Leadership

Pastor & Staff

Mark Reynolds

Pastor

Rev. Mark Reynolds has been the pastor at First UMC since July 2016. As a native of Lakeland (Florida), he graduated from the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in 1992 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from Florida Southern College (Religion/Sociology 1996), Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University (1999), and Master of Arts in Religion at Vanderbilt University (2007) while pursuing a PhD in Christian Theology. After serving in various ministries beginning in 1994, he was ordained in the United Methodist Church as an Elder in Full Connection (2010).

In addition to being a full-time minister, Pastor Mark is a teacher in the License to Preach School for the Florida Annual Conference and serves on the theology team for the Atlantic Central District Committee . He served eight years as an Adjunct Professor in the Philosophy Department at Florida Southern College (Lakeland, FL) and on the theology team for the South-Central District Committee.

Pastor Mark and his wife, Emma, have four children, and on days off he enjoys surfing, reading, and writing.

Shelly Deliz

Child Care Center Director

Shelly Deliz is a native of Oswego, New York but has lived on the Space Coast for over 20 years. She has more than 15 years of experience educating and sharing her Christian faith with preschoolers and their families. Shelly is married to Michael, a geologist at NASA, and has two adult children, Michael Jr. and Gabrielle.

Shannon Paoletti

Minister of Children and Families

Shannon Paoletti has over 25 years of experience in creating and directing organizational development and training/education consulting services for the military, as well as university, high school and elementary school staff and students. She has extensive international experience in developing and training educators and volunteers to implement character education and youth development programs at premier Christian youth institutions such as Geelong Grammar School and St. Catherine’s School Sydney. Shannon worked with the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center for 18 years as a lead instructor on resilience and positive psychology topics. One of Shannon’s greatest passions is working with children, youth and parents to build and maintain resilient faith-based families that thrive.

Shannon earned her Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University (Psychology/Sociology 1994), Masters in Developmental Psychology from Boston College (1995), and her Ph.D. in Counseling, Developmental and Organizational Psychology (2001) from The George Washington University.

She moved from New Jersey to Cocoa Beach, Florida in February 2020 with her husband and daughter. In Shannon’s free time she can be found chasing her daughter on the beach.

Dee Casale

Administrative Assistant  

Dee Casale is a native of Paducah, Kentucky but has lived in Brevard County for over eighteen years. She has more than 35 years of administrative experience in the corporate world and in academia. Dee is married to Christian, a software engineer, and has a daughter, Angelina.

Mark Bolton 

Contemporary Band Leader

Mark Bolton is a native of Grosse Pointe Park, MI.  He worked as a School Psychologist for the Detroit Public Schools for 32 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in School and Community Psychology from Wayne State University. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Shannon, moved to Cape Canaveral in 2021.  Mark has approximately 30 years of experience as a performing musician. He has also recorded, mixed and produced albums for several local artists/bands in Michigan.

Amanda Mutchler 

Treasurer 

Amanda Tate-Mutchler is a Brevard County native. Though she moved around through childhood and early adulthood, she returned home in 2013.  Amanda earned an Associates of Arts degree from Eastern Florida State College  and has over 20 years experience in finance.

Amanda also serves part-time as treasurer for First UMC and our preschool. She is married to Robert and has an adult son, Max. Amanda and enjoys time by the water, gardening, and new adventures.