Staff – El Montecito Presbyterian Church

Meet Our Staff

Find out a little more about our staff team below.

Pastor

Rev. Tom Haugen Ph.D.

At the age of eighteen, under the starry, summer sky of North Carolina, at a Young Life camp called Windy Gap, I put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am a graduate of the University of Georgia (BA, Speech Communications,1994), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1999), the University of Edinburgh (ThM, Homiletics, 2000), and Middlesex University (PhD, Homiletics, 2022). My introduction to ministry began with Young Life both as a volunteer and then with a full-time church partnership. My wife and I have served at churches in Zurich (Switzerland), Atlanta, and Boston’s North Shore. I met my wife, Lauri, while we were studying at Gordon-Conwell. She also has a MDiv and currently serves as the Assistant Pastor to Families right here at El Montecito Presbyterian Church. I am blessed to have a wife who shares a love for ministry! We have three amazingly, awesome daughters: Melia, Annie, and Jocelyn.

From 2013-2019 I served as the Chaplain of Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. I have a PhD in homiletics through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and The London School of Theology. I am passionate about relational ministry, pastoring and teaching God’s Word in a way that connects biblical truth to people’s lives.

It is a joy and privilege serving the Lord at El Montecito Presbyterian Church as we continue the rich heritage of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching God’s Word, and serving the needs of the local and global community.

Rev. Lauri Haugen

Assistant Pastor to Families
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As a student at Westmont College, I would never have dreamed God would bring me back to beautiful Montecito to serve at El Montecito Presbyterian Church. It’s truly a joy to be here, and I look forward to meeting you and growing together in Christ. I’ve been involved in ministry among kids, youth, and college age students for 20+ years as a teacher, youth pastor, family pastor, and adjunct lecturer at Gordon College. I completed my Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and served at churches in Seattle, Atlanta, Boston’s North Shore, and Zurich, Switzerland. I also hold a California multiple subject teaching credential and ordination with ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians). It is my hope and prayer that children, youth, and families encounter Christ personally, grow in Christ, connect and engage in the life of the local church, and live out faith in their communities and beyond!

Christine Hale

Director of the Early School
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Christine graduated from Westmont College and soon after started her preschool teaching career here at Elmo. Christine and Rob raised their three children in Montecito and have been active members of El Montecito Presbyterian Church for many years. Their children, attended El Montecito Early School, MUS, SBJH and SBHS. In 2015, the family moved to Fresno, and that is when Christine re-entered the preschool world as a Preschool Director for The Well Community Church. After five years of living in Fresno the Hale family was excited to move back to Santa Barbara. Christine has a passion for providing a nurturing, Christ centered environment where children can develop. Christine is so happy to be back where her teaching career started, and continue the strong legacy that the Early School has in our community.

Brad Catron

Facilities Manager
Brad was born in Indiana, attended Indiana University, moved to The Bay Area in 1987, started a licensed painting contracting business which turned into 20 plus employees for 30 years, and utilized those resources to start flipping homes in the Orinda, CA area.

He has 3 grown, happy children, enjoys, the beach, fly fishing, cooking, golf, snow skiing, and his motorcycles. Coached 22 youth sports teams, Scout Master for 7 years with his boys, and involved with many volunteer services. He is very professional and takes time to do things right the first time, and has learned that patience is often the key to his success. Brad moved to Montecito in 2020, what he says was "a calling" to serve God in paradise under his guidance, has fallen in love with the area, and looking forward to be at service to the entire congregation.

Maryann Spradley

Office Administrator
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Maryann has lived in Santa Barbara since graduating from Westmont College in 1986. Other than a few years spent in San Luis Obispo for the MBA Program at Cal Poly, she has enjoyed the climate and people of this community. Her work career includes banking, commercial lines insurance and software design and development until she made the commitment in 2000 to stay home with her children. Since then she worked with various local non-profits until feeling the call to join the ELMO Pres. team May of 2018.

Mary Hurt

Worship Director
Mary is excited to join the team at Elmo! She has extensive experience teaching music, leading worship, and playing and singing professionally in the Santa Barbara area. A graduate of Westmont (2006), one of the joys of her life was being the Preschool through 6th grade music teacher for El Montecito School (now Providence) for 10 years. She has a heart for inter generational worship and pursuing biblically grounded music to aid in that goal. She is happily married to Taylor, and they have Ella (6), Thaddeus (4.5), Benjamin (2) and a new baby due in February.