The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the 2025-2026 slate of candidates for the Board of Trustees and other positions. The congregation will vote for the Board of Trustees, Personnel Committee and Nominating Committee positions at the annual congregational meeting on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

*We are grateful to the Nominating Committee for the slate of officers they are bringing to the Annual Meeting to be elected. Church by-law XII.1.2 does also provide that a person may be nominated “By Petition. Ten or more members may nominate members for any congregationally-elected position by petition to the Nominating Committee at least seven days prior to an election.” If someone is interested, they must submit a petition to nominating@uucharlottesville.org.

Board of Trustees

Carol Gardner-Board President 2025-2027

I first joined UU Cville when I moved to Charlottesville 15 years ago, having previously been a member of a UU congregation in San Diego. Since then I’ve taught RE a number of times (from elementary through middle school, including several years teaching Neighboring Faiths), and my 3 children (now young adults) all went through the RE program. I was involved with the auction for a number of years, including being Co-Chair and Chair several times. Most recently, I’ve been on the Personnel Committee and chaired that Committee for several years. I was also one of the main organizers for the Elder Brunch last fall. Outside of church, I do data analysis work for several non-profits, teach yoga, and love to hike and get out into the woods.

Jimmy Gorham, Treasurer of Board, 2025-2027

I started attending this congregation in 2015 and signed the Membership book in 2017.  I served on the Personnel Committee in 2019.  I joined the Board in 2020 and served as an at-large member until 2024.  I am one of the founding members of the Stewardship Steering Committee, and still serve on the SSC.  I have worked on several pledge drives and have chaired the last two.  I co-founded the Congregational Data Stewards team, and have worked to understand the utilities and limitations of Breeze, our Church software.  In addition to these roles, I have worked as part of a Soup Kitchen group, participated in Adult Faith Development, taught in RE, and been in the choir for two years.  I have worked closely with Kay over the last several years to learn as much as I can about Church Finance, and the role of the Treasurer. I joined the Finance Committee late last year. I will strive to be as effective a Treasurer as possible.

Ellie Syverud,  Board, At Large 2025-2028

I grew up in an extended Jewish family in New York City and still consider myself Jewish, but I fell away from Judaism after my Bat Mitzvah. When I moved to Upstate NY in 1990 and learned about UUism, it made perfect sense to me; I immediately joined the family sized congregation in Canandaigua. My girls grew up in the RE program and due to its small size – and my need to always be involved – I held almost every position in that church over the 25 years I belonged to it. I still miss my Canandaigua church family! Mark and I moved to Charlottesville 5 years ago to be near family – Mark’s brother Scott and his family live here and our two married daughters who each have two children live in VA. Moving to Cville was a tough adjustment (especially due to the pandemic) but once I found UU Cville and got involved, I felt like I was home. Belonging to a UU church fills my needs for connection, spirituality, and purpose. I think I was always a UU and didn’t know it because growing up I always asked my parents “why?” about everything! I am honored and excited to be able to serve this loving community as a board member.

Kim Grover-Board Member (filling the remaining 2 year term of Sylvie Semmelhack) 2025-2027

I have been a member of UUCVille since the early teens, when I began attending with my then partner, Adam Slate. In the intervening years, I’ve served as pledge co-chair with Adam, Ministry for Earth co-chair with the unstoppable Ellie Syverud. I’ve served on the Buildings Committee with my friends, the not-to-be-toyed-with “Church Ladies”, Lorie, Elizabeth, Jude, and Bev Gorham. I have had the honor of mentoring our Coming of Age Youth for 2 years now, and have been an occasional RE teacher. I loved being involved with the Appalachian Service Project with our youth. I especially enjoyed watching our youth arrive and truly own the projects that were given to them. It is a transformative experience for youth and adults alike.

I’m pleased to be nominated to serve on the board of this congregation. It is a caring community, constantly striving to improve both collectively and as individuals. I’m very excited to see us be, and work with, bright lights in our wider community.

Personnel Committee

Keith McGlamery, Personnel Committee 2025-2028

My wife, Sammy, and I joined this congregation on June 25, 2023.

I am a native of Oklahoma, a 1969 graduate of Oklahoma State University,  and a 1975 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

I retired from the practice of law in 2021.  Prior to retiring, I practiced business law, primarily related to commercial real estate, in three jurisdictions where I was licensed: Wisconsin, Texas, and the District of Columbia.

I am not an employment lawyer. I cannot provide legal advice on employment-related matters.  However, as a partner in several law firms, I participated in decisions regarding various personnel matters, both with respect to lawyer and non-lawyer employees of the firm.  Over the course of my career, I also conducted employment interviews of hundreds of law students and lawyers.

If approved by the congregation, I welcome the opportunity to serve UUC’ville as a member of the Personnel Committee.

Michael Mott, Personnel Committee 2025-2028

Michael Mott was raised in the Unitarian Universalist tradition at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke, VA. Coming up through the church, he was particularly active in his YRUU years, including working with the other young adults to organize the first youth conference at Accotink UUC. Mike returned to the UU faith some years later in 2017, finding a home at UU Cville and has been a regular attendee since then. He co-founded and co-leads the UU Parents Support Group (“UUPS”) with John Griffith and David and Liz Shoch, and volunteers to teach RE on alternating years.

During the workweek, Mike advises S&P Global Ratings as in-house counsel, with expertise primarily in transactional law and structured finance. Before joining S&P, Mike spent time at a general practice firm in Culpeper, VA, where he gained exposure to a variety of areas of law, including real estate litigation, bankruptcy, personal injury, and criminal law, among others. He is a licensed attorney in good standing with the Virginia Bar Association. In prior lives, Mike has directed over a dozen plays, done graduate work in psychology, and started and ran a wedding videography business.

Mike lives in Scottsville, VA, with his partner Morgan, their two children Apollo (8) and Orion (4), and a veritable menagerie of animals — goats, sheep, chickens, peacocks, dogs, and cats. In his free time, Mike enjoys running (he recently completed his fourth marathon in Philadelphia this past November), spending time with friends and family, and finding ways to express himself creatively.

Steve Brecker, Personnel Committee 2025-2026

My wife Marcia and I have been members of Charlottesville UU for 10+ years.  During this time I have served as a Member at Large on the Board of Trustees as well as a previous term on the Personnel Committee.  In the past I participated with the UUGuys.  I currently serve on the usher team.

I have had broad experience in marketing, sales, management, media planning, product development, promotion, advertising, direct marketing and executive search at the regional, national and international level for both start-up and established media publishers, entertainment distribution companies and non-profits.
I am also an active trumpeter and vocalist performing with several local ensembles including the Charlottesville Band, Sentimental Journey jazz big band, my own jazz quartet, in senior living facilities and occasionally as a soloist in local churches.

Nominating Committee

Bev Thierwechter, Nominating Committee 2025-2027

I’ve been a member of our congregation since 2008 when my husband and I moved here from Delaware. I’ve been active in UU congregations in Reston, VA, Lewes, DE and Charlottesville. In the past, I’ve served this UU community as a Board member, Chair of the Personnel Committee, as a member of several pledge drives and on a number of task forces on personnel matters. I welcome the chance to give back to a congregation and community I cherish. During my career as a Federal employee, I worked in Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, as a staffer for the House Appropriations Committee and for the Office of Management and Budget.  I am a Piedmont Master Gardner.

Elizabeth Breeden,  Nominating Committee 2025-2026

I have been a member of our UU Congregation for about 40 years. My 5 children were educated here.  I have served on the Board, taught every RE class, and served on every committee.  Currently my time is spent on Food Pantry, Soup Kitchen, Buildings Committee, Grounds Committee, Hospitality (especially funeral receptions), Usher, Art Shows, Auction and Yard Sale.

Katharine Maus, Nominating Committee 2025-2027

I have been a member of the congregation since the latter 1990s. I taught religious education for a number of years, served two terms on the Board,  and have served on the Finance, Religious Education, Pledge Drive, and Music Committees, and on the Minister’s  Committee that served as a liaison between the minister and the congregation.

Janine Jakim, Nominating Committee 2025-2027

Janine has been part of the UU Cville community since 2009.  She has dabbled in multiple roles over the years including: serving snacks, co-chairing the auction, and helping with the yard sale.  This year she is a RE teacher and on the RE committee and also helps with the ASP fundraising events.  She has 2 children, one of whom is in his last year of YRUU.