Pastors and Staff

Our Pastors

  • David Lillejord, Senior Pastor - PastorLillejord@naplesemmanuel.org

    Pastor David Lillejord accepted a call to serve Emmanuel in 2024. Pastor Lillejord is a graduate of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

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  • Richard Bliese, Pastor - pastorrick@naplesemmanuel.org

    Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese was called to serve Emmanuel in the fall of 2018, after serving our congregation for two years as a consultant for the Kern Family Foundation from Waukesha, WI.

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  • Jose Lebron, Associate Pastor - pastorjose@naplesemmanuel.org

    Rev. José Lebrón was born in the Dominican Republic. Lived in Brazil and was a well known pediatrician. Pastor José leads Emmanuel Community Church, which offers bilingual Spanish/English worship.

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Our Deacons

  • Jim Cooper, ELCA Deacon for Children, Youth, Families & Contemporary Worship - jim@naplesemmanuel.org

    Jim arrived at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on August 1, 2001, with his wife and two children. Prior to being at Emmanuel, he was the director of student life ministry for seven years at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ramsey, Minnesota.

  • Dee Schleutker, ELCA Deacon for Mission, Service, & Outreach - dee@naplesemmanuel.org

    Dee-Anne Schleutker, an Ohio native, received her B.S. in Nursing from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. After several years of theological education, Dee was commissioned and installed as Deacon for Mission, Service and outreach in 2012.

  • Nieves Lebron, Synod Parish Deacon - nieves@naplesemmanuel.org

    Nieves Lebron was born and raised in Dominican Republic and become a pediatrician. She holds a master’s degree in Arts at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, and a master’s degree in Education at Quincy University in Chicago.

Our Staff

  • Alex Tovar, Maintenance Manager

    jabcleaning3@aol.com

  • Frine Donadelli, Administrative Assistant ECC

    Frine@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Gina Fidler, Business Office Manager/ Executive Assistant

    gina@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Jamie Searles, Leader of the Alive worship band

    jamie@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Jennifer Ziegelmaier, Production Coordinator -

    jennifer@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Johanna Casares, Nursery Attendant

  • Julie Basile, Community Care Coordinator

    julie@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Kathleen Osborn Gerdes, Director of Worship and Music

    Kathleen@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Marcia Jaquith, Bookkeeper

    marcia@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Theresa Shaw, Executive Director

    theresa@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Tom Gordon, AV Coordinator

    tom@naplesemmanuel.org

  • Vivian J. Hillis, Chief Operating Officer

    vivian@naplesemmanuel.org