Operations Staff
Donabeth Urick - Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor
Born in Cooperstown, New York, Donabeth earned a B.A. in Biology at Bates College, then moved to Wichita, Kansas to do graduate work. God used that time to open the door for her to use her gifts of service and helps in a ministry context. Since 1984, Donabeth has served Senior Pastor Doug Pratt as his administrative assistant, first at Eastminster Presbyterian in Wichita, KS, then at Memorial Park Presbyterian in Allison Park, PA (1990-2004) and now in Bonita Springs. In addition to the general assistance provided Pastor Pratt in his duties, she supports the work of the Session, maintains the official church registers, and creates many of the PowerPoint screens for worship. She and her husband Gil, a graphic designer, share their home with a sweet but neurotic cat. She delights in finding the "Seinfeld moment" in every day and following her favorite NASCAR driver.
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Ed Schick - BookCenter Manager
Former business owner + avid reader + committed Christian = ideal manager of First Church BookCenter. Ed Schick fits both sides of this equation! Ed and his wife Ann came from Michigan in 2000 and joined First Church shortly thereafter. Together they have served in a number of volunteer capacities, including as co-chairs of the Adult Christian Education committee. So when the BookCenter (a combination retail store and lending library) opened in 2009, Ed was a natural choice to manage it. And Ann adds her own special touch with the beautiful displays of featured titles in the BookCenter window!
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Elsie Nesbitt - Administrator
As Church Administrator, Elsie Nesbitt is uniquely gifted — her years of administrative experience in higher education and business, combined with a deep love for the Lord and His church, have equipped her well for this key role. She oversees the smooth day-to-day operations of the church in the areas of administration, finance and human resources with humility, great skill and a warm sense of humor. Elsie is a graduate of Wesleyan University, has taken additional coursework in business, and is nearly completed with professional accreditation through the National Association of Church Business Administrators. She and her husband Jim (a retired college administrator) have lived in Bonita Springs since 1996. They are both active in the Great Banquet ministry, and enjoy golf and travel.
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Kathy Moffett - Receptionist
Kathy's may be the first voice you hear when you call the church — and what a voice it is! Three days a week she serves as our main receptionist — directing calls, greeting visitors and answering questions — and on Sundays, her voice is raised in song to the glory of God (in her role as alto section leader in our Chancel Choir and frequent soloist). Kathy and her husband, Glenn, hail from Annapolis, Maryland. They have two grown children, two grandchildren and one huge cat. They are particularly proud of their son and son-in-law, who serve in the Marine Corps and U.S. Army, respectively. Having lived in this area since 2003, Kathy has come to appreciate the beautiful summertime lightning (if not the occasional hurricane).
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Laura Bourdeau - Office Manager
A native of New England, Laura Bourdeau came to Bonita from Westerly, Rhode Island in 1998 and has been working at the church ever since. She brings 24 years of experience as a legal secretary/assistant to her role as Office Manager, supervising office volunteers, coordinating the church calendar and maintaining the extensive database. Avid Red Sox fans, Laura and her husband Danny (who works at the Royal Scoop) have one daughter, Amy, living in New York.
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Lori Willis - Hospitality Coordinator
With a degree in Hotel-Motel Management and a sincere desire to serve, Lori Willis teams with Event Coordinator Sandy Ritchie to meet the hospitality needs of the church. Lori moved here in 2009 from Kentucky, joining her parents, [the late] William and Marilyn Calvert, who retired here in 2006. She enjoys reading and writing, but her greatest joy is raising her granddaughter, Brianna.
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Nancy Oedy - Administrative Assistant
Nancy brings extensive experience as an administrative assistant to her position at First Presbyterian Church, supporting the ministry of Pastor Paul Fahnestock, serving as point person for pastoral care concerns, and coordinating media equipment needs. She and her husband Roger moved to Florida from Ohio in 1979 and raised their family of three children — Jen, Dan and Matt — here. It’s a family affair at First Church for the Oedys. Their son Dan is our Associate Pastor, and son-in-law Tom Bunt assists with both our youth ministry and facility management. Nancy and Roger have been involved with the Great Banquet ministry. When not at the church, they enjoy spending time with their 9 grandchildren.
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Rebecca Harley - Membership Coordinator
The smarts of a businesswoman, the determination of a former golf pro, the caring of a wife and mother, the heart of a servant: meet Rebecca Harley, our Membership Coordinator. Rebecca sees her role as an extension of First Church hospitality; she personally welcomes and follows up with visitors to our Sunday morning services, and guides those interested through the church membership process. A native of Canada with a degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, Rebecca played professional golf from 1992 to 1999. She and her husband Bill, head golf pro at The Forest, have two children and have been members of First Church since 2004. She loves gourmet cooking, golf (obviously) and anything Disney. And if you like the biscotti at Café First, you have Rebecca to thank!
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Rita Flower-Opdycke - Publications Coordinator
Rita Flower-Opdycke Publications CoordinatorOriginally from Toledo, Ohio, Rita moved to Bonita Springs in 1979 and joined the church staff in 1998. Her primary responsibilities are in the area of our church publications — from the weekly bulletin to the church newsletter (The Epistle), and everything in between. Her touch is evident in the many brochures, flyers, posters and press releases. Rita’s great love is writing. A former feature writer for a number of newspapers and magazines based in Naples, she now concentrates her talent on getting the word out for the various ministries and events of the church. At home, she and her husband Doug are entertained by two kitties - Josh and Samuel – offspring of the church cat, Grace.
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Sandy Ritchie - Event Coordinator
An Ohio Buckeye through and through, Sandy Ritchie’s previous career was as director of the law library for a Columbus, Ohio firm. Now her primary focus is living out Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Together with Hospitality Coordinator Lori Willis, Sandy oversees all aspects of the hospitality ministry at First Church… so much more than just food and beverages! She and her husband Dick moved to southwest Florida in 2003. They have two children and one grandchild.
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Thomas Hillegass - Media Specialist
Who better to assist with our media needs than someone not intimidated by “new” technology? Tommy started helping with Sunday morning sound and lights as a high school volunteer on our media team; now he’s an indispensable member of the staff. Whether it’s for worship, weekday studies or special events, Tommy makes sure the necessary media equipment is in place and ready to go. He is continuing his media training as a part-time student of sound and video technology. A big Harry Potter fan, Tommy has to find other ways to fill the void now that the series has concluded… golf, fishing and basketball will do!
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Tom Bunt - Facilities Specialist
Tom could best be described as our “Jack of all Trades.” As Facilities Specialist, he can be found helping out wherever necessary with maintenance issues, set-ups and special projects. But Tom also has a real passion for youth and many years of experience working with Young Life, so he provides significant support in our youth ministry as well. Tom grew up in Bonita Springs and is married to Jen. They have five children: sons Colton, Logan and Jacob, and daughters Taylor and Emma.
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