LEADERSHIP

NPC is on the growing edge when it comes to leadership development. Both paid and unpaid (volunteer) church leaders work in collaborative teams.

Membership in a ministry or mission team depends on one's spiritual gifts and passions. In this way, the actual NPC ministries and missions are run by hundreds of people serving in, or in association with, ministry teams. People are empowered to serve Christ in team-based ministries.The NPC staff are among the best in their particular fields of ministry. Each one brings excellent education and experience mixed with a deep love for Jesus Christ and a commitment to serve the Church.

The following pages include the names of the core leadership team but is not a complete list of the many many members who serve Christ at NPC. We can't thank them enough for their time, talents and tithes that help make it all happen.

PROGRAM STAFF

Reverend Samuel A. Schreiner III
Pastor and Team Leader

Sam grew up in a family of Presbyterians in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He gave his life to Christ at the age of 15 while attending a winter camp run by Young Life. Attending seminary in New England (Gordon Conwell, outside of Boston), Sam fell in love with this region. A Presbyterian minister since 1983, Sam has only pastored churches in New England (two in New Hampshire before coming to Noroton Presbyterian Church). Sam has also been a lecturer at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, in the Department of Ministry. He is on the board of Vision New England and Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.

He and his wife, Deb, have been married since 1977 and have three adult children and two grandchildren. Their daughher Abby lives and works in Richmond, VA, their son Samuel, his wife Chantal and their twins, Bella and Bryson, live in Arlington, MA and son Jack lives in New Hampshire where he has his own contracting business. Sam has been a volunteer in missions to Ethiopia, Kenya, Taiwan and New Zealand. In 1999 he was also a volunteer on the inaugural year of an archeological dig in Israel (Project Zeitah). Sam's passion for sports led him to coach youth soccer and play third base for his former church's softball team (they retired his number when he moved). When he isn't preaching and encouraging disciples of Jesus Christ, he can be found reading, walking his dog "Gus", or rooting for the New England Patriots.

You can reach Sam via email by contacting him at sschreiner@norotonchurch.org.

Reverend Gregory M. Doll
Associate Pastor of Adult Spiritual Formation and Outreach

Greg grew up in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and reared in a home where Jesus Christ was always at its center. He had a life-changing encounter with Christ as an eleven-year-old while attending a summer basketball camp. From that moment on, Jesus became "the preoccupation" (to borrow Tozer's term) of his life. After high school, Greg enrolled at the University of Kentucky with the primary intention of playing football and the secondary intention of pursuing a degree. During his junior year at UK, while serving in leadership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he began to sense a call to ordained ministry. He completed his M.Div. at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1999, and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in May of 2000. Prior to his arrival at NPC, Greg served as the pastor of churches in North Carolina and Ohio.

Greg and his wife, Kimberly, have three young children: Eliot, Amelia, and Simeon, as well as a faithful dog named Joe. He is a self-professing bibliophile with special interests in works of history, theology, literature and poetry. He also has a particular fascination with the aesthetics and architecture of sacred and academic spaces. On his days off, your best chance of finding Greg is with his family. If he's not with them, you might check the library, the treadmill, the trout stream, or Fenway Park.

You can reach Greg via email by contacting him at gdoll@norotonchurch.org.

Reverend Brandi Drake
Associate Pastor of Caring and Women's Ministries

Brandi grew up in Southern California, and can remember knowing about the love of Christ from a very early age. She calls her life of faith a ‘long obedience in the same direction’ (to quote Eugene Peterson), and has had many ah-ha moments with Christ, from summer camps to college fellowship and on. She attended University of California at Santa Barbara, where she spent a life-changing year abroad in Beijing, China, and went on to earn her M Div at Fuller Theological Seminary in 1996. She has served churches in Montana and New Jersey, and came to serve in Darien in 2009.

Brandi and Evan Drake have been married since 1998, and the delight of this season in their lives is spending time with their sons, Ethan and Miles. Light sabers, basketballs and laughter fill the Drake manse. During ‘down’ time, Brandi might be found in the kitchen, the garden, at the beach, or reading a good book with the cat on her lap.

You can reach Brandi via email by contacting her at bdrake@norotonchurch.org.

Reverend Stuart Smith
Associate Pastor for Student Ministries

Stuart has been the Associate Youth Pastor at NPC since 2007. Stuart grew up in Dallas, TX where he was very active in his church's youth ministry and began to consider full-time ministry while in junior high. He recognized the Lord continuing to affirm this call while attending Texas Christian University and then at Austin Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity. Stuart has served in churches in Northern California and several parts of Texas.

When Stuart is not spending time with high school and middle school students he enjoys being with his wife Debra, and 3 sons; Hayden, Micah and Preston. They enjoy spending time outside, especially at the beach. Stuart spends his free time watching the Dallas Cowboys, running, swimming at the Y, and rebuilding old cars in his garage!
You can reach Stuart via email by contacting him at ssmith@norotonchurch.org.

Dwayne Condon
Director of Worship & Fine Arts

Dwayne has been a professional musician since the age of 14. He is an accomplished pianist and has played with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Roger Wagner Chorale. He's had a successful singing career in live performances, in films and in studio recordings. He is also a skilled composer and arranger. Dwayne is married to Jenifer and they have 4 children, Patrick (21), Caitlin (18), Nicholas (Nicky, 3) and Sophia (Sophie, 2).

Dwayne served as the Director of Worship Arts at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church in Glendora, CA for sixteen years before joining us on staff here at NPC. While there he grew choir membership from 50 to 100 members, worked with his wife, Jenifer, to develop children's choirs and stage plays, added a Saturday night contemporary worship service, and lead a successful 10-year concert series that included major orchestral-choral works, Broadway musicals, plays and recitals.

You can reach Dwayne via email by contacting him at dcondon@norotonchurch.org.

Valerie Muller
Director of Congregational Life

Valerie was born in Washington D.C. and raised in western Pennsylvania. Her early schooling in a coal mining area outside of Uniontown morphed into middle and high school education in/around Pittsburgh, which culminated at the University of Pittsburgh.

Raised in a Christian home, Valerie made a personal commitment to Christ around age 11 was active in church youth groups, began attending Young Life in junior high, and ultimately became co-leader for Club and Campaigners for a number of years.

Valerie’s career started in event planning and evolved into strategic account/media planning at advertising agencies. Valerie lived in San Francisco for 6 years, enjoying a wide range of outdoor activities, before her advertising/marketing career brought her back east in 1979. She resided in NYC for 12 years before moving to Rowayton, CT in 1994.

Valerie’s love for outdoor and water-related activities, led her to reside in the southern Fairfield County area. She also enjoys cooking and entertaining friends in her home. Post 9/11 she began consulting in marketing/media/advertising as well as trainer/facilitator work which she continues in addition to her work here at NPC.

Valerie was involved in NPC women’s retreats, Bible studies, Norwalk Shelter soup kitchen, and as-needed meal preparation prior to officially joining NPC in January 2007. Her activities expanded to small groups, and working with the Communications Committee on Strategic Planning for NPC and supporting the seniors programs.

She continues to prayerfully discover God’s plan for the ministry of the Congregational Life team.

You can reach Valerie via email by contacting her at vmuller@norotonchurch.org.

Dan Rosa
Business Administrator

Dan was born and raised in Stamford and has lived and worked in Fairfield County since graduating from St. Michael’s College (Colchester, VT), BA, Cum Laude, 1973. He also earned an MBA from the University of Connecticut (1986). Dan was called to NPC in November, 2002 with a diverse financial management background which includes banking, manufacturing, executive recruiting and nonprofit management.

Dan serves as a mentor to a Bridgeport middle school student in the Southwestern CT Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program. He enjoys early morning workouts and is an avid reader and golfer. He currently resides in Norwalk.

You can reach Dan via email by contacting him at drosa@norotonchurch.org.

Cathie Viola
Director of NPNS

Cathie Viola joined Noroton Presbyterian Church in January 2000. She has been a teacher of young children and director of various early childhood programs for more than 25 years. She has a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Early Childhood Administration.

Cathie lives in Tuckahoe, NY and has been involved in many volunteer activities including Midnight Run, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and various fundraising campaigns.

You can reach Cathie via email by contacting her at cviola@norotonchurch.org.

David Lee
Director of Properties

David Lee joined the NPC staff in January 1996. As the Director of Properties, David has responsibility for the maintenance and management of the NPC building operations and property, including the four manses. He is also responsible for ensuring that all safety and fire regulations are adhered to.

When it comes to building repairs, services, and supplies, David works with the vendors to (1) find the best solution to a problem, (2) find the best vendors to do the job, and (3) negotiate the best price and quality job for NPC. When required, he secures the appropriate licenses and building permits. David supervises the NPC and NPNS custodial staff and has two full-time and four part-time sextons reporting directly to him.

David is interested in developing his knowledge and skills in property management. By completing extensive hands on courses at BOCE (Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services) in New York, he has gained theoretical and practical knowledge in the operations and maintenance of heating systems, oil burners, air conditioning, plumbing, basic electrical work, construction estimating, reading blueprints & plans, and landscaping. He also successfully completed the Padgett Thompson Facilities Management Course and RSMeans Facilities Maintenance & Repair Estimating.

David's workload is endless, his spirit over flowing, and his patience a wonder. As a member of the Korean Presbyterian Church of Westchester in Pelham, New York, he has served on their Building Committee and Small Group Bible Study Leader. David resides in Darien with his wife, Sue, and their two daughters (Priscilla and Cecillia).

You can reach David via email by contacting him at dlee@norotonchurch.org.

Carol Scott
Director of Tot Drop

Carol Scott is the new Director of the Tot Drop day care program. Carol is an experienced educator, who has taught grades K through 4, and most recently taught kindergarten, first grade and served as an early literacy specialist in the Ardsley, New York elementary school. On leaving the classroom, Carol was an education consultant for a children’s educational publisher supporting teachers and administrators implementation of best practices in literacy development; she has also been an education consultant for a library technology company.

Carol developed and trained teachers in developmentally appropriate practice in summer workshops, as well as taught literacy methods to pre-service teachers as adjunct professor at Pace University. Most recently, Carol has edited a 670-page book on the history of her church’s military ministry as well as developed the index of over 4,000 items for the volume. Carol has two grown children, a six-year old granddaughter and a grandson born in April 2009. Carol and her husband Phil, a retired military Air Force chaplain, live in Stamford.

You can reach Carol via email by contacting him at cscott@norotonchurch.org.

Michael Orr
Student Ministries Associate

Mike is the son of a Presbyterian Pastor, and has lived in New Jersey, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The summer Mike was 12 he responded to the overwhelming love of God by giving his heart to Jesus. Though the journey hasn’t been an entirely smooth one, he continues to do his best to follow Jesus every day. Mike studied Psychology at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. After earning his BA in 2002 he took a position at a mental health agency and worked with children and youth who had various challenges. In April of 2004 Mike accepted a part–time position here at NPC, moved from Pennsylvania, and began his ministry among Middle and High School students.

Mike now lives here in Darien, works full time in Student Ministries, and loves every minute of it. He also volunteers with Young Life, and is an Assistant Coach for Darien High School Track and Cross Country. Mike is passionate about music, teaching, working with teenagers, and helping students to encounter Jesus in a personal and life changing way. If you can’t find him in his office or ministering, it’s likely he’s on a bicycle (road or mountain), running, playing his guitar, or with his nose in a book.

You can reach Mike via email by contacting him at mikeorr@norotonchurch.org.

Abby Young
Student Ministries Associate

Abby joined the Student Ministries Staff at NPC in June and is so happy to be here! She grew up in New Jersey, and first decided to take her faith seriously on a mission trip to California when she was 15. After finishing high school, she went on to study at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, and it was there that she felt God calling her into youth ministry. She graduated in May of 2008 with a BA in Youth Ministry and started working at NPC only 3 weeks later!

Abby now lives in Darien. When she’s not in the office or hanging out with kids, Abby is usually outdoors (playing ultimate Frisbee or some other sport…), watching movies, reading a good book, or cooking. Abby also has a passion for mission work, especially in Haiti, which she has had the privilege to visit twice during college. She can’t wait to go back, and loves to talk about it!

You can reach Abby via email by contacting her at ayoung@norotonchurch.org.