Meet The Team
Pastor
Pastor Carolyn Sellers-Rizzo
Pastor Carolyn has been with Kingo for 7 years now, and she enjoys serving the Kingo community because Kingo is curious about where the Holy Spirit is moving us. Grounded in a faith that is rooted to Christ’s grace, Kingo celebrates the diversity of God’s people and gifts. Pastor Carolyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before working as a violinist-teacher and graphic designer. She attended Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Pastor Carolyn is married to her wife Char. Together, they enjoy gardening, kayaking, and walking the shoreline of Lake Michigan. They live with an adopted rescue cat named Luna who has graciously accepted them as her staff.
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Email: pastor@kingo.org
Parish Administrator
Michaela Haak
Michaela, our newest staff member, began working at Kingo in August of 2023! Michaela recently got engaged to her new fiancé, Christian, and is planning a wedding for October of 2024. Her wedding date was chosen because of Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Michaela is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in Addictions at Marquette University. She hopes to continue helping mothers with addictions when she graduates in the Spring of 2024!
In her free time, Michaela enjoys crocheting, making music, spending time with family, and hanging out with her cat Echo.
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Email: kingo@kingo.org
Creative Communications Storyteller
Allison Grassel
Allison began working at Kingo in August of 2022 after moving to Milwaukee from De Pere, Wisconsin. Her favorite part of her position is getting to present Kingo's mission and beliefs in a fun, creative way, as well as getting to know the Kingo Community! Allison is currently working towards her Master's degree at Marquette University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and she hopes to be a Mental Health Counselor when she graduates in Spring of 2024. During her free time, Allison enjoys reading, thrifting, hiking, and trying out new restaurants/breweries!
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Email: communications@kingo.org
Pianist and Organist
Maria Koester
We are incredibly blessed by Maria's talents at accompanying congregational music. Whether it's a jazz piece, a traditional African hymn, a Latin processional song, or any of a host of other musical styles, Maria makes our church's song better.
She and her husband, Tom, have been longtime residents of the Shorewood community.
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Email: maria.koester@kingo.org
Financial Administrator
Susan McCormick
Susan has been with Kingo for almost a year and a half. What she enjoys most about being Kingo's Financial Administrator is working with and getting to know many different individuals. During her free time, Susan loves to spend time with her family. She is also an avid gardener, and she admits that she is often what people would classify as a “Crazy Cat Lady”!
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Email: financialmanager@kingo.org
Maintenance Technician
Jim Hooten
Jim’s world is filled with gratitude and care for God’s creation. Recently retired from
full-time employment, Jim brings a long history of caring for places to Kingo. Whether volunteering with the Caledonia Conservancy or the Dept. of Natural Resources, building and repairing America’s beautiful spaces with the Sierra Club, or completing his Master Gardener certification, Jim is a Mr. Fix It with a natural curiosity about how things work.​
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Congregational Council
President: Kerry Ammann
President Elect: Carolyn Karl
Secretary: Anna Herbert-Morrison
Members at Large: Melissa Alvin, Steve Jacobi, Rick Cole, and Pam Wronski