Leadership Nominees
The following individuals have agreed to serve as an elder, deacon, youth deacon, foundation trustee, and members of the nominating committee. We are grateful for their commitment and dedication to Pinnacle Presbyterian Church:
Elders
BROOKE DAVIS, a native of Scottsdale, has attended Pinnacle since her baptism as a baby, 17 years ago. She completed confirmation in 2020 and has been attending youth group ever since. Brooke has participated in several youth mission trips to Florida, California, Tucson, and Flagstaff. She is the youngest of three girls, and her parents joined the Pinnacle 25 years ago. Brooke is a junior at Notre Dame and plays for their lacrosse team. She is excited to serve her church community in this new role as a youth deacon.
BOB ARMSTRONG is originally from Nebraska and relocated with his family to Scottsdale in 2002. He and his wife Marla have been members of PPC since 2003 and have two adult daughters, Alison and Emily. Bob has served Pinnacle in a variety of roles, including Deacon, Elder, Usher Captain, and most recently as President of the Foundation. Over the years he has also been involved in missions including Open Table, Habitat for Humanity, Andre House, and hurricane disaster relief. Bob was in the Golf Course development business for many years before retiring. He enjoys working in the community and has held leadership roles with other non-profit organizations. Other interests, include: investing, spending time with friends and family, playing golf, and reading history and biographies.
SUSAN BROWN is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She has been a member of Pinnacle since 2016. Susan has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education and a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Curriculum Development. Now retired, she was a high school English teacher and later owned a gift store in Portland, Maine. Susan has been facilitating the Women’s Bible Study at Pinnacle for seven years. She previously served as an Elder and Clerk of Session at First Presbyterian Church, Libertyville, Illinois, and has also served as an Elder at Pinnacle. Susan and her husband Bill have three grown sons. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.
PAM CHURCH and her husband, Fred Popp, joined Pinnacle shortly after moving to Scottsdale in 2019. Pam was raised in the Presbyterian tradition and was a member of Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago for over 30 years. At Pinnacle, she serves on the Personnel Committee and is in the 2025 class of Stephen Ministers. She is active in the DIGG Women’s Book Group, Amigos, and attends many of the educational and pilgrimage programs at the church. Pam spent most of her career in advertising and marketing, running client services for a leading Chicago-based agency. She served in executive management at the agency, overseeing work for Fortune 100 firms. She later did leadership development, consulting with companies to evolve their cultures and build more effective senior leaders.
ROBERT D. FINKBEINER was born in Detroit, MI, and graduated from Western Michigan University. He is married to Sherry Gamble, and they have been members of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church since 2011. Bob has served as a confirmation mentor, assisted with the youth group activities, and most recently served on the facilities committee for three years. Their children, Evan and Eliza, enjoyed the youth group programs and were confirmed in the church. Both are now students at the University of Arizona. Bob spent all of his adult life in the insurance industry. First as a claims representative and then as a sales representative in Michigan and Arizona. Along the way, Bob and Sherry purchased commercial real estate which he now manages, along with consulting with former business clients in an ever-changing insurance marketplace.
JANIS FITCH was born and raised in Newton, KS in a large, loving, Presbyterian family. She received a BS in Nursing from the University of Kansas and worked as an ER nurse. Janis and her husband, Tom, lived in Michigan and Minnesota before moving to Scottsdale in 1988 with three young daughters. She served as an elder for mission at Mt. View Presbyterian Church and worked as its Director of Children’s Ministry from 1999 -2013. They joined Pinnacle in 2015. At Pinnacle she has served as a Deacon, attended many classes, and volunteered in mission and other church needs. Janis and Tom love to travel visiting their children and grandchildren in Kansas, Minnesota, and Oregon regularly, and spending summers in Pinetop. She likes to hike, golf, read, quilt, spend time with friends, and serve at Pinnacle.
EMILY GARZOLINI is an Arizona native. She became a member of Pinnacle in 2018 and has served on the Children, Youth & Families Committee. Emily has a bachelor’s degree in Arts Management from Northern Arizona University. She and her husband, Tony, have two children, Chelsea and Vincent. Before starting a family, Emily worked several years in non-profit program management and fundraising, with positions at Scottsdale Leadership, ASU, and Arizona Opera. Emily’s recent volunteer experience includes serving as Secretary on the Board of Pinnacle Presbyterian Preschool, Deacon, and as a member of the Associate Pastor search committee.
ROSEYLN O’CONNELL and her husband, George, have been members of Pinnacle since 2010. They have lived in Arizona for 38 years luxuriating in the sun after leaving the beautiful but rainy Pacific Northwest. She currently serves as a Stephen Minister and is a member of the Emergency Assistance Committee. She has served as Deacon Moderator, 8 am Usher, and on the Mission and Open Table committees. Her maternal grandfather, Adolph Nissen, served as an Elder at the Osmond Presbyterian Church in Nebraska in the 1940s. Roselyn and George have five children and five grandchildren. She earned a BA from Western Oregon University and an MLS from Arizona State University. Her passion is writing and teaching Guided Autobiography classes … though you can often find her in cycle or Pilates classes or shooting hoops.
Deacons
DANA BELMONTE was born and raised on the North Shore of Massachusetts. He joined Pinnacle in 2024. In 2001, Dana graduated from Grove City College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and then taught music at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA, for thirteen years. While teaching, Dana earned his Master of Education degree at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, and served as Minister of Music at the First American Baptist Church of Stoneham, MA. From 2015 - 2022, he served as Coordinator for the non-profit organization Camps Farthest Out International. In 2019, Dana moved to Phoenix and currently works as an Administrative Specialist at Phoenix College. Dana's spiritual journey began in the United Church of Christ at West Congregational Church in Peabody, MA, a community of faith that helped guide him for his first 22 years. Dana is married to Rev. Michael Hegeman, Associate Pastor at Pinnacle.
MARK BLACKWELL was born and raised in Southern California where he was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church and grew up playing team sports and learning to snow and water-ski with his family. He enjoyed the cultural revolution of music, surfing, and motorcycling all of which were pervasive there during his formative years. Mark received his MBA from Pepperdine University and is an Executive Scholar at the Kellogg School of Management. He worked as a senior executive in the Powersports Industry before starting his own management consulting business. Mark and his wife Patti have been married for 43 years and have one son, Brett. They have lived in Troon for four years and have been a member of Pinnacle since 2022.
PATTI BLACKWELL was born and raised in Southern California. As a child, she attended the First Presbyterian Church of Downey, CA. Her parent’s attendance at church faded and she was not baptized. She graduated from nursing school in 1981 and married, her husband, Mark the same year. They lived in various locations in Southern California during their early marriage, and in 1992 moved to Northwestern Minnesota for a life-changing job opportunity and lifestyle change. Their son, Brett, was born in 1994. They lived on 17 acres with a 1928 barn on a river! At that time, Patti decided to make a career shift and explored her lifelong interest in horses. She attended the University of Minnesota and obtained a degree in Equine Industries management. Patti and Mark began raising Western Performance horses and tended and showed many horses over a 20-year period. After a few more moves, they settled in Scottsdale in 2021 to be near their son and his new wife. Patti began attending Pinnacle soon after and in 2022 made the leap to be baptized as an adult and join Pinnacle.
TOM CREWS was born and raised in a farming family in rural SW Nebraska. He attended two years at Nebraska Wesleyan University before transferring to Colorado State University where he earned two degrees from CSU - Forest Management and Wood Science Technology. Tom was an officer in the US Navy and worked his entire professional life in the Pacific NW. Tom was a lifelong active United Methodist until joining Pinnacle in 2012. He is active in SAGE, and has three grown daughters, and five grandchildren. Tom was widowed in early 2023.
KATHERINE COULT was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She attended a Presbyterian college in Salt Lake City, UT, Westminster College with degrees in Business and French. She married her husband, Terry, in 1977. Her career was primarily in banking and mortgage, from which she retired in 2022. They have two children and two grandchildren; Kristen-Holly lives in Hamilton, Montana and Dane lives in Strasbourg, France. They joined Pinnacle in 2015 and Katherine has been involved in the annual rummage sale, was a mentor for the 2023 confirmation class, and is an usher for the 8 am service. She looks forward to serving the Pinnacle community.
JOAN JONES moved to Scottsdale from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2014 and soon after joined Pinnacle. Joan was an active member of Burlingame Presbyterian Church for 26-years, where she served two sessions as Deacon, as well as a Sunday School teacher for several years, a Confirmation Mentor, and participated in two Mexico work trips. Joan worked in various financial positions in San Francisco. At Pinnacle, Joan has served as a confirmation mentor twice. She and her husband, Niven, have two sons, both who live in Texas with their wives and children. When not visiting family, Joan and Niven are building or remodeling homes. Joan enjoys gardening, flower arranging, entertaining and exercising. She finds great joy in helping others and serving and honoring God’s word.
JOSEPH PETER KAISER IV lived in Grosse Pointe, MI, where he attended Western Michigan University, earning a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He retired from being CEO of Gallagher Kaiser Corporation in 2015. As a member of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Joe served as an Elder; Session Member; Board of Trustees; Board of Trustee – President; 12 years on the Stewardship Committee; Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee; capital campaign committee, and Chairmen of $1MM Trinity Terrace outdoor worship space. He joined Pinnacle in 2018 and has served as an Elder on the Session and Property Committee with assignments to upgrade: the Teen Center, Rehearsal Hall, plumbing, offices, meeting areas including new chairs/sheds/ storage racks, landscape projects, and Trinity Terrace. Joe is married to Maureen and they have four grown children and five grandchildren. They live in Scottsdale and spend summer vacations in Michigan.
MAUREEN ANN KAISER grew up in Birmingham, MI, and now lives in North Scottsdale. She was President and CEO of a printing/marketing company in Bloomfield Hills, which she sold after 26 years of operation. Maureen has since founded Lotus Designs and Events, as well as Mayhem Lane Lyrics LLC, a songwriting company, which is her real passion with 150+ songs professionally produced. Maureen plays electric and acoustic guitar and performs live with her band “Mayhem Lane.” She is married to Joe Kaiser IV and the couple have three daughters and one son with four grandsons and one granddaughter. Maureen has been and continues to be active and has held leadership positions in many charities and business associations and has enjoyed participating at Pinnacle. Her hobbies include hunting, hiking, horseback riding, golf, boating, fishing, cooking, scuba diving, and music.
JULIA MATURA is a sophomore at Notre Dame Prep. She attended Pinnacle Presbyterian Preschool and has been part of the church community ever since. She was confirmed two years ago and is an active member of the youth group. Julia has volunteered at the rummage sale for many years and participated in the mission trip to Florida last summer. Julia’s mother, Susan, is an Elder at Pinnacle and Julia says her Mom has been her inspiration to continue to be involved in the church. She looks forward to serving as a Youth Deacon this year.
ROSALEA MCLEMORE, originally from Evansville, IN, moved to Tucson when she was 15 years old. She attended Good Samaritan Nursing School, LaSalle University, and the University of Penn and worked as a nurse practitioner. Rosalea has been a member of Pinnacle for 30 years, active with Shoe Box Ministries, VBS, and Women’s Groups, and volunteering with the Rummage Sale. She has three adult children and four grandchildren.
KAVITHA THOMAS has lived in Phoenix for the past six years, with the last two spent attending Pinnacle. She has participated in children's programs, volunteered at community events, and attended Women's Bible Study. Born in the United Kingdom, Kavitha has had the opportunity to live in three countries and seven different U.S. cities. She currently works as an analyst for SRP. She is excited to make Phoenix her long-term home and is committed to investing in the people of Pinnacle and this city, building deeper connections, and growing in faith together.
SUZANNE WERTZ, along with her children, Lance, Liz, and Luke Crabtree, ventured from Gladwyne, PA to Scottsdale to attend ASU Graduate School of Management. Suzanne was interested in pursuing her degree in hospital management based on her love of the science of medicine. It helped that she had faith as well as her nursing degree from Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia and Economics from Eastern Baptist College in St. David's, Pa. She enjoyed a 13-year career with Samaritan Health Service in Phoenix, followed by Vice President of Healthcare Colorado from which she retired in 1999 to marry Max Wertz, MD. They shared 10 grandchildren and enjoyed fishing, community volunteering, travel, and watching their combined families mature and thrive. Max passed away in 2023, but with the support and love provided by her Pinnacle family, Suzanne humbly accepts this honor to serve our congregation.
Foundation Trustee
SHERRY GAMBLE was born and raised in a small western Pennsylvania town and fell in love with the Southwest while traveling with her first job out of college (Denison University OH). Arizona became her home in 1999 when she transferred to manage the AZ territory for an insurance company. She has enjoyed over 30 years working in the industry for both insurance companies and retail brokers. Sherry and her husband, Bob Finkbeiner, married in 2011, and found Pinnacle that summer. Their children Evan (21) and Eliza (19) Punches grew up in the youth programs at Pinnacle and Sherry’s volunteer time supported the youth group including mission trips. Most recently, she served a 3-year term as a deacon. They live in Cave Creek with our their retired Greyhounds, and their children attend the University of Arizona. She looks forward to serving as a Trustee on the Foundation Board.
Nominating Committee
DEBBIE BENDER is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, also spending time in Long Island and Indianapolis before moving to Arizona in 2005. Debbie has served in several capacities at Pinnacle, teaching Sunday school, greeting, ushering, and helping where she was needed. She served as Deacon from 2014-2017, in charge of hospitality, and again from 2022 to 2025 as part of the usher team. Debbie also helps coordinate the Welcome Kiosk and can often be found there after Sunday services. She and her husband, Jack, have two children and one grandchild.
SUNNY EDWARDS, originally from St. Louis, moved to Scottsdale in 2018 to be with her family and joined Pinnacle a year later. Graduating from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Sunny holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in behavioral studies. Her career includes 23 years as a non-profit executive in the hunger relief field. In addition to serving as a deacon for the past three years, Sunny serves on the Mission and the Emergency Assistance committees and is the liaison for Andre House volunteers. She has been a confirmation mentor, serves homebound communion, ushers at Pinnacle’s music programs, and is a regular at SAGE, women’s book group, and Amigos.
JOAN LOUDON PERKINS was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and graduated from Muskingum University, New Concord, OH. She moved with her husband, Tom, to State College, PA, where she was on the staff of Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development. After obtaining her “Ph.T” degree… “putting-hubby-thru,” the family moved to Indianapolis, where she was a substitute teacher and co-owner of the "House of Christmas." Next, they moved to Mendham, NJ, then Hendersonville, NC, and in 1999 moved to Scottsdale. After visiting several local Presbyterian churches, Pinnacle became home. Joan served on the Indianapolis PBS board, County/State Boards of the American Cancer Society, and president of the Muskingum Alumni Association. Her involvement at Pinnacle has included participating in the rummage sale, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Classes, and the Pinnacle Concert Series. Joan and Tom have three children, who live in Cleveland, Raleigh, and Tampa, seven grandchildren, and three great-grands!
MEL STEELE, CPA, was born, raised, and educated in Oklahoma before career stops in Tulsa, Houston, Chicago, and Seattle where he worked in Capital Markets as a Mortgage Banker for thirty-five years. He joined Pinnacle in 2005 and has chaired the Stewardship Committee and the Foundation. Mel is an Elder who has served on Session, the Finance Committee, Tending the Promise Capital Campaign and has also been an usher and greeter. Today Mel enjoys singing bass in our Chancel Choir, leading the Stephen Ministry team, serving Homebound Communion, working with our Grief Support Group, and participating in the Emergency Assistance Committee. He is a widower to his wife, Fran, of 60 years who passed in 2019, and has two adult children, a daughter living in Houston, a son, and two grandsons who are here in Phoenix.
