Asbury First United Methodist Church

Chuck Hanrahan

Chair, Lay Leader

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
Cara and I started attending Asbury in 1996. After being away from church for several years, we were moved by the authenticity of the pastors, the warmth of the community, and the power of the music.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
I have served in many roles including Chair of Property Stewardship and Building Committees (overseeing construction of the Outreach Center and other large projects), Trustee, SPRC, Nominations, Finance, Church Directions, UMYF Counselor, Asbury Community Theatre

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
Asbury is central to my life. Cara and I are involved in many areas, and we have developed a wide ranging community. It seems only fitting to give back to the organization that feeds me in so many ways. It is an honor to serve in this role.

What is something that you want people to know about you?
I retired a few years ago from a 32 year career in technical sales and marketing. I have a BS in Engineering and Management and an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Marketing. I play guitar and bass, and enjoy live music. I am a foodie, and am a certified scuba diver.

Frances Bryniarski

Vice Chair, SPRC

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
I have been a member of Asbury First for 36 years, joining when the Reverend Dr. Ted Weeden was the senior pastor.

What have you been involved with as a member of Asbury First?
My involvement with Asbury First has been with the following areas: Pastor Parish Relations Committee member; Altar Guild member (serving as Altar Guild president); lay reader; completed the Bicentennial Bible Challenge; Sunday Cookie Committee; participant in various book discussion groups and classes (The Cutting Room Floor; Mary Magdalene and the Book of Judges); Discipleship class member; Asbury Banned Book Club member; and Adult Sunday School member.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
Working with the Governing Board will provide an opportunity to support the Asbury First strategy, mission, the congregation and community it serves. I am willing to contribute and collaborate with the church pastors and staff, and congregation, for a successful and value-added process as we move forward with the mission of Asbury First.

What is something that you want people to know about you?
The State University of New York is my employer where I have served for 30 consecutive years for the following five campuses: Monroe Community College, Westchester Community College, The Fashion Institute of Technology; Suffolk County Community College, and currently, SUNY Brockport.

Wendy Featherstone

Property Stewardship Committee

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
We joined in 1989.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
We have served in the creche as caregivers, I have taught Sunday School, assisted with youth performances, served on the Family Life council, Youth Work Area, served on the Administrative Cabinet as liaison to the Children's Education Committee, Adult Education committee, Family Life council, and Youth Work area.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
My history of involvement as a volunteer over the years of my membership, as well as my service as president of a national physical therapy board of directors provides relevant experience. I have been looking for a means to contribute again to the ways in which Asbury First serves the community.

What is something that you want people to know about you?
I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Asbury First has been a wonderful blessing to us as a family. I credit Asbury First for helping us navigate the challenges inherent in raising children and interacting with people as disciples of Christ.

Tim Mahan

Chair, Financial Sustainability Task Force

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
I began attending Asbury First in 1999. I was attracted to the preaching of Bob Hill and the inspiring music and felt welcomed as a newcomer. My wife Johanna and I were married at Asbury First in 2002 and we have been attending ever since with our two sons Finn and Sean.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
I have served on the SPRC, the Dining and Caring Center Board, and most recently served as the Chair of the Community Outreach Center Committee. I volunteer at the Outreach Center Clothing Ministry and have been active as a parent volunteer supporting youth activities and the Asbury Community Theatre.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
Our family loves the community of people at Asbury First. This is a great opportunity for me to support our mission to “Do More Good.” My father was a pastor at a local church and I grew up with an insiders view of the challenges and rewards of leading a diverse group of passionate people. I hope to use this perspective and listen to the needs of the Asbury Community so that I can collaborate effectively with the Governing Board and Church Leadership. This is an exciting and vital moment for Asbury First!

What is something you want people to know about you?
I have worked for Wegmans Food Markets in a variety of leadership positions for 32 years. I hope to bring some of the financial and communication skills I have developed in those roles to this position on the Governing Board. I enjoy live music, playing billiards, and skiing.

Christy Lesher

Secretary

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
I have been a member for just over 20 years. As a United Methodist transplant, originally hailing from the Chautauqua Lake area, I walked into Asbury on the search for a new UMC home as I put down roots permanently in Rochester sometime in 2001. I’ve been in attendance since and transferred my membership here prior to Michael and I getting married in Asbury’s beautiful sanctuary by Rev. Susan Shafer in 2005.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
I was a member of the Racial Justice Advocacy Group under the leadership of the Rev. Jacqueline Nelson, participating in meetings and advocacy group sessions for the first year of its organization. Most recently, I had the pleasure of serving on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. It was a great opportunity to serve the pastoral staff and congregation.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
I look forward to transferring my service on the PPRC to the Governing Board at this critical time in our church’s life and ministry. As we endeavor to carry the mission of Asbury First forward, I believe my skills as a learning and development professional—specializing in virtual workshops and remote learning—can be brought to bear as I serve on the Governing Board.

What is something you want people to know about you?
In the words of my late grandfather, I try to learn something new every day. It is by no accident I wound my way from an English major and Education minor at Roberts Wesleyan into the world of online and virtual learning. Some days I learn new skills based on the topics of our trainings, and some days I learn new insights about the people I live in community with. When we are in learning-mode, we are open to others, new ideas, and continually growing into who God envisions we can be.

Jonathan Carroll-Nellenback

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
I have been a member of Asbury First for 10 years.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
My first involvement with Asbury First was singing in the Men's chorus, and then the summer chorus. My wife and I (and our kids) began volunteering to provide hospitality with RAIHN. I co-chaired the Outreach Committee for a time with Jacqueline Nelson and served on the Church Council. For the last several years, I've chaired the Outreach Funding Team, been a member of the PPRC, attended Annual Conference as a lay delegate for Asbury First, and have helped with the Community Garden.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
I am honored to serve on the Governing Board and look forward to helping Asbury continue to be the vibrant and incredible community that it is as we live out our shared mission in an ever changing world.

What is something that you want people to know about you?
Both of my parents were Methodist clergy in central New York. My wife and I have three incredible kids that keep us busy. My work at the University of Rochester is a mix of scientific research and software engineering. And I like to spend my leisure time playing the piano or watching a soccer match.

Peter Owh

Investment Committee

How long have you been a member of Asbury First?
When I moved to Rochester in 2017, I began looking online for a new United Methodist Church to call home. Asbury First UMC was the first one I visited, and I happened to hear Dr. Stephen Cady preach the Sunday following the Las Vegas shooting. His message deeply resonated with me, and at that moment, I knew I had found the spiritual community I was seeking. Shortly after, I transferred my membership.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
I briefly served as the Planned Giving Chair before being relocated to Long Island during the COVID pandemic. Upon returning to Rochester in 2022, I joined the Investment Committee and played an active role in their recent Request for Proposal process, helping to select two new investment managers.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
Serving on various committees through Asbury and the United Methodist Frontier Foundation has been a transformative experience—one that has brought light and purpose into my life. I’m deeply honored and humbled to now serve on the Governing Board, where I have the privilege of helping Asbury live out its mission: “To Do More Good.”

What is something that you want people to know about you?
Professionally, I serve as the President and Owner of a financial planning firm, bringing over 25 years of experience and a track record of leadership recognition within the financial services industry. Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis and golf, and love cruise travel.

Dawn Riedy

Treasurer

How long have you been a member at Asbury First?
David (Berg) and I joined Asbury in 1999. After being active members of a local Presbyterian Church for many years, we were looking for a new church home. Our two older sons were attending Asbury Daycare, and one Sunday we decided to give Asbury a try. Our first Sunday was the August outdoor worship service- the welcome, music, preaching and Rev. Margie Mayson’s invitation to join a Disciple Bible Study all brought us back. Six months later we became members, and Asbury has been an important part of our life ever since.

What have you been involved in as a member of Asbury First?
In the early 2000’s I attended and led multiple Disciple Bible Studies. I have been involved in Outreach- the Dining and Caring Center, Dining In For Outreach and the Outreach Committee, and I recently joined the Storehouse Thursday afternoon team. I have been in a Covenant Discipleship Group since 2003. I am a cookie baker for Sunday mornings and Older Adult Ministries. I co-chaired the Church Governance Task Force, helped with the COVID Church Reopening Task Force and most recently served on the Dream Team.

Why do you want to be on the Governing Board?
I love the Asbury community, and I want to see this community grow and thrive. Using my experience as an executive physician leader- and building on all that I’ve learned helping to create a sustainable budget for the Community Outreach Center- I would like to continue to help steward Asbury’s financial resources, strengthen our budgeting process, and ensure both the Governing Board and the congregation have transparent, understandable financial information needed to guide our future.

What is something you want people to know about you?
David and I both grew up in California, where we meet in college. We moved to Rochester in 1979 so that I could attend medical school at the University of Rochester. Our three adult sons- Aaron, Noah and Isaac- currently live in Arkansas, Arizona and Florida, respectively. We also have an extended “adopted” family in France, and over 30+ years our family has hosted many international high school and college students. I retired from Rochester Regional Health in 2023 where I served most recently as the System Chair for Labs & Pathology. I enjoy traveling, cooking and knitting.