Our Team

Stacy Williams-Duncan

Founder & CEO

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Pedagogy, Curriculum Design, Digital Learning

The Rev. Stacy Williams-Duncan integrates teaching and learning, research and practice, theological education, and ministry in and beyond parish, school, seminary, and digital contexts. She is a co-creative priest with over 20 years of experience in ordained ministry.

Hannah Graham

Head of Consulting and Learning Initiatives

"Creating space for people to know God."

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Program Design & Facilitation, Instruction, Digital Tools, Project Management

For nearly 15 years, Hannah has served Episcopal parish communities in a variety of Christian Formation roles. A gifted Godly Play storyteller and youth mentor, Hannah utilizes her knowledge of child and adolescent faith development in the classroom and in executing strategic planning to enhance the shaping of Christian community. She regularly contributes to Diocesan events and camps. Hannah has led the Education for Ministry Program as a mentor and trains other mentors to lead the program as well. She is recognized for her innovative use of technology to integrate liturgical seasons, parish programs, music, faith-at-home activities, and outreach.

In 2021, Hannah joined the LF! team as the Congregational Learning Lead. She journeys with parish and program leadership as they design aligned formational offerings. Hannah believes that clear, thoughtful, and honest communication is the key to a successful project. As a result of recognizing her gift for digital learning tools, Hannah was named Head of the LF! Hub in 2022. She is charged with overseeing the administration of this platform and the continual development of a variety of learning content for the Forte Pass.

When the weather is warm in Baltimore, you can find Hannah in the garden or working on a DIY Project with her husband, James, and their three young boys. During the colder months, Hannah enjoys curling up with a good book about gardening and eating way too many snacks.

Greg Klimovitz

Head of Leadership Development and Head of Marketing

“Throughout the universe, the ongoing reality is change….since change is the one inescapable truth, change is the basic clay of our lives. In order to live constructive lives, we must learn to shape change when we can and yield to it when we must. Either way, we must learn and teach, adapt and grow.” -Octavia E. Butler

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Leadership Coaching, Creative Writing, Content Development, Communications Strategy

As a strategic thinker, program developer, communicator, and empathy-based leadership coach, Greg Klimovitz is committed to equipping individuals and organizations to leverage digital media platforms to promote the well-being of all people. He is an ordained Presbyterian (PCUSA) minister with over 20 years of vocational work in the areas of executive-level judicatory leadership, congregational ministry, and ministry partnerships.

Greg's passion for storytelling motivates his creative and intentional approach to blogging, podcasting, and networking. Greg has collaborated with ecumenical movements, interfaith organizations, not-for-profits, community partners, and diverse thought leaders in efforts in order to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, educational justice, leadership development, and anti-racism efforts through the reimagining of systems to sustain new and existing mission-driven organizations.

Greg graduated from Eastern University in 2006 with a BA in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry and earned his Masters of Divinity (with a concentration on leadership) from Missio Seminary in Philadelphia.

Nicole Reeves

Head of Operations

“Sometimes God doesn’t unfold the whole path, because if you saw what He was planning, you wouldn't believe Him.”

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Administration, Systems Operation

Nicole is our organizational strategy expert. Her years of experience in management, including running her own business allow her to adapt quickly to change, problem-solve on the fly, and create organization where there is little or none. Her degree field was Music Business with an emphasis in Business administration from Belmont University in Nashville, Tn. She has worked in start-ups, small businesses, as a Director at a gymnastics and cheer club, and as a banker. Although the bulk of her experience is in the secular world, she is grounded in her faith and has had the opportunity through her travels to grow spiritually in several Christian denominations. Currently, she has placed her membership in a Presbyterian church in her hometown.

Nicole's greatest joys in life are simple - spending quality time with her family and close-knit group of friends, baking any and all manner of sweets, and everything to do with music (her true love). Nicole also possesses the gift of positivity and it is her goal in life to take any frustrating situation and find the good. This is where her problem-solving skills shine.

If you are ever in her neck of the woods, just down the street from The Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas, she would love to show you around. There is music, the best western shopping, and the best all-you-can-eat beef ribs at Risky's BBQ. In Texas, you're treated like family.

Sarah Lawing

Digital Marketing Lead, Media Consultant, LF! Hub Support

“Behind all created beauty the mystic sees a witness to the source of eternal beauty.” -Annemarie Schimmel

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Digital Media, Creative Design, Brand Management, Music Ministry

Carly Lane

Instructional Designer, Communications Consultant, Systems Strategist

"Critical thinking is possible only where the standpoints of all others are open to inspection [...] by the force of imagination it makes the others present and thus moves in a space that is potentially public, open to all sides. [...] To think with an enlarged mentality means that one trains one’s imagination to go visiting." - Hannah Arendt, Lectures on Kant's Political Philosophy

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Higher Education, Christian Education, Spiritual Formation, Communications, Systems Analysis

As a practiced educator, Carly Lane is passionate about supporting communities of learners through clear communication and effective instructional design. Her education & research is in Philosophy, Religion, and Literature, and she has over ten years of experience teaching in the classroom, online, and in hybrid formats. In her lay ministry, she has designed curriculum for and led Christian formation programs for children, youth, families, and adults in diverse congregational settings. She has special expertise in writing, editing, and helping faculty, administrators, and clergy design successful learning experiences.

Hannah Olan

Head of Membership Vision

“There's power in looking silly and not caring that you do.” -Amy Poehler

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Web Design, User Experience, Sales

Hannah is a Baptist ordained minister currently pursuing her Doctorate in Ministry. Hannah has an extensive background in tech; working in customer experience, strategy and operations, and VC-backed and bootstrapped organizations alike. Her work in the social impact space has meant partnerships with nonprofits around the country, development of departments and sales pipelines, and the ability to work with organizations that range from a handful of employees to corporations with 20k plus employees.

Lisa Brown

Membership Vision Project Lead

“For this is our world… we’re made from stories.” -Oliver Jeffers

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Digital Storytelling, Website Design, Communications

Lisa Brown is passionate about creatively enriching the spiritual lives of people of all ages through digital storytelling, experiential and immersive learning opportunities, and collaborative art installations. As the Membership Vision Project Lead, she facilitates digital engagement by helping churches tell their stories through beautiful, narrative websites.

With degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and George Washington University, Lisa has continued to grow in faith and understanding through her participation in Education for Ministry (EfM) and earned a Certification in Leadership in Lifelong Faith Formation from Virginia Theological Seminary and Forma. As a lifelong Episcopalian, Lisa has served on the vestry of St. Paul’s, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and as a Lay Deputy to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2018 and 2022. As a member of Forma, eFormation, and the Episcopal Parish Network, Lisa has often served as an engaging instructor, translating decades of parish communications experience into conference workshops and continuing education courses at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Lisa has written extensively for web and print publications, including Building Faith. Her book “The Best VBS Workbook Ever!” was published in 2017. She also contributed to John Roberto’s “Faith Formation with a New Generation,” the 2020 InsideOut camp curriculum, the 2018 Lenten Kyrie Project, and the Facilitator’s Guide for The Anglican Communion’s "Thy Kingdom Come" global prayer initiative.

In her capacity as the Director of Children's Ministry for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon, PA, and as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, Lisa encouraged children and youth to live into their fullest potential. She relishes camping in the rain, Epiphany parades with sparklers, high adventure activities, and pageants with live donkeys.

As an artist, Lisa has co-designed multiple collaborative installations including Color Me Pittsburgh, a project that invited locals to engage in conversations about race and geography, It was shared at the 2014 Three Rivers Arts Festival, First Night Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library, and Assemble Arts & Technology maker-space.

Lisa lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Kevin. They share a love of food, hospitality, travel, and parenting their two adult children.

Nia McKenney

Membership Vision Platform Lead, Podcast Producer

“Music is not different from life.” -Herbie Hancock

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Website Platforms, Audio Production & Editing, Technology & Systems

Nia McKenney is a passionate producer, editor, creator, and lover of media and technology. She works, lives, and serves deeply grounded in the values of respect and empathy, and is particularly driven by those values to improve representation and accessibility for people in communities who are not represented in or provided access to privileges and resources to which they are entitled – using media and technical literacy to do so.

Before joining our team, Nia worked as part of the marketing team at Forward Movement, for which she still reads on the Forward Day by Day podcast. She has also worked and grown within the Cincinnati Public Library system (Cincinnati, Ohio), focusing on tech literacy and tutoring for all ages. Nia holds a bachelor’s degree in Music and Spanish Language from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in Music Technology from Indiana University Purdue, with voice as her primary instrument.

Music has always been at the core of Nia’s existence. She is always singing, always practicing, and always surprised at the absolute purity of musical joy. Any time outside of (and sometimes during!!) work is filled with sounds and singing.

Tisha Brown

Strategic Imagination Sandbox Content Contributor

“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Prior to joining the Learning Forte team, the Rev. Dr. Tisha Brown was instrumental in adapting a 25-year old in person theological education program for lay people into a vibrant online learning community inclusive of laity, clergy and those training for ministry within the United Church of Christ. Tisha brings a DMin in Creative Leadership from Central Seminary, 20+ years of ordained ministry in the UCC, and her curriculum development and online teaching and learning experience to her consulting work with Learning Forte. Tisha loves to read, sing and spend time with family and friends. She also runs a gluten and dairy free bakery business from her home in Mt. Horeb, WI.

Jamie Burnette

Instructional Designer

Matt O'Rear

Client Relations Specialist

"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." -Fred Rogers

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Higher Ed and Church Administration, Hybrid Ministry, Client Care

Before joining Learning Forte, The Rev. Matthew D. O'Rear served as the Dean of the Chapel and Assistant to the President at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, one of seven Seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA. Matt grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He studied philosophy and religious studies at Georgia State University, Atlanta, and completed additional studies at the University of Georgia, Athens. He received his Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, and also studied at The Lutheran Theological Seminary - Philadelphia.

Since entering public ministry in 2008, Matt has been committed to living out his calling to help people discover how they can serve as "public theologians" to a world in need. Matt has served as Associate Dean at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Director of Admissions at The Lutheran Theological Seminary - Philadelphia, liturgist and faculty for Theological Education with Youth (TEY) at The Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, and as a faculty member for Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Academy. He has provided leadership, vision, and board service for a variety of other programs and events in the wider church. Matt was also the Theologian in Residence at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in New York City.

In addition to his service in the mission of Jesus, Matt enjoys a nice bourbon, liturgical theology, gardening, cooking, and The Office (but not all at the same time). He is the proud uncle to five boys and godfather/baptismal sponsor to nine children. In addition to traveling for his work in the church, he enjoys traveling for pleasure. Still, a weekend of Netflix is always welcomed at his home in Decatur, Georgia, with his husband, Mr. Jay Steffen.

Michael Palmer

Project Manager

"Knowledge is captured in stories. Wisdom is knowing what to do with those stories." - Chuck DeHart

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Project management, education SME, EfM

A former educator, Michael is a project manager with a passion for helping people be their best. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he plays and produces music and builds instruments.

Sylvia Ramos

Project Manager and Content Contributor

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Tech Quick Starts, Project Management

Sylvia Ramos is a proven leader with a history of successfully managing enterprise projects in complex environments. She has been PMP certified for over 16 years and has over 20 years of experience managing programs/projects across multiple industries including, but not limited to healthcare, education, and technology forward companies

John Roberto

Formation by Design co-facilitator

John Roberto has spent a lifetime working in Christian faith formation—teaching, writing, researching, and consulting. He founded LifelongFaith Associates in 2006 to continue his work. His latest publication is Lifelong Faith: Formation for All Ages and Generations (Church Publishing, 2022). He has authored Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century and has served as editor and contributor to Faith Formation with a New Generation, Families at the Center of Faith Formation, Seasons of Adult Faith Formation, and Generations Together (Lifelong Faith publications). https://www.lifelongfaith.com/