Meet the Staff

ADMINISTRATION

Jim Harris

Administrator

Jill Bruss

Financial Secretary

Marianne King

Office Coordinator

Tonia Wallner

Christian Education

Cindy Payette-Walsh

Staff Support

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Director of Christian Education

Tonia Wallner

Tonia is originally a “small town girl” having grown up in Randolph, Wisconsin. She has a lifelong passion for sports and physical education. Tonia earned Bachelor Degrees in both Physical & Health Education, has a Masters Degree in Sports Administration, and is currently the physical education teacher and Athletic Director at St. Monica School in Whitefish Bay. She has also coached volleyball and basketball at various levels, including 5 years with the UWM Women’s Basketball Team. It was during her tenure there that she discovered a desire to direct her skills towards working with young people, rather than coaching adults. Tonia continues to expand her Lay Ministry talents with additional outside classes and education, and always looks for extra ways to ‘minister’ at First Church, especially for our young people and their families.

Tonia joined FCC in 2004 and was appointed our Director of Christian Education in 2010. She resides in Wauwatosa with her 3 cats.

MUSIC

Director of Music & Keyboard Artist

Rhonda Kwiecien

Director of Music and Keyboard Artist Rhonda Kwiecien

Rhonda Kweicien, Director of Music and Keyboard Artist, serves as organist at First Congregational Church and is a very successful and highly respected accompanist in Southeastern Wisconsin, having worked collaboratively with every imaginable performing force from solo musicians to all-state choirs. She also holds the position of collaborative keyboard artist at Carroll University, where she accompanies faculty and students in recital performances and also the choral ensembles.

Choir Director

Ellen M. Shuler

Choir Director Ellen M. ShulerEllen Shuler holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University and a Master of Music Education with Choral Emphasis from Florida State University. Ms. Shuler is the Chair of the Performing Arts at the University School of Milwaukee, the Upper School and Middle School choir director, and music director their musical productions. She was awarded the Outstanding Middle Level Choir Director Award from Wisconsin Choral Director’s Association in 2018 and the Choral Teacher of Excellence from the Milwaukee Civic Music Society in 2015. She has been a guest clinician for singers throughout the greater Milwaukee area. Ms. Shuler was founder and director of the Bel Canto Boy Choir, director of the Milwaukee Children’s Choir, and was Youth Choir director at Mequon United Methodist Church for 20 years.

 

Director of the Junior Choir

Roxanne Trump-Miles

Director of the Junior Choir Roxanne Trump-Miles

Roxanne Trump-Miles, Junior Choir Director, holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree (Choral Emphasis) from UW-Eau Claire and a Master’s Degree in Education from Concordia University-Wisconsin. Roxanne teaches music in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to that she taught for twenty years at Lloyd Street School, where she coordinated the school’s “Save the Music” program, put on holiday musicals and numerous other concerts with her students, and perform in Madison at the State Capitol.

FCC CHOIR – SECTION LEADERS

Elle Dannecker

Soprano

JillIian Bruss

Alto

Brett Hanisko

Baritone

Anthony Andronczyk

Tenor

CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE

Mark Lund

Building Superintendent