About
Our Staff
Rev. Dr. Chris Carrasco
Pastor
Chris was born a Presbyterian by the grace of God having been baptized at the age of two in Southern California. From then on, the Presbyterian church has been her second home.
After graduating college in 1994 from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, she went directly to Princeton Theological Seminary for her Master of Divinity degree, graduating in 1998. She served summer internships in the Bahamas and in the hills of West Virginia. After graduation, she lived in Ghana, West Africa for a year through the PCUSA Young Adult Volunteer Program.
She was ordained in 1999 as Associate Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN and served for eight and a half years. In 2008, she became the Solo Pastor of Mulberry Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. In 2015, she was called as the Pastor of King’s Grant Presbyterian Church. Chris recently received her Doctorate in Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. Her topic was Transformative Pastoral Leadership.
She met her husband, Nelio in the Dominican Republic on a mission trip in 2003. They married in 2004 and have two children, Christian and Alex. Chris loves traveling, taxiing her children around and finding new ways to be the church in the world.
Tonya Holland
Director of Music Ministries
Dr. Tonya Holland is a graduate of James Madison University with a Doctor in Musical Arts in Piano Performance, Literature and Pedagogy and she is a nationally certified piano teacher through Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Her mosaic of experience includes conductor, collaborative and solo performer, lecturer, vocal coach, music theory, organist, and piano instructor. She has been teaching private piano while being a full time Piano Specialist at Schmitt Music since January 2020 holding certifications from both Kawai and Steinway piano companies.
Before Covid-19, as adjunct professor at both JMU and Bridgewater College, Dr. Holland taught Piano Pedagogy, Intro to Western Music, Music Theory, Class Piano and was the pianist for JMU Chorale. She was Music Director of the Page County Community Choir and Main Street Singers in Luray, VA from 2014-2019, and pianist for Trinity Presbyterian Church and Harrisonburg Baptist Church respectively between the 2008 and 2019. In fact, while in Luray she had the chance to lead the community choir in a special rendition of Silent Night in Luray Caverns. Take a look. In 2018, she teamed with the late world renowned piano pedagogue, Suzanne Guy in publishing a book entitled “Wit and Wisdom from the Piano Bench: 50 Witty and 50 Wise Ways to Inspire Aspiring Musicians”.
Tonya finds joy in her daughter Abbie, a Film student at University of Denver, and puppy Bongo.
TBD
Christian Faith Formation Director
Are you our next Christian Faith Formation Director? Apply today!
Rebekah Kerr-Montoya
Office Administrator
Rebekah Kerr-Montoya is our Office Administrator. She is the first point of contact for many who call or come into the church office. She works closely with the pastor and staff to create an organized, welcoming church environment. Rebekah has a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and a love for learning people’s stories. She enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where every day is a little bit different than the last.
Rebekah is a lifelong Christian, baptized here at KGPC. She lives in Virginia Beach with her wonderful husband and two lovely children. In her free time, she loves to read, write, and learn new technology.
Dan Duquette
Commissioned Pastor
Dan Duquette is our Commissioned Pastor. His duties include supply preaching, teaching, assisting Session, the Pastor, and staff, and working with Connect ministry in supporting leadership and outreach programs such as Bethlehem Walk, Meals on Wheels, and Kairos Prison Ministry. He is authorized to conduct baptisms, Communion, marriages, funerals, and moderate Session. Dan’s role is similar to a part-time Associate Pastor with a concentration in the Connect Ministry.
A member of KGPC of over 25 years, he is a retired Navy Captain, graduated from the US Naval Academy, and has earned a Masters Degree in Telecommunications Systems Management, and a Masters of Divinity. He currently is a Senior Analyst for a defense contractor. Dan is a child of God, a husband of 39 years to Laurie, a father to Jay and Emily, and a grandfather to Rory and Gabe. When not doing ministry work you may find him sailing, fishing, or hiking.
Jill McNulty
Financial Administrator
Jill McNulty is our Financial Administrator. She handles all financial aspects of the church including donations, accounts payable and payroll. Jill was born and raised in the Presbyterian church with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. She has experience with a wide range of financial situations.
Jill lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, Neal, and their youngest son, Sean. Her oldest son Jason lives and works in Virginia Beach and her daughter, Sara, currently resides in Atlanta, GA. Jill enjoys spending time with her family, reading and vacationing at the beach.
John Fritz
Assistant Music Director
John is our Assistant Music Director for our children and youth music ministry. He is a Music Specialist at Kingston Elementary School and teaches children from the ages of 5-11. John, an Air Force vet, has an extensive music background and believes it is important for children to learn in a joyful place.
John lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Trish, and his daughter, Rosina. He is a regular member of KGPC’s music team.
Heather Harvey
Digital Outreach Specialist
Heather Harvey is our Digital Outreach Specialist. Having traveled the world extensively, she has been slowly inching her way from the West Coast towards the East Coast where she now resides with her husband, four children, and lifelong dreams of creating a loving family full of joy and laughter. With a background in all four disciplines of Anthropology and teaching, her passion lies in helping people and in giving back to the world as she believes that we are all connected. Heather is on a mission to create an inclusive, supportive, and loving KGPC presence online. One that is a testament to the wonderful congregation and team at King’s Grant Presbyterian Church and the global community itself.
Pearl Tracy
Custodial
While Pearl came onto staff in 2020, she has been keeping our facility in tip top shape for the past 10 years.
Born in Florida and raised in Pennsylvania, Pearl moved to Virginia Beach in 1986 with her son, Spencer. Her hobbies include playing bingo and reading a good book. Pearl loves King’s Grant and enjoys being on staff here.
Michelle Winslow-Pichardo
Nursery Caretaker
Michele Winslow-Pichardo was born in Virginia and raised in a Navy family. She attended Norfolk State University: Early Childhood Education and graduated from Tidewater Community College: Business Administration Management. She is continuing her education at Hampton University in Early Childhood Education.
Her early career experiences were in Early Childhood Education at the Norfolk Community Hospital, Hospice Nurse Aide at the Sentra Hospice Agency, as Church Youth Director at the New Mount Olive Baptist Church, and Payroll Customer Service Agent (ADP). Her focus has always been working with children, the elderly, and those who live with various disabilities.
Appointed Caretaker for the King’s Grant Presbyterian Nursery in 2017, she enjoys engaging with the children and learning about their different personalities. She strives to ensure a fun, safe, inviting, nurturing environment for our youngest visitors, members, and their families. She is passionate about working with children as they are the closes reminders of the possibility of how spiritually amazing the world can be.
She is a mother of two adult children and grandmother to three children. Since 2012, she has been a court-appointed Guardian and Conservator for an intellectually disabled individual whom she supports in her life journey of growing and thriving daily.