Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Pr. Scott Trevithick
Lead Pastor
Deanna Gaunt
Director of Worship and Finance
Deanna Gaunt has served on the staff of Good Shepherd for 30 years. Her beginnings as the Youth Director in 1990 have evolved into her position now as the Director Worship and Finance. Deanna is also an accomplished professional musician as a drummer, pianist and singer.
Deanna lives with her husband David who teaches choir and orchestra at Reno High and they have two adult beautiful children Meghan and Brian. Deanna leads the 4Jesus contemporary band with her husband David and a variety of gifted youth and adults.
Contact Deanna at 775.329.0696, ext 101.
Maribeth Doerr
Director of Operations/Office, Property, Communications and Pastoral Care
Maribeth Doerr has worked at Good Shepherd since 2013 starting as the Pastoral Care Assistant to Pr. Carl Wilfrid who retired in 2014. She began working in the church office in 2014 and went to full-time in February 2015. She now manages the office and property, is responsible for church communications, serves as the church bookkeeper, and directs Good Shepherd’s Caring Ministries including leading the Caregivers Support Group and Homebound Gatherings. She also teaches Gentle and Chair Yoga. She is a Certified Creative Grief Practitioner, Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher and a Certified Mindful Grieving Yoga Teacher.
Maribeth and her husband, along with their two sons, moved to Reno in 1990 from San Diego. They joined Good Shepherd in 1991 along with Maribeth’s parents. Her hobbies include yoga, reading, gardening, quilting, and taking long walks around Virginia Lake. Her favorite way to spend time is being with her family: husband Greg, sons Eric and Chad, daughter-in-law Emily and grandson Emmett.
Contact Maribeth at 775.329.0696, ext 100.
Theresa Benedetti
Office Staff Support, Handbell Director, AV Assistant
Jennifer Tibben
Choir Director
Jennifer Tibben, Good Shepherd Choir Director, serves as the choir director at Damonte Ranch High School. She received her MM in Vocal Performance from University of Nevada-Reno in May 1997. She received her BA from Gustavus Adolphus College, May 1992, with majors in music and biology. As a conductor, Jennifer serves as Artistic Director and conductor of Bella Voce, a select community women's choral ensemble. She also currently serves as the chorus director for the Reno Philharmonic Chorus. She lives in Reno with her six delightful and musical children and partner Sharon. They also have 3 dogs and a cat!
Andrea Lenz
Organist & Pianist
Andrea Lenz is Associate Professor Emerita of Music at UNR, where she taught oboe, theory, etc. as well as being the staff accompanist for many, many years. She is also the former principal oboist of the RCO, RPO, and Nevada Opera. She became organist for Good Shepherd upon Iris Maytan’s retirement and probably won’t last for 51 years like Iris did. Andrea has four lovely daughters, three wonderful grandchildren, and is married to the extraordinary bassist, orchestra management consultant, and wordsmith Scott Faulkner.
Derek Nance
AV Director
Derek Nance performs handbells with Reno's community handbell ensemble, Tintabulations. In addition, he has performed with Sonos Handbell Ensemble, a professional group based in Oakland; serves on the board of directors for Handbell Musicians of America, the national guild for handbell performers; and teaches at bell festivals across the country. When not ringing, Derek can be found lurking at the Good Luck Macbeth Theater, where he works as technical director.
Brian Gaunt
AV Tech
Audra McCarroll
AV Tech
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Esmeray Ozdemir, M.Ed
Childcare Attendant
Esmeray Ozdemir has an Elementary Education background and a passion for Early Childhood Education. She received her master’s degrees from the University of Nevada in Special Education and Early Childhood Special Education. She is a certified TESOL teacher and a lifetime learner.
Esmeray works as a Developmental Specialist for Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP) with the State of Nevada, a statewide program that provides funding to pay for evidence-based treatment for children on Autism Spectrum Disability. She assists families with service coordination and provides resources according to the needs of the children and families. Additionally, she reviews the progress and serves as a liaison between families and treatment providers. On Sunday mornings, we get to have her joy and passion our church nursery!
2024 Good Shepherd Governing Board
Celia Kupersmith
President
Bob Rye
Treasurer
John Albrecht
Secretary
Cara Paoli
Ryan Costella
