Board Members
Our board
of directors.
Deacon Mary Stoneback
Board Member
Deacon Mary serves as the Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events for the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA. She joined the EiL team in 2022 through her work with videos and graphics. She participated in Excellence in Leadership with her congregation, being commissioned in 2025 and joined the Board of Directors in Fall 2025.
Melvin "Flip" Wilson
Board Member
Flip Wilson retired after 21 years in the military. He joined Excellence in Leadership as a participant, being commissioned in 2023 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023.
Blaise Mikels
Vice President
Blaise Mikels serves as the Vice President of the EiL Board of Directors. He participated in EiL with his congregation in Commerce City, CO and was commissioned in 2023. He joined the Advisory Board shortly after being commissioned and has been a vital member of our visioning for this ministry.
Rev. Sarah J. Moening
Board Chair
Rev. Sarah Moening is the founding director of Excellence in Leadership, beginning her work on developing this ministry in 2018 while on sabbatical from her position as the Assistant to the Bishop for Transitions in the Rocky Mountain Synod. She retired from her position as the director in 2023 and graciously agreed to be the President of the Board of Directors as it made its transition to its own nonprofit entity
Terri L. Elton
Board Member
Terri Elton serves as the Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Leadership at Luther Seminary. She began teaching at Luther Seminary in 2004 and has held numerous positions focused on Leadership and Children, Youth, and Family ministry. She began working with EiL in 2023 as a member of the Advisory Board.
Rev. Louise Johnson
Board Member
Louise Johnson is a pastor in the ELCA and has served in multiple capacities through her ministry including: President of Wartburg Seminary, Director of Leadership Development for LEAD, and Executive for vision within the ELCA churchwide organization. She has a passion for developing leaders and has been a part of the EiL ministry since 2023.
Katie Emery
Executive Director
Pastor Katie is a founding trainer in Excellence in Leadership, joining the ministry while it was still being formed in 2018. Since then, she has served as a trainer, a Leadership Team member, the marketing and promotions chair, and since fall of 2023, the Executive Director. Pastor Katie is also and ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently serving as the Pastor-in-Charge at an Episcopal Church in Boulder, Colorado.