Meet Our Staff:
Rev. J. Dana Peterson: dana@sothftc.org
I am on a great ride here at Shepherd of the Hills! I have been pastor at “SOTH” since September of 2009; before that I served parishes in Minnesota and North Dakota before “breaking free” and coming to Colorado. I also had the opportunity to serve as Executive Vice President of Youth Encounter—what a great journey to be on!
We have three sons, one daughter, three daughters-in-law and one very spoiled Cavalier spaniel.
I love to ski and to ride my Harley with my spouse, Sue, and I’m attempting to learn the nuance of fly-fishing. Sue and I head for Rocky Mountain National Park whenever possible. On our forays into the park we often look at each other, grin and say “we live here.” What a blessing! I also enjoy playing my bass guitar with the Lost Sheep and playing a bit of tennis.
Dawn Luze, Interim Office Manager: office@sothftc.org
Kari Fedde, Parish Associate & Muisc Director: kari@sothftc.org
‘Soaring California’ is my all-time favorite ride at an amusement park, and ‘Expedition Everest’ is a close second. When I’m not riding roller coasters, I like reading, hiking and camping, and have climbed nine 14ers in Colorado. Winter camping up the Poudre Canyon keeps me close to God and nature!
I’m the Music Director and Parish Associate for Pastoral Care here at Shepherd of the Hills. As Music Director, I look for people that love to sing or play their instruments so they can share their gifts in worship. As Parish Associate, I get to visit with people in their homes and share communion and conversation with them. Shepherd of the Hills has been my family’s church home since 1986, with a few blips while we lived in Seattle. We just keep coming back home.
As Shepherd of the Hills grows, my hope is that our church family soars to new heights in our relationships with our own families and that we look for new relationships to explore with those around us throughout God’s marvelous creation.
Jenny Kalous, Director of Faith Formation: jenny@sothftc.org
I love to play! This means that I have the best job in the world. I get to have fun with my peer group as well as be a kid again with the youth. This might explain why I have a degree as a PE teacher. I graduated with a BS in Kinesiology and education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2003. Recently I finished my masters of Natural Resources Environmental Education in 2011 from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. My love for education and my love for God is combined into one by working with our youth and young adults at SOTH.
I am married to a wonderful man, Cody! We have a big, furry, dog named Gunner who loves to join us for cross-country skiing in the winter. In the summer months though you will find Cody and I on the water in our float tubes fly fishing. You think that is cool, well let me tell you the best part…I am known as ‘The Lady in Pink’ out on those waters. That’s right you will find me fly fishing with my hot pink fly rod, reel, lifejacket and fins.
So young or old, I look forward to finding some time to get to know you through a little play time, a little study time, a little serving time, and a lot of God time! My hope for Shepherd of the Hills is to grow our ministries cross-generationally and make disciples at any age.
Caitlyn Metzer, Nursery Attendant
Despite being a Junior Honors student at Colorado State University, I am very much a kid! For the last three and a half years, I have worked at the Parker Fieldhouse Day Camp during summer and winter breaks. This has included playing games with up to one hundred and twenty kids, as well as helping oversee campers on fieldtrips to places like Hammond Candies, Denver Zoo, even Elitch’s and Water World. I’ve also helped organize and facilitate—my favorite—crafts!
When I’m at school, I am all about Liberal Arts. I study Communication and English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and I also am the nonfiction editor for the CSU Undergraduate Literary Journal, Garden Level, and an associate editor for the Honors Literary Journal, Spiritus Mundi.
I am so excited to get involved with Shepherd of the Hills and can’t wait to meet everyone
Sue O’Grady, Financial Associate: sue@sothftc.org
I have been a part of Shepherd of the Hills for over 20 years and I have worked as Financial Associate for the past two years. I enjoy the people here and feel very fortunate to be a part of this church’s mission. Originally from Boulder, I attended CSU and graduated with a business degree. After college, I worked in the banking industry in Denver, but my husband, Jim, and I always wanted to return to Fort Collins. I got the chance when Anheuser-Busch opened their brewery in Fort Collins. I worked for the brewery for ten years, eventually leaving to raise my children and help my parents. Now I work part-time for the church and seasonally preparing taxes. We have two nearly-grown sons that we just adore. Outside of family activities, I spend my time poking around graveyards and researching my family history online.
Joel Navejas, Custodian
I like my work here at Shepherd of the Hills and I have been here for over ten years. My “main job” is custodian at Rocky Mountain High School and I love the staff there too! When I need a day away I like to go to the Denver Zoo with my wife Lilly. We like eating out and luckily for me one of my sons is a chef! Our other son is a youth pastor in Utah. Every summer we go to see them and go back to Texas to see our families there as well.