Our Staff and Leadership

Katie Estes Collins, Co-Pastor, has been at home in the church all her life, and seeks to make it a home for everyone else as well.  Her passions in ministry include preaching and creative worship experiences as well as education across the life journey.  She is a list-maker with a very messy office (guess what never makes it on the list).  Katie has served the church for 20 years with congregations in Tucson, AZ; Roseville and Bloomington, MN; and here in South St. Paul since June 2001.  She received her B.A. from Macalester College in St. Paul and an M.Div. degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  Katie lives in South St. Paul with her husband Dave and their children Grace and DeShawn.

Contact Katie at Katiec@fpcssp.org or call 651-451-6223

Tom Watson, Co-Pastor, has over 20 years experience in youth ministry and can usually be found playing and goofing off with the kids.  His two children, both in the senior high youth group, would really appreciate it if he would find someone his own age to play with instead. Given the abundance of adolescent adult men in the congregation this shouldn't be a problem.  He loves to preach, teach, and write using really big words and lots of commas.  Tom received his M.Div. degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in 1996, and is currently completing a PhD degree from Luther Seminary.  He has lived in the Twin Cities since he was three years old, and currently lives in Como Park with his wife, Lisa (also a Presbyterian minister serving as a chaplain at Regions Hospital) and their two children, Emily and Ben.

Contact Tom at Tomw@fpcssp.org or call 651-451-6223

Mary Love, Administrative Assistant, keeps the office, the rest of the staff, and most of the congregation organized and running smoothly.  She is keeper of the information and the church calendar, and if that doesn’t confer power, what does?  Mary has been a member of the church since 2001, and took over the office as administrative assistant in May 2003.  Mary and her husband have a son in college and a daughter in graduate school.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Library Science.

Contact Mary at admin@fpcssp.org or call 651-451-6223

Linda Kachelmeier, Director of Music, is the one clear and resonant note among us!  She plans worship music and secures special guests, directs our choirs, leads our ensembles, encourages our soloists, teaches our children, and writes new music—all with a song in her heart.  A composer and performer of sacred and secular music, Linda sang with the former a capella ensemble Dare to Breathe, and currently is a member of the award-winning Rose Ensemble.  She began her ministry of music at First Presbyterian in 1991 as director of the Children's Choir and Celebration Singers and has added responsibilities over the years, becoming an integral part of the leadership of the congregation.  Linda lives in St. Paul with her husband Mike and their poodle Curly.  She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a degree in Choral Music Education.

Contact Linda at lindakachelmeier@yahoo.com or call 651-451-6223

Kendra Brodin, Organist and Handbell Director, recently returned to our staff after several years away in local Lutheran churches, which was understandable since her husband is a Lutheran pastor!  Thankfully for us she has “seen the light” and come back to the true church, or at least to the situation that best fits her abundant gifts in church music.  Kendra has been a church organist since the tender age of 11, and has many years of experience at keyboards across the area.  Her newest passion is directing bell choirs, and she comes to us from a position in Fridley where she directed four bell choirs and a vocal group.  With a B.A. degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL; an M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania; and a J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, Kendra may be the most well-rounded student on our staff.  She lives in Shoreview with her husband Ryan and their daughters, Allison and Anna.

Contact Kendra at KendraBrodin@yahoo.com or call 651-766-5850

Sue Hanson, Pianist, is a beautiful soul who also makes beautiful music as a gift to the church.  A member of the congregation since 1975, Sue accompanies the Celebration Singers and Sunday School children and provides other piano music throughout the year.   She also plays with the Bells of Praise, and sings with our Festival Choir.  Sue graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and is currently an early childhood special education paraprofessional for Independent School District #197.  She lives in Mendota Heights with her husband Dave, and is the mother of two adult children and grandmother of one (soon to be two).

Contact Sue at shanson1333@comcast.net or call 651-436-5091.

Pat Mahoney, Custodian, describes himself as a “neat freak” and has turned his eye for detail to our building and grounds since June 2009.  Sometimes in the dark of night and other times in the light of day, Pat cleans, polishes, sets and re-sets our rooms and areas for the programs and activities of the church.  He tends to the trash, washes windows, and cleans carpets too.  Pat grew up in this congregation, was married here in 2006, and has had two children baptized here in recent years. An athlete and volunteer firefighter, Pat is also a key part of our church softball and kickball teams. He and his wife Shannon live in Cottage Grove with their family.

Contact Pat through the church office at admin@fpcssp.org or call 651-451-6223.