Staff

Arlene Decina
Director of Spiritual Growth
E-Mail: dcm@burkepreschurch.org
Our Director of Spiritual Growth Ministries, Arlene Decina, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Ohio University and a teaching certificate in mathematics and science from George Mason University. She taught high school in Fairfax County Public Schools for 10 years and served in the children's ministry programs of Burke Presbyterian Church for 8 years before joining the staff.

Julianne Erbrecht
Director of Music Ministry
E-Mail: music@burkepreschurch.org
Julianne Erbrecht, our Director of Music Ministries, came to BPC in August 2003 and is responsible for our entire music program. Previously, she served as Assistant Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor of Music (voice) from Grove City College, and a Master's Degree in Sacred Music (choral conducting) from Emory University. She directs Chancel Choir, IMPACT Youth Choir and Rainbow Promise and Rainbow Connection Children's Choirs.

Kent Hamaker
Director of Youth Ministry
E-Mail: dym@burkepreschurch.org
Kent Hamaker joined the BPC staff as Director of Youth Ministries in October 2003. He holds a Liberal Arts degree from Virginia Tech with concentrations in Communications, Psychology and Music. A native of Northern Virginia, he previously served at Holy Cross Episcopal in Dunn Loring as Coordinator of Christian Education and at Little Falls Presbyterian in Arlington as Interim Youth Worker. An avid guitarist, Kent enjoys playing both acoustic and electric. He has been married since 1998 to his wonderful wife Donna and has 3 step-children - Sarah, Meredith and Stephen.

Stacey Snow
Preschool Director
E-Mail: preschool@burkepreschurch.org
Stacey Snow holds a BA in Latin (with a minor in Music) from Wake Forest University. She did her graduate study in Secondary Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has also done much additional graduate level coursework in Early Childhood Counseling and Development at the University of Virginia. Stacey has taught over the past 20 years at the preschool, elementary, secondary and college levels. She was the Children's Education elder at BPC from 1991-1994 and was also a deacon here. In addition, she taught piano lessons in her home for 10 years. Stacey is the proud mother of 2 boys (and 2 dogs and a cat!)

Cindy Pettigrew
Office Administrator
E-Mail: office@burkepreschurch.org
Our office administrator, Cindy Pettigrew, a native of Tennessee, holds a BS in Elementary Education from King College in Bristol, TN. As an Air force wife, she has a wide range of teaching experiences, from preschool to Lamaze classes, to private piano lessons in her home. Cindy previously worked at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, as Executive Parish Secretary, and at All Saints Episcopal Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, as Office Manager. She enjoys playing the piano, reading, and sewing in her spare time.

BJ Postlewaite
Communications Manager
E-Mail: office@burkepreschurch.org
Our communications manager, BJ Postlewaite, holds a BS in Food Science and Nutrition and an MS in Applied Human Nutrition both from Colorado State University. She taught for 6 years at the university level in Nutrition, Dietetics, and food Science and worked as a clinical dietician in a hospital, private practice, and nursing homes for 6 years. She serves the community as a Girl Scout Service Unit Manager and Leader.

Tessa Hartle
Pianist/Accompanist
Our pianist, Tessa Hartle, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, holds a Bachelor's of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Master's of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of Maryland. She has been a Collaborative Artist at the Aspen Music Festival for three summers and accompanies a wide variety of soloists, instrumental ensembles, and choirs in the Washington, DC, area.

Jaime Lynn Dernar
Treasurer
Jaime Lynn comes to us with eight years of experience in the accounting field.  Having recently earned her CPA, she also works as the Controller for a local architecture firm.  In addition, she has experience in Human Resources and Auditing.  Jaime Lynn has a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Carolina, a MS in Education from Emporia State University and she is an active member of both the AICPA and VSCPA.  She absorbs her spare time by traveling, remodeling projects, working on cars, and any activity that takes her outdoors.