Our All-star Team.

  Reverend Mark Burgess

Mark Burgess became pastor at The Church of the Good Shepherd in July 2008.

Before his appointment to Good Shepherd, Mark spent seven years in Smithfield at Benn’s United Methodist Church. He also has served at churches in Hampton, Altavista, Fredericksburg, Waynesboro and Winchester.

Mark was born in Berkeley, Calif., the son of a career chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. Growing up, Mark lived in the Philippines, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and England. He attended junior and senior high school in Maryland and graduated with a degree in religious studies from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.

Mark and his wife Ruth are both graduates of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Ruth has been appointed pastor at Bruen Chapel United Methodist Church in Fairfax. The Burgesses were actually married in Vienna at Epiphany United Methodist Church, where Ruth’s parents were members at the time.

Mark and Ruth are the parents of two children, Nathan, a student at The College of William and Mary, and Noelle, a student at James Madison University.

In his spare time, Mark is an avid runner. He enjoys the outdoors and has written freelance book reviews.

  Rob Ulmer- Director of Youth Ministries

Rob Ulmer joined the staff at the Church of the Good Shepherd as Director of Youth Ministries in February 2005. He is originally from Frederick, Maryland and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Prior to joining the staff, Rob enjoyed working as a substitute teacher and participating in an educational theatre company offered by Kaiser Permanente where he was an actor, sound engineer, and road manager for two years.

Rob believes that a focused and vibrant youth ministry is one centred on Christ and God's word. His desire is to help youth in their Christian journey and walk with them as they discover their relationship with Jesus Christ. As our culture shifts Rob sees the ministry of our youth as a powerful presence and witness within the church community and without.

Rob currently lives in Reston with his wonderful wife Maggie and their two boys, Ian and Luke.

   Penny Rasnake - Director of Christian Education and Discipleship

Penny was born in Harford County, Md., but she has lived, studied and worked in many states. She completed her bachelor's degree in drama and music at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and also studied at Oxford University in England during her junior year. After college she worked in technical and performance theatre and TV, prior to completing her master's degree in communications and religious education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Penny recognized a call to vocational ministry as a young adult and has experience in several areas of service. Her joy and passion is helping people discover their God-given talents, skills and interests, and equipping them for use in meaningful service. Other interests include music, horses and painting.

The youngest of three, she is blessed to be active in ministry like her sister and brother, which is a testimony to her parents' faithful walk with Christ.

  Diane Malone - Database Assistant and Bookkeeper

Diane Malone joined the staff of The Church of the Good Shepherd in July 2004. Diane is a Virginian, although she has lived in different places with her husband and daughter during her husband's 23-year Army career. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, and she has worked for various non-profit organizations, including the American Red Cross, American Heart Association and Fairfax County Public Schools.

Some of her favorite activities are agility classes with their Australian Shepherd, Zorro, needlepoint, and traveling to other countries with her family. "An angel tapped me on the shoulder" is how Diane says she came to learn of The Church of the Good Shepherd. The Malones now reside in Annandale.

  Michele Watson Bair - Director of Music and Organist

Michele, the youngest of five, was born in Western PA in a United Methodist minister's family. She started her music career singing at the age of 3 and performing with her family's Watson Brass Ensemble group. She learned to play the trumpet in grade school and took piano lessons at age 9. She started taking organ lessons at age 15 and served as a part-time organist and handbell ringer in her local church until she graduated from high school. While attending Grove City College to work on her business degree, she served as music director at the Slippery Rock, PA UMC gaining experience working with children and adult choirs.

After college graduation in 1993, she moved to the northern VA area and replied to the Church of the Good Shepherd's advertisement for an organist in the local newspaper. She served as organist for six years and became the director of music in 1999. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists and works full-time as a contract briefing administrator for Booz Allen Hamilton.

Michele's favorite activities include spending time with her husband Mike and children as well as entertaining family and friends.