Church Staff

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​We are pleased to serve you as your church staff.
Church Phone Number:  814-238-2422
Church Fax Number:  814-238-3524
​Church Email address - [email protected]
Voicemail messages may be left after hours by entering the extension number when prompted

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Rev. Scott Hoffman, Senior Pastor (full time)
voicemail extension 204

​Pastor Scott Hoffman began his time with us at SCPC on April 8, 2024.  A native of West Virginia, Scott spent his formative years growing up in Southwestern Pennsylvania. As the son of a retired Presbyterian minister, the Church has always been a major influence in his life.

Scott earned his BA in Christian Education from Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA) and his MDiv. from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  In his 15+ years of ordained ministry, Scott has served churches in Pennsylvania (Sewickley) and Maryland (Columbia).

Scott has been married to the love of his life, Ashlee, for over 20 years. Together they have two daughters, Kylee and Natalee.
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Scott is grateful to God for the call to serve alongside the wonderful community of the State College Presbyterian Church. 

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Deannine Shipman, ​Director of Education and Program (full-time)
voicemail extension 213
[email protected]

Deannine spent her childhood years in North Carolina, California, and Virginia, while her family moved around the country. She graduated from Presbyterian College in 1982 and received her MA from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1984. She worked in churches in South Carolina, Georgia, and Birmingham, AL before coming to SCPC in November 1997.
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Her responsibilities include guidance and oversight of the education programs such as Sunday School, LOGOS, Childcare, and Adult Education.  Deannine works closely with our Stay and Play Director and Kitchen Coordinators (for youth programs) on a weekly basis. Deannine participates in leading worship and especially enjoys doing the Children's Messages on Sunday mornings. She has three children, Abby and Joshua are both teachers in the Northern Virginia area, and Brittany is working part time in State College and a tattoo apprentice.

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Heike Burghart Rice, Director of Music Ministry (full time)
​voicemail extension 208
[email protected]
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Heike Burghart Rice began work with us on January 2, 2024.  She holds both a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance. Heike comes to us from past positions in a variety of denominations, working with adults and children as singers and instrumentalists. She believes “that a church can use music to convey truths about God, to set the scene for the narrative, as a vehicle of our expressions towards God and each other, as a means of catharsis, as a teaching tool for young and old, for comfort and joy, or just for fun.”  Along with serving as our organist, choir director, and handbell choir director, she will also provide worship skills leadership with our mid-week LOGOS program for children and youth in grades 1-8.

Heike is no stranger to us as she has been our guest pianist/organist for worship as well as a guest organist for previous Advent organ recitals. She is also an accomplished vocalist.

Heike and Sarah Gen, along with their three children, have lived in State College since 2020.  ​

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Reed Dressler, ​Director of Youth Ministry (full time)
voicemail extension 206
[email protected] 

Reed began working in this newly formed position in September 2022.  He was born in Trenton, NJ and grew up in the Ozarks region of southwest Missouri.  He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion and then was awarded a Master's of Theological Studies from Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa Oklahoma.
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Reed sees experiencing the love of God as a lifelong journey. and hopes to always live on that eternal path. In the nonprofit world Reed has worked as a Domestic Violence Shelter Victim Advocate, and as a Chapter Executive Director for a non-profit. In church settings he  worked as Youth Director, a Children's Church Director, and assisted an AV team.  Reed's goal as a Youth Director is to always create a safe, open, and loving environment that is inclusive and creative. Together with our youth, he hopes to find our True Selves and create a Beloved Community! 

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Martha Trout, Membership and Program Associate (3/4 time)
voicemail extension 202
[email protected]

​Martha is a lifelong resident of State College and member of SCPC.  She holds a BS degree from Penn State University in Individual and Family Studies.  After operating an Administrative Consulting business and managing a local independent psychologist's private practice for several years, she joined the SCPC staff in this program position that was created in 2003.

As Membership and Program Associate, Martha manages the membership arm of the church management system, the church website and the church's many communication efforts.  She staffs the Membership Ministry Unit and works closely with the Session, as well as resourcing church programs with the development and publication of informational materials.  She also compiles the Annual Report of the Congregation.  
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She is an ordained Elder and has volunteered with LOGOS and FISH. Martha and husband Kerry live in State College with their cat, Henry. Their daughter, Kristi, is pursuing a second degree in nursing in Vermont.
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Martha is normally in the office from  9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday thru Thursday; 9:00 am - noon on Friday.

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Michelle Fortin, ​Financial Administrator (3/4 time)
voicemail extension 207
[email protected]

Michelle was born and raised in Maine and went to college and graduate school in Maine.  She and her family came to State College several years ago for husband, Jeff's work. They have two daughters - Abby is a graduate of Penn State, now based in Charleston, SC, and Libby graduated from Hartwick College in nursing, also based in Charleston, SC. Michelle and Jeff live in Centre Hall with their chickens and 2 cats.
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 Her normal office hours are 8:00 am - 2:30 pm, Monday thru Friday.

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Anne Thomas, ​Assistant Financial Administrator (part time)
voicemail extension 207
[email protected]

Anne grew up in Princeton, NJ.  She graduated from the University of Michigan with both a Bachelor's degree in Voice Performance and an MBA.  Because she was a Navy wife, she has lived extensively overseas as well as in various locations on the Eastern Seaboard.  She has two children, Hunter and Alexandra.
Anne's responsibilities include deposits, quarterly financial statements and managing the database for Safeguarding our Children and Youth at SCPC.

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Laura Green, Church Secretary (part time)
voicemail extension 201
[email protected]

Laura began work with us in August 2021. She grew up in Huntingdon, PA and graduated from Huntingdon Area High School. She received her Bachelors degree from Liberty University's Online Campus (Lynchburg, VA) in Paralegal Studies in 2020. Her most recent work experience was as a legal assistant and office manager for a local attorney. Laura's husband, Terrance, is a physical education teacher and girl's basketball coach in the Penns Valley School District. They live in PA Furnace with their three children, Abby, Timmy, and Quinlynn.

Laura's regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm during the program year and 8:30 am - 2:30 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays  in the summer.

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Cricket Hunter, Mission Associate (part-time)
voicemail extension 206
[email protected]

Cricket began working with us as Mission Associate in April 2022.  She serves as a connecting point between small groups, the Social Justice and Mission Team, staff, service organizations in the community, and our congregation at large. She comes to us as a 23-year resident of State College who loves connecting people and helping people combine their talents, enthusiasm, and wisdom to meet needs and build community.  You may spot Cricket walking to church from home, where she lives with her spouse, Dave, and three chickens.   Their extended families and daughters are in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Colorado, and beyond.  
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Cricket’s normal office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays and she will be in worship two Sundays a month.  She would welcome the chance to sit (or walk!) with you to hear about your love and concerns for the communities we live in.  

Cricket's work days at SCPC are Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Laura Essinger-Hileman, Chrysalis Coordinator (LOGOS Middle School) (part time)
[email protected]

Laura E-H took over as coordinator of the Chrysalis program (the middle school component of our mid-week LOGOS program for children and youth) in summer 2021. She first joined the college-age group for a mission trip in the spring of 2007, then became a member of SCPC in 2008, and has been an active part of the church community ever since. Laura is a math teacher in the State College area, the assistant director of the Penns Valley Marching Band, and an active participant with the YoPro (Young Professionals) group at SCPC.
 
Laura has been working with the youth of SCPC since the fall of 2007. As a college student, Laura volunteered with LOGOS Geckos in Activity Time for two years and then started as a volunteer Chrysalis leader in the fall of 2009. She continued to work with the Chrysalis group after deciding to stay in the State College after graduating from Penn State in 2010. Laura loves the community that Chrysalis creates, and will continue to foster the connections between the youth and the larger SCPC community.

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Laura Seeley, Stay and Play Preschool Director (3/4 time)
Stay and Play direct phone: 814-237-1154
814-238-2422 - voicemail extension 221
[email protected]

Laura Seeley joined us in Fall 2022 as our Stay and Play Director.  Laura was born and raised in Toms River, NJ, and graduated from Rider University with a degree in Sociology and minors in Social Work and History.  She went on to work in the social work field, but quickly moved into working with various pre schools as a lead teacher and as an Assistant Director in several locations, all in New Jersey.  Following that she went on to be a Preschool Director, and helped the owner open a series of daycare centers from 2009 – 2016.
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In 2016 she moved to Happy Valley and married her husband, Bryant, who works for Penn State.  Together they have three children:  Kennedy, Kall, & Kordelia.
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Laura likes to spend her time with her family, and if there is any extra time she does cross stitch, all kinds of crafting, using her Cricut, and is a Color Street consultant.

She enjoys the beach, Penn State football, the NY Giants, the dairy farm, and visiting Cape Cod. 

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Dianna Danko, Stay and Play Assistant Director (part-time)
Stay and Play direct phone:  814-237-1154
814-238-2422 - voicemail extension 221
[email protected]
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Dianna Danko joined our Stay and Play staff in Fall 2022 after spending the last six years as a member of the Stay and Play Advisory Team member.  She is married with 3 children (two are current attenders and one is a  Stay and Play graduate).  Dianna graduate from Lock Haven University with a degree in Communications.  She and her family live in Bellefonte - she loves spending time with her family, camping, play softball, Broadway shows and the beach!

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 Mike and Amy Gordon, Kitchen Coordinators for FISH and LOGOS  (part time)
814-234-3564
[email protected]

​Amy and Mike serve as the Kitchen Coordinators for LOGOS and FISH.  They organize menus and coordinate cooking crews, shop for food and help prepare meals.  If your youth has special dietary needs, you can contact them directly. Amy and Mike have lots of energy and knowledge and we are lucky to have them in this position!

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Todd Hockenberry, Building Manager/Head Custodian (full time)
[email protected]

Todd began work with us at the beginning of November 2018.  He was born and raised in Central PA and worked as a line clearance tree trimmer for 20 years until needing a change which took him into Facilities Maintenance.  He and his wife, Jill, live in Bellefonte. They have 3 adult daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Todd spends his free time watching Penn State or Pittsburgh sports.

Todd's normal hours are 7:30 am - 3:30 pm  Monday - Thursday and 7:30 - 12:30 on Sundays.

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Chelsea Hockenberry, Assistant Custodian (part time)
 [email protected]

Chelsea began working at SCPC in January 2022 as a sub for her sister, Lindsey, when she was off for maternity leave.  She did such a great job that we asked her to come back after Lindsey moved on to a full time job in her field in May 2022!  Chelsea  grew up in Central PA with her mother, sister, and father (who you might be familiar with), Building Manager Todd Hockenberry.  

Chelsea's hours vary with the needs of the building, but she is generally here in the evening.