Meet Our Staff
- Details
- Category: General
Todd Smith, Senior Pastor
Pastor Smith is a native of Appleton, Wisconsin. He began serving at First United Lutheran in September of 2007. Pastor Smith received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Pastor Smith was ordained on March 25th, 1990.
Pastor Smith enjoys preaching and children's sermons; he has a passion for outreach and helping others. Pastor Smith is a strong advocate of holy humor, and appreciates the gift of the moment God gives to us.
Pastor Smith, and his wife, Pam, together have four children who bring tremendous joy to their lives. They share a strong commitment to family, and are enjoying the blessing of a grandchild!
Favorite Hobby...watching sports (you know..Packers, Brewers, Badgers...yes, I'm a homer!)
Favorite Movie...The Blindside
Favorite Food...Pasta, Babyback Ribs, Cheese Curds, Beef Tenderloin, Stuffed Pork Chops, Tacos (okay, full disclosure...I love food!)
Contact Pastor at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
Deaconess Debra Ganser, Associate in Ministry
Deb Ganser was consecrated as a Deaconess by the Luther Deaconess Association on November 14, 1998, and was comissioned as an Associate in Ministry in the ELCA on February 28, 2010. She begun her ministry at First United on November 1, 1999.
Being called to "Word and Service," Deb's ministries at First United are many and varied. She prays weekly with the Grounded in Prayer group, knits with the Holy Knitters, helps facilitate "Table Talk" (our weekly Sunday morning adult education group,) and offers spiritual care and grief support. Deb works with the Social Ministry, Refugee, & Tanzanian partnership committees, and is the staff liaison to our Befriender ministry. Deb enjoys assisting for worship and preaches about once a month.
Deb & her husband, Rod have three adult children, a son & dauther-in-law, & two beautiful grandchildren.
Favorite Hobby... Gardening & playing Sudoku
Favorite Food ... Fresh blueberries & chocolate
Favorite Season...Spring - when the days grow longer and warmer, and everything "comes alive" again!
Favorite Book...Of my most recently read books, my favorite is "The Help."
Favorite Color...Periwinkle
Favorite Movie ... "Up"
Contact Deaconess Deb at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
Mary Gorges, Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Mary is from Elmwood, a small town in western Wisconsin & attended UW-RF where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism & English. She has served at First United in Family Ministry since September 2005 as the full time Director of Youth & Family, a job that she shares with Thom Nicla. She has continued her education through the Youth & Family Institute through their Youth Ministry Certification Program.
Mary thinks that she truly has the best job in the world & enjoys that she is able to work with all age groups of kids & the wonderful families here at First United. When not at church she is a mom to sons Michael & Jack & wife to Tom Gorges, life long members of First United.
Favorite Hobby ... reading, gardening & playing Angry Birds on her iphone
Favorite Movie ... all the Harry Potter movies :)
Favorite Food ... shamrock shakes, french onion soup, fish tacos, & popcorn (but not all at the same time)
Contact Mary at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
Thomas Nicla, Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Thom is a native son of Sheboygan & graduated from South High School in 1988. He continued his education at UW-Sheboygan where he received his associates degree & then went on to attend UW Milwaukee, until taking over his famlies' insurance business in 1990. He coached forensics & Cross Country at South High School from 1990-2001. He continued this education through Wartburg Theological Seminary to become a Certified Youth Minister in 2005. He has served as part time Director of Family Ministry at First United since September 2006, a job he shares with Mary Gorges.
Thom enjoys computer games, playing his guitar, reading & working on the gardens in his yard. He is a self proclaimed "Geek" and is always willing to take on new challenges. When not at church he is father to Aiden & Leyna and loving husband to his wife Stacie.
Favorite Hobby ... playing computer & video games, being outdoors & playing on his iPad:)
Favorite Movie ... Avatar - best movie ever!!
Favorite Food ... any form of bacon, & any Chinese buffett restaurants
Contact Thom at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
Wayne Wildman, Director of Music
Wayne Wildman joined the staff at First United in 1994. A native of Sheboygan. Wayne initially studied at Lakeland College, where he majored in philosophy and religion, as well as, music. Wayne continued his musical studies at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where he was Leland Coon Fellow in Musicology. He was also the winner of the prestigious Danforth National Fellowship.
Music Director of the Manitowoc Symphony since 1990, Wayne is also an active harpsichord and piano soloist. He has appeared with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in recitals at Symphony Center and the Art Institute of Chicago, served as accompanist for the Fourth International Henryk Szeryng Violin Competition in Toluca, Mexico and performed on Wisconsin Public Radio's "Live from the Elvejhem" series. Wayne, who serves as the Music Director of our church, has appeared as a soloist with Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, the Sheboygan Symphony, The Manitowoc Symphony and the Green Bay Civic Symphony, and local music groups in the Sheboygan area.
Along with music, Wayne enjoys collecting books and petting large dogs.
Contact Wayne at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
Valerie Grissom, Thursday Worship Pianist
Valerie has served as the pianist for Thursday worship services since October of 2009. Growing up as a minister's daughter from Colorado, church music and ministry have always been part of Valerie's life. Valerie sang before she talked: at 9 months, she hummed "Jesus Loves Me." At 3, she sang her first church solo. By 14, she played piano for church regularly. She also has 4 siblings, and they all sing and play, too.
After completing a B.S. in Music Education (Piano Proficiency) and a Master of Arts Degree in Piano Performance from Pensacola Christian College, in Pensacola, Florida, Valerie taught music and choir in Christian School, as well as piano in her home studio. She also served and used her talents a great deal in church - playing, singing, accompanying, and leading worship. Gradually, she felt God calling her to be a Minsiter of Music in church. That graudal calling has led Valerie to commit her vocation to Worship Ministry. She enjoys ministering to those who serve in worship departments of church, and loves leading people in worshipping God - whether it be by music, art, drama, media, dance, etc. Valerie's theme verse is I Chronicles 16:29: "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness..."
Valerie and her husband, Ben, came to Sheboygan for vacation, loved the area, and felt God leading them to stay in Sheboygan. Since moving here, they have been blessed with two children, Bjorn and Promise Rose. Because they met ballroom dancing, this is on of Ben and Valerie's favorite pastimes. As a family, they also like to be outdoors, whether camping, gardening, or just playing on the beach. They all share a love of travel.
Support Staff: Lee Anne Gilson, Debbie Frick, Cindy Wigdahl, Lance Nennig, and Kori Novicki.