Staff

	Senior Pastor Reverend Rex A. Dickey Rex Dickey is the son of the late David Dickey, Sr. and Dot Dickey who now resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Rex is married to Cindy Edwards of Earle, Arkansas and they have a daughter, Sarah, and a son Ben, both students of the University of Central Arkansas. Both Rex and his wife, Cindy, are life-long United Methodists. Rex received his Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in 1984, and his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1988. Ordained elder in 1991, Rex has been in ministry for 25 years. He currently serves on the Arkansas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry as the Chair of the Order of Elders. You may contact Rex at rex@fumcbentonville.org or 279/273-2712, ext. 204.
	Associate Pastor Reverend Susan Ledbetter Susan grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Throughout her childhood and young adult years, Susan attended First United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs and was active as a youth group leader, youth voice and handbell choir member, youth mission participant, and served as the Youth and Young Adult Intern in 1996. Susan graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with a degree in Organizational Communication. After discerning her call to ordained ministry, Susan sought a Master of Divinity degree at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey where she met her husband, Rev. Justin Ledbetter. After their marriage in 2001 and relocation to Fort Smith, Arkansas, Susan transferred to Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma to complete her degree. Susan serves on the Arkansas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and is a member of the Arkansas Conference Imagine Ministry Team. Susan, Justin and their daughter Sadie enjoy traveling, outdoor activities, growing as disciples of Christ and sharing in ministry. You may contact Susan at susan@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 224.
	Associate Pastor-Christian Education Reverend Jimmy Don Bortell Don is married to Charlene and the father of two grown children. His hobbies are photography and roses. In the church, he assists in the sacraments for our first service and teaches Disciple Bible Study classes. You may contact Don at dbortell@cox.net.
	Music Director Miles Fish Miles has been the music director for FUMC Bentonville since 1996. He rehearses and conducts the chancel choir, youth choir and various vocal and instrumental ensembles. Miles has been a Methodist music director since 1973 and involved in church music since 1960. From the University of Arkansas, he holds a BA in Journalism and Communication and a BA in Music; from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, he holds a Masters of Music Arts in conducting. Post MMA studies include SMU Dallas Perkins Church Music studies and SSMA summer studies in conducting in Siena, Italy. Since 1996, he has also been a faculty member at Northwest Community College where he teaches Music Theory, Basic Musicianship, Music Appreciation, The History of Rock and Roll and conducts various vocal ensembles including the Chamber Singers and The Jazz Ensemble (www.nwacc .edu). Prior to NWACC, he enjoyed a teaching career as a Junior and Senior High school teacher. In 2001, Miles was the founding conductor/artistic director of the Civic Symphony of Benton County that was renamed Arkansas Philharmonic in 2008. In 2002, he accepted a staff teaching/conducting position at a summer American school for musicians at the University of Siena, Italy and remained there for 5 summers. In 2008, he began one of four summer sessions studying with Italian conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti at Siena, Italy's Accademia Chigiana (http://www.chigiana.it/index_ing.htm). For more information about Miles, click www.MilesFish.info, or you may contact him at miles@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 207.
	Children's Director Sara Harris Sara was born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas and attended St. Paul United Methodist Church with her family. She graduated from Northside High School and attended Arkansas Tech University, where she graduated with a BS in Math Education. In 1988, Sara married Jeff Harris, with whom she has two sons, James and Jake. She began her ministry at Bentonville FUMC as Children's Choir Director in 1992 and became Director of Children's Ministries in 1999. In 2005, Sara became the Praise Team Director. Though she has many responsibilities at FUMC, Sara feels blessed to be able to serve in two areas of ministry she loves most, children and music. You may contact Sara at sara@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 222.
	Minister to Youth Brandon Bates
	Church Administrator Kathy Safreed Kathy was born and grew up in Henryetta, Oklahoma where her family was active members of the First Methodist Church. She graduated from Henryetta High School in 1973 and from Northeastern State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Kathy joined our staff in October, 1995. Prior to her work in the Methodist Church, she worked as an accountant in the oil and gas industry for thirteen years. She and her husband, Bruce, met in college and married in 1978. They have two grown children, a daughter, Kelly, and a son, Sean. They moved here from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 1993. Kathy loves the many hats she wears in doing her job and values serving her church and church family. You may contact Kathy at kathy@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 221.
	Communications Director Laurie Dereszynski Laurie was born and grew up in the state of Michigan. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1979 and graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Computer Science in 1984. After several years working as a software engineer in the Dallas area, she returned to school to earn an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from the University of North Texas. Shortly after moving to the Houston area, she met Michael, who became her husband in 1996. They relocated to Bentonville in 1997; Laurie and Michael are parents to one son, Noah. Laurie enjoys reading, fitness, scrapbooking and photography. After nearly 15 years as a member of FUMC, Laurie joined the staff in 2012 and feels she is exactly where she needs to be. You may contact Laurie at laurie@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 212.
	Finance Coordinator Anna Boyd Anna was born in Houston, Texas but spent most of her time in a small rural town, Schulenburg, which is half-way between Houston and San Antonio. Graduating from a Catholic High School class of 24 people, she attended Texas A&M University in education and graduated with a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Incarnate Word. After ten plus years in the CPG industry and owning her own antique business, she went back to education and taught Language Arts and Social Studies at a small Catholic school for eight years and completed her M.Ed. in Educational Technology. Upon her husband, Joe, being transferred to Bentonville, Anna began teaching online courses with the University of Phoenix and is now also the Financial Coordinator for FUMC. You may contact Anna at anna@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 203.
	Associate Director of Children's Ministry Mary Calcote Mary was born in Louisiana and was raised in the Arkansas River Valley. When Mary married her husband, Jerry, in 1993, they became a blended-family with five children. Through the years, their family has grown to include 7 grandchildren, with more on the way! Mary has worked for several non-profit agencies which serve abused and neglected children, those with special needs, and has extensive experience in early childhood. The one common thread woven throughout her life is children and families. Mary has never forgotten the challenges of being an underprivileged child and is thankful for those people God placed in her life as she was growing up. Mary is truly humbled to serve her Lord by working with His children, and the opportunity to "pay it forward." You may contact Mary at mary@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 206.
	Director of Connectional Ministries Brenda Meyer Brenda was raised in Eastern Iowa and attended parochial schools where the importance of community and family left a lasting impression on her. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, she worked in marketing and training. It wasn't until she took a Spiritual Gifts class that Brenda found her true passion; to work with others in discovering their God given gifts for the building up of the church and edifying of others. This discovering led her to a ministry working to connect guests and members to the church, and the church to the community. She and her family; husband, Eric, and children, Garret, Logan, Ryan and Taitum, are so blessed to be a part of the First United Methodist Congregation. You may contact Brenda at brenda@fumcbentonville.org or 479/273-2712, ext. 205.