LEADERSHIP AND STAFF

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Hmingi is very grateful to God for this call to serve and care for God’s children at Church of the Palms. She loves people of all ages and believes in the Congregation caring for the congregation. Her most life changing experience were interning at Mother Teresa’s Children’s Home and Home for the Dying and Destitute in Kolkota, India. Hmingi’s hobbies are gardening, painting, cooking, telling and laughing at jokes and entertaining. Hmingi holds an undergraduate degree from Aizawl Theological College, Master of Divinity from Bishop’s College, Kolkota, India, Master of Theology from Presbyterian Seminary and Colleges, Seoul, Korea, MA from Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA, and Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Hmingi has served Churches in Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, Delaware and Maryland. Hmingi and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Will Browne, love to travel around the world to learn new things and to feel at home with their lives.

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Laurie is the Associate Pastor for Family Life. She graduated from Montana State University a lifetime ago and completed her Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in May 2018. She joined Church of the Palms over 20 years ago and has worked here for over ten years now! She is married to a great guy named Bryan, who speaks her love language. They have a beautiful blended family of five daughters. Laurie loves spending time with her family, especially when they are playing basketball, cards and board games or just cooking, eating and talking together. Laurie loves to be outside and enjoys reading, riding her bike, and playing tennis.

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Geneviève received a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. An active pianist, she has been a national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition, a participant in the Nina Wideman Piano Concerto Competition and the winner of the 2002 USF Concerto Competition. She was the recipient of the 2001 Jacques Abram Memorial Piano Award and the 2002 Outstanding Merit Award in Piano. She performed twice as a guest soloist with the North Port Orchestra and recently performed Rhapsody in Blue at the Van Wezel with members of the Sarasota Orchestra. She is also the Artistic Director of the Sarasota Choral Society, a 150 member community chorus. She leads them in their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. In 2007, she founded a community children’s chorus, Sarasota Young Voices. The group has become well-loved throughout the community and has performed nationally and internationally throughout their years of existence. In 2015, Ms. Beauchamp obtained the Artist Teacher Certification through Choral Music Experience. She continues to train under orchestral and choral mentors. She joined the COP team in 2013 and has developed a wonderful relationship with the people in the different ensembles she leads, always striving to put people ahead of music while also looking for creative ways to share music in a meaningful way with both the congregation and the musicians. She shares her love of music with her husband William and their two daughters, Ariane and Daphne.

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Sarah is the Director of Ministry and Mission. Born and raised in Colorado, Sarah and her family have been members of Church of the Palms since 2014. Sarah went to University of Kansas for her undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Journalism (with a PR emphasis). She later earned a Masters degree in Film Production from the University of Miami and a Masters of Divinity from University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. After working as a film and television producer for 17 years, Sarah joined the staff of Church of the Palms in 2017. She has been married to husband Steve since 2003 and they have two children, Sawyer and Sydney. Sarah loves reading, cooking, spending time with friends and being with dog Huckleberry.

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Terry grew up in Eastern West Virginia, and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at Frostburg State University in the mountains of Western Maryland. Since that time, Terry has worked as a Tax Auditor for 16 years, Accounting Director of a furniture manufacturing plant, and Payroll Supervisor in two school systems. Most recently, and for the past 11 years, has served as the Associate Presbyter of Finance for New Hope Presbytery in Raleigh, NC.

Terry married his wife, Debbie, a software trainer/consultant, in 2001, and together they love to cook, travel and take cruises. They are both ordained Deacons in the PC(USA), and sang in their most recent church’s choir. Terry has also been a church Treasurer for over 15 years combined, and has served on a PNC in the past. As the new Director of Finance at Church of the Palms, Terry is excited to join in and share church life with new friends in Sarasota.

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Conor grew up here in Southwest Florida, specifically Punta Gorda, before heading off to college at Florida Southern College. After graduating in 3 years with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Conor headed off to the Austin, Texas area to work at a rural church while completing his Master of Arts in Youth Ministry at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After graduating in May 2021, Conor and his wife Megan moved to Sarasota and began with Church of the Palms. His hobbies include staying active, fishing and boating, and roasting coffee. His wife Megan is the athletic trainer at Cardinal Mooney High School.

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Carol Homeister is the Children’s Ministry Director at Church of the Palms. Carol loves to laugh and share the amazing love of Jesus with kids. She enjoys teaching our Chapel kids each week, Sunday Kids Worship, and mentoring our teens in student ministry. Carol and her Husband Eric have four children and love to vacation in the summers on Lake Michigan.

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Matthew Liddell is a video and content creator at Church of the Palms. His lifelong love of film and the arts led to his degree in Mass Communications at USF St. Petersburg. Since then, he’s used his media skills in television production and in a number of ministries. In his free time, Matt likes discovering new films and discussing them with friends, hosting a book club, game nights, and hanging out with his dog, Bruno.

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Sandy currently lives in the Parrish area. Her marriage to the love of her life expanded her family by two children. She has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education for over two decades and feels extremely blessed to have spent those years with wonderful people here at Church of the Palms and in her previous church in Sarasota. When she has free time, she spends it with her family and close friends. She loves to bake and watch her son play college baseball.

Corinne is excited to begin her new role as the Director of Tutoring. She earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from USF and holds a Masters degree in Mathematics. Corinne has over 6 years of experience teaching middle school math in Sarasota County and has spent countless hours tutoring children of all ages. She loves kids and believes that every student has the ability to learn and be successful. Corinne is excited to be a part of Church of the Palm’s tutoring program because she gets to help make an impact on the community by creating and supporting mentoring relationships that have the power to change a student’s future for the better.

In her free time, Corinne loves being active outside. You can find her playing in the park with her daughter, boating with her family and friends, lounging by the pool, or working out. She looks forward to going on a snowboard trip every year in the mountains with her husband Dan and daughter Brooke.

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Rick grew up in Sarasota and graduated from Riverview High School. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army / 82nd Airborne. After serving 4 years and opting not to re- enlist, he moved to Miami. He went to the Broward Fire College and became a Ranger with the Florida State Division of Forestry fighting forest land fires. About 2 years later Rick was hired by the Iona McGregor Fire Department where he spent the next 26 years. Rick retired in 2016 reaching the rank of BC/Paramedic. While working he attended Florida Southwestern State College receiving a degree in Fire Service Administration/Science. He also served as a member of the USAR Team (Urban Search and Rescue) dealing with disasters such as hurricanes, HAZ-MAT, trench rescue, swift water rescue, dive team rescue and high angle (repelling). Rick has two daughters and four grandsons whom he spends most of his off-time with. Rick loves to spend time with his family. He also enjoys fishing (offshore), spending time in the woods (camping), and college football (he has season tickets to the University of Miami Hurricanes). He feels very grateful and blessed to be working at Church of the Palms.

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James is from Richmond, Indiana and has lived in the Sarasota area for a long time. After graduating high school, James began his career with the Schottenstein Corporation, based out of Columbus OH. In 2005 he ended his career as an Operations Manager for corporate America and began his pursuit in Christian Education. Since this time, James has received his Masters in Christian Ministry, and is now pursuing his Educational Doctorate in Church Organizational Leadership. During his free time, James enjoys spending time with his family.

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Jackie is a Florida native, having been born and raised in the big city of Miami. Neither right nor left-brained, but more along the middle, she has a love for the arts and sciences. She’s used her background in Environment Science to instill in children a love for their environment and the importance of sustainability while trekking through miles of nature trails. Her love for the creative arts brought her to Church of the Palms, where she uses her gifts of graphic design to tell the story of how God is moving through each and every one of us. She’s a huge movie-buff, loves all genres of music, an avid gamer, and continues to exercise her creative writing and photography skills.

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Betsy is a Sarasota native and has been a member of Church of the Palms since 2005. She enjoys cooking and outdoor activities with her husband Jim  and son, Dale. Together they like to renovate homes. Betsy is happy to be using her experience as an Administrative Assistant and knowledge of Church of the Palms to help further the mission to love God and love neighbor. 

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Cathie Lloyd is the Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor at Church of the Palms. She was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and after she graduated high school she traveled throughout the United States and Canada as a Sound Engineer. While on a job in the Sarasota/Bradenton area she made the decision to call Bradenton her home. Cathie began working at Church of the Palms in 1999. It has been her pleasure to serve the Pastors, congregation and staff in a supportive role. Cathie has a passion for photography and her four legged children Chase, Bitsy, Fluffy and Samantha.

Born in Long Island, New York, Greg has been involved in tech production for the last 35 years. He graduated from Full Sail University, with a degree in the recording arts, where he also taught for 20 years in 5 courses across two degrees. Throughout that time he also worked with multiple ministries in media and sound production. Greg loves spending time with his children Amber, Kristin and Rhys. Greg is looking forward to being a part of the growing tech ministry here at Church of the Palms.

Brandy Gray is a devoted wife and mother to her husband Ben, and two sons, Jaelen & Evan. She loves spending quality time with her family, walking in nature, teaching yoga, writing, traveling and finding joy in everyday life. She studied Criminology at the University of Florida before reaIizing her true dream was to raise a family and share peace with the world! Brandy is currently an RYT200 certified yoga instructor studying to complete her advanced 500 hour teacher training certification. She manages her own business, MomWifeSoulYoga, and teaches weekly yoga classes at the Church of the Palms’ Palms Center as well as various other communities in both Bradenton & Sarasota, Fl. She is certified in senior yoga, chair yoga, restorative yoga, & yin yoga but specializes in teaching yoga that is accessible to all. Her goal and hope is to not only to share health and wellness with the community, but ultimately to bring people home to their hearts, and together in the name of Love, bridging the gap between each of us and all of us. Her mission through her work is to help restore connection, within ourselves, to each other, and to our beautiful planet – to take better care – and in doing so, be continually reminded of God’s good works which is always present, forevermore!

Heather was born and raised in Sarasota County, she is a cradle Presbyterian, having been baptized at Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church. For the last 35 years, she has been a member of Venice Presbyterian Church, where she married her high school sweetheart, Calvin, and they raised two awesome sons, Alec and Erik. She is very thankful that God’s grace led her to COP.

Duty to God and Servant Leadership are a large part of her life. Heather actively volunteers with the BSA for her local Troop and Crew, as well as for Florida DeMolay at the Venice Lodge. Her most prized possession is the District Award of Merit Knot that she wears on her uniform, given to her by the Two Rivers District for being a great “Mom” and “Sister” to her scouting community.

When not at work or a scouting event, Heather has an eclectic love for books ranging from Agatha Christie mysteries to the latest Harry Potter series.

Stop by the front office to say “Hi” and she is really good at giving hugs!

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Hobby: Organizing sanctuary closets, cooking, playing with flowers

Likes: Strong coffee, dark chocolate, Bach & Prokofiev

Dislikes: Beets, mosquitos, plastic cups left in pews

Award-winning guitarist and music producer Jonathan Smith continues to earn recognition as a superior artist through collaborative work, individualized pedagogy, and modern production technologies.

Teaching music and developing his own pedagogical methods is at the forefront of Jonathan’s career. He manages a studio and teaches at Sarasota Music Conservatory, which holds a network of talented students and faculty members. Through a foundation of classical studies mixed with an upbringing in popular culture, Jonathan’s teaching methods cater to all ages, learning styles, and musical genres. Jonathan regularly teaches classical guitar, fingerstyle guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and beginning piano.

Jonathan received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory, a Master of Music from The University of Akron, and a Bachelor of Music from Stetson University. In addition to being a performer, teacher, and recording artist, he is a music producer and sound engineer at Glaize Avenue Studios and Church of the Palms.

Beth is the Executive Assistant of Congregational Life Ministry at COP. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA and attended Cal State University, Northridge in Southern California, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications with minors in both Journalism and Business Management.

Beth became an active church member after high school and started her own event video production company after college. She has also traveled extensively as a meeting planner. Beth has been visiting her grandparents (and later her mother) in Sarasota since the 70’s and has been living in Sarasota since 2021. She enjoys traveling, photography, worship, music, dancing, biking, volleyball, yoga, fix-it projects, reading and spending time with her sweet rescue dog Bobo and two adorable cats, Kit and Charcoal.