“It’s our goal to make everyone feel welcome and included from the moment they walk in the door, during worship and afterwards. If they make the effort to come, it’s our task to make them feel at home and comfortable being part of the church.”

Marc plans weekly worship services and special events; and directs the acclaimed UUMC choir. He sees his mission as developing and nourishing disciples, so they may serve not only during worship but during their daily lives. “We are committed to high quality worship while still meeting people where they are in their hearts. We’re not about putting people down or making them feel ignorant, but lifting them up, no matter what their station or relationship.”

Mardi moved to Austin three years ago from Vancouver, British Columbia, and started her own marketing and public relations firm, Words that Sing Communications. During 25 years as a writer, editor and communication specialist, she has worked in a variety of sectors: non-profit, colleges and universities, auto insurance and public television. Her duties at UUMC include redesigning the church website, newsletters, brochures, media outreach and marketing plans. Mardi is also a singer/songwriter who enjoys participating in the Austin music community.

Natasha was UUMC’s former Interim Director of UUMC’s Early Childhood Center before taking on the role of Director of Children’s Ministries in August 2010. Natasha worked at the ECC for three years in various capacities and before that taught Spanish to elementary school aged children in Austin. She is currently completing her teaching certification in Elementary Education at Austin Community College.

Nancy enjoys working in the church office, “the hub,” as she calls it. It’s never dull, she points out. She has been driving to UUMC every weekday from her home in Kyle for five years. She works closely with LoveWorks at Christmas time, wrapping gifts for children of incarcerated parents. She also helps decorate the LoveWorks giving tree. Nancy is admired and appreciated for her ability to remember every staff member’s birthday, and for her delicious birthday cakes.

Madelynn Fierova-Martinez is UUMC’s Early Childhood Center Director. She has an MS in Family and Child Studies from Texas State University and a BA in Psychology. Previously, she was Assistant Director of First Step School in San Marcos and has also taught at high school level.

UUMC member Cindy comes to this position with approximately 15 years of finance/banking services, and is extremely excited to be joining the UUMC team in this way. She has a BA in economics from UT and a minor in business administration. Cindy is also UUMC’s Wedding Coordinator.

Originally from Guatemala, Hugo has been on staff at UUMC for more than 10 years. He says his work background is “a little bit of everything,” including construction work, preparing food at Bob’s Barbeque in Round Rock and even washing dishes. His homemade chicken soup is, quite simply, the best we’ve ever tasted. Hugo enjoys working in the church environment. His philosophy: “I like to be happy all the time. I take pride in everything I do, even cleaning restrooms. I still have to do it anyway, so I might as well enjoy it.”

With a friendly word for everyone and a joke for every occasion, Jorge says he enjoys everything about working at UUMC, but most especially the Sunday morning donuts. Originally from Puerto Rico, he is a certified welder who moved to New York City in 1968 and to Austin in 1997. He worked previously as a banquet steward and in room service at major hotels, and also at St. David’s Hospital. He is married with one boy, 7, and a girl, 2.

Virginia Salvia is the new custodian working evenings at the ECC on Monday-Thursday evenings.