Office Manager – Riechia Ralston
Riechia grew up in the First United Methodist Church in Centralia, IL, that her great-grandparents co-founded and her grandmother served as the Children’s Music Director. After studying Business Administration at Eastern Illinois University, she moved to Texas, and worked in administrative, marketing and technical support roles. While in Texas she met her husband Tim, and they were married in 1990. In 1994 they moved to Minnesota, and joined the Rosemount United Methodist Church, where Riechia was active in the N(ew) O(pportunities) in W(orship) Praise Team. While at RUMC, she attended the Willowcreek Worship & Arts Conference, which deeply impacted her passion for contemporary worship music. After nine years in Minnesota, Tim’s career brought their family to Arizona and they joined NorthRidge Community Church. Riechia worked as the Worship & Arts Assistant, and was one of the founding members of the contemporary NorthRidge Live Praise Team. She later returned to the full-time employment in a variety of executive support roles, while continuing as an active member of the Praise Team. When Tim’s career brought them to the A.J./Gold Canyon area in early 2013, they found a home at GCUMC, and Riechia quickly found her niche serving on the Uncommon Grace Praise band and began as Office Manager in September 2014.
Administrative Associate/Volunteer Coordinator – Jennifer Rhine-Walker
Jennifer grew up in Northwest Indiana and was raised in the United Methodist Church as a pastor’s daughter. After high school, where she met her husband, Rob, she attended Indiana University and then Ball State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Management. Jennifer spent some years as a full-time mom to their three sons, during which they lived in Illinois, Michigan, and then back in Indiana. In 2004 she was hired by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office and spent the next 16 years in a fulfilling and successful career, including 11 years as a detective. She and Rob, who is a teacher and basketball coach, moved to Gold Canyon in July of 2020, and are loving the weather, the natural beauty, and the friendliness of the community. Jennifer is grateful to be joining the GCUMC team..
Financial Secretary – Georgia Kirkpatrick
Georgia grew up in New England and lived in several states over the years, ending up in AZ in 1979, and moving to Gold Canyon in 1999. Her career has been varied in the fields of Human Resources/Employee Benefits, Property Insurance, drafting and editing employee benefit and training manuals and Bookkeeping/Accounting. She began volunteering in the front office of GCUMC in January 2005 and soon took on responsibility for the membership system and in April 2014 became Financial Secretary. She has a daughter in North Scottsdale and keeps busy traveling when possible, walking, hiking, swimming and enjoying time with friends.
Facility Caretaker – Rick Ceynar
Rick was raised and schooled in Montana, the “Big Sky Country,” which he still calls home. He served in the Navy from 1964 to 1968. In June of 1972, he went to work for Hill County Electric Cooperative. In July 2002, he retired after 30 years of service as a journeyman lineman. Rick and Kay, his wife of 46 years, moved to Gold Canyon in 2004, leaving friends and family behind. Rick and Kay have two sons, one daughter and ten grandchildren, who are spread from east to west coast. In January 2011, Rick was hired at GCUMC. He says he’s very grateful and can’t get over how friendly the people are. Rick also likes to go to car shows and putts in the yard when he is not working on the “honey-do” list.
Audio Visual Director – Chris Benjamin
Chris was born in Kansas and raised in Arizona but really grew up all over the southwest due to his father’s work. After earning his high-school diploma he joined the United States Air Force where he was able to travel yet again. After about 7 and a half years, when he decided he’d seen enough of the military he chose to attended college where he earned his BA in Multimedia Design. He is also a proud father to a little guy named Gabe.