Staff

Joel Schmidgall

Executive Pastor | DC Campus Pastor

Joel was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois. He is an unpaid marketer for all things Chicago, especially the Cubs, Malnotti’s pizza, and Portillo’s beef-and-cheddar!

In his role as Executive Pastor, Joel oversees the pastoral staff for and pastors the DC Campus. He also provides leadership to missions and outreach initiatives, and serves on the weekend teaching team. Joel founded and now serves as President of the board of the DC Dream Center, a community center committed to inspiring and equipping youth and adults to reach their God-given potential.

Joel and his wife Nina are authors of "Praying Circles Around your Marriage." They live on Capitol Hill with their three kids: Eloise, Ezekiel, and Lorenza.

Departments: Executive Leadership Team | DC Campus

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Lyle Tard

Associate Pastor and Community/Outreach Director

Lyle has been a part of the military community his entire life. Now, after his 2nd retirement (1st from basketball and now from 20-years of dedicated service to his country), Lyle is set to embark on his life passion of inspiring to the 3rd generation. Lyle has a battery that just doesn't seem to run out. His skin color isn't black, it's coffee, so he doesn't need espresso (although he still has a love for Ebenezers). Lyle is committed to his bride Sherrell of 15+ years and their two Hersey Kisses, Alycea and Ethan. He's a gym rat and is a podcaster in his spare time.

Departments: DC Campus

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Chris Douglas

Director, NCC Worship | Weekend Experience Pastor

Chris Douglas is a worship pastor and songwriter who is passionate for Jesus and His kingdom. Chris’s music is born out of the worship life of the local church.

Chris’s love for music led him to Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, where he earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. Graduating in 2010, Chris left the theater stage and pursued a calling in ministry. Over the last decade of ministry, Chris fell in love with the Alpha Course, speaking locally and internationally at Alpha weekends and teaching on the gift of healing.

Chris, his beautiful wife, Kathryn, their daughter, Ryan, their son, Corbin, and puppy, Cooper, live in Northern Virginia.

Departments: DC Campus

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Amber Phillips

Children's Pastor

Amber is a proud Virginia native, born in Virginia Beach and raised in Woodbridge. She studied Elementary Education at the University of Valley Forge and taught K-1 in the public school system. Though she loved the classroom, she took a leap of faith to pursue a Master of Divinity at AGTS in Springfield, MO. While in seminary she felt her calling clarify to local church ministry; she served on staff at a church plant which worked with people transitioning out of addiction, incarceration, and trafficking. After graduating, she married David, who brings spontaneity to her scheduled to-do list days. Amber is passionate about education (from literacy to theology), cupcakes, reading, glitter & bows, and hearing life stories.

Departments: DC Campus

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JayJay Janes

Production Director & Senior Production Engineer

Jay Jay grew up all over as a Navy kid. He started touring as a guitar tech and production manager at age 16. This continued until his two daughters, Eva & Sierra, were born. Jay Jay toured with MXPX and Blink 182, but since 1999 has been working in production in ministry contexts. In his spare time, he loves working on guitars, hanging with his family and eating Thai food.

Departments: DC Campus

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Robert Tolosa

Live Video Production Manager

Rob grew up in the Virginia and Maryland area. He is a graduate of The Broadcasting Institute of Maryland, where he studied television production. He has worked as a cameraman and director for various types of productions for the last 23 years. In the past he was also a lighting designer for church in the DC area. Recently, he has been working as a Production Manager for live events and webcasts in the corporate world.

In his free time he enjoys hanging out with his wife and three kids. He loves cooking, home improvement projects, watching movies, and riding his old motorcycle.

Departments: DC Campus

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Kiersten Telzerow

Groups Pastor

Kiersten was born in Michigan, grew up in Pennsylvania, and went to school at Indiana Wesleyan University where she earned both her bachelor degree in Christian Ministry and her Master of Divinity degree. She's married to her husband Matt, and they have a sweet goldendoodle named Luna. After finishing her undergrad degree, she moved to Atlanta where she served at a multi-campus church for a residency in Adult Spiritual Formation. It was during this time that she felt a prompting to work in Small Group ministry and was given a dream one night that she was working in Washington, D.C. Pursuing that dream led to a job promotion for her husband and a position for her at NCC. They moved to DC in 2015 and have loved it ever since!

In her spare time, you’ll find her trying new coffee shops, cooking, or reading.

Departments: DC Campus

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Suzanne Vel

Executive Assistant to the Executive Pastor

Suzanne came to NCC in 2019 from Northern VA. She is originally from Connecticut. She has a degree in Marketing and Statistics from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Her career began as a data analyst, followed by marriage, kids, volunteering at school, being an administrative assistant to the Care Ministries department of a church, and most recently the Digital Experience Specialist for an elementary school in Loudoun County. In her free time she has trained for and successfully completed 8 full marathons and also spent over 1000 days seeking God’s direction for her life. From that experience she wrote a self-published book, sharing her passion to lead others to their best life possible too. She is always willing to give an encouraging word, be a cheerleader, or offer a smile. Suzanne and her family began attending NCC in 2016. Suzanne is honored to work at NCC as an Executive Assistant to Pastor Joel Schmidgall, and looks forward to fulfilling God-sized dreams every day, simply by coming to work.

Departments: DC Campus

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Ryan Zempel

Pastor of Recovery & Care

Ryan hails from the great state of Oregon, where he grew up in a log house his family built. He graduated from George Fox University in 1998 with a Computer Science degree and moved to Washington, DC to put his skills to use managing websites and social media.

At that time, Ryan started attending National Community Church and began dealing with issues of brokenness in his life. He recommitted himself to Christ and felt called to help others understand the truth about God’s love for them and grow into the fullness of who He created them to be.

He married the incomparable Heather Sawyer (who he met in 1999 on his first visit to an NCC small group) in 2004. In 2015, their extremely energetic daughter Sawyer Elizabeth joined the family and they haven't had a moment's rest since.

Ryan received an M.A. in Practical Theology from Regent University in 2011 and joined the NCC staff in September 2012. He serves as the ministry leader for NCC's Celebrate Recovery program, coordinates NCC's pastoral care team, and facilitates connections to professional therapists.

Departments: DC Campus

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Collin Savage

Youth Pastor

Collin was born in DC and grew up in PG County Maryland. Collin went to the University of Maryland College Park, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. It was during those years in college where Collin felt the Lord calling him to full-time ministry. He would go on to earn a Masters's degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary. After three years of teaching Bible in a school setting, Collin and his family are extremely excited to join the team at National Community Church. Collin and his wife, Rachael, have two amazing kids, Jedi and Kylo. The Savage family enjoys Chick- Fila, sports, a good book, and some good music.

Departments: DC Campus

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Isis Pree

Kids Creative Coordinator

Isis is a Washington DC native. She has always had a heart for children. In 2016 she rededicated her life to Christ and was baptized in 2017. Since then, she felt a calling to work in ministry with children, but had no idea how that would happen. In April 2022, she and her husband joined NCC to build a faith-filled community. She started serving at NCC Kids at the DC campus and soon after became a kid’s ministry protégé. She desires to help children and youth develop, sustain and nurture their own relationship with God. When she is not dancing around with NCC Kids or playing games with NCC Youth She is at home with her two little ones and husband.

Departments: DC Campus

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Amina Labane

Kids Location Coordinator

Amina was born and raised in New York City and has always had a love for cities. She attended Liberty University where she earned her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on the integration of health sciences and religion. She then moved on to work on a Dual Master’s in Theological Studies and Clinical Mental Health Counseling while doing College Ministry in Liberty University’s Office of Spiritual Development as a Senior Resident Shepherd. There, she invested in the leadership and spiritual development of undergraduate students through teaching and discipleship, which are among her passions. Her favorite part of that season was the young girls that she was able to build deep and meaningful relationships with! While passing through DC on her way home from Liberty, Amina stopped at National Community Church on a Sunday morning and felt God’s calling to this local community. By faith, Amina moved to a new city to be a part of the NCC community without realizing that God was calling her to serve and lead NCC Kids at the Capital Turnaround. Amina is passionate about discipleship, families, and the local church! She also has a love for morning walks, coffee, cooking, and reading!

Departments: DC Campus

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Steffen Humbert

Missions Pastor

Departments: DC Campus

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