Our Church Staff

Our Church thrives because of the energy and style of the people who lead it. Here are a few of the people that make our church community special:

Music Director, Robin Woods earned her bachelor degree in Choral Music Education from Florida State University with an emphasis in church music. Robin sang and conducted with Dr. Andre Thomas and she assisted Dr. Judy Bowers with the Florida State Children's Choir. Robin has taught chorus, drama, orchestra and guitar in South Florida High Schools and participated in Florida District and State Chorus and Orchestra Festivals earning superior ratings. Robin also gives private voice lessons to students every week. Married to Jamie, they have 2 children, Haylee and Cali and are expecting their 3rd child in April.

Organist and Director of Handbell Choir, Howard Fowler, was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began taking piano lessons at age five. He continued his piano studies from ages 8 through 16. He accompanied various Milford High School vocal ensembles as well as instrumentalists in high school.

In 1970 Howard attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. There he accompanied student vocalists, vocal ensembles and continued his piano studies.

In 1978 he, along with his parents and grandparents, moved to his current residence near Lady Lake.

Howard became organist in 1981 at the Chapel of All Faiths in Orange Blossom Gardens (now The Villages). Between 1995 and 1998 he was organist at North Lake Presbyterian Church.

In 1999 Howard assumed the position of organist at First Presbyterian Church of Leesburg, a post he currently holds. In 2000 Howard became the director of the handbell choir at First Presbyterian Church. Recently, Howard has provided piano and keyboard accompaniment for the Florida Lakes Symphony, a Lake County-based professional orchestra.

Office Manager, Carol Hamlin was raised in Miami but has lived in Alabama, Mexico and Arizona. She has an extensive background in accounting and has owned her own business, once in Alabama and then again in Mexico. Carol now resides in The Villages where she enjoys pickleball and golfs in her spare time. She has three sons and one grand-daughter.

 
Graphic Designer and Office Assistant, Barbara Poplin has resided in Leesburg since 2003. She is married to Jess, the mother of three grown children, step-mom to two, grandma to 2 and step-grandma to 8. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO she has gradually migrated south to Florida. Barbara brings to us 25 years of experience in desktop publishing. She cares about serving others as she would like to be served, with a caring spirit.

Maintenance Engineer, John Caldwell is our "Jack of all trades". He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and moved to Miami when he was two years old. John worked as a maintenance engineer for a high school in Miami. He and his wife, Ivonne, moved to Wildwood in March of this year. He has two dogs and enjoys old cars and drag racing. 

Nursery Worker, Carrie Rusin comes to us from Illinois. She now lives in Lady Lake. She has an MA in psychology and has worked counseling children with emotional and behavioral problems.

Nursery Worker, Jami Youngmann moved to Weirsdale from Dayton, Ohio. She has experience with a childcare center at Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, OH and as a camp leader.