Meet our Staff!

Pastor Vern Dodd
I am the pastor of Huntersville Presbyterian Church (HPC) and a member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club.  I have been here since 2003 following long pastorates in Matthews, NC and Dunedin, FL.  A graduate of the University of Florida, I was on the water ski team that won the SEC championship and am an avid Gator fan.  I earned my Master of Divinity Degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Boston area.  While there, I also completed my Clinical Pastoral Education at Andover-Newton Seminary and worked part time making homemade fireplace bellows.  I did additional study at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. My favorite pastimes include kayaking, road biking, travel, walking, entertaining, reading and playing with our dog Lizzie. 

 Let me be the first to welcome you to HPC, a place we affectionately call “The Patch.”  I hope you will come and worship, and join us for your spiritual journey as you grow in your faith and practice.  

As the Director of Discipleship, I have called HPC home since June 2006.  I grew up in Orlando, Florida and moved to Greensboro, NC in 1992 to attend Greensboro College.  I graduated from there in 1996 with a degree in elementary education and taught 6th grade in Guilford County Schools for eight years.  In 2004, my family moved to the Charlotte area.  I spent two years teaching 4th and 5th grade at Cornelius Elementary before making the transition to HPC.

My husband, Ro, and I were married in 1999.  Ro is the Marketing Manager for Enterprise Rent a Car's Car Sales Division.  We have two children together, Erin and Lane.  In my spare time, I enjoy "letterboxing", reading a variety of different books, scrapbooking and crafts.

I am thrilled to be a part of all the excitement at The Patch!  This is not only a great place to work but also a great place to grow in God!

 

Shannon Roschke, Director of Worship Arts
I have been with HPC since 2008, starting as the leader of the choir and the music at the 11:00 service.  I now have taken on all the music responsibilities including the 9:00 Praise Band, Handbells as well as the choirs that sing at the services.  I am married to Damon and our oldest son is Stone, and we welcomed his younger brother, Easton, in Jan 2010.  Both our boys are the light of our lives!

 

 

 

Alex Tavarez, Youth Director
I came to HPC from New Jersey with my wife Danielle and beautiful baby daughter, Beka and in 2009 we added a son, Micah, to our growing family.   We are enjoying the break from the cold winters up north and have enjoyed learning about NC.   We have made HPC our home and are still getting to know all the wonderful young people associated with the church.

 Suzanne Carter, Administrative Assistant
The summer of 2010 marks the end of 14 wonderful years at HPC  I began as the Secretary/Financial Secretary working full time as the only office staff.  During the first 5 years the job grew as the church grew and we added a part-time office assistant for 3 mornings a week.  By the time Vern was called as pastor, we needed someone 5 mornings a week.  I have now reduced my working hours to 20 a week to focus on the administration/business/financial.  My husband, Buck,recently retired and our grown children and grandchildren live in the immediate area.  I feel very blessed to be able to continue working at HPC and be a part of its continuous growth and change as it becomes a more vital presence of God's ministry in Huntersville.

 Linda Guerity, Director of Communications
I have been with HPC since February of 2006 working part-time in the office.  It's a great place to work because the people are truly the best.  I have been welcomed since the day I started and never felt like a stranger here.  I moved here from the Detroit, Michigan area after living there for 32 years.  The weather here was certainly one of the reasons we moved here but the main reason was that our son, Mike, lived here and my husband, Bob, and I wanted to be closer to him.   We celebrated our only son's marriage to Marla in Nov. of 2008 and we couldn't be happier! We anticipate the birth of our first grandchild, Sophia Grace, in the summer of 2010.

In my spare time I enjoy relaxing with my cats, Lizzi and Lucy, watching my son race, gardening, swimming, crocheting, sewing, walking and going out to eat!  My husband and I are both originally from Cincinnati where most of our family still live. 

 Laurie Brown, Secretary
Coming on board at HPC in June of 2008, I am the newest member of the office staff.  I have lived in Huntersville since 1995 when I relocated to follow my husband Jeff's career and, a huge bonus, to live close to a large extended family.  Jeff and I have a son, Jason, who attends North Meck High School and a daughter, Emily, who attends Bailey Middle School.  I graduated from Sacred Heart University with a B.S. in Business Administration.  I enjoy reading, boating and walking my dogs.

Libby Mundy, Building Superintendant
I have lived in Huntersville all my life and have been cleaning and taking care of HPC for many years.  I am married to Coleman and have 2 sons and a daughter, 3 dogs and a cat.  I have taken on the challenge of keeping our calendar by handling all requests that come in to use the facilities.  We have many programs at the church making this job interesting to say the least.  

 Ellen Solbakken, AfterSchool/Summer Camp Director
Ellen has worked at HPC Child Care for 19 years and is currently serving as After School/Summer Camp Director.  She has a B.A. degree in Spanish as well as collegel-level training in child care administration.  As part of the HPC Child Care ministry, Ellen has taught both preschoolers and after schoolers and has a heart for faith-based ministry to children.  She and her husband have two grown sons who were each a part of the HPC Child Care program.  Ellen lives in a log home in the country in Kannapolis. 

Melody Bryant, Preschool Director 
I came on in 2007 to become the director of the HPC's Preschool Progam.  I have loved working with the preschool kids and getting to know their families.  I am married and have 3 sons the oldest who will be starting his second year in college.

 Kim Cook, Nursery Coordinator
My name is Kim Cook and my husband, daughter and I have lived in Huntersville for 4 years.  I have been a part of the HPC family for 2 years and look foward to many more.

Jamie Kincaid, Children's Praise Band
Jamie is the leader of the Children's Praise Band and loves to play the drums.  She is married to Jamie and they have 3 sons.

Meet our Staff!

Pastor Vern Dodd
I am the pastor of Huntersville Presbyterian Church (HPC) and a member of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club.  I have been here since 2003 following long pastorates in Matthews, NC and Dunedin, FL.  A graduate of the University of Florida, I was on the water ski team that won the SEC championship and am an avid Gator fan.  I earned my Master of Divinity Degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Boston area.  While there, I also completed my Clinical Pastoral Education at Andover-Newton Seminary and worked part time making homemade fireplace bellows.  I did additional study at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. My favorite pastimes include kayaking, road biking, travel, walking, entertaining, reading and playing with our dog Lizzie. 

 Let me be the first to welcome you to HPC, a place we affectionately call “The Patch.”  I hope you will come and worship, and join us for your spiritual journey as you grow in your faith and practice.  

As the Director of Discipleship, I have called HPC home since June 2006.  I grew up in Orlando, Florida and moved to Greensboro, NC in 1992 to attend Greensboro College.  I graduated from there in 1996 with a degree in elementary education and taught 6th grade in Guilford County Schools for eight years.  In 2004, my family moved to the Charlotte area.  I spent two years teaching 4th and 5th grade at Cornelius Elementary before making the transition to HPC.

My husband, Ro, and I were married in 1999.  Ro is the Marketing Manager for Enterprise Rent a Car's Car Sales Division.  We have two children together, Erin and Lane.  In my spare time, I enjoy "letterboxing", reading a variety of different books, scrapbooking and crafts.

I am thrilled to be a part of all the excitement at The Patch!  This is not only a great place to work but also a great place to grow in God!

 

Shannon Roschke, Director of Worship Arts
I have been with HPC since 2008, starting as the leader of the choir and the music at the 11:00 service.  I now have taken on all the music responsibilities including the 9:00 Praise Band, Handbells as well as the choirs that sing at the services.  I am married to Damon and our oldest son is Stone, and we welcomed his younger brother, Easton, in Jan 2010.  Both our boys are the light of our lives!

 

 

 

Alex Tavarez, Youth Director
I came to HPC from New Jersey with my wife Danielle and beautiful baby daughter, Beka and in 2009 we added a son, Micah, to our growing family.   We are enjoying the break from the cold winters up north and have enjoyed learning about NC.   We have made HPC our home and are still getting to know all the wonderful young people associated with the church.

 Suzanne Carter, Administrative Assistant
The summer of 2010 marks the end of 14 wonderful years at HPC  I began as the Secretary/Financial Secretary working full time as the only office staff.  During the first 5 years the job grew as the church grew and we added a part-time office assistant for 3 mornings a week.  By the time Vern was called as pastor, we needed someone 5 mornings a week.  I have now reduced my working hours to 20 a week to focus on the administration/business/financial.  My husband, Buck,recently retired and our grown children and grandchildren live in the immediate area.  I feel very blessed to be able to continue working at HPC and be a part of its continuous growth and change as it becomes a more vital presence of God's ministry in Huntersville.

 Linda Guerity, Director of Communications
I have been with HPC since February of 2006 working part-time in the office.  It's a great place to work because the people are truly the best.  I have been welcomed since the day I started and never felt like a stranger here.  I moved here from the Detroit, Michigan area after living there for 32 years.  The weather here was certainly one of the reasons we moved here but the main reason was that our son, Mike, lived here and my husband, Bob, and I wanted to be closer to him.   We celebrated our only son's marriage to Marla in Nov. of 2008 and we couldn't be happier! We anticipate the birth of our first grandchild, Sophia Grace, in the summer of 2010.

In my spare time I enjoy relaxing with my cats, Lizzi and Lucy, watching my son race, gardening, swimming, crocheting, sewing, walking and going out to eat!  My husband and I are both originally from Cincinnati where most of our family still live. 

 Laurie Brown, Secretary
Coming on board at HPC in June of 2008, I am the newest member of the office staff.  I have lived in Huntersville since 1995 when I relocated to follow my husband Jeff's career and, a huge bonus, to live close to a large extended family.  Jeff and I have a son, Jason, who attends North Meck High School and a daughter, Emily, who attends Bailey Middle School.  I graduated from Sacred Heart University with a B.S. in Business Administration.  I enjoy reading, boating and walking my dogs.

Libby Mundy, Building Superintendant
I have lived in Huntersville all my life and have been cleaning and taking care of HPC for many years.  I am married to Coleman and have 2 sons and a daughter, 3 dogs and a cat.  I have taken on the challenge of keeping our calendar by handling all requests that come in to use the facilities.  We have many programs at the church making this job interesting to say the least.  

 Ellen Solbakken, AfterSchool/Summer Camp Director
Ellen has worked at HPC Child Care for 19 years and is currently serving as After School/Summer Camp Director.  She has a B.A. degree in Spanish as well as collegel-level training in child care administration.  As part of the HPC Child Care ministry, Ellen has taught both preschoolers and after schoolers and has a heart for faith-based ministry to children.  She and her husband have two grown sons who were each a part of the HPC Child Care program.  Ellen lives in a log home in the country in Kannapolis. 

Melody Bryant, Preschool Director 
I came on in 2007 to become the director of the HPC's Preschool Progam.  I have loved working with the preschool kids and getting to know their families.  I am married and have 3 sons the oldest who will be starting his second year in college.

 Kim Cook, Nursery Coordinator
My name is Kim Cook and my husband, daughter and I have lived in Huntersville for 4 years.  I have been a part of the HPC family for 2 years and look foward to many more.

Jamie Kincaid, Children's Praise Band
Jamie is the leader of the Children's Praise Band and loves to play the drums.  She is married to Jamie and they have 3 sons.