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Head of Staff
Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen diane@fpcrc.org 
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Diane serves as Head of Staff and has been a part of the staff since 2011. A graduate of the University of Sioux Falls (B.A.), The Divinity School at Duke University (M.Div.), and Columbia Theological Seminary (D.Min.), she moved to Rapid City with her two amazing children and her wonderful husband in late 2007 when he accepted a call to serve as Senior Pastor at First Baptist. In addition to her part-time position here, she serves as minister at Hermosa United Church of Christ and PRN Chaplain for Monument Health, Rapid City Hospital.. Diane enjoys time with her family and friends, a hot day at the beach, serving God and others, and eating chess pie.
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Director of Music Ministry & Youth
Dr. Melissa Bumbach melissa@fpcrc.org 
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Melissa Bumbach is a veteran teacher, conductor, and singer. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting with a cognate in Music Education from the University of Miami. She received her Master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Florida, where she was the Graduate Conducting Apprentice for the adult symphonic choir the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, resident chorus of The Florida Orchestra. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian university in West Palm Beach, FL. She has been awarded two research grants to fund doctoral research in Cuba. Previously, she was the choral director at Howard Middle School in Marion County, Florida where she was awarded a $10,000 grant for her choral program from the TV show GLEE and the National Association for Music Education. She went on to be named the 2012 Marion County Teacher of the Year. Dr. Bumbach’s choirs consistently earned Superior ratings at Music Performance Assessments, and she served as District Chair for the Florida Vocal Association, overseeing activities for chorus teachers and students in five counties. She has conducted All-County middle school choirs in multiple counties in Florida, and has served as adjudicator for middle and high school Choral and Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessments in Florida and South Dakota. Melissa has presented at conferences in Florida, Hawai’i, and South Dakota.
Melissa is also a frequent vocal soloist, performing works such as Handel’s “Messiah,” Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and Henry Mollicone’s Misa de los Inmigrantes (Mass of the Immigrants). She has sung with numerous ensembles as a professional soloist and choral singer, including Na Wāi Women’s Chamber Choir in Hawai’i, 2nd Avenue Jewish Chorale, Musica Judaica, Palm Beach Opera chorus, Marion Civic Chorale, Nature Coast Festival Singers, and Ocala Summer Sacred Music Chorale. Dr. Bumbach has recorded with Gloria Estefan and sung the National Anthem at the 2016 CNN Republican Presidential Debate in Miami, FL. Her research interests include community-building, music teacher education, diversity, social justice, and Latin American choral music. Melissa and her husband Matthew began dating while in their church youth group and their parents (both of their fathers are retired ministers) have known each other since before they were born. They moved to South Dakota when Matthew was named the Director of Choirs at the SD School of Mines and Technology. The Bumbachs enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills and the excitement of having seasons for the first time. They live with their two tuxedo cats Hurley and Sawyer and their sweet dog Sansa (adopted from Battle Mountain Humane Society in Hot Springs). They would love to share some of Rapid City’s amazing local coffee, wine, or craft beer and get to know you! |
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Pastoral Associate
Paula Zavitz paula@fpcrc.org 
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Paula Zavitz was born and raised in Colorado. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins and received a BS in Early Childhood Education. After she and her husband, Bill, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Paula received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin. She taught in a variety of school settings until their children were born.
Her spiritual journey began as a child in the Congregational Church, but also took dramatic leaps through the course of sincere Bible study and in response to personal struggle. When her children had grown, Paula took the position of Director of Children's Ministries at First Presbyterian Church. Here she was inspired to pursue and receive certification as a Christian Educator, from the PCUSA, and certification as a ruling elder (CRE) from the Presbytery of South Dakota. Paula is grateful for the support she has received from the congregation at First Presbyterian Church, committed to following Jesus and excited about where He will lead this congregation in the days to come! |
