Ben is from Wisconsin but is very happy calling Colorado and its beautiful landscape (and better weather!) home now. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology and Religion from Ripon College and his Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Ben’s wife Caitlin is a lead collaborator at the Fred Tjardes School of Innovation in Greeley. Ben, Caitlin, and their son Emmett love calling Greeley home! 

Along with overseeing FCC's music program, Nicholas directs FCC's Chancel Choir and Bell Choir.  Nicholas is a Northern Colorado-based conductor specializing in orchestral, choral, and operatic
music. He has worked with ensembles around the US and Canada including Opera Fort Collins,
Loveland Opera Theatre, and the Greeley Philharmonic. Nicholas also served as the Music Director for Heartland Opera Theatre in Joplin, MO, and the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in Nova Scotia for many years. In addition, he has taught music at Crowder College, Laramie
County Community College, Missouri Southern State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and works regularly as an operatic voice coach.. Nicholas’ compositions and arrangements are performed around the country by orchestras, choirs, and university groups. Nicholas and his partner Eli love to read, eat good food, go on adventures, and sing at the piano.

Whitney grew up in central Kansas, but has been thrilled to call Colorado home for the last decade. She is a seminary student, working toward a MDIV in Social Transformation with United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Whitney has a passion for Social Justice, and has a Bachelor degree in Social Work with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Kansas. She is inspired by the ways transformational love moves in community, and is passionate about grounding ways we serve in our faith. In her free time she enjoys hiking and camping with her partner Nick, and son Theo. 

Ms. Katilyn Rittner currently serves as the Coordinator and Instructor of Class Piano at the University of Northern Colorado. Outside of her professorial duties at UNC, Ms. Rittner maintains an active coaching and collaborative piano career. She regularly collaborates with Aims Community College, The Greeley Chorale, and many other musical organizations. 

Katilyn began performing as a pianist for choirs when she was 8 years old, playing for her church youth choir. At 12, she was the assistant accompanist for her touring youth choir, volunteered as the pianist for the local elementary school music programs, and also played for young voice students. Throughout high school she continued to sing and accompany, working with conductors such as Henry Leck, Z. Randall Stroope, and Moses Hogan. She went on to earn her Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado, where she then served as the pianist for the major choral ensembles for 12 years. During these years, Katilyn completed a Master of Music in Conducting while remaining involved as a collaborative pianist, coach and conductor. 

Some of the international highlights of her career include a tours of Germany, Czech Republic, Spain and Portugal, with the Greeley Chorale, a tour of the British Isles with the Longmont Chorale, and two tours of Germany, France, and Spain with the UNC Opera Department and Opera Classica Europa. Some recent local highlights include the Colorado premiere of Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light: A Requiem, a benefit concert for the 15th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11, and a collaboration with composer Robert Strobel, premiering “The Coronavirus Etudes” for piano solo.

For a change of pace, Katilyn enjoys occasionally taking the stage as a singer; performing as a soloist and chorus member with many stage productions, choral festivals, and local church choirs. Volunteer work and current research for musician injury prevention and recovery are just some of Katilyn’s passions outside of performing. 

Kathy Azari studied Oboe at UNC and received her BME in 1989. She was the Band Director at Brentwood Middle school for 31 years until her retirement in 2021. She has also taught early childhood music through Union Colony Children's Music Academy since 1999 and continues to love singing, dancing, moving, and playing with these students every week.. She was the Greeley/Evans District 6 Teacher of the Year in 2013 and that same year was awarded the director of a Program of Excellence by the National Band Association. She was awarded the Outstanding Woman of Weld County distinction in 2007 for her contributions to music education in Weld County. Currently, she teaches woodwind lessons through Music & Arts in Ft. Collins. In addition to music, she works as a Recognition Specialist at Award Alliance in Greeley. She and her family has been members of First Congregational Church in Greeley since 1995. 

Tyler lives with his family in Loveland. In his free time, Tyler enjoys cycling and creating exceptional woodworking projects

Zenith Rhoda Maupin works as one of the teachers for the Nursery Team at First Congregational Church. She started working at the nursery 2019. Zenith is happy and grateful to be able to work with the children. They are so welcoming and very beautiful people that help her feel home.

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Zenith is happily married to Shannon Maupin with six boys. They love to go camping, and fishing. Cooking is their favorite things to do together. They love to  explore different cultures and embrace diversity. If you haven’t met Zenith yet, drop by and say "hi" at the nursery. 

Hi! I’m Pat Welte, a new assistant in the nursery. I have always been so appreciative of the assistance your church community provides to all in our larger community. I was honored when Rev. Ben asked me if I would be interested in helping out here. I have worked with children most of my adult life. I spent over 30 years as an elementary school counselor. I have also worked at A Woman’s Place and the Weld Food Bank. I am currently working part time as the assistant in the Little Learners Program at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. We provide child care and learning experiences for children while their parents attend English and Citizenship classes. It is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had! I am one of those rare Colorado natives, born and raised in a very diverse neighborhood in Denver. In my free time I love gardening, walking, biking, reading and some crafts. Thank you for welcoming me to your amazing community!

Dr. Keenan Boswell has been working as a musician since 12 years old, receiving professional opportunities as a keyboardist through church and children’s choir. Dr. Boswell pursued higher education musical training through pursuing a Bachelors degree in Organ Performance from The Julliard School, a Masters in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, and a Doctorate in Opera Coaching from The University of Texas in Austin. 

Dr. Boswell’s work as a concert organist has led him to have opportunities to play recitals across the United States, from Chicago to New York to California, including well-known venues such as St. Mary-the-Virgin in New York City and Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego. As a church organist and music director, he has had the honor of serving congregations in New York, Texas and Colorado. Dr. Boswell currently holds an artist residency with First Congregational Church in Greeley, CO, playing seasonal concerts and collaborating with the church’s music staff.

Dr. Boswell Is highly regarded and sought out for his work as a collaborative keyboardist and coach. He has been a principal coach/pianist for various opera productions such as Butler Opera Center’s production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Tri Cities Opera’s 2017 production of La bohème and a local Austin TX production of Handel’s Giulio Cesaré. Between 2014 and 2018, Dr. Boswell served as chorale accompanist, orchestral keyboardist, and collaborative pianist for the Carmel Bach Festival; he was a collaborative pianist for international vocal artists such as Mhairi Lawson and Thomas Cooley on one the festival’s featured main stage evening events. 

As a composer, Dr. Boswell’s works have been performances across various concert halls, churches and stages. Selections from his voice-piano song cycle Trinity were premiered to much acclaim during one of Carmel Bach Festival’s featured main stage concerts during the 2018 festival. His church music compositions and songs have been played and sung by congregations he’s served. He recently relocated to Nashville where he enjoys serving the local church and teaching aspiring professional musicians.

Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern found her way to ministry following a path which included spiritual formation as a yoga instructor, holistic cook, folk musician, and massage therapist. She has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Mount Holyoke College in MA,  and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University in New York, where her focus was Voices from the Margins. Ordained in 2013, Rev. Tamara served church congregations and emergent spiritual communities in Connecticut and Maine, before being called to Colorado. She dreams of a spiritual community where people are welcome in all of their messy, passionate, embodied suffering and hopefulness. She dreams of a place where justice is held up not only as the right thing to do, but as a path to encountering God. Rev.Tamara is trained as an Interim Minister, helping to guide communities through identity formation and transition. She is a passionate Enneagram educator (2w3), has volunteered as a Community Chaplain for Planned Parenthood, and co-hosts the "Queer Spirit" radio series (part of OUTcast radio at WMPG in Maine). When Rev. Tamara is not working, she can be found hiking, biking, baking (or engaging in power struggles) with her spunky kiddo, cuddling with the family dog, or listening to fantastical podcasts with her partner. Rev. Tamara and her family are delighted to be in Greeley and to be a part of a kind, curious and compassionate community like the one at FCC.

Laura is a Greeley native who has called First Cong home all of her adult life. She is currently working towards her Church Administration Certification and especially enjoys the financial aspects of  her role at the Church. Laura has a special love for the work we do with the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and in her free time, she enjoys singing a capella with two Sweet Adelines choruses. Laura loves life alongside her partner, Emily, their cats, Cassius and Nebula, and their corgi, Hemingway.

Tammi is a Michigan native who has called Greeley home for over a decade. She graduated from Calvin University with a double major in Psychology and Spanish and followed that with an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. Tammi deeply believes that children are already on a spiritual journey and that the grown ups' job is to make spaces for kids to meet God in ways that make sense to them. Children's prayer practices and play languages have allowed Tammi to meet God in new ways. Her favorite prayer practice is blowing bubbles.

Tammi is married to Phil, who does all manner of web and video things and is also the home cook. Together, they love hanging out with their two elementary-aged kids. When the kids aren't keeping her busy, she loves reading, doodling, and attempting to keep plants alive outside.

Shona holds Bachelor's degrees in music education and piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Shona has been teaching in Northeastern Colorado since 1997. She taught K-12 music, choir and band in Merino, Colorado for three years after her graduation from college. Shona has been teaching general music and keyboard classes at Union Colony Children's Music Academy for 21 years and maintains a large private piano studio in Greeley, working with students of all ages. Shona also currently serves as the accompanist for the 8:00 a.m. chapel service at First Congregational Church. She is a proud mom of two amazing sons, one a senior in college and one a senior in high school. 

Colin is a Fort Collins native and has had to struggle with his name being spelled with two L's his entire life. He studied music at Colorado State University and the Manhattan School of Music where he received his master's degree in classical voice (opera). Colin enjoys board games and painting, listens to punk rock and metal, and will always have time to talk about dungeons and dragons.

Bridget recently graduated from Greeley West High School and is currently a student at the University of Northern Colorado. She is working to earn her BA in Psychology. She hopes to achieve a PhD in Child and Developmental Psychology. Bridget enjoys nature, music, theatre, traveling, and her very silly looking dog Apollo. If her brain was a soup, it would be cereal. 

Joshua works closely with Tyler Rossman to attend to the upkeep and care of our building and grounds.  He also serves as one of the leaders of our youth group. Joshua grew up in the church and is a graduate of Greeley West High School. 

Brittany is an aspiring educator currently enrolled in UNC's elementary education program. Balancing her academic journey, Brittany dedicates her nights to the Little Learners child care program at the IRC. Off-duty, she embraces the joyful chaos of her toddler. Brittany is excited for the chance to contribute to the church nursery!