahoo.com