Our Staff

Rev. Dr. Kate Lambertson

Pastor

Dr. Lambertson, B.A. (Sociology and Religious Studies), M.Div., D.Min. (intergenerational preaching), began her professional ministry in 1988. Her service over the years has included solid pastorates at UCC churches in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Under Kate's leadership, her congregations have reshaped their futures, increased community outreach, created household goods pantries for unemployed and underemployed members of the community and university students, initiated alternative worship experiences in addition to traditional Sunday worship, revamped youth and adult education programming, and developed a new confirmation curriculum which at least four other UCC churches now adopt.

Dawn Brisbane

Office Admin

Ms. Brisbane retired in 2014 from the legal field where she worked as a Legal Assistant and Paralegal. After about 5 years of retirement, she decided to go back to work part-time and discovered the open position at FCCR. She grew up in Michigan and went to college as a music major studying piano and voice. She continues her love of music in her church choir and area vocal groups, Bella Voce and Reno Philharmonic Chorus. Her boys are all grown and live out here and she has three grandchildren to complete her family. When she's not working, she enjoys reading, going on walks, fun activities with friends, and square dancing. Life is good.

Saralinda Kiser

Director of Christian Education

Saralinda has been Christian Education Director at FCC Reno since 2013. She teaches communication at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she is also the Communication Studies Director of Advising. Her first career was as an actor/director in the live theatre, and she operated a non-profit theatre for 8 years with her husband. She is the mom of a tween as well as two grown daughters who live in Colorado. She loves kids, books, cats, baked potatoes, musical theatre, this church, and being on the water.

Ted Owens

Music Director

Ted is our music program's talented and widely recognized director. He holds several academic degrees in music, including Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Doctor of Musical Arts (ABD) with a doctoral minor in ethnomusicology and music in general studies from the University of Arizona. Ted is also a celebrated professor of music at Truckee Meadows Community College, with extensive experience in musical theatre as an actor, musician, and musical director. Ted also enjoys serving as Artistic Director for the Nevada Gay Men’s Chorus.