Denise Boehm
Administrative Assistant
816-434-6895 (Mon–Thurs, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.)
Denise provides administrative support for the ministry paths and LUT credentialing process.
She communicates with applicants as they navigate from application preparation and submission through the final steps of licensing or ordination. This includes receiving and processing applications and supporting documentation, preparing review packets for credentialing teams, and coordinating and scheduling events. Denise prepares and organizes files and prepares licensing and ordination certificates for the newly credentialed leaders. Denise brings 40 years of business and office management working in finance and public education.
Toni Boehm
Ministry Consultant & Transition Specialist Trainer (contract)
816-434-6832
Rev. Toni's role is to implement a professional program of ministry skills consulting and transition ministry consulting for UWM and our affiliated groups that is in alignment with UWM's vision and mission.
Juli Boyd
Enrollment Coordinator (part-time)
816-434-6866
Juli is taking over as Registrar, now titled Enrollment Coordinator, for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute (UWSI). She is the first point of contact for students, ministers, ministers-in-training, faculty, field instructors, and prospective faculty. Juli is responsible for supporting the overall management of student enrollment, records, and transcripts, instructor needs, course creation and ensures UWSI is meeting all FERPA regulations. She engages in frequent collaboration with instructors, course designers, UWM staff, UWSI faculty, the UWM Leadership Team, and Unity Urban Ministerial School.
Joanne Burns
Member Support Coordinator and Consultant Team Liaison
816-434-6845
Rev. Joanne’s role is to support the various pathways of ministry employees and the open ministries seeking to hire a Unity credentialed leader, ministry consultant, or transitional specialist. As a trained Interim Minister and Transitional Specialist/Consultant, Joanne has first-hand knowledge of the support services she provides during transitional times in ministry. She brings a wealth of experience to this position having served various sized Unity churches from pastoral to corporate in the roles of senior minister, associate minister, licensed Unity teacher, youth and family ministry director, and ministry administrative assistant.
Cathy Christy
Managing Director
816-434-6841
Cathy works with and oversees each department as well as manages the day-to-day functions of UWM. She works closely with the executive director to ensure the organization is healthy, efficient, relevant, and focused on its purpose of serving Unity leadership and ministries.
Diamond Coleman
Special Projects Coordinator
816-434-6831
Diamond is contracted part-time to oversee special projects related to our events and eLearning.
Julie Core
IYOU Event Agent
JCore@unity.org
Julie is contracted as our IYOU Event Agent, focusing on the annual IYOU (International Youth of Unity) Event held each summer for our teens. She has served as a YOU sponsor for 20 years at Unity Northwest Church, Des Plaines, Ill., and at Unity in Chicago, Ill. Her experiences include working closely with YOUers in planning and organizing many YOU retreats, where she encourages and supports the teens in developing their leadership skills. She has served as a Head Sponsor at more than 25 international, regional, and sub-regional YOU events, rallies, and retreats.
Jen Dickey
Project Coordinator
816-434-6863
In her role Rev. Jen’s responsibilities cover a wide range of content creation. She directs and produces multiple media projects for UWM events, including Annual Summit and Convention. In addition, she collaborates within the Communications group to generate material for all social media channels, and to fulfill cross-departmental creative endeavors. Currently, Rev. Jen serves as the Resident Minister at Unity Southeast in Kansas City.
Lori Erwin-Johnson
eLearning Technologist
816-434-6862
As one of our eLearning Technologists, Lori focuses on the creation of microlearnings, trainings and online courses and assists with webinar production. She also provides assistance with virtual events. Lori’s experience includes instructional design, course development, learning management system support, as well as pastoral care.
Rachel Gaither
Co-Enrollment Coordinator/Young Adult Coordinator
816-434-6867
Rachel assists the registrar of Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute with data entry regarding courses, grades, and correspondence, including assisting students with user names and passwords. Rachel was born and raised in Unity, as the daughter of Unity minister and teacher Rev. Dr. James Gaither. She has served in various positions over the years with Unity since 2001, with over 20 years of administrative experience. As a musician, she also maintains her own music teaching studio, and her teaching experience of 20+ years lends its own unique talents to UWSI’s customer service experience. Rachel also serves as our coordinator for young adults (older than 18).
Suzi Goldt
Bookkeeper
816-434-6817 (Mon-Thurs, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. CT)
Suzi processes accounts payable and maintains primary responsibility for the general ledger and monthly closing process.
Dana Grissom
Director of Operations
816.434.6811
Dana ensures the smooth day-to-day support operations of Unity Worldwide Ministries' central office. She is responsible for supervising administrative, finance, technology, and operational staff, and is the liaison to our contract CFO/HR firm.
Shad Groverland
Executive Director
816-434-6820
Rev. Shad Groverland was born and raised in Unity, learning Unity’s principles from his parents Rev. Jack and Norma Groverland. His first passion was music production, which led him to a 25-year career in sound production and management. He was then called to ministry, graduated from the Unity Urban Ministerial School, and was ordained in 2016. He served Unity of Las Vegas, Nevada, for five years before returning home to Unity of Boulder, Colorado, to co-minister with his sister, Syntysche, and father, Jack.
Rev. Shad’s Unity experience is vast and long-term. He has served as youth director, board trustee, youth camp counselor, youth and family team leader, and NGU (Next Generation Unity) minister advisor. In 2018, he was appointed to the UWM Board of Trustees, and the convention body confirmed the appointment in 2019. He was elected secretary of the Board in 2019 and 2020. During his tenure on the board, Shad served on multiple teams focused on shaping the future of the Unity Movement, and has continued this legacy of revitalization into his current position as President/CEO. His sole purpose in this role is to support and equip Unity ministries and leaders to thrive and grow.
Brenda Hicks-Wiggins
Virtual Experiences Assistant
816-434-6823
Brenda assists with the administration of our events, eLearning, and youth and family ministry. She connects with the Earthcare Team and acts as a secondary receptionist.
Celia Holman
Administrative Assistant, UWM Board Coordinator
816-434-6813
Celia provides administrative support and oversees office facilities. She also provides accounting support and acts as staff liaison on a number of special program committees. She is the administrative coordinator for our Board of Trustees.
Indira Huerta
UWSI Coordinator, Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute
ihuerta@unity.org 816-434-6861
Indira supports Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute's students and faculty in both the SEE and Ministerial & Religious Studies programs. She supports student's enrolling in UWSI, registering them for courses, providing transcripts and graduationdocuments. Indira assists instructors (online and in the field) with registering their classes, collecting grades, etc.
Carol Hull
Member Support Employment Assistant (8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CT)
816-434-6844
As the part-time Member Support Employment Assistant, Carol provides administrative support for employment, special dispensation, minister of record, and evolving ministries. Carol has a background in teaching, online program development, and quality assurance.
Diana Kennedy
Development and Engagement Coordinator
816-434-6814
Rev. Diana was introduced to Unity in 1991 at Unity of Tallahassee. She joined their staff in 2003 and served for four years, led a weekly Sunday service, coordinated volunteers, and was involved with the local interfaith coalition. Diana also served at Silent Unity and contributed to Daily Word Magazine. Her interests include philanthropy, leadership development, vegetarianism, and the wisdom of Spiral Dynamics and Integral Theory. Diana's work focuses on donor engagement, grant writing, fund development, plus "Care and Connection" outreach to Unity ministries and leaders during times of transition. She also manages the Templeton Audio Video Grant and maintains an online training library for grant recipients. Diana is passionate about supporting our ministries in sharing the powerful Unity message with the world. Diana is a member the UWM Credentialing Team, the Integral Christianity Team, and the Staff Culture Committee.
Joni Lorraine
Spiritual Direction Program Coordinator
JLorraine@unity.org
Joni manages all aspects of our spiritual direction program. She educates others about our program and spiritual direction in general. She enrolls and supports our students, hires and coordinates faculty and mentors, and provides general oversight of the curriculum. Joni is also a trained spiritual director who has been with Unity Worldwide Ministries since June 2021.
Claudia Maltos-Young
Manager of International Ministries
816-434-6869
Claudia is the connection point for our Spanish-Speaking members, both in the US and internationally. She apprises them of UWM resources and practices, oversees translations for communications and UWM resources, and manages our Spanish webpage. A professionally-trained translator with extensive experience, Claudia brings excellence and quality to her work.
Erin Morse
Education Assistant
816-434-6861
Erin provides management and administrative support to Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute. Erin has been with USWI since 2021.
Ray Nelson
Ministerial & Religious Studies Student Advisor & Internship Facilitator
RNelson@unity.org
Rev. Ray supports Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute ministerial students as advisor, internship facilitator, and faculty member. Ray is a 2011 graduate of Unity Institute and a 2008 graduate of United Theological Seminary with a concentration in pastoral care, grief, and loss. Rev. Ray is the part-time spiritual leader for Unity in the Heart of the Twin Cities located in St Paul, Minnesota.
Lynn O'Dell
Credentialing Coordinator
816-434-6843
Rev. Lynn is an ordained Unity minister who oversees UWM’s credentialing process for ministers and licensed Unity teachers. She works directly with applicants interested in becoming an ordained Unity ministerr, and liaisons with Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, Unity Urban Ministerial School and the Field Ministerial Program. She also assists applicants in becoming a licensed Unity teacher and facilitates the Skills Demonstration Seminar program that each candidate must complete before licensing. Lynn also trains and coordinates the work done by our Credentialing teams. Lynn is also a licensed Unity teacher and served on the L & O Team and Education Services Team prior to being hired by UWM.
Pamela Parker
Instructional Designer (consultant)
Pami@consciouscenter.nl
Pami Parker is assisting with the development of the online courses for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute.
James Pycior
Technology Manager
816-434-6812
James oversees technology and helps drive solutions that are innovative and cutting-edge. James has over 20 years of IT experience, including managing and deploying cloud technologies, project management, training, upgrades, and design.
Marcela Sarasti
International Ministries Assistant
816-434-6871
Marcela will be part of the new International Ministries Team and will provide support to our International ministries and leaders. Marcela is a native Spanish speaker; she is from Colombia and has a background in psychology.
Rachel Simpson
Special Dispensation Assistant (Mon and Thurs, 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.)
816-434-6868
Rev. Rachel is a part-time assistant for the Special Dispensation program. She is a lifetime Unity student, was Ordained in 2013, and is the minister of Unity of Anchorage. She has served Unity at ministries big and small, regionally, and at UWM.
Diane Venzera
Director of Services & Resources
816-434-6837
Rev. Diane provides leadership over the planning execution of our online trainings, digital resources, Contiuning Education Program, and UWSI. In order to keep our offerings fresh, relevant, and cutting edge, she keeps abreast of national trends and best practices related to distance and online education. She is also responsible for the continued growth and develop of youth and family ministry (YFM) programs. Diane holds a master's degree in education focusing on instruction design and technology and is a Certified Spiritual Educator who has over 27 years of experiencing working in YFM programs.
Glenda Walden
Evolving Ministry Coordinator and Special Dispensation Assistant
816-434-6890 (phone updated 3/10/22)
Rev. Glenda Walden is part of the Ministry Development (formerly Member Services) team and serves as our Evolving Ministry Coordinator. She supports the growth and development of new ministries and the exploration of new and creative ways to engage ministry for the future. She also assists with ongoing communications and the 6-month renewal forms for the Special Dispensation program.
Paul Wiltz
AV Production Coordinator
816-434-6838
As the AV Production Coordinator, Paul handles the video/switching/editing for our Sunday Message project, Convention, and other events. He does production supervision by training the volunteers, maintaining the equipment and assuring the quality production of the videos used in our self-directed trainings. Paul’s experience includes online game design, video editing, graphic design, as well as technical expertise.
Eric Yount
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
816-434-6802
Eric's primarily responsibility is relieving the Executive Director of operational and administrative details and performing diverse, highly responsible, complex, and non-supervised administrative functions that require recurring contact with the Leadership Team and staff. Eric is also responsible for conserving the Executive Director’s time and serving as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to the Executive Director.
