Staff and Council Bios

Officers:
President: Tracy Wells
Tracy Wells and her husband, Thomas, have been married for 17 years. They joined TLLC in 1999. She has been the Christian Education Council Director for the past four years and the VBS director for seven years. Tracy is also a member of the Morning Ringers handbell choir. Tracy has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, but currently works from home as mother and homeschool teacher to their four children. She enjoys scrapbooking and has achieved the rank of 2nd degree black belt in tae kwon do.

President Elect: Richard Klingner
Richard Klingner and his wife Ann have been members of Triumphant Love since 1985. They have two adult children. He serves TLLC with vocal and instrumental music. He has served as a Stephen Minister since 1989, and has coordinated Stephen Ministry since 1992, serving as Co-coordinator with Joan Stys since 2004. He served in 1989 as Chair of the Ad-hoc Task Group on Advertising; in 1989-90 as the Council representative for Stewardship; and in 2004 on the Committee on Information Management Systems. He is a professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in the design of masonry structures for earthquake loads. He enjoys jogging, cycling and skiing, and is a member of the Austin Symphonic Band.

Council Secretary: Melanie Daude
Melanie Daude and her husband, John, have been members of Triumphant Love for 10 years and both are cradle Lutherans. Melanie is a Stephen Minister(twice at other churches, and once with TLLC), an active member of the Worship & Music Committee here at TLLC, and a former Contemporary Worship leader at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. She and her husband met at Camp Chrysalis in 1983 at a Lutheran Young Adult Retreat. Melanie is a former computer software analyst, but now enjoys participating in multiple Bible studies, fund-raising for New Life Treatment Center, doing volunteer work with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, spending time with friends & family, traveling, & gutting and re-building her & John's lake house at Inks Lake.

Treasurer: Joel Reed
Joel Reed is a CPA and graduated from Texas Christian University with a BBA in Accounting. Since 1999, he has worked in investments and ranching and prior to that was Director of Corporate Accounting for Dell, Inc. His family includes Laurel, his wife of 33 years, and three children, Catherine 28, Joel 25, and Ryan 22. Joel is on the TLLC Finance and Endowment Committees. He is on the Board (Treasurer and Chair of investment and audit committees) of Lutheran Social Services and is Board Chair of Trinity Charter School. He also is chair of Lutheran Social Services annual golf benefit for New Life Treatment Center. He enjoys gardening, woodworking, kayaking, and racquetball.

Financial Secretary: Don Visness
Don graduated from Colorado University with a BA in electrical engineering in 1963. He joined NASA in 1964 and worked at the White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, NM for 34 years, retiring in 1999 after providing ground systems test support of the Apollo and Shuttle systems. He and his wife, Reenie, attended the first shuttle launch as honorees and plan to attend the last one in a few years. His daughter, Kelly Condon, lives in Round Rock and is the deputy director of the Leukemia Society in Austin. His son, Chris, and Chris's wife, Emily, are teachers and are planning to move to Austin this year. He has provided computer support in his NASA experiences and has been a financial secretary at Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces. Golf, sports, and church are his main retirement activities.

Assistant Financial Secretary: Andi Reaves
Andi has a BBA in accounting from Mary Hardin-Baylor and is a CPA and CIA. She retired from the City of Austin in 2003 as Deputy Controller. Andi has been married 40 years to Don, retired US Army Lt. Col. and recently retired from the City of Austin Law Department. They have one daughter, Chelly. She has served as the Mary Martha Cookbook co-chair, Assisting Minister, Lay Reader, and participated on various other committees. She enjoys reading, bridge, gardening, and needlework of all kinds.

Council Ministry Directors:
Endowment Ministry Director: Dave Blockhus
Dave Blockhus and his wife Sherry have been married 44 years and members of TLLC for 26 years. They have served as ushers and greeters and Dave has served on the TLLC Investment Review and Endowment Committees. Dave is a graduate of Luther College and received an MBA degree from the University of Tennessee. He served in the US Air Force for 20 years before becoming a Financial Consultant and Branch Manager for Merrill Lynch. He currently has his own investment advisory practice. Dave and Sherry have participated in the TLLC Bridge Group for the past 25 years.

Education Ministry Director: Cheryl Bertero
Cheryl Bertero has been married to Charlie for thirty-three years; they have four children and a daughter-in-law. Over the past eleven years, she has been involved in numerous Education, Nurture, Service, Support, Worship, and Youth activities at TLLC. Cheryl looks forward to her second year on Council and eagerly awaits her first grandchild.

Facilities Management Ministry : Dave Polzin
Dave and Judy joined TLLC in 1996. Dave served on the Council as Property Chair from 2000 through 2001. Judy was active in the alter guild until her death in 2005. Dave retired from the USAF in 1983 with the grade of Lt Col. He served 7 years at the pentagon and finished his career at Kelly AFB as an executive officer for a Major General. Dave and Judy started their own energy efficient lighting business here in Austin. Dave retired from the lighting business in August as a senior project manager for a national lighting company. Dave graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Superior and was one thesis away from earning a masters in logistics management when he was sent to Viet Nam.

Nurture Ministry Director: Lisa Stuckey
Lisa Stuckey was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She and her husband, Mark, have two daughters Rachel and Megan. They joined Triumphant Love in 1991. She helped form the TLLC Parents of Young Children small group with Beth Schrader. She has helped with the PIE group, vacation bible school, and various confirmation projects. Lisa has a B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations and a M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling all from the University of Texas. She has taught kindergarten and worked as a school counselor in many of Austin's elementary schools. She has been involved in several community organizations which serve children and parents who have mental health and prenatal needs. She currently is a counselor at Andrews Elementary school in northeast Austin.

Public Relations Ministry Director: Jeff Buchle
Jeff Buchle (Beakley) was born in Harrisburg Pa. Jeff is married to Barbara since 1963. Jeff and Barbara and their two children Todd and Tamara moved to Austin in 1986. Jeff worked for IBM in Manufacturing Engineering, Product Assurance, and Product Development Engineering. He then worked for Dell for four years and Entorian (Staktek ) for 15 years where he was Director of Test Engineering, Director of IT and Product Development Engineering. He retired at the end of 2008. Jeff has interest in Film Making, Photography, Bicycling and Out Door Cooking and Camping. Jeff teaches a summer camp course in Film Making at Wilderness Ridge Camp, a Christian camp for youth in Bastrop.

Social Service Ministry Director: Bob Kohls
Bob Kohls is a charter member of TLLC. He and his wife Mary have 3 grown sons and 2 grandchildern. He recently retired from Freescale/Motorola after 29 years of service. Bob is currently a member of the Social Service committee (supporting Cropwalk), Men in Ministry, couples bridge club, usher, and counter. He also serves as a board member of NW Austin Kiwanis club. Bob's interests include tennis, travel, golf, cards, and investing.

Support Ministry Director: Anne Anderson
Anne Ilse Anderson is a 5th generation Texas, born and raised in Columbus, Texas. She attended Baylor University, The University of Texas and The University of Texas at San Antonio where she completed undergraduate degrees in Home Economics Education and Nutrition with graduate degrees in Business and Education. She has spent her professional working career in agriculture where she has both founded and managed agribusiness companies. She was involved in such projects as the opening of the Japanese market for US Beef and the founding of the Texas Beef Industry Council where she was the first Executive Vice President for 10 years. Currently she manages a livestock and wildlife ranch in Menard county and a migratory waterfowl outfitting company in Saskatchewan, Canada. In her spare time, she loves to hunt and fish with her family and "mess with flowers."

Witness Ministry Director: Casey Burns
Casey Burns has been a member of TLLC since 2001. He has served on the Stewardship Committee and the Love Gives to Grow program for the past 2 years. Casey married Tessa 7 ½ years ago and they have a 2 year old son, Davis. Casey has worked in the technology industry for the past 10 years and received his B.A. in Business at Concordia University in 2007.

Worship and Music Ministry Director: Janet Lonvick
Janet and her family moved to Austin in 1998 and joined TLLC. She is in the handbell choir and has been involved in the Confirmation and Senior High youth programs. Janet is married to Chris and has two daughters, Ruthie and Sarah. She enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and genealogy.
Youth Ministry Director: Tony Pierce
Tony Pierce and his wife, Teresa, have been married for 27 years. They joined TLLC in 1995. He works for Freescale Semiconductor as a Process Engineering Technician. He helped out in early years with Teresa in Sunday School and from 2004-2008 as a Middle School Confirmation Mentor. He has helped out on Middle School Camp Crysalis trips, Middle School Quake, and the High School Sky Ranch trip. Tony has mentored at Norman Elementary School for the past 5 years. His hobbies include cycling, sailing, astronomy and photography.

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Staff
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Norb Firnhaber
Pastor Norb is married to Geanie and they have three adult children. He was born in Nebraska and raised in Illinois.
Pastor Norb graduated from college with a major in philosophy, and completed a Master of Divinity Degree at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He received a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Northern Iowa and a Doctorate in Ministry and New Testament from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley. He has completed clinical pastoral training and has done graduate work at Hartford Seminary and San Jose State University.
He has served as pastor of two congregations and two campus ministries. The parishes were in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and West Hartford, Connecticut. He was also an instructor in theology at San Jose State University and at Concordia University in Austin while serving at the University of Texas.
He enjoys sports, singing, reading Greek, backyard ponds, conversation, and Dr. Pepper. An avid runner, he has logged over 28,000 miles and has participated in 80 road races and six marathons.
Email Pastor Norb.
Associate Pastor: Rev. Jennifer Krentz
Pastor Jennifer was born in Moorhead, Minnesota. She grew up in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and attended Valparaiso University (Christ College), Valparaiso, Indiana, majoring in Theology and Humanities.
She also attended Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her internship was in Toledo, Ohio, and she completed her clinical pastoral work at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. She joined the TLLC staff in 2004 after serving a congregation in Indiana, Pennsylvania, for four years.
Pastor Jennifer enjoys reading and writing, travel, study, singing, film, basketball, conversation, and coffee.
Email Pastor Jennifer.
Worship and Music Director: Carol Holck
Born in Houston and raised in Ohio, Carol is a graduate of Wittenberg University, piano performance. Her Master’s degree is from the Ohio State University, piano pedagogy, with some seminary post-graduate studies. She has served Lutheran congregations for more than 20 years in various musical capacities. She shares her life with her two children and enjoys dancing, and the outdoors.
Email Carol Holck.
Christian Education and Small Group Ministries Director: Julie Klock
Julie was born in Sioux Falls, SD, and grew up as a PK (pastor’s kid) in Lutheran parishes in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Julie attended St. Olaf
and Augustana Colleges. Interests include her children’s activities, reading, camping, and people.
Email Julie Klock.
TLLC Child Development Center Director: Karen Weise
Born in Austin, Karen attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a degree in Child Development, as well as a Business Administration degree from Austin Community College. She shares her life with her husband and two children. She enjoys decorating, gardening, and outdoor activities with her family.
Email Karen Weise
Volunteer Ministry Director: Janice Daily
Janice was born in Waco and grew up all over the U.S. in a military family. She is married and has one adult daughter. She earned her Associate of Applied Science, Child Development, from Austin Community College and was formerly employed at our CDC. Music, painting pottery, journaling, reading, and computers are among her and favorite things.
Email Janice Daily
Office Supervisor: Cathey Arnold
Cathey grew up in Abilene, Texas. She's married to Dale and they have two married daughters and five grandchildren. Though she never achieved a college degree, she has been in the work force since high school. She enjoys her friends and family and serving on altar guild at St. Barnabas the Encourager Church. She praises God for bringing her to TLLC in 1986.
Email Cathey Arnold.

Bookkeeper: Lisa Ard
Lisa was born and raised in Austin and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Retail Merchandising. She is married to Mike, her husband of 20 years, and they have two boys – Austin and Adam. After a short stint as an area sales manager for a department store chain, she returned to work in her family sporting goods business until 2007 when she came to Triumphant Love as the bookkeeper. She and her family are avid Texas Longhorn fans and enjoy sports of all kinds. Although a cradle Episcopalian, Lisa is honored and blessed to be a part of the extended Lutheran family at Triumphant Love.

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