Board of Directors 2025 Nominees and Election

This election cycle will fill three (3) three-year terms 2025-2028, and one (1) unexpired term 2024-2027. In the election process, active members will select up to four people from the slate. The three nominees with the most votes get three-year terms, the nominee with the fourth-most number of votes gets the one-year term.

Important Dates:

• April 23, 2025: Nominees announced
• May 1, 2025: EC Talk Live "Get to know the Nominees" (tentative)
• May 5, 2025: Voting opens
• May 13, 2025: Voting closes

Online voting will take place from Monday, May 5 at 9 at noon ET/9 a.m. PT through Tuesday, May 13 at  noon ET/9 a.m. PT. No votes may be cast after noon ET/9 a.m. PT on May 13. Look for an email with detailed instructions and voting link the mor morning of Monday, May 5.

Election results will be announced during the Annual Meeting at the Episcopal Communicators conference on Wednesday, May 14, and via membership email.

Board Nominees

Lori Blewett
Director of Communications
St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin TX

Lori serves as director of communications at St. David’s Episcopal Church in downtown Austin, Texas. She joined Episcopal Communicators shortly after starting her position in 2018 and has been an active member ever since.

In 2022, Lori was elected to the Episcopal Communicators board and is the board liaison to the Professional Standards Committee. She is passionate about elevating the role of communications and communicators throughout the Church and helped research and draft Resolution D001 at the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Episcopal Communicators and their work.

She believes in strengthening peer relationships through shared knowledge and has been a panelist, contributor, or organizer for multiple communications workshops, webinars, presentations, and events. She has also earned Polly Bond Awards for her work on email newsletters, campaigns, graphic design, and photography. More importantly, she enjoys meeting new communicators and having fun with communicator friends near and far.

Prior to St. David’s and church communications, she worked in higher education, state government, non-profits, newspaper and magazine publishing, and advertising for more than 25 years. Honors include the Award of Excellence from the National Association of Government Communicators, The Eddy Award in Special Projects from Pensions and Investments Magazine, and recognition in Advertising Age Magazine.

Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications from Towson University and a Master of Liberal Arts Degree concentrating in Digital Media Design from Harvard University. She enjoys treasure-hunting at estate sales and thrift stores, playing word games like Scrabble and Wordle, and spending time with family and friends.

Jason Franklin
Director of Communications, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC
Vice-Chair, Episcopal Communicators
Executive Director, National Association of Lay Preachers

Jason Franklin has served on the Episcopal Communicators Board for the past three years, helping lead the organization through a time of growth and renewal post-pamdemic. He has played a key role in planning and marketing the Episcopal Communicators Conference, including the successful launch of the hybrid conference model, the introduction of remote learning, and new strategies to grow membership and engagement.

Jason is the Director of Communications at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, NC, where he oversees all aspects of parish communications. He also serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Lay Preachers, a new organization supporting lay voices in the Episcopal Church.

Prior to moving to North Carolina, Jason worked for six years at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills as Communication Coordinator and Creative Director. He studied Architectural Design at Woodbury University and Urban Studies at Columbia University, and has over 20 years of experience in communications, branding, and design for both corporate and non-profit clients.

Jason is passionate about equipping Episcopal Communicators with the tools, resources, and community they need to thrive. He would be honored to continue serving on the Board to help shape the future of Episcopal Communicators.

Lindsey Nickel
Director of Communications
Diocese of Southwest Florida

Lindsey Nickel serves as the Director of Communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, where she leads strategy and storytelling across 77 congregations. With more than two decades of experience in marketing, branding, public relations, and multimedia production, Lindsey has guided communications for nationally recognized nonprofits, global hospitality brands, and diocesan ministries alike.

Since joining the Diocese in 2021, she has led transformative communications efforts—from launching digital campaigns and producing diocesan publications to organizing large-scale events and live-streamed worship experiences. Her leadership has helped significantly grow the Diocese’s online presence and deepen engagement across platforms.

Lindsey brings board-level experience to her work, having previously served on Suncoast American Advertising Federation as President, Vice President, and ADDY Chair, and Rignling College Town Hall, where she oversaw media and speaker experiences. Her collaborative leadership style is rooted in mission and driven by impact.

A lifelong communicator and creative strategist, Lindsey is passionate about equipping others to tell their stories with authenticity and grace. She believes that communications is a ministry of invitation, connection, and hope—amplifying the Good News in an ever-changing digital world. 

A child who was told she talks too much in class, ask Lindsey about her kids, theatre, mermaid realtors, and all things Harry Potter.

Sarah-Emily (SE) Steinhardt
Communications Minister
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Oklahoma City

Sarah-Emily “SE” Steinhardt has served as the Communications Minister at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City since August 2023. A lifelong Episcopalian and the daughter of an Episcopal priest, SE’s earliest and most formative experiences were rooted in church life—shaping a deep, enduring commitment to faith, service, and community.

Before joining St. Paul’s, SE spent six years at another Episcopal parish in Oklahoma City, where she held multiple roles, including Member Engagement Coordinator, Parish Administrator, and Communications Lead. Her professional journey began in education; for two decades, she was an acclaimed and award-winning classroom teacher. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.

SE has been an active member of Episcopal Communicators for over six years, finding inspiration, professional growth, and meaningful connections in the network. She also enjoys being part of the Episcopal Parish Network (EPN) and values the opportunities for collaboration and learning it provides.

Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2017, SE and her husband, Michael, have built a full life with their imaginative, gaming-obsessed pre-teen son. In addition to her ministry work, SE serves on the boards of the Edmond Women’s Club and her son’s school PTO. She enjoys travel, outdoor adventures, live music, and a good cup of coffee.

Tatiana Suggs-Perea
Communications Manager
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin TX

Tatiana Suggs-Perea is the Communications Manager at Seminary of the Southwest. She previously worked as the Digital Media Specialist for the Iona Collaborative, a program at the Seminary. She has worked in communication roles at various organizations in The Episcopal Church including the Diocese of West Texas, The Episcopal Parish Network, and The Episcopal Church Office of Global Partnerships. Tatiana holds a Master’s in International Development from the Barcelona Institute for International Studies in Barcelona, Spain and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Since 2022, Tatiana has served on the Board of Directors for Episcopal Communicators. Tatiana enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter exploring all the best taco eateries in Austin and cuddling with their cat.

Chris Whitaker
Director of Communications, Youth, and Outreach
Christ Church, Short Hills, NJ

Chris Whitaker serves as the Director of Communications, Youth, and Outreach at Christ Church in Short Hills, NJ—a vibrant, growing, and diverse suburban parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.

He joined the Christ Church staff in 2016 and stepped into a full-time role in February 2022. Alongside his call to parish ministry, Chris co-founded and served as Executive Director of All The Way Up Adult Education Center, a Newark-based nonprofit supporting adult learners in Northern New Jersey on their path to earning a GED.

At Christ Church, Chris wears many hats—often at the same time. He leads communications strategy and digital ministry, strengthens outreach efforts, and creates meaningful ways for youth to engage with faith and community. He’s especially drawn to the intersection of storytelling, formation, and justice—and believes that good communication can deepen connection and build stronger communities within and beyond the church.

Chris holds an M.A. in Religious Studies from Drew University and a B.A. in Theology and Communication from McKendree University. He has served on the Episcopal Communicators Conference Planning Committee for the past two years and is passionate about creating spaces where church communicators feel equipped, connected, and energized.

When he's not chasing deadlines, Chris is probably out for a run (he’s completed two marathons and counting), listening to a podcast, gardening, or doing his best to keep up with the joyful chaos of life with three young kids.