Leadership

Pastor Steve and Susan have been married for 36 years and have three wonderful adult daughters.  If you ask, they'll proudly show you more pictures of their grandchildren than you probably want to see!  Steve enjoys hiking, biking, and cheering on his favorite teams—the Indiana Hoosiers, Indianapolis Colts, and U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.  He also loves a good leadership book, his mom's strawberry pie, and a great cup of coffee.

Steve is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University (B.A., B.S.), Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (D.Min.).  He has served churches in Florida, Illinois, and Indiana.  His greatest joy in ministry is seeing lives transformed by the life-changing power of Jesus.

Life Verse:
Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Suzanne has been on staff at The Grace Place since March 1999.  As the Director of our Single Adult Ministry, she is passionate about creating fun events for singles and helping them grow in their relationship with Christ.  Through our DivorceCare ministry, Suzanne also ministers to men and women who are either healing from their divorce or reconciling their marriage.  

Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys reading mystery novels, working on puzzles, and spending time with her family.  With five adult children and four grandchildren, life for the Adams is always lively!  

Life Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” 

Karon has served The Grace Place for 33 years, and she has always had a heart for ministry!  After graduating from Bible College, Karon and her husband (Pastor Rick, our Senior Pastor for 29 years!)  took the leap of faith and began their journey of full-time ministry together.  For 43 years, they faithfully partnered in five different churches across the US: Michigan, Ohio, Alabama (twice), and Florida.  Karon has done it all - from Preschool Director to Children’s Director to Singles Ministry to Women’s Ministry to Small Groups.  

Karon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a Social Studies minor. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Ministry from Moody Bible Institute.  Karon is passionate about making an impact in the lives of those around her.  She loves sharing her faith, teaching, counseling and watching God work in the lives of others.   Whether it’s through leading Bible studies, mentoring young women, or simply having coffee with friends, Karon always has a way of brightening someone’s day!

Life Verse:
 Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Lisa joined The Grace Place family in 2008 and has served in her current role since 2014.  A native Floridian, Lisa  was born and raised in West Palm Beach and has lived in Martin County for nearly 30 years.  She holds a Bachelors in Finance and a Masters in Forensic Accounting.  After 20 years in the banking industry, Lisa made the decision to leave her career to devote time to her family and serving others.  It is through volunteering that she felt called to join the staff of The Grace Place, and she says “This is exactly where I am supposed to be in this season of my life!”

Lisa and her husband, Larry, have three adult children, three grandsons, and two dogs.  In addition to spending time with her family, Lisa enjoys being on the water, exercising her brain, and volunteering with Coastal Boxer Rescue.

Life Verse:
Micah 6:8
"...act justly...love mercy...walk humbly with your God." 

Mya has spent her life playing, singing and writing music, combined with directing and teaching music and drama in various states and countries around the world.  During the past several years, she has focused on serving Christian schools and churches, combining her love of the arts with God’s word and the Holy Spirit.  Mya has directed music for various churches in Virginia, Connecticut and Florida.  Her primary instruments are voice, guitar and ukulele.

Mya and her husband, Bryan, relocated back to Florida in 2020 and are enjoying Martin County.  They have two teenage daughters, Sayla and Maryna, four cats and two dogs.  They enjoy music, traveling, sailing, camping, hiking, going to the beach and working on their property near Lake Okeechobee.

Life Verse:
1 Corinthians 13:4, 6-8
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Denny is a native Floridian.  He moved to South Florida in 1993 and has lived in Stuart for 25 years.  He and his wife, Kristine, have three adult children and seven grandchildren.  Due to a nudge and realization that something was missing in their lives, Denny and Kristine began attending The Grace Place in 2007.   Denny joined The Grace Place staff 13 years ago, bringing with him 35 years of experience in the construction industry as a carpenter and project manager.  

Denny enjoys family, the outdoors and doing what he can to help others.

Life Verse:
Matthew 34:6
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Stephanie has been on staff at The Grace Place for 24 years.  She has a passion for Celebrate Recovery because it addresses ANY hurt, habit, or hang-up... As she often says, "We all have something!"  Over the years, Stephanie has seen countless lives completely changed and firmly believes that God placed her on this earth to accept anyone exactly where they are and show them the love of Christ.

She has three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.  In her spare time, she loves to cruise and spend time with her family.

Life Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Kayleigh is passionate about creating a children’s ministry where every child feels known, loved, and encouraged to grow in their relationship with Jesus.  With over a decade of teaching experience in public schools as well as children’s ministry settings, she loves partnering with families to help kids grow and thrive.

Kayleigh and her husband, Ryan, moved to Florida in 2020 from South Carolina and began serving at The Grace Place in 2022.  Their favorite role is being “Mom and Dad” to their two boys, ages 5 and 1, who keep them laughing and are daily reminders of the joy and wonder of childhood.

Kayleigh earned her B.A. in Music Education K-12 from Southern Wesleyan University.  Her background in education, worship, and ministry has shaped her desire to create engaging environments where kids can discover the joy of knowing Jesus and families can grow closer together.  Outside of ministry, Kayleigh enjoys singing and spending time with their two dogs.

Life Verse:
Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Ross and his wife Bunnie are the proud parents of Sky, Meadow, and Lake. Ross loves the outdoors, sports, and anything that gets him learning something new.  He enjoys discipling over coffee and Scripture.  Ross holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Full Sail University.

Before coming to The Grace Place, Ross served as an Elder, Youth Pastor and Young Life Leader, and he spent over a decade as an educator, curriculum designer, and instructional coach in Texas and Massachusetts — equipping teachers and leaders to grow.  Ross believes God has uniquely equipped him for this role and is energized by the calling to connect people to Jesus, equip them to serve, and send them out to change the world for the glory of God.

Life Verse:
John 17:3
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Born and raised in Connecticut, Anita moved to Florida in July of 2018 and joined The Grace Place in August of that year. In February 2019, Anita joined our staff as Office Assistant. A year later, she also began leading Grief Share. After the death of her daughter in 2016, Anita retired from UPS to raise her two grandchildren. She has two other adult children and six grandchildren.

Anita believes God brought her to Grief Share to help people that are looking for hope, support and healing after the loss of a loved one.
 
Anita's kitchen is her “Happy Place,” where she loves baking and sharing her treats with others.  She enjoys relaxing with a good book on the beach or creating art in her studio.

Life Verse:
Joshua 1:9
"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Peggy moved to Stuart 24 years ago from Nashville, where she put her bookkeeping skills to use in banking and other businesses before coming to Florida to work with family at a yachting company.  On moving to the area, Peggy began attending worship services at The Grace Place.  She was surprised, thrilled, and thankful for God opening the doors for her to join The Grace Place staff as their bookkeeper.  Hard to believe that was 14 years ago!  
 
Peggy has five adult children, five grandchildren, and now three great grandchildren! She enjoys spending time with family, get-a-ways with her sisters, centering at the beach, reading mysteries, and baking.

Life Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

JuaQuanda has more than 25 years of experience in education, leadership, and child development.  Her passion for nurturing young minds has been the foundation of a career dedicated to helping children reach their fullest potential academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.  As Director of The Preschool & Aftercare, JuaQuanda is committed to creating a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment where children thrive, educators are empowered, and families feel welcomed and supported.  She believes every child has unique gifts and is dedicated to helping each one build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Beyond education, JuaQuanda serves faithfully in ministry alongside her husband, Bishop Charles A. Ross Sr., as they lead and serve their church community together. They are the proud parents of four beautiful children, and their family remains at the heart of everything they do.
 
JuaQuanda's philosophy is simple: Every child deserves to be loved, every family deserves to be supported, and every opportunity to make a positive impact should be embraced with excellence, integrity, and compassion.