If you are an active, confirmed member of St. John's Church, you are eligible to vote in the upcoming election. Early voting will take place on January 8 and 15. The final vote will occur during the Annual Meeting on January 22.

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Hugh Cruse

Hugh is honored to be nominated for this opportunity to serve the St. John's Episcopal Parish. His current service includes volunteering on the Board of Directors for Faith Café, and he is a member of the Outreach and Evangelism Commission here at St. Johns. Hugh has also participated in leading Sunday school classes, canvassing campaigns, and other volunteer activities at St. Johns.

Hugh was born and raised in the Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. He had the same rector for his baptism, confirmation, and service as an acolyte through all of his teen years, and as a result, feels very fortunate to have been raised in a nurturing and stable Christian environment. The other significant influence of his early Christian formation was through fellowship experiences with Young Life. This ministry was a nice complement to church in which Hugh was able to grow spiritually through regular Bible studies and serving at camp in the mountains of Colorado.

Professionally, Hugh graduated from Emory University in 1995 with a degree in Biology and from the University of South Florida in 2000 and 2002 with a Master's in Public Health and Management Information Systems respectively. He is currently employed as an information technology consultant with Edgewater Technology.

Hugh and his wife, Laura, have been attending St. Johns for the last six years and are the proud parents of three boys- Bennett (9), Mason (7), and Rowan (5). They look forward to continuing to grow with St. Johns.

Frank Hancock

Frank Hancock and his wife, Patricia, have been members of St. John's since 1987. Frank has served as the Treasurer of the Church since 2007 and as a Trustee of the St. John's Endowment Fund since 2008. His children, Alex, Charles, Katie and Elizabeth, are members of St. John's and serve as acolytes.

As Treasurer of St. John's, Frank reviews the financial statements of the Church, and prepares written comments for each Vestry meeting on selected points relating to revenues and expenses, account balances, and financial performance against budget. He assists with the preparation of the Church's annual budget, and serves as an advisor in connection with accounting matters. In his role as Treasurer, Frank regularly attends Vestry meetings, and during those meetings guides the Vestry in its consideration of Church finances. He also serves as a member of the Church's Finance Committee.

Frank is a Managing Director and Head of Healthcare Investment Banking at Raymond James. He came to Raymond James in 1986 after receiving Juris Doctorate and Masters in Business Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina. His undergraduate degree is from Wake Forest University. He is a member of the Tampa Yacht Club, Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Among other charitable endeavors, he currently serves on the Board of the Children's Dream Fund.

Frank appreciates the opportunity to stand for election as one of the Vestry members of St. John's Church. He considers it an honor to be considered.

Stephen Leal

A native of Tampa, Stephen has been a member of St. John's since 1994. Stephen is a graduate of The Berkeley Preparatory School, Florida State University and Stetson University College of Law.

Stephen served as a an Assistant State Attorney in the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office for six years before leaving to start his own office, Stephen A. Leal, P.A., where he practices in the area of criminal and traffic law.

Stephen has served as head usher for St. John's for the past five years. In addition to serving as an usher, Stephen is a member of the Visioning Leadership Group and Men's Noon Bible Study. He has in the past taught children's Sunday school with his wife, Lisa, who serves as a lay reader and Sunday school teacher and has in the past headed up the meals ministry. Stephen and Lisa are blessed with a wonderful son, Grayson, (age 12) who enjoys Sunday school, helping dad usher, and making sandwiches for the Faith Cafe.

Kristie Salzer

Kristie is a life-long Episcopalian. She joined St. John's after moving to Tampa from Washington, D.C., 19 years ago. She and her husband, Brad, have two teenage sons, Will and Joseph, who are currently serving as acolytes. In the past, Kristie has been active in Parish Life, Newborn and Good Samaritan Ministries and has taught Sunday School for over 5 years.

Kristie is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She has practiced for over 25 years and now has a private practice in South Tampa. She provides nutrition education, counseling and therapy to individuals, families and corporations.

Her volunteer interests also include her boys' school, Berkeley Preparatory, where she is currently serving as the Awareness Chairman for the Capital Campaign. She is also a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Tampa. To relax, she enjoys cooking and baking, walking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She attends the 9:00 and 11:15 services.

Kristie would consider it an honor and a privilege to serve her Church community as a Vestry member.

Bill Sansone

Bill Sansone has been a member of St. John's for over 20 years. He currently co-chairs the Every Member Canvas, for the 2012 pledge drive. He is a committee member for the St. John's Visioning Project, and also coordinates the Shepherd's Ministry.

Bill is married to Amanda, who serves in the Altar Guild. Bill and Amanda have two children, Charlie and Adelaide. Bill's parents, Chuck and Julie, have also been members of St. John's for many years.

Bill is an attorney. He is a prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in Tampa.

Eric Williams

Eric Williams was raised as an Episcopalian in Christ Church, Greenville, South Carolina. There he spent more than ten years as an acolyte and member of the choir under the direction of Robert Powell who wrote a number of the pieces of Service Music in our Episcopal Hymnal. Eric moved to California to attend college and there met his wife Jan. They began their relationship through the church, having been introduced by the Episcopal priest at St. Thomas of Canterbury where Eric attended. A year later, that priest asked for special approval from the Bishop of Los Angeles to hold the wedding during the Sunday Eucharist so that the entire congregation could attend. During Eric and Jan's life in California, they both sang in the Choir, and Eric served as an Usher and was the Treasurer for the Church for more than five years. Eric also assisted with the maintenance at the Church including a very fine pipe organ.

After many years in California, Eric and Jan relocated to Tampa in 1996 with Eric's company, Catalina Marketing Corporation. Now, after nineteen years with Catalina, serving as its Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Eric has recently retired and plans to spend more time with non-profit organizations.

Eric was drawn to St. John's because of its fine music program and liturgical traditions. During his fifteen years in Tampa, Eric has served St. John's as an Usher, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and member of several special committees including the search committee for our Organist, Simon Morley, when Ellie Taylor retired. Eric also serves as one of the Vergers for St. John's.

Many of you will recognize the Williamses as the family that has attended church with a series of guide dog puppies over the past ten years. Eric currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southeastern Guide Dogs, and on the Board of Directors of Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the Catalina Marketing Charity Foundation.

India Witte

India Witte was raised in the Baptist and Methodist faiths in Chipley, Florida. She began attending services at St. John's upon moving to Tampa in 1998 with her husband David. They were confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 2002 and have two children, Ingalls (7) and Tucker (5), who were both baptized at St. John's and are students of St. John's Episcopal Parish Day School.

India graduated from Florida State University with a degree in English Literature and is currently employed as the Director of Foundation Board Relations for the USF System Foundation, Inc., where she is charged with strategic board management and leadership gift fundraising responsibilities in support of the university's $600 million comprehensive campaign.

India has served St. John's Parish as a long-time Sunday School teacher; a leader in the Circle; and as a volunteer for the Newborn, Angel Tree and Sandwich Sunday's/Faith Café ministries and the Parish Life Committee. India has chaired several committees for St. John's Parish Day School including the Spring Faculty Appreciation Luncheons and this fall's Admissions Open House. She is also a Primary School homeroom mom and a leader of the Lower School's Daisy/Girl Scout Troop.

She is an active volunteer for the Junior League of Tampa, serving as a member of the board of directors for six years; serves on the membership committee for USF's Women in Leadership & Philanthropy program; is a life member of the FSU Alumni Association; a member of "The Women for FSU"; a member of the Tampa Chapter of the ADPi Alumnae Association; serves as a faculty advisor for the Epsilon Lambda (USF) chapter of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority; and is a member of Leadership Tampa's Class of 2012.