She received her License to Preach in 2009 and is enrolled in the Course of Study

For Local Pastors at Millsaps College.

 

Carolyn has lived in the Tioga/Ball area for most of her life and has two daughters. Dana Fryman and her husband, Tony, live in Spokane, Washington with their children, Morgan and Cameron. Lynette Hinton and her husband, Bama, live in Alexandria with their daughter, Tori. Carolyn's grandson, Michael, lives in Ruston, Louisiana.

Randy Koncinsky, Assistant Youth Director

 

Brian Breeding began working at First United Methodist Church in 2008. He conducts the Chancel Choir, the Adult Handbell Choir, Ring 4 Joy, and the older children's handchime choir.

 

He has served in numerous churches and denominations around the country and taught for 14 years, most recently at the University of Wyoming and at California State University, East Bay. Brian holds an undergraduate degree in vocal music education from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master's degree in music history from the University of Arkansas, and has completed all coursework toward a DMA in choral conducting at the University of Iowa.

 

Active as a clinician and conductor, Brian has served as a state level chair for the American Choral Directors Association and most recently, was the 2009 director for the worship and arts conference at Mo Ranch, featuring pastor, author and speaker Dr. Graham Standish.

 

Brian and his wife, Vicki, along with their three dogs, enjoy time off with family in both Texas and Arkansas.

 

 

 

Mike Wood joined the staff at FUMC as the business administrator in July 2008. He oversees the business areas of the church and supervises maintenance staff. He is originally from Lubbock, Texas and graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in business.

 

Mike retired as a Captain in the U.S. army in 2004; his last assignment was operations and training officer for Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana. While in the army, he received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Louisiana Cross of Merit, among other awards. He was also a teacher and coach for the Rapides Parish School Board for three years.

 

Mike currently resides in Pineville with his wife Shana. He has three children: Jesse and his wife Amanda, who live at Fort Drum in New York; James, a student at Louisiana College; and Heather, a sixth grader.

 

 

 

Jennifer Wright began working at FUMC in August 2008. She edits and produces print and online materials for the  church and is the staff liaison to the Witness committee. Jennifer is a native of Alexandria and graduated from Louisiana State University in 2004.

 

Prior to her work at FUMC, Jennifer worked as the coordinator of Direct Care Training Resources at Devereux in Pennsylvania and was an out-of-state recruiter for LSU in Baton Rouge.

 

Jennifer lives in Alexandria with her husband, Rob, and two children.

 

 

 

Clara Woolf began working as the administrative assistant earlier this year. She is the first contact person for visitors to the church and she oversees the church calendar, pledges and donations, and membership records. Clara is from Cleveland, Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi State University in May 2009.

 

Before joining the FUMC team, she was the office manager for Institutional Advancement at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi and a financial aid administrator at Antonelli College Virtual Campus in Jackson, Mississippi.

 

Clara now lives in Alexandria with her husband, Ephraim.

Candy O'Brien has been the childcare director since February 2007. She oversees the full-time childcare program for children ages six weeks to five years old. Candy was born and raised in central Louisiana and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in social work from Northwestern State University.

 

Before taking on her position at FUMC, Candy was a case manager for CLASS (Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services) and at Hope House in Alexandria.

 

Candy is married to Chris O'Brien and lives in Pineville with their four children.