I’m originally from Washington, D.C., born and raised in the city. I attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts, then worked as a stock broker in New York City for a while. I was working for a bank in Washington when friends introduced me to this sweet boy from Dunn, NC. After Kedar and I married, we picked Charlotte together as our new home. We quickly had three children, Florence, Robert and Mary, and raised our family here. I have a great love for this church. After years in the corporate world, it’s nice to take a left turn to a place that has my heart.

A lifelong member of First Presbyterian, I joined the music department as handbell coordinator in November 2013.

I studied music education with an emphasis on percussion at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where I graduated cum laude. I perform regularly in the Charlotte area as a jazz drummer and vibraphonist and have performed with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra both as a section player and featured guest.

In addition to music, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and spending time with my wife Susannah and our two dogs, Ashe and Bo.

Before joining the CDC three years ago, I taught kindergarten for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and four-year-olds at the Weekday School. I am a member at First Presbyterian Church.

I graduated from Queens University and have been in Charlotte 33 years. I have three grown children. My latest interest is my new German Shepherd puppy. Other interests include book club, gardening and cooking.

I’ve been a member of First Presbyterian Church for more than 10 years, and joined the staff in February of 2017.

After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill I spent most of my career working in finance at Bank of America.  I left the working world to stay home with my children and spent a lot of my spare time volunteering, which led me to this role at FPC!  In my free time I love to run and spend time with my family and friends.  My husband Jay and I have two children – James and Kate.

My husband, Frasier, and I joined in 1989. We met in a Sunday School class at First Presbyterian after I came to Charlotte for a job. I was born in New York—my mother was a member of the Southern Women’s Society of New York and they would get together and fry chicken. We moved to Clinton, SC, when I was seven years old. I attended Clemson and worked in the insurance industry in Columbia, SC, before moving to Charlotte. We have two children, Harris and Hunter. This church is one of my favorite places to be and I am so excited about helping others find their place here.

As a multi-decade member at First Presbyterian Church, I joined the staff in July 2013. I didn’t expect being a math major at Wake Forest to lead me to a church, but I have found a home here twice—first as the Membership Coordinator in the late ’90s and now as Director of Adult Formation. I brought to my current job a devotion to the church, 25 years of studying the Bible with many insightful and supportive women, and experience in catering and event planning.

In addition to my husband Lee, and children Andrew (25) and A.C. (19), my loves include yoga, cooking and wine study.

I joined First Presbyterian Church staff as the Weekday School Program Director in 2014. I have a B.A. from the University of Florida and a Masters in Theology from Vanderbilt University.

I moved to the Queen City in 2008 to teach Kindergarten with Teach For America. Before coming on board at First Pres, I worked in new teacher training and educational consulting.

I’m married to Wilson, a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. We make frequent trips to my hometown, Tampa, Florida, to enjoy the warm weather and quality time with family. I enjoy cooking, working out and watching HGTV.

Shantiqua is originally from New York City, where she worked for pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. She soon decided to focus her Fortune 500 skills toward servant leadership as a College Admissions Counselor at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte and in various roles with the nonprofit drop-out prevention organization Communities In Schools. Most recently, she served as executive director of A Child’s Place. Ms. Neely holds a M.S. in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University, a B.A. in Health Policy from the University of Rochester and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Wake Forest University.

Although I was born and raised in Southern California, I’m now a converted Southerner. I graduated from UNCC with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. I currently teach music at Lake Wylie Elementary School.

My interests outside of church and school include football (Keep Pounding!), board games, traveling, puzzles, and watching movies.

My deep commitment to Youth Ministry began as a young person growing up in the Presbyterian Church, and over the years it has found many forms of expression. I graduated from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, with a B.A. in Religion/Christian Education. Following graduation, I joined the staff of White Memorial Presbyterian Church to serve and direct Youth Ministry.

In 2013, I relocated to Charlotte with my husband, Kyle, to serve in youth ministry here and begin my masters of Divinity at Union Presbyterian Seminary. My call in serving is to join youth, families and adults through their faith journey and the joys and challenges that accompany adolescence. I’ve also had the opportunity to spend several summers planning and co-directing Montreat Youth Conferences.

Kyle and I have a son, Landon, and two cats, Kailey and Riley. When I’m not on retreats and hanging out with youth, I like to read, relax, run, spend time outside and watch college football (Go Pack & War Eagle!) with friends and family.

My calling to the Youth Ministry began following my senior year of High School when I served as a Counselor at Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference in Massanetta Springs Virginia, and I was hooked. I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte just up the road in 2019 with B.A. in Religious Studies and a Spanish Minor. My journey with the congregation and youth of First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte began in August 2017 as the Youth Ministry Intern, a position which I held until August 2019. I then ventured to Albuquerque, New Mexico to engage in a Young Adult Volunteer year through the Presbyterian Church USA for a year. While in Albuquerque I worked for an organization called The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, a local nonprofit seeking protection and conservation of New Mexico’s Wilderness areas and public lands. I am thankful to have found my way back to First Pres Charlotte in August of 2020 and could not be more thrilled to be working full time as the Director of Youth Ministry! Outside of Youth Ministry I am a die hard Chicago Cubs fan, and Carolina Panthers fan. I also enjoy listening to my favorite bands and musicians, hiking any and everywhere I can, and playing volleyball in my free time!

I joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church in July 2011 after serving seven years as the Associate Director of Music at Myers Park Presbyterian.

My undergraduate degree is in organ performance from Birmingham-Southern College and I earned my Master’s degree from the Indiana University School of Music in organ performance and church music.

I lead the Sanctuary Choir and Youth Choir, serve as organist for Sunday worship services, weddings, and funerals, and oversee all aspects of the music ministry. I’m married to Leigh, who serves as an assistant teacher at the FPC Weekday School; we are the proud parents of Jane, Phelps, and Ann Houston.