Bishop Greg Rickel has announced the appointment of three new diocesan staff members. Lori Hardow, previously administrative assistant for the College for Congregational Development, has been appointed Diocesan House Receptionist. While her main role is to greet visitors and meeting attendees, and handle the busy diocesan phones, Lori’s responsibilities will also include database and clerical responsibilities. Bianca Smith joins the diocesan staff as our part time Content Manager (previously a contract position). Her role includes creating and curating stories in both words and pictures for our social media networks and website. Maureen Crawford has been appointed Director for Adult Faith Formation, with responsibility for providing tools, opportunities, and support – in cooperation with other ministries – for spiritual growth and renewal. All three began their work in mid-February. Pictured: Lori Hardow & Bianca Smith.
Lori Hardow, previously administrative assistant for the College for Congregational Development, has been appointed Diocesan House Receptionist. While the main role of this position is to greet visitors and meeting attendees and handle the busy diocesan phones, Lori’s responsibilities will also include database and clerical duties, tracking licenses and diocesan certifications – including for the College – special projects for staff, providing hospitality for visitors, meeting scheduling for Diocesan House, and responding to direct inquiries for research. Lori began in this new role February 17. Lori is a Seattle native; her family has been in Seattle since 1910. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Music Education and sings in the Seattle Bach Choir, Sine Nomine and Canzonetta. In her spare time she gardens, makes quilts and does genealogy research.
Bianca Smith joined the diocesan staff as our part time Content Manager, as of February 13. Her role includes creating and curating stories in both words and pictures for our social media networks and website. Previously Bianca worked with the Office of the Bishop to set up our social media processes, and is also working with our Young Adult ministry team to update their website. She has a Bachelors’ degree in marketing, a Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and is currently completing a Masters in Communications. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Bianca now calls Seattle home. As a hobby photographer she loves the region’s combination of mountains and water, but is yet to fulfill her wish to encounter a bear in the wild.
As the Director for Adult Faith Formation, Maureen Crawford is responsible for providing tools, opportunities, and support, in cooperation with other ministries, for spiritual growth and renewal. She has been a member of several churches in the Diocese of Olympia, as well as in a number of other Episcopal churches in the United States, where she has often been involved in Faith Formation ministries. She and her husband Kevin attend St. Clement’s Church in Seattle. When her youngest child went off to college, she went back to school as well: Maureen is a grad student at Seattle University, studying Transforming Spirituality. Some of her previous careers include at-home mom, college professor, and technical writer. She and Kevin have three children who are scattered around the country. She enjoys visiting her children, reading, cooking, learning, traveling, kayaking, and sailing.
When you get a chance, welcome these three to their new ministries as part of our diocesan staff.
