Meet Our Staff
Reverend J.J. Wicke
J.J. grew up in Beeville, Texas and graduated from A.C. Jones High School in 2000. He then attended the University of Texas- Pan American and earned a degree in Biology. While at college he felt God’s call to be in full-time ordained ministry. After graduating from UTPA, he began working as a youth minister at First United Methodist Church in Elgin, Texas. While working, he attended school at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where he graduated in 2009 with a Masters of Divinity degree. He was ordained an Elder in 2013. J.J. has served in churches in Elgin, Falfurrias, Weslaco, and Harlingen.
J.J. loves serving God, the church, and mission field. He looks for creative ways to be the church in the community while partnering with local non-profit organizations.
J.J. married Amy on June 30, 2012, in Austin. J.J. and Amy have two sons, Benjamin and Levi.
J.J. looks forward to serving Northwest Hills UMC. We know that God has been present for many years in the work that has been accomplished and can’t wait to see what the future holds as we pray and seek God’s will for this church and mission field. We look forward to growing with you on our journey of faith.
Reverend Dr. Ray Kiser
Ray is a retired elder in the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving part-time with Northwest Hills UMC, where he formerly served as Senior Pastor from 1988 to 1997. He studied for Christian ministry at Duke University and Yale Divinity School and earned a Ph.D. in Theology and Personality at the Claremont School of Theology. He and his wife Stacy live in Lakeway, and they have three young adult children: Christopher, Sarah, and Grace.
Anna Shipley
Anna moved to Austin from the DFW area to attend The University of Texas Austin in 2018 where she graduated with a degree in Communications and Leadership with a minor in Religious Studies. Following her time at UT, Anna completed her Masters of Arts in Ministry at SMU Perkins School of Theology in 2024. In addition to working as our Office Manager at Northwest Hills UMC, Anna currently serves as the National Programming Director and Rio Regional Director for U.M. ARMY, a youth and young adult missions organization. She is currently in the midst of the ordination process for The United Methodist Church as a deacon candidate. Anna currently lives in North Austin with her super cool Siamese cat named Mei who she would love to show you pictures of!
Michelle McMinn
Michelle grew up in the Austin area and received a Master of Science in Accounting at Texas A&M. Michelle is a CPA and has a diverse work background, but recently her work has been in church accounting because she loves using her gifts to serve the church. The United Methodist Church and mission are dear to her as she is a lifelong Methodist and a clergy spouse. Her husband, David, serves as the Director of the Texas Wesley, and they enjoy serving together along with their two young daughters, Sophie and Amelia.
Tyler Steele
Tyler, a native of the Texas Hill Country, graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 2022. While earning his undergraduate degree in Social Work, Tyler had the blessing and privilege to serve as the Youth Director at Gruene UMC in New Braunfels, Texas, before continuing to work with youth in school social work and residential foster care settings. He and his wife, Mandy, share their home with three beautiful boys: their dog, Mulligan, their cat, Jack, and their son, Luca, who was born in October of 2023. He enjoys reading fantasy novels, spending time outdoors, and all things related to the world’s greatest basketball team: the Dallas Mavericks.
Heather Taylor
Two of the greatest joys in Heather’s life have been raising her two kids with her husband, Hal, and being a part of the congregation at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church. Regularly participating in the many children’s and youth activities and events over the years at Northwest Hills has filled their lives with tremendous joy. She is a former 8th-grade science teacher and professional ballet dancer, and she used her experience to start a dance ministry at Northwest Hills many years ago. She is excited to be serving as the Children’s Ministry Director. Heather loves sharing the good news of Jesus with children, as well as meeting new families and sharing with them all that Northwest Hills has to offer.
Elvir Hadzovic
Elvir was born in Ex-Yugoslavia (Bosnia), but lived most of his childhood in Germany, where he graduated high school and started college in Hotel Management. He moved to the US in July of 2000 with his wife, Alma and daughter, Ajla.
Elvir married his beautiful wife, Alma, at a very young age, and together, they have two daughters, Alma and Selja. Elvir and Alma were blessed when both of their daughters attended My Friend’s House from 2001-2007, and they have continued to receive care and love from all the amazing people at My Friend’s House & Northwest Hills UMC.
My Friend’s House has been a part of Elvir’s life, and his family’s lives, for over two decades now. He enjoys coming to work and watching these young children thrive and progress. His journey with My Friend’s House began in 2002 when Elvir was hired as a cook, and he has worked in many different positions with My Friend’s House since then. He obtained his Bookkeeping/Accounting Credentials from Intuit Academy in June of 2022, and his Child Care Directors credentials from Texas Directors in February of 2023.
In his free time, he likes to work in his yard, play soccer and basketball, and travel as much as he can. Elvir has a passion for travel and enjoys being on-the-go and seeing new people and places.
LaShaundra Campbell
LaShaundra Campbell was born and raised in East Texas in a little city called Tyler, known as the Rose City. She came to Austin for new and better opportunities. LaShaundra has no children or pets, her favorite color is red, and her hobbies include reading, DIY crafts, and hanging out with her family and friends. She holds an Associate Degree in Child Development and a Bachelor of Science in Business. She loves watching the excitement on children’s faces when they learn new things.
Jordan Burchill
Jordan Burchill is the contemporary worship leader at Northwest Hills. He grew up leading worship in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, and has been a worship leader and full-time musician for the past 12 years. Jordan earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz guitar at the University of North Texas and is also a gifted singer-songwriter. He has won numerous awards for his songwriting, and one of his songs was recently featured in an Academy Award-winning film. When he’s not serving his church family at Northwest Hills, you can find him performing with his wife as their duo Beth // James, playing locally in Austin, and touring the country.
Seth Zamora
Joseph Seth Zamora is a pianist and piano teacher from New Mexico. He recently graduated in 2021 from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master’s in Piano Performance. Seth is currently enrolled as a Doctoral student in Piano Performance at UT.
Seth began studying piano in high school in 2010 with his great-grandmother, Jonnie Haley before going on to study at the El Paso Conservatory of Music and New Mexico State University.
Seth has given several performances throughout New Mexico and Texas. His recent performing endeavors include a state-wide tour in New Mexico, where he gave a lecture recital presenting pieces from every major period of music and breaking down how to approach and listen to them. Seth was also the pianist (2016 – 2018) and Music Minister (2018 – 2019) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
In addition to being the pianist and organist at NHUMC, he is the primary instructor at the Zamora Piano Studio. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants in Austin, composing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Ronnie Hawkins
Joyful Noise Praise Band
Katrina Cain
Katrina Cain is a full-time musician and songwriter who is thrilled to be a part of the contemporary worship band at NHUMC. She began performing at a very young age in her church choir, and hasn’t stopped singing since. She earned a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies from the University of North Texas in 2012, and has been performing music full-time for the last 10 years. In addition to being a vocalist, she plays guitar and piano. Katrina also has extensive commercial studio session experience, singing radio IDs and various other commercial placements for country music radio stations across the United States.
She has moved over 20 times, has lived in 5 different states, and plans to retire to Santa Fe, New Mexico someday. Katrina believes that dogs are certainly one of God’s greatest creations, and is willing to debate this at length with cat lovers.
Jimmy Milner
Jimmy Milner is a drummer from Montana. He loves hiking, camping and puppies.
Mike St. Clair
Andrew McMillan
Andrew McMillan is a guitarist, bass player, and audio engineer from El Paso, TX. He earned his Bachelor of Music in classical guitar performance from the University of North Texas in 2013. He began playing guitar in middle school, after he turned his cello on its side in orchestra class and tried to shred. It was then that his parents realized a change of instruments was imminent.
Through years of full-time performing, writing, and recording music, Andrew has become an expert in all things guitar pedals and pro-audio. He is proud to work at Warm Audio in Leander, TX, in addition to performing live with artists and bands across Texas. He enjoys watching English Premier League football, and is a passionate Arsenal fan.