Leadership Profiles

Michael Herzog - Certified Lay Speaker

Michael Herzog, Certified Lay Speaker - retired chemical engineer, raised in the Evangelical and Reformed Church in St Louis, married into Napa First United Methodist Church thirty-two years ago. With wife Mary, he sings in the choir. He's been the volunteer book-mender for the Napa City County Library for fourteen years, participates in a memoir writing group, enjoys hiking, and delights in being Papa to seven grandchildren.

Barbara Thompson - Lay Leader

Call her Barb, Aunt Barbie, Mrs. Thompson, or Grandma, this retired teacher just likes to be included! She has a second home in Truckee, but Napa is where "my life" is. Singing in the choir, knitting for "Chicks with Sticks," United Methodist Women Co-Chair, Thrift Shoppe worker, helping in GRAPE Express Sunday School, Lay Leader - the church seems to be her home away from home! Barb, her husband Ward, sons Ed and John, all grew up in this wonderfully supportive church community. "I am dedicated to making it so for future generations."

Mark Andersen - Lay Leader

A banner hangs in Mark's Physical Therapy Clinic which captures his approach to caring for those who are rehabilitating from surgery and injuries, it reads, "Movement is Life". More than that, it has been principle of life for Mark. Whether it is the regular cadence on one of his runs or hiking in the back woods, his body's rhythmical kinetic chain as the club head sends that little white ball toward its target, the meter of his bicycle pedals while on one of those challenging climbs, or simply the turning of earth in his garden beds, it is in these moments that Mark seems to feel most connected with the Sacred. He is blessed with a Life Partner, Bonnie, for more than four decades - sharing two grown sons and their partners, who seem to enjoy being around them. "Yes, for me 'Movement is Life' and 'Life is Good.'"

Jan Lanterman - Music Director

Jan Lanterman has been director of music at FUMC for 36 years; she swears she started in this position at age 3, but some of us have been around long enough to know better.... A description of her life might read, "all music, all the time!" She also is artistic director of the Napa Valley Chorale and is executive secretary of the California branch of the American Choral Directors Association. She is the mother of a grown son, Rob, and has two granddaughters, Michele and Shelby.

Doug Cleveland - Council Chair

Eating an English muffin with peanut butter and wife Sandy's Meyer lemon marmalade while engaging in baby-talk with one and two year old grandsons is a typical morning for Church Council chair, Doug Cleveland. A recently retired manager in the non-profit human services world Doug continues his interest through service on the Board of the North Bay Housing Coalition. Doug enjoys singing with the local Barbershop chorus, Napa Valley Chorale and, of course, the FUMC choir. If given a chance, you will find Doug riding his bicycle in the hills of Napa Valley or playing an occasional round of golf.