OUR STAFF
The Rev. Dr. David G. Watermulder,
Pastor and Head of Staff
Dave and his wife Lisa live in Los Gatos with their daughter, Abigail Grace, and their son, Theodore Gustav. After graduating from The George Washington University in Washington DC, Dave served in the Peace Corps in West Africa before feeling called into ministry. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2006 and graduated from Portland Seminary in 2020 with a Doctorate in Ministry. Dave served at Providence Presbyterian Church in Rhode Island from 2006 until being called to PCLG in 2012. When not around our church campus, you can find Dave in a local coffee shop, playing Ultimate Frisbee or out for a run. Dave is a life-long San Francisco Giants fan and enjoys reading, traveling and meeting new people.
 The Rev. Erica Rader, Associate Pastor
Erica lives in San Jose with her husband Dave. Their family includes young adults Jeremy and Ren, her grown stepchildren Eric and Melissa, son-in-law James and two adorable grandsons Liam and Grant. She is an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament, serving half time at PCLG and half time as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Jose. Erica grew up in Redwood City, graduated from Santa Clara University and graduated from the University of Chicago with an MBA. Erica became a Jesus-follower at the age of thirty, and subsequently began a journey that led to serving on staff at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, studying at Fuller Seminary, moving to Chicago for an Associate Pastor position for several years…and then back again to the Bay Area in 2014. Erica enjoys reading, cooking, time in the outdoors and time spent with family and friends.
Carlo Panighetti, Director of Operations
Carlo has attended PCLG since the early 1990s, and is a graduate of our children and youth ministry programs. Carlo received a degree in Radio & Television from San Francisco State University in 2010, specializing in audio production and recording. In addition to working in the PCLG office, he has served as a member of the Youth Ministry Volunteer Staff, Session Elder and member of the Mission Committee. Outside of PCLG, Carlo enjoys music, good coffee, and comic books.
Steve Fainer, Director of Youth Ministries
Steve Fainer has been the Director of Youth Ministries at PCLG since graduating from Westmont College in 2001. Steve is currently enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary pursuing his Master of Divinity degree. While Steve’s focus at PCLG is on the faith development of middle school and high school youth, his ministry extends to graduates of the program and the families of PCLG. Steve and his wife Jane (a public relations professional and Silicon Valley native) are the parents of Ethan and Lucy. Steve and Jane enjoy
travel and exploration and are loving introducing Ethan and Lucy to a life outdoors. Avid hikers, Steve and Jane thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2008 and have explored some of the most beautiful nature in the United States and abroad. Spending time in God’s creation recharges them to spend hours each week with wild and crazy 11-18 year olds at PCLG! Steve can’t wait to share with you more about the youth programs – please do not hesitate to contact him.
Veronica Nourse, Church Administrator
Veronica grew up in the Bay Area and started her career in high tech in Silicon Valley as an Administrator and Office Manager. Later in her career she decided to return to college to work on an art degree. She put that degree to good use teaching art to children in schools and after-school programs for many years. She then returned to the business world because she missed working in an office. In her free time Veronica writes books, does art, works in her garden, makes jewelry and soap. She also enjoys cooking for her family and friends.
Erin Heath, Director of
Children’s Ministries
Erin started attending PCLG youth group in 2002 and a few years later became a member of the church. After receiving a degree in Sociology from UCSC she returned to the area and began volunteering with the youth programs. Erin has been a children’s dance teacher for many years and is thrilled to add Children’s Ministries Coordinator to her resume. You will often see her accompanied by her son, Griffin, daughter, Eliza, and husband Brian (who she met in high school youth group).
The Rev. Jack C. Longley, Parish Associate
Jack is a native Hoosier and a graduate of Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana where he met his wife Irma Washmuth. They were married for nearly 59 years before Irma’s death in March 2018. Jack did graduate work at Seattle Pacific University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and the Southern California School of Theology at Claremont, California. He was first ordained in the Missionary Church in 1964 and later in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in 1976.
Jack began his ministry with Youth for Christ in St. Petersburg, Florida and after six years he spent four years as Associate and Rally Director of Portland Youth for Christ. In 1978 he was called to serve as pastor of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Jose—a position he held for nearly 31 years until retirement in 2009. Since retirement he has served three congregations as interim pastor—Westminster Presbyterian Church (SJ); English Pastor of the Onnuri (Korean) Presbyterian Church; and most recently as English Pastor of the Taiwanese-American Presbyterian Church of San Jose.
Dr. Julie Lasher, Ph.D., Visitation Ministries
Julie has been a member of PCLG since she moved to Los Gatos in 2005. She is a Psychologist with a specialty in Geriatrics, and conducts PCLG’s Visitation Ministries. She is originally from Southern California, but came to UC Berkeley for college, stayed in Alameda for graduate school at California School of Professional Psychology and has been a Northern Californian ever since. She is married to William, and has two young adult children, Dylan and Sarah.
Nimi Nagalingam, Church Accountant
Nimi Nagalingam has a Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Minnesota and has been working for many years as an Accounting Manager. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in California. She is the wife of Samuel Nagalingam, a longtime member of PCLG.
Michael Taylor, Director of Music
Michael comes to PCLG with 23 years of experience in managing and building church music programs. While his background includes choral as well as instrumental conducting, he was primarily trained as a vocalist with a Master’s Degree from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has been teaching voice for twenty-five years. In addition to his experience as music director for opera, oratorio and musical theatre, he has written words and music for three church musicals, a Seven Last Words, a Requiem, a fully staged Opera and numerous choral pieces as well as extensive experience arranging music for choir, voice and instruments. Michael continues his work with children in opera outreach where he writes, arranges and directs condensed operas using students and opera singers as part of the SF Opera and West Bay Opera outreach programs.
Norita (Rita) Hoegel,
Worship Band Leader
Rita joins the PCLG staff as the Worship Band leader for our blended service. Music and ministry have always been a part of her life starting with performing with her family The Johnson Family Singers.The 80’s took Rita to Minneapolis for a two-year tour in a ministry group called Lifeline. In the 90’s, her brother formed a Christian Rock Band called The Balance, which played primarily for mass youth gatherings across the U.S.
Rita is a professional performing musician, worship leader, piano teacher and choir director. She has recorded 6 albums with various Christian bands and produced and recorded two children’s albums: Hand In Hand (original songs) and Chapel Songs.
Rita enjoys spending time with her family (especially her daughters Katlynn & Julia), yoga, tap dancing, playing cards and walking by the ocean.
Jim Bracken, Facilities Manager
Jim lives in San Jose, having grown up in the Detroit suburbs, lived in Indiana, Ohio, Colorado and Massachusetts, and been educated Michigan State University and the University of Cincinnati. He moved to California from Boston in 2001 to help family with a medical equipment company as Director of Operations.
In addition to his work at PCLG, he also concurrently works as a Building Manager/Property Manager for four Orthopedic Surgeons in Los Gatos.Jim likes reading, walking, freshwater fish, shrimp, plant keeping, and spending time with friends.
Jamie Newton, Director, Growing FootPrints Early Childhood
Education Program
Jamie came to PCLG as the Director of the Preschool Program at Growing Footprints in July 2022. Jamie’s career in Early Childhood Education began in 1991. Her background includes teaching and directing in preschool settings since 2011. Her educational background includes Associate Degrees in Accounting, Insurance and a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She is certified in Montessori Early Childhood Education. Jamie resides in Felton with her husband and family.
Ruthanne Adams Martinez, Bell Leader
Ruthanne Adams Martinez comes to PCLG as the handbell director. She holds a B.A. in Music and B.S. in Accounting from Santa Clara University, graduating magna cum laude and winning several awards, and a M.A. in Music from San Jose State University. Over a period of 27 years, she has studied harp, piano, organ, and is an accomplished campanologist—directing, guest-conducting, and playing in several bell choirs, performing solo, and arranging music. In her free time, she likes to paint, quilt, and ballroom dance.
Jennifer Baham, Organist / Accompanist
Jennifer Baham graduated with a BA in K-12 Choral Music Education and a specialization in Organ Performance and Music Liturgy from Dordt College. While at Dordt, Mrs. Baham studied organ under the direction of Dr. Joan Ringerwole. Since college, Mrs. Baham has received training in Orff Schulwerk (Mills College), conducting (SJSU), and vocal pedagogy (SJSU).
Baham has experience as a music educator, organist, accompanist, piano teacher, conductor, and composer. In 1994 Mrs. Baham started the general music program at
San Jose Christian School. She is in her thirteenth year of teaching music, choir, and band at SJCS. Mrs. Baham served as organist for Church of the Chimes (San Jose, CA) for eleven years, and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (San Jose, CA) for 5 years. She regularly performs as substitute organist in the San Jose area.
Mrs. Baham has accompanied King’s Brass while they were on tour in the Bay Area.
Mrs. Baham has served as an accompanist for over 20 years at schools, festivals, and churches in Iowa and California. Outside of her musical endeavors, Mrs. Baham enjoys spending time with her daughters, Camille & Erin, gardening, hiking, and walking by the ocean.
Katie Gueorguieva,
Organist / Accompanist
Katie Gueorguieva has been an active participant in the music life of the Bay Area since 1997. A native of Bulgaria, in 1993, she graduated with a B.A. from The State Academy of Music in Sofia, where she studied Music Theory, Piano, and Choral Conducting. In 1997, Ms. Gueorguieva received a scholarship to San Francisco Conservatory of Music, from where she graduated with a M.M. Degree in 1999. There she studied piano with Prof. Mack McCray, a Julliard graduate, and took a course in Organ and Harpsichord Performance with Prof. Lorette Goldberg. Ms. Gueorguieva has worked as a pianist/organist, and Music Director at churches in the Bay Area since 1997, including St. Paulus Lutheran Church in San Francisco, Trinity United Methodist Church in Mountain View, and St. Francis Episcopal Church in San Jose. In 2003, Ms. Gueorguieva was awarded an Outstanding Musician Diploma at the Ibla International Music Competition in Ibla, Italy. In the same year, she also became a recipient of the prestigious Three Sponsors’ Award at the International Duo Piano Competition in Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Gueorguieva has appeared in numerous concerts in the Bay Area, as well as in Europe and Asia. She has also been teaching piano since 1997. A number of her students have been prize winners at prestigious piano competitions, and a few have been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. Ms. Gueorguieva lives in San Jose/Almaden with her husband, Ken, and her daughter, Nickie.
Kirim Eom, Organist / Accompanist
Kirim Eom was born and raised in South Korea. Being raised in a Christian household, the desire to use her musical gifts for God’s kingdom was planted in her, and it also served as the driving force for further musical study. She was a pianist for the church that she grew up in and continued to pursue music in Sookmyung Women’s University. In college, she majored in music composition with a minor in piano. She also earned a certificate in music teaching. After graduating from college, she worked for a christian radio station, FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company), as a music librarian and a pianist for choirs and chapels.In 2009, as her husband was relocated to work at the San Jose branch for his company, Kirim immigrated to the United States with her husband and her two daughters. She attended Valley Church in Cupertino and grew as an organist with the guidance of her mentor, Dian Ruder. During her 10 years at Valley church, she frequently served as a pianist and organist for Sunday services and the church choir. From time to time, she
also served as a substitute organist at Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church, Campbell
United Methodist Church and other churches in the Bay Area. She is the recipient of
the Frasier Organ Scholarship given by the AGO San Jose chapter, and has earned
the AGO service playing certificate. Currently, she is a pianist for the Cupertino High
School Choir.