We welcome our newest staff! Heather Dewar, Communications Strategy Specialist; Chad McGinnis, Worship and Music Coordinator; and Ellen Ribe, Pastoral Care Coordinator.
Heather Dewar – Communications Strategy Specialist
Heather Dewar is a native Floridian who grew up exploring Biscayne Bay and the Keys. For 28 years, including 16 years on the environment beat, she was a reporter at The Miami News, The Miami Herald, The Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau and The Baltimore Sun. She has worked as a science writer for universities and government, and is now on career No. 3, writing and editing natural history books. She has lived in Gainesville since 2017. She loves writing, partnering with writers and artists, and doing pretty much anything that involves a boat.
Heather’s newest book, ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL: WONDERS FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, is available for viewing in the UCG library. You can join Heather and Kristen Grace, who provided the amazing photographs for the book, to see portrait-style photos of some of the museum’s most fascinating objects and tell their stories of adventure and discovery on Wednesday, May 10, from 6:00-7:00pm in Reimer Hall or on zoom.
Chad McGinnis – Worship and Music Coordinator
Chad joined UCG in February of 2020 prior to the Covid shutdown. He made a path into the community through connections in the Open and Affirming committee, Meaning Makers, UCG Only Connect, Men’s retreat, and the UCG choir. He has two daughters, Mae and Eliza, who are part of Youth United and have grown to love UCG as well. They’re so grateful to be part of this community that has welcomed them with open arms.
Chad has a deep passion for helping others and has dedicated his career to serving the community through various roles in ministry and non-profits. He earned a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology.
Throughout his career, he has worked in many ecumenical settings, working with youth, senior adults, and pastoring in Virginia. In these roles, he was responsible for guiding individuals in their spiritual journeys and cultivating meaningful relationships within the community.
After moving to Gainesville, he shifted his focus to non-profit work, where he gained valuable experience in project management, fundraising, and community outreach. Chad’s continued dedication to helping others is what ultimately led him to join Infotech, where he’s able to use his strong interpersonal skills and leadership ability to drive success. Whether through ministry, non-profit work, or his current role in technology, his mission remains the same: to help others and make a positive difference in the world.
He’s excited to help UCG in building meaningful worship experiences that bring life, encouragement and affirmation for all members and attendees of UCG to encounter God, however known.
Ellen Ribe – Pastoral Care Coordinator
After working as a math teacher and IT professional for years, I finally heeded the call, started working as a children’s minister and went to seminary. Since ordination I have worked as a chaplain in hospital settings, a county nursing home outside of Chicago, and now hospice. My husband John and I have 3 grown children in Gainesville, Seattle and Germany and a collection of grandchildren.