OUR STAFF
Trinity Staff Mission Statement
Working together, in a caring community,
we are passionately dedicated to encouraging and nurturing the people and ministries of Trinity Church.
We share the Gospel News – Love in Action – with all of God’s people.
All Staff may be contacted at (828)253-9361 or via the email in their bio.
Beth Chestnut
Beth is a native of Durham, N.C. and a graduate of The University of NC at Greensboro in Dance Education. She taught for several years at The Episcopal Day School in Pensacola, Fla. After many years studying dance and theater in New York, Beth put her B.S. degree in Dance to use in the Henderson County Public School System for nine years as part of an Arts integration team. She was selected as Teacher of the Year for Etowah Elementary School.
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A longtime member of Trinity, Beth helped implement and teach the Godly Play curriculum currently in use at Trinity. This volunteer work turned into a position as Director of Children's Ministries in 2001. Beth oversees all aspects of ministry related to children from birth through 5th grade and their families. Beth is a certified teacher in Godly Play. She completed the Education for Ministry program and is also a member of NAECED (National Association of Episcopal Christian Educators), now known as Forma.
Beth has been married to David Chestnut, a cradle Episcopalian, for the past 31 years and counting! They have one daughter, Zoe, a high school sophomore. If you have any questions about ministries with children at Trinity Church feel free to contact Beth. She would be glad to hear from you.
Glenn Childes
On a Tuesday in 2007, Glenn Childes came to Trinity as an employee of a sub-contractor to clean the stained glass in the church. Trinity's former Rector, Bill Whisenhunt saw his competency and attention to detail. He asked Glenn to meet him for lunch on Wednesday and by Saturday, Glenn became our new sexton.
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Glenn graduated from Asheville High where he played football with Trinitarian Jeff Covington. In his spare time, he likes to play with his son, Josiah, go fishing, camping and he enjoys cycling. His real passion is scrabble. Although a very good player, his most formidable foe has been Mrs. Ernestine Tuton. Of the fifty or so games he has played with her, he says he has only won five. Glenn keeps the physical plant and grounds clean, neat and maintained. Any questions about our physical plant should be directed to Glenn.
Jeff Cook
Jeff, when in Asheville, has been a volunteer at Trinity for over seven years and has recently retired from active commitments within Cambridge University (England) where he remains a Member of the University as a college By-Fellow (Law). He holds a B.A. from St. Olaf College; a J.D. (Honors) from Hamline University and an LL.M. from Cambridge University, England. For decades he was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis before transferring his membership to Trinity. He also remains a regular evensong worshiper and contributor at St. John’s College Chapel when in Cambridge .
Debbie Cox
Debbie Cox is a graduate of The University of North Carolina-Asheville in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology. She taught school for five in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC and was a stay at home mom for several years. Since 2000 Debbie has been the Youth Director at Trinity church and is responsible for all ministries with youth from sixth to twelfth grade, and their families. She serves on the Camp Henry Committee and the Youth Roundtable for the Diocese of Western North Carolina.
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She was married at Trinity in 1990 to her husband, Eric Cox and her two children were baptized at Trinity; Alex and Megan. If you have any questions about youth ministries at Trinity please feel free to contact Debbie. She would be glad to hear from you.
Jan Hildebrand is a native Ashevillian and has been a member of the church since the mid-eighties. In 2020 she joined the staff as Assistant Finance Director navigating a new job during the pandemic and from home. Upon the retirement of Dillon Manly, she assumed the role of Director of Finance. Most of her career had been in public school and nonprofit finance. She resides in the Chunn’s Cove area with her husband Pete, a long-time Trinitarian having grown up in this church. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Robyn McNeal
Robyn recently retired from First Presbyterian Church where she served as the Administrator. Her duties there included overseeing the property, human resources and finance.
Other previous employment includes 10 years as the Business Manager at Central United Methodist Church of Asheville and 25 years in the Public Accounting world. Her main career focus has been accounting for non profit organizations.
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Robyn serves on the Board of Youth Mission Co, served as the Treasurer for Ten Thousand Villages Asheville for thirteen years and has done years of volunteer work with the Asheville Symphony.
She enjoys her“semi-retirement” and assisting the staff of Trinity Episcopal.
Nanette Popa
Nanette joined the staff of Trinity in February 2023. She previously taught 6-12th grade Social Studies and Religion for 8 years in both Austin, Texas and Fort Myers, Florida. She grew up here in Asheville and is a proud former Camp Henry camper and counselor. After graduating from Asheville High School, Nanette earned a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from UNC Greensboro and a Master’s of Education in Educational Technology from the University of Florida.
Nanette is married to Dustin Popa, and together, they have two daughters, Eliza and Cecilia, and one adorable dog named Daisy.
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Jo Rice
Jo provides administrative support to the ministry of Trinity’s rector and programs. Jo moved to Asheville from Oregon (with husband Al) in 2012, to be close to their daughter and two grandchildren. Jo initially came to Trinity in 2013 through Express Employment to provide temporary office support while Trinity was searching for a new administrative assistant. She made such a lasting impression with her work experience and skills that she was hired back permanently in early 2015. Jo is in the office Monday - Friday from 9:00a to 2:00p.
Dr. Kevin Seal
Kevin began his tenure at Trinity in August of 2024. He is a versatile musician, with an extensive performing resume as a conductor, keyboardist, and singer. Kevin has earned a B.M. in Church Music from St. Olaf College, an M.M. in Organ Performance from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting, from the University of Arizona. Kevin grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He has served churches and institutions in Oregon, Minnesota, Arizona, and Ohio. Recent appointments include Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, and the University of St.Thomas in Saint Paul, MN.
Kevin maintains a busy schedule as a conductor and keyboardist, playing solo recitals as well as collaborating with orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs, and chamber musicians. He has recently conducted works such as Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42 and Mozart’s Requiem. He has sung in many professional ensembles, including the award-winning early music ensemble Cantores in Ecclesia, the Saint Olaf Choir, and most recently with the Grammy-nominated ensemble True Concord Voices and Orchestra, also serving as interim assistant director. He has also performed on piano, organ, and harpsichord with a wide variety of community and professional ensembles, including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.
Most recently, Kevin has worked to build a traditional music program as Director of Worship and Music at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has curated the acclaimed Music in Kenwood concert series and organized community musical events such as a yearly Handel’s Messiah sing-along.
Kevin is passionate about music's transformative power to evangelize, build community, and deepen the faith of the entire congregation, whether one participates directly in a musical ensemble or joins in the communal song of the congregation.
Kevin lives with his wife, Elizabeth, a theatre and music teacher and soprano, and their two dogs, Zander and Eddie. When he is not making music, he loves cooking, amateur astronomy, and the great outdoors. An avid hiker/backpacker and mountain biker, he spends much of his free time exploring the beautiful wilderness of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Ken came to Trinity in the early 1990s to sing in the choir. Trinity then became "home" and he is now a member of the Art and Flower Guilds, served on the Vestry and the Discernment Committee for a new priest . . . and he still sings in the choir. Ken joined the staff at Trinity after 33 years of service to UNC Asheville as Applications Programmer in the Office of Institutional Research. Ken has been web master and helped with graphic design at Trinity and is now glad to be able to apply his full attention to those as well as promote many other ideas to take Trinity to the future.