Staff & Leadership

Raised just a few miles from Highrock, Dave is a local. Though he lived nine years in Virginia and two overseas, when he returned to Boston for graduate school he was home to stay. Dave and his wife Michelle started dating in high school, and they now have eleven children adopted from all over the world. Dave served several wonderful churches before coming to Highrock in 2000, but hopes to stay here forever.

Brian grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. He came to the Boston area in 1999 to attend Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. After working at Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA, for seven years as the Middle School Pastor, he joined the Highrock team in September 2009. Brian and his wife Heather have been serving together in ministry ever since 2002, and have a huge love for kids, teens and families! They have three kids: Abby, Lydia, and Caleb. Some of their favorite family things to do are playing board games, going to family camps and eating lots of popcorn and ice cream together!

Meghan was born and raised in Chicago, and has found Highrock to be a wonderful home away from home. She grew up in the Covenant Church, and loves the Covenant affirmations that hold the essentials of faith at the center, instead of creating boundaries around God. Meghan attended North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago and followed the call to the Boston area to serve at Highrock. She currently serves as one of the co-Lead Pastors of Highrock Online and oversees the Adult Discipleship team.

She feels especially called to the work of making the Church accessible to all, and to help give leadership to voices that often go unheard. Meghan and her husband Brad have two boys, Brady and Lucas, and live in Waltham, which they love for its diversity, running paths and restaurant scene. If they’re not at church or school, you’ll find their family at the gym or watching baseball (Go Cubs, Go!).

A Baltimore native, Walt attended the University of Maryland in College Park, where he met his wife Jen. They moved to Cambridge in 2009 and became members at Highrock, where they fell in love with the community and mission. Walt joined the Highrock staff team in 2015. Prior to working at Highrock, he spent ten years on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship serving college students in Washington, DC and Boston.

He and Jen enjoy CrossFit, craft beer, museums, watching soccer, travel, and spending time with their daughter Rian and dog Dublin. Walt has a Masters in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Chris lives in Arlington with his wife Sara and their three daughters: Morgan, Trinity, and Ryder. The Gredeniuses are a family who love to surf, bike, and ski together. Chris’ ideal morning is changing from pajamas into a wetsuit for a sunrise surf session, and then cleaning up to head off to work. Born and raised in the Midwest, Chris went to North Park University and Seminary in Chicago. He served in camping ministry and three other churches before joining the Highrock team.

George Cladis (Greek) is married to Lori DePaoli Cladis (Italian) and they have five children, the last one recently seen fleeing the coop. They enjoy experimenting with meals (trying to find that balance between broccoli and banana splits), recreational activities to keep from falling apart, and would like to get better at Greek dancing. Lori is the church accountant at Liberty Church in Shrewsbury, MA. George hangs out with folks at Highrock MetroWest, wishes he read more, and thinks he’s a DIY guy around the house.

He graduated from CU in Boulder, Princeton Seminary, and Austin Seminary, but considers his real credentials to be Redeemed-of-God. Once upon a time he wrote a book, Leading the Team-Based Church, representing one of his passions: trying to figure out how we can all work well together to the glory of God!

A part of Highrock since 2010 and a member of staff since 2018, Joe has worn – and continues to wear – many hats at our church. Joe’s primary spiritual interests include taking the gospel out of the church to those who live on the margins, and learning to follow Jesus through every season, challenge, and opportunity in life.

Prior to joining staff, Joe worked for a non-profit transportation company that serves the needs of senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and served as a local church pastor for 24 years. Joe and his wife Lissa have seven grown children and three grandchildren. Rarely comfortable sitting still, Joe enjoys walking, biking, hiking, high school sports, and chasing his grandchildren, though he has given up on trying to beat his sons in basketball.

Made in Korea but born in the USA, John grew up in north-central New Jersey. Ever the skeptic, he didn’t become a believer until his first semester at Carnegie-Mellon in Pittsburgh, where he connected with Intervarsity. Even after giving his life to Christ, his theological and scientific questions only deepened. This quest for answers led him to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in philosophy and theology, respectively, at Wheaton College in Illinois.

He met his wife, Aimee, at a local church where they served in the young adult ministry. Their passion to serve led them to Massachusetts in 1998 to be part of a church plant. John later joined Highrock as a pastor to young adults in 2012, and now also serves Highrock’s MetroWest campus as a teaching pastor. He and his wife Aimee have three teenage children: Xander, Jasmine, and Eliza.

Born in South Korea, Justin immigrated to the States when he was nine years old. During his graduate studies, Justin found Highrock to be a transformative place for his faith journey and is grateful to serve the Young Adult and Kidsrock communities now. Aside from his involvement with Highrock, he recently discovered cooking as a healthy, creative hobby. He also loves playing volleyball, watching full-time YouTube eaters, reading at nice cafes, and traveling. If there was a different job he could try, he’d work as a travel agent to bring together his love for traveling and planning.

Kim was born and raised in small towns in Northern California, but has since lived in Southern California, Switzerland, the San Francisco Bay Area, and North Carolina. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have four deeply loved children. She has been an elementary school teacher, a preschool teacher, and the Director for Connections at her former church in North Carolina. She obtained a Masters degree in Spiritual Formation from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and is passionate about connecting people to God and to one another.

Born and raised in upstate New York, Michael joined the Highrock team in September 2016. Michael married his high school sweetheart, Grace, and both now serve on staff with Highrock. They have two spunky daughters: Kiah Joy and Jianah Kara. Aside from spending time with his family, Michael loves sports, listening to a great podcast, spending time with students and families, reading books, discussing theology and faith, spending time with friends, watching movies, and eating great food! Michael has a Masters in Theology and a Masters in Religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Robert is originally from beautiful New Smyrna Beach, FL and has been serving in church ministry for over twenty-five years in the Greater Boston area (Park Street Church, Free Christian Church, and Grace Chapel). His wife, Beatriz Eugenia Tobon, is from Cali, Colombia, and teaches at Lexington Christian Academy. Robert & Beatriz have two wonderful sons, Mark and Samuel.

Robert’s mission in life is to know God and His love, and for that love to be known to others. In 2020, he graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Global Leadership. Robert also served for many years as a Career Advisor at his and Beatriz’ alma mater, Berklee College of Music, helping numerous professional artists with their musical career pursuits.

Ryan had been serving at Redeemer Community Church since 2011 in several roles including Youth Pastor and Music Director when the conversation about Highrock adopting his congregation began in 2016. Throughout the transition from RCC to Highrock MetroWest he has continued as a jack-of-all-trades supporting the unfolding community in Needham.

Andrea married Ryan in 2005 and they have three children; Lukas, Holly, and Benjamin. Their family frequents the pizza joints, libraries, and wooded trails of MetroWest.

Ryan oversees the planning and production of our Sunday morning worship services, leads the Anchor Community, and is the Race Director for the Jog for Joy.

Taylor grew up in the Seattle area where he attended Seattle Pacific University and received a B.A. in Political Science. Taylor and his wife Rachel met in Chicago at North Park Theological Seminary where Taylor earned his M.Div. Taylor pastored for several years in Tucson Arizona at Eastside Covenant Church before joining the staff at Highrock. He has also served in several denominational ministries with the Evangelical Covenant Church, including as President of the Covenant Ministerium. Taylor is passionate about discipleship and helping the Church create and sustain effective ministries which meet the needs of the world.

Taylor is the Pastor of Adult Discipleship at Highrock Arlington and serves on the Love Mercy, Do Justice Board at Highrock. Taylor enjoys photography, craft beer, cheering for the Seahawks, Calvin and Hobbes, and all things Star Wars!

From Milwaukee, WI, Drew attended Boston University for his undergraduate degree. There he rowed for the crew team, helped launch the Navigator campus ministry, and met his wife Caren. They got married and moved to Michigan, where they had four kids: Annica, Garrett, Nora, & Elias. Drew’s career started in youth ministry with F.O.C.U.S., followed by nine years at Genesis the Church as the Executive Pastor.

He got an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and is passionate about discipleship, developing leaders in ministry, and excellence in church organization. Drew is excited about the strategic mission of Highrock! When he is not working, Drew enjoys Crossfit, a cold beer with friends, and adventures with his family.

You won’t talk to Carolyn for long before discovering she is Canadian, either by the “eh?” that often ends her sentences or her fondness for the metric system. She grew up 100 kms (60 miles) from the Canadian Rockies and moved to Arlington in 2010. Carolyn joined the Highrock staff team in 2015. She is a trained Spiritual Director with a background in human resources. Carolyn loves helping nurture an awareness of God’s presence and movement in people’s lives and see people step out into new areas of serving and trusting God as they do. She also has a growing passion for racial equity. Carolyn and her husband have 3 school-aged kids who they adore and who keep them on their toes. They love being active and/or outdoors together – camping, skiing, biking, playing sports, inline skating etc.

Originally from the MetroWest area, Grace grew up as a “military brat”. She moved all around, spending time in Maine, Georgia, Korea, and New York before finding her way back to Massachusetts for college. Shortly after graduation she married her high school sweetheart Michael, and started working as a preschool teacher. A year and a half later they welcomed their first child, Kiah, into their family. Then in 2019 their second child, Jianah joined the Taber crew. Grace became part of the Highrock team in 2018. She loves children and serving the church. When she isn’t busy being a mom, she enjoys visiting family and friends, exploring the North Shore, and getting her craft on.

Born in Pittsburgh and raised in the Boston area, Greg first met Jesus through the Chinese immigrant churches he’s attended since birth. After graduating from Duke University in 2010, he’s been a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship – first at the University of Virginia (when he met his wife LeLe), and now as a ministry supervisor for Harvard, MIT, and Dartmouth while also coordinating New England’s work with Asian/Asian American students and staff.

Greg moved back to Boston in 2017, and he and LeLe were married in 2018. They made Highrock Cambridge their church home and have enjoyed being part of the community and bringing their son James into it as well! Greg is excited to help co-lead the ministry at Highrock Cambridge with LeLe.

Among many things, Greg is passionate about helping people discover God’s beautiful purpose for their ethnic identity and role in His multiethnic Kingdom. On a personal note, Greg loves food and drink of all kinds, and loves cooking for others and making cocktails (and educating people about spirits as well). Additionally, Greg loves to travel, read, ride his bike, and cheer for Duke and UVA during March Madness.

Jill spent time in the Midwest, New England, and the South before making the Boston area home. She currently resides in Winchester with her husband Nathan and two kids, Sydney and Jayden. After 10 years of working as a physical therapist, 8 years of being a stay-at-home mom and volunteering at Highrock and her kids’ school, she joined the Highrock staff to do what she absolutely loves: planning, coordinating, and supporting others.

Her unofficial title, “Keeper of the Kidsrock Closets”, may not come with a crown and sash, but she happily bears it, knowing that a well organized ministry can be a blessing to alI. In her free time Jill enjoys baking, crafting, reading, and spending time with her family.

Hailing from the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee, Joshua moved to Cambridge in 2010 for undergrad at Harvard University. He began attending Highrock Arlington almost right away, moving over to Highrock Cambridge (or then, Highrock Harvard Square) when it was launched in 2012. He quickly found himself serving in technical capacities, whether working the live camera feed to the side room, running ProPresenter slides for sermons and song lyrics, or mixing the live audio for the musical worship team.

Even after hopping down to Maryland to pursue a Master’s degree in 2017-18, Joshua returned to the church home he found in Highrock Cambridge and began serving once again. With both musical and technical experience, he now serves as the interim Worship Production Coordinator for Highrock Cambridge, managing all of the technical aspects of setup, sound, and video. When he is not working his day job as an immunology research scientist, Joshua enjoys singing acapella music, watching TV and anime, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends.

Originally from Queens, NY, Koo moved to Boston in the fall of 2013 with his wife Jinny. For many years, Koo was a full time singer-songwriter who recorded several albums and toured around the US, performing with his band and other independent artists. Throughout his music career, worshiping God and leading others in worship has always been a priority and one of his biggest passions. Koo is thankful he gets to do that every week along with his amazing partners in ministry at Highrock. Outside of church, he spends most of his time with his family, discovering good eats in Boston, and looking for the best coffee he can find to get him through his first few years of parenthood.

LeLe (she/her) was born and raised in Southeast Virginia. After graduating from the University of Mary Washington in 2015, she joined staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Old Dominion University. While in Virginia, she met her husband, Greg, who also worked with InterVarsity. They married in 2018 and made Cambridge their home.

LeLe transitioned to the InterVarsity campus ministries at Boston University Multiethnic, Berklee College of Music, and Boston Conservatory, while becoming a member of Highrock Cambridge. She ended her time with InterVarsity at the end of 2020 after the birth of her son, James, to enter a season of rest (haha). In Spring 2021, she and Greg joined the staff team at Highrock Cambridge.

LeLe is mixed race, 2nd generation Filipino and Black American, which has shaped how she engages with God, and does ministry by inviting others into their own ethnic identity journeys. She loves traveling with her family and friends, getting tattoos, watching live sports and music, hosting others, playing Nintendo Switch cozy games, and having friends over for games and dessert!

Michelle grew up in Greater Boston, and while she enjoyed living in Virginia during college, she loves being back home. She and Dave had their first date at the Burlington Mall when she was 15 years old, and after 28 years of marriage they still go on dates there! After earning a Bachelors in Religion and studying New Testament Greek, Michelle served in ministry with Dave before returning to get a Masters at Boston University. Above all else, Michelle has a passion for her 11 kids, her husband, and for following Jesus no matter what!

Sheila grew up on the South Shore of Boston and then moved south for college, graduate school, and beyond. She returned to the Boston area in 2009. She currently lives in Medford with her husband, Will, and their two young children, Rachel and David, and loves having her extended family in the area. After 17 years of working as an elementary classroom teacher with a focus on English as a Second Language, she joined the Highrock staff in August 2021.

She is excited to use her education background in a new setting where she is able to work with her favorite people (elementary school students) and help them develop a life-long relationship with Jesus Christ. In her free time Sheila enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, especially hiking and relaxing on the beach.

Emilyn is originally from Taipei, Taiwan. She moved to Boston 12 years ago after finishing her Bachelors Degree. She had mostly attended Chinese churches throughout her life, but after being introduced to Highrock Arlington two years ago and loving all that she’s experienced here, she’s made Highrock her permanent church home. Her hobbies are movies, walks, and anything to do with the ocean.

Katie is a local, growing up just 10 miles from Highrock’s Arlington campus. She has been attending Highrock since 2008 and joined the staff in 2015. She loves her role, supporting the church in its care for the staff that care so well for our congregation. Katie has a background in music education and classical vocal performance, and continues to sing – on stage or as part of a pandemic-inspired virtual choir – as time allows. She and her husband Tim have two sons, born in 2011 and 2014, and have a home that is always full of music.

Lew grew up in New Jersey, then moved to New York City after college to pursue a career in business and a side gig as a guitarist-songwriter for his band. He came to the Boston area twenty years ago for a job opportunity and then decided to stay after he met the woman who would become his wife. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Highrock community and is thrilled to be a part of the church’s mission. On his days off, he loves to spend time with his wife and two children, watching and playing sports, cooking, gardening, and visiting the Massachusetts coast.

Scott lives in Arlington with his spouse, Abby, and their two daughters. He and Abby moved to Boston in 2012, and have been involved at Highrock ever since. Scott has worked as a Young Life staff member and adjunct faculty in Theology at Emmanuel College and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary and Harvard Divinity School, where he completed his Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Theology respectively.

At Highrock Scott serves as the Resident Theologian for Theology Lab and Adult Christian Formation. His passion is for people to discover theological learning in a way that is both accessible and inspires greater intimacy with and love for God and neighbor. Scott’s interests include the doctrine of the Trinity, rainbow trout, and being outdoors with Abby and the girls.