Rev. John C. Fitzgerald was born in Charlotte and grew up in the United Methodist Church as a minister’s son. He graduated from Asheville High School and later from Appalachian State University with a degree in industrial psychology. He was the president of the ASU Wesley Foundation for three years.

John married Chris in 1987 and earned a masters of divinity from Duke in 1989. He has served on the WNC Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Health and Human Services Board, and is secretary of the Duke Parish Ministry Fund. He is a graduate of the Reynolds Church Leadership Academy and is currently participating in the Leadership Academy on Evangelism and Discipleship, studying churches all over the world.

John has served churches in Monroe, Greensboro, Yadkinville, High Point and now has come home to Boone. He loves string music, art, and dry fly fishing. John and Chris have two teenage sons. Back to top

Dr. George E. Naff, is a national certified counselor and a N.C. licensed professional counselor. After running for several years from God’s call to ministry, he completed a masters and doctorate in counseling and a diplomate in logotherapy.

George grew up in a United Methodist parsonage family in the Holston Conference, got two degrees in music education and taught instrumental music at both the high school and university level. His last music teaching appointment was as the conductor of the Duke University Wind Symphony. He still serves occasionally as a guest conductor and adjudicator for music festivals in the eastern United States and Canada and by taking national honor bands on performing tours of Europe.

He and his wife, Sue, are now "empty nesters" since their sons, Joe and Dave, have become ASU students. Back to top

A.J. Thomas
Associate Pastor
ajthomasbumc@bellsouth.net

A.J. Thomas, the son of a United Methodist minister, was born in Oklahoma and raised
in Niagara Falls, NY. He is a graduate of Niagara Falls High School and of Roberts Wesleyan College, where he earned a degree in communication. At Duke, he earned a masters of divinity and has done additional work on John and Charles Wesley at Oxford-Brookes University in England.

In addition to his general pastoral duties, he is specifically responsible for ministries with college students and adults in their 20s and 30s. He leads Illumination – BUMC's weekly service of prayer and Holy Communion. He also oversees ministries and programs at BUMC.

A.J. enjoys golf, hiking, live theater and singing. He enjoys watching the Appalachian Mountaineers, the Duke Blue Devils – and when at home in NY – his hometown Buffalo Bills. Back to top

Vern Collins
Youth Minister
collinsbumc@bellsouth.net

Vern has watched the Lord transform the BUMC youth ministry into a dynamic and thriving outreach for young people.

A native of Greensboro, Vern first came to the mountains of Boone as a student at ASU, where he graduated with a degree in English. During his college years, Vern volunteered as a leader for Young Life in Watauga County, and also worked weekends at Windy Gap, one of Young Life's outreach camps near Asheville. In addition, he spent four summers during college as a counselor and climbing instructor at Camp Timberlake in Black Mountain.

When not spending time with students, Vern can be found with his wife, Piper, and their three children or pursuing one of his other loves (fishing, climbing, biking, snowboarding, or any number of other outdoor activities). Back to top

Ronald “Ronnie” D. Wise joined the BUMC staff in March of 2002 as the organist and choir director. Since September of 2002, he has also held the position of Director of Music and the Arts, overseeing a program of five singing choirs and four handbell choirs, as well as playing the organ during church services.

On an ongoing basis, Ronnie also directs choruses for community theatre, and serves as a member in the American Guild of Organists and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

Ronnie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Sacred Music at Appalachian State University. He has studied with several distinguished organists including, Dr. Andrew Unsworth, Ralph Tilden, and Dr. Brian Bailey. In addition, he has studied handbell ringing and choral conducting at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.

Prior to coming to Boone, Ronnie served as organist and choir director in several other churches. Back to top

Kathy has taught children in various capacities. She was an elementary school teacher in Durham and Chapel Hill and an ESL teacher for Kindergarten through 6th grade in Catawba County. Kathy has also taught 3- and 4-year-olds, adult and children's Sunday School, Disciple Bible Study classes, and 7th grade confirmation classes.

Kathy is a graduate of ASU with a bachelor's in Art Education and a master's in Elementary Education. She was certified in Gesell School Readiness assessment while working for the Trinity Scholl of Durham/Chapel Hill.

Kathy is married to Gil Long, and they have two children: Graham and Sallie. Back to top

Colette Krontz has been a lifelong advocate for children and their development. She earned a bachelors in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a masters in psychology from Memphis State University.

At BUMC, Colette has taught Sunday School, worked with Vacation Bible School, family life ministries, staff-parish relations, Boone's preschool board and Mexican Missions. Colette established and served as director for the Young Toddler Play Group, has coached Odyssey of the Mind, and has been a parent volunteer for Model UN. She received the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service for work on playground development, and currently is on the board of Watauga Education Foundation, supporting work on grant funding for classroom enrichment and professional development. She also is a board member of Classical Kids Live NPF, a premier musical education program that combines professional actors with theatrical storytelling before world-recognized symphony orchestras.

Colette is married to Dr. Dan Krontz, and they have two children: Jason, who attends NC State, and Nicole, a middle school student at Parkway. Back to top

Jennifer Greer was born into the Catholic faith in Kingston, N.Y. As one of five girls, she spent most of her childhood traveling with her parents between the United States and England. She attended the Convent of Notre Dame and graduated high school from the American Community School in Cobham, England. Returning to the U.S. for college, she graduated from ASU with a degree in early childhood education.

Jennifer is currently a member and treasurer of Boone Mennonite Brethren Church and is the secretary of the North Carolina District of Mennonite Brethren Churches. She represents North Carolina on the United States Board of Faith and Life.

She is married to Virgil Greer, and together they have raised one son who is a senior at ASU. She loves to sing and travel, having visiting more countries than U.S. states.
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A native of Georgia, Ted’s background includes five years in the U.S Coast Guard, where he specialized in building management and developing equipment preventative maintenance systems.

After his tenure in the military, he spent 14 years with a large retail grocery chain in Florida managing more than 135 employees before deciding to pursue life as an entrepreneur. He owned several successful businesses in Texas and served as a facilities manager for a large church in Houston, Texas. Ted has traveled across the United States, Japan, Sweden and Thailand speaking on personal development and the skills required to be an entrepreneur.

In his spare time, Ted developed an international Internet business that spans 12 countries. Since he and his wife, Megg, moved to the High Country, he has also become very involved in the Boone community. He is a member of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and is part of the praise band at FaithBridge United Methodist Church in Blowing Rock. Back to top