Conference Support Staff

Diana Barnett

Phone: 317-924-1321

Emily Burkhart

Phone: (317) 921-1321
Emily Burkhart joined the Indiana Conference Center staff on Feb. 15, 2010. A native of New Albany, Ind., she holds a B.S. in Public Affairs with a major in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University. After graduating in 2007, she worked for the March of Dimes in Lexington, Ky.; while her husband, Chris, a native of Greenwood, Ind., studied at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. Emily, Chris, and their dog, Ginny, all love the Indianapolis Colts.

Roscel Carandang

Phone: 317-924-1321
Roscel Carandang is a conference assistant and works with Ruth Ellen Needler and the administrative team as graphic designer, concentrating on updating/designing Web pages and printed materials, in addition to updating/maintaining social network sites for Connect’s Youth, as well as Mission and Advocacy. Her past ecumenical experience includes 12 years of ministry work at The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, where the Indiana Conference is a long-standing member.
She brings with her more than 30 years of administrative experience, in addition to many years in event coordination, fund development, Web development and design, graphic design, community organizing and ministry outreach. Always interested in making this world a better place for the growth of God’s kingdom, she volunteers with many organizations, including A Critter’s Chance, Inc., an organization specializing in wildlife rehabilitation and exotic/domestic pet rescue.
Born in the Philippines and a lifelong Hoosier, Roscel comes from a very large, close-knit Filipino family. She says she attributes her deep love for the Lord from being taught to lead a prayerful life by her grandmother and mother. She is aware that all her talents are God-given and is excited to apply them to promote ministry at the Indiana Conference. She lives daily by this Scripture: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Linda Eskew

Phone:
Linda M. Eskew joined Indiana Conference as Health Benefits Assistant on November 30, 2009 working in Administrative Services. As a Health Benefits Assistant, she concentrates her duties within the areas of Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, FSA and Wellness. She is a seasoned human resources professional who strengthened and cultivated her skills and experience through the hospitality, manufacturing and production Industries. Although she has worked in all areas of human resources, she specializes in Compensation and Benefits. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the International Association for Human Resource Information (IHRIM).
In her spare time, she cares for her large family which includes her sons and two grandchildren. She works actively on the executive board of Goodness and Mercy, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that assist in restoring the hopes in the lives of homeless women and children in the City of Indianapolis. Partnering with homeless shelters and conducting various events and workshops throughout the year, Goodness and Mercy is aimed at promoting self worth in women and children and here she continues to volunteer her time with this organization conducting empowerment workshops enhancing the communication job seeking skills of women living in the shelters.
She enjoys thoroughly creating masterful cuisines and baking delectable desserts for her family and friends especially during the holidays. She lives her life inspired by a quote of encouragement. “God is the author of who we are and where we are to go and I am lead by his hand through his footsteps.”

Brenda Gross

Phone: 317-924-1321
Brenda Gross joined the Indiana Conference Center staff as a Conference Assistant on January 4, 2010. She has more than 25 years of administrative experience from working in many different fields. Brenda will be working with Ruth Ellen Needler and the Administrative team, concentrating on event set-up and registrations. She is a graduate of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University and is an avid sports fan. Her husband, Abbey, is a Farm Bureau Insurance agent in Avon. They have two children, Amanda, a Physical Therapy graduate student at IUPUI and Jackie, a student at Purdue University studying Mass Communications. She is a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

Anne Hayton

Phone: 317-924-1321
Anne Hayton joined the Indiana Conference staff as an Accounting Clerk on March 1, 2010. She lives in Brownsburg with her husband Chris and their three boys Josh, Devon and Trey. She is an experienced bookkeeper and has worked with Presbyterian, Christian and Lutheran churches and holds a degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix and enjoys playing tennis, camping and anything outdoors.

Carla Johnson

Phone: 317-924-1321
Carla Johnson, a native of Detroit, Mich., joined the Indiana Conference Center staff as the Conference Receptionist on Jan.4, 2010. She is excited to be a part of the new Conference Center staff and her position also will include assisting Ruth Ellen Needler with meeting organization. Carla has more than 15 years of experience in the clerical and hospitality fields. She attended Indiana University where she met her husband, Michael. They have three children – Alex, 9, and Sam 3 and Mike’s daughter Kelly, plus two grandchildren. She enjoys sports, music, reading and helping out at Alex’s school. She and Mike are active in Little League. The Johnsons attend Wesley United Methodist Church on the west side of Indianapolis.

Edward Metzler

Phone: 317-924-1321
Ed Metzler, a native of Erie, Pa., served 20 years as a public affairs specialist (both public relations and journalism) in the United States Air Force. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Erma, moved to Indianapolis, where Ed had previously served. Ed began working as a freelancer with the Hoosier United Methodist conference newspaper in 1994 and has served nine years full-time in the area office and has served two bishops. He is married to Erma Metzler, the Conference Communication Assistant. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Erma Metzler

Phone: 317 924-1321
Erma Metzler, a native of Erie, Pa., and has served 14 years as communication assistant to two directors of communication. She is Web master of the new Indiana Conference Web site and continues to layout the Hoosier United Methodists Together newspaper and e-HUM online publications. She is married to Ed Metzler, secretary to the bishop. Ed served 20 years as a public affairs specialist (both public relations and journalism) in the United States Air Force. Upon Ed’s retirement, the Metzlers moved to Indianapolis, where they had previously lived. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Elsie Miller

Phone: 317-924-1321
Elsie Miller and her family reside and are natives of Owen County, Ind. She was an employee of the South Indiana Conference from 2004 to 2009. Initially hired to work with the database, she moved on to serve with congregational development, missions, connectional ministries and then to finance and administration assisting with the database merge of the former North and South Indiana conferences. Currently, she serves as the Indiana Conference database administrator.

Glenda Peery

Phone: 317-924-1321
Glenda is a native of Richmond, Va., and joined the Indiana Conference Center staff as the camp registrar/conference assistant on Jan. 4, 2010. She previously worked full time for the Brownsburg Community School System. She attended Virginia Tech University where she met her husband, Rob. They have been married for 20 years and have two children; Craig, 18, and Samantha, 15. She enjoys reading, painting and attending her children’s sporting events.

Kathleen Stanley

Phone: 317-924-1321
Kathleen Stanley is happy to be working for The United Methodist Church again. She has worked at United Methodist-related Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. and Mt. Auburn UMC in Greenwood, Ind. Her father, brother and great-grandfather have all been United Methodist pastors so she is well acquainted with the church and parsonage life. Kathleen is a native of Athens, Ohio and currently lives in New Whiteland, Ind. She has three children, Leah, Nathan and Rebecca. Leah is a RN at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill., Nathan is a student at Indiana University in Bloomington and Rebecca is a junior at Whiteland Community High School. In her free time Kathleen enjoys the company of family and friends and attending her daughter’s school and sporting events. She also enjoys movies, music and photography.

Lisa Timmerman

Phone: 317-924-1321
Lisa Timmerman is a native of Indianapolis, Ind. She was employed by the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church since May 2005. In the late 1990s, she served the area office part-time entering data. She also has worked full and part-time in Indianapolis businesses since the early 1980s. She graduated from Butler University at Indianapolis in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. She is married to Garth and has three children, Danielle, Samantha and Benjamin. As pastimes, she enjoys sports, reading and crafting.