Our Team

CARson Brauer

Chief Storyteller

Family: Carson has a sister who is nine years older than him and a brother who is thirteen years older than him, but Carson's parents PROMISE that he wasn't an "oops." He's not so sure he believes them.
Fun Fact: Carson backpacked through 12 countries in three months!
Guilty Pleasure: Pizza, unless it has vegetables on it
Big dream: To write, produce and direct a short film

Christalle Hamilton

Groups Director & Campus Experience Director

Family: Married for 20 years to Rex. Proud mom to three boys and a girl.
Fun Fact: First job was at an amusement/water park.
Guilty Pleasure: Reruns of "Friends" episodes and a good chocolate milkshake
Big Dream: More, more, and more travel

Cristina Goetzinger

Elementary Director

Family: I’ve been married to my amazing husband for 12 years. We are a blended family with 4 kids. Xavier, Mireya, Isaiah, and Joey.
Fun Fact: I love dancing anytime anyplace and I have a huge sense of humor. Summer is my favorite season and Christmas is my favorite holiday!
Guilty Pleasure: A super soft fresh glazed donut from O&H Bakery®!
Big Dream: One of my dreams is to help my community by improving their health mentally and physically. Maybe one day I will open a mental health facility that focuses on the mind body and soul.

Dave Nelson

Founding Pastor

Family: Dave and his wife, Rindy, started GLC in 2009. They have three kids.
Fun Fact: Dave and Rindy have lived in 7 different cities and in 12 apartments/homes in their 24 years of marriage.
Guilty Pleasure: Peanut M&Ms
Big Dream: Shooting a 12+ point buck

WHERE DID PASTOR DAVE GO? Timberlake Church in Redmond, WA   CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

James Nelson

Family Pastor

Family: James and his wife, Kimi, have a blended family with seven children.
Fun Fact: James loves camping with his family and eating spicy foods. And, he speaks Spanish!
Guilty Pleasure: Ghost pepper beef jerky
Big Dream: Doing mission work in foreign countries

Josh Petersen

Interim Lead and Teaching Pastor

Family:  Josh has 4 sons:  Jake, Logan, Cole, and Sawyer
Fun Fact:  Josh plays trombone and for one night in the 90s was part of a ska band.
Guilty Pleasure: Taco Bell
Big Dream: Visit all of the Disney Worlds outside the U.S.

Kellie Romanowski

Operations & Event Coordinator

Family: Mom of Cameron James (CJ), who is 2.
Fun Fact: Met Chris Tomlin and Toby Mac. Played 8 competitive sports growing up.
Guilty Pleasure: Loves super sour chewy candy, loads of ketchup on my burger & chips and dip.
Big dream: To own, operate and manage a daycare center.

Lawrence Kirby

Teaching Pastor*

Family: Married 15 years to his best friend. Together, they have 3 children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and 3 grandchildren.
Fun Fact: In another life he’s a full-time personal stylist. He’s also a dope DJ!  (only in his head)
Guilty Pleasure: Buying sneakers
Big dream: Seeing local churches move together in unity

*Kirby is the lead pastor of OneVoice Church in Kenosha, but speaks at Great Lakes Church 8-10 times a year.

Liesel Gruener

Finance & Operations Director

Family: Liesel and her husband, Doug, have three adult children, Jacob, Hannah, and Bekah, and a new daughter-in-law, Bella!
Fun fact: She's a huge K-Pop concert fan.
Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate creamer with a splash of coffee
Big Dream: Traveling around the world

McKenna ruchti

Kids Director

Family:  McKenna is engaged to her fiancé, John, and they are excited to start a life together! She has lived in Kenosha her whole life with the best mom, dad, and sister.
Fun Fact:  She taught herself how to moon walk.
Guilty Pleasure:  Anything chocolate and peanut butter- more specifically and recently, the Aldi brand Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Big Dream:  To be the best mom someday

LEAH TENNYSON

Students Coordinator

Family:  Leah and her husband Drew have four children together- three boys, one girl, two dogs, two cats and a partridge in a pear tree!
Fun Fact:  She can wiggle her ears
Guilty Pleasure:  Terrible reality tv shows
Big Dream:  To own a bulldog named Winston

Board of Directors

Jeneyl Anglin

Lani Renneau

Justin Matthews

James Grogan

Scott Obenchain