OUR STAFF

If you would like to get in touch with us, click on picture of the staff member you would like to contact.

  • Rev. Dr. christine chakoian

    Pastor/head of staff

    As Pastor/Head of Staff since August, 2019, the Rev. Dr. Christine (Chris) Chakoian is called to lead us in the ways of Christ. She comes to us from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where she served as Vice President for Seminary Advancement. Her previous calls include Pastor/Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, IL (2005-2017) and Community Presbyterian Church in Clarendon Hills, IL (1996-2005), as well as Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland, OR (1992-1996), Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago (1986-1992), and Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH (1983-1986). Chris was drawn to WPC because she feels like we “are the real deal”, doing our best to promote the gospel with an authenticity that is refreshing. She is married to John Shustitzky, Director of the Doctoral program in Applied Clinical Psychology at the L.A. campus of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, live in Albuquerque, NM.

  • Rev. Mark S. Jones, Sr.

    Pastor of Mission & Outreach, and Pastoral Care

    Rev. Mark S. Jones, Sr. first came to WPC as a seminary intern in November 1994. In mid-1995, he became Director of Children & Family Ministries and served in that position until March, 2005. Over the past 19 years Mark, while working to complete a Master of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary, served at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church; Presbytery of the Pacific (COM, NomComm, & PJC); Synod of So. CA & HI (Synod Commissioner and NBPC-SC Coordinator); and the General Assembly (ACREC); and served as CRE Stated Supply Pastor for Community United Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles from Nov 2012 to Jun 2017. Mark returned to WPC on July 1, 2017. He currently serves as Pastor for Mission, Outreach, &Pastoral Care. He is a member of People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) Board of Directors, and the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Clergy Round Table for Service Planning Area (SPA) 5, and the West Region Representative of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus (NBPC). Mark brings a passion for mission, a deep faith in and love for God and God’s people. Romana, his loving wife of 50 years (11/14/23), and he have three children, Mark Jr., Sylvia, and Matthew.

  • rev. paula mann

    Executive Associate Pastor

    Rev. Paula Mann joined the staff of WPC as Executive Associate Pastor in April, 2022. She grew up in Dayton, Ohio as the middle of 5 children. Paula has a degree in mechanical engineering and enjoyed a 27-year career in project and quality management at General Motors and Alcoa in Ohio and Indiana. She eventually entered seminary and served as the Pastor at Palms Westminster Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles which lead to her decade long commitment to our Presbytery and our Synod. Most recently, Paula worked as the Business Manager for the  Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. Paula is married to Kathy Mann, a life-long Presbyterian and they live in Westchester, CA.

  • Anne Cioffi

    Coordinator of Membership Ministries

    Anne has served WPC in several roles over the last 20 years involving membership and lay ministry. Her institutional knowledge is put into practice by helping maintain the church membership database and coordinate the overall WPC membership process. Her primary passion is encouraging our congregation to take full advantage of opportunities for service and spiritual growth. Serving on the Membership and Lay Ministries Committee, Anne assists in planning the New Member Seminars, helps organize the new member mentor program, and leads the Spiritual Gifts Course. Anne is also a part of the planning team for the annual women’s retreat. She and her husband live near the ocean. When not at WPC, you may find Anne aboard a sailboat on Santa Monica Bay…or somewhere on the seven seas. 

  • Sarah Ilger

    Director of Operations

    Sarah Ilger has worked for WPC since November 2017, first as Administration & Contributions Coordinator, then as Director of Operations starting in 2021. She oversees the church office, facility staff and building management, and church communication. Sarah is a Los Angeles native and has spent the past 15 years working in churches. She has worked as an Operations Manager and Worship & Music Director at Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, as well as Hope Chapel of the Valley in Canoga Park. With a background in Management, Accounting, and Administration, Sarah loves working behind the scenes to help churches succeed. Sarah enjoys singing, playing guitar, and piano in her spare time.

  • linda martinez

    Administrative Assistant & Contributions coordinator

    Linda Melody Martinez joined the WPC staff in July, 2023. She is a dedicated mother of four with a servant's heart for God's people. Linda previously worked as an Administrative Assistant at Rock Church L.A. serving the community of South Central Los Angeles for the past 7 years. She has also worked for a local charter school. Linda brings to us a wealth of experience in church and school administration. Linda is blessed to now have the opportunity to join WPC team and is looking forward to all God will do moving forward. 

  • brianne Naiman

    PReschool Director

    Brianne previously served as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Leonard I. Beerman Early Childhood Center at Leo Baeck Temple. She has extensive experience as a teacher as well, including her role as Lead Preschool Teacher at Temple Isaiah. Brianne carries a BA with Emphasis in Illustration and Art Education from the California College of The Arts and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College. She has worked in both religious and secular settings and has served as a California State Mentor Teacher at Santa Monica College and is an Executive Committee member in The Association of Child Development Specialists.  

  • JESSICA PLACE

    Director of Children & Family Ministries

    Jessica comes to us from Denver Community Church, where she served as Children’s Ministry Assistant/ Pastoral Resident. She earned her M.Div. from Wake Forest Divinity School, and her B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies from Northern Arizona University. Her experience includes college instructor in world religions, curriculum development for children’s ministry, church mission event planning, and social media oversight. Whether it's through play, music, art, or stories, Jessica's hope is to reinforce the message that we are each uniquely and unconditionally loved by our Creator.  

  • Jake Putich

    Director of Youth, College, and Adult Faith Formation

    Jake feels particularly called to youth ministry; as a teenager, he became involved in a large youth program after having been raised without a strong church connection and truly began to feel at home in church. He knows how important formation is in youth ministry, actively working to make sure his programs grow and develop faith in Christ as opposed to only being “fun” without substance. His ministry focuses on the whole family, equipping parents as well as youth to grapple with issues of faith. He holds a M.A. in Theology from Talbot and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen; in 2018 his paper “Apocalyptic Convivence” was presented to the Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Social Analysis program at the American Academy of Religion. He and his wife Nikki have a young daughter Liora, who keeps them busy and entertained.   

  • Dan Redfeld

    Director of Music

    We welcomed Dan Redfeld to our WPC family and to his new role as our Director of Music in 2018. Dan brings 15 years of experience directing church choirs, both in Culver City and Pasadena. Having stepped away a few years ago, Dan began to feel the “itch” to get back at it last Christmas Eve, when he realized how much he missed participating in the richness of the church’s Christmas choral tradition. Not only is Dan an experienced church musician, he is an award-winning composer, conductor, orchestrator, pianist and producer. Dan received his training at Boston’s New England Conservatory before transferring to UCLA, where he graduated with a degree in composition with an emphasis in conducting. Dan is married to renowned violinist, Elizabeth Hedman.  For more information about Dan, visit www.danredfeld.com.


  • Laurel Sanders

    Organist

    Laurel has been studying and performing music all her life. She began studying organ with Joanne Peterson beginning in middle school, and had her very first paid gig as a church organist when she was sixteen. At school and church, she sang in choirs, performed in plays and musicals, and was often asked to do public speaking. Laurel enrolled in college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and began studying classical voice and working as an accompanist for other voice students. She graduated from UW-O with a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance. Laurel relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. In addition to teaching lessons, she performs professionally as a singer, organist, and pianist with musical groups all over the greater L.A. area, including Pacific Chorale, the Charles Dickens Carolers, the chancel choir of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Schola Enchiriadis at St Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena, and many others. Laurel joined WPC in 2023.

  • Javier Torres

    Maintenance Director

    Javier has been at Westwood Presbyterian Church for over 20 years and does everything from maintaining the cleanliness of the Church and Preschool, set-up and tear down of special events, repairs, and general handyman tasks. Javier’s wife, Lourdes, also works for WPC and together they have two adult sons. When he’s not working, he likes to relax at home with his family and his dogs.


    If you would like to contact Javier or Lourdes Torres, please call the church office at (310) 474-4535.

  • other staff

    Ja’Michael Davis-Hoag, Sunday Receptionist

    Franci Geller and Paul Workman, Sound & Lighting Engineers

    Priscilla Glaza, Preschool Office Assistant

    Taj AndersCurriculum Specialist

    Farrah MikailFinancial Manager

    Heidi Rudd, Preschool Office Manager

    Lourdes TorresCustodial

    Joshua Torres, Custodial

Our Leaders

Members and officers alike serve together under the mandate of Christ, who is the chief minister of all.  The standard for all offices is the pattern of the one who came “not to be served but to serve.” (Matthew 20:28)  Each year, church members elect officers who are then ordained to fulfill particular functions. Ordained officers differ from other members in function only. The existence of these offices in no way diminishes the importance of the commitment of all members to the total ministry of the church. It is hoped that all members will find some arena of service within the life of our congregation. The ministry of Christ in and through our church is strongest when each of us does our part.


Elders are chosen by the people as leaders of the church. Elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament together exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church, as well as the larger church. It is the duty of the elders to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. It is incumbent upon Elders to perform their duties by the law of love.


Elders serve with members and Pastors on Committees that support all ministries of the Church. Some committees serve to provide the programmatic ministries of our church:

  • Adult Education
  • Children & Family Ministries
  • College & Young Adult Ministries
  • Membership & Fellowship Ministries
  • Mission & Outreach
  • Spiritual Formation
  • Stewardship
  • Student Ministries
  • Worship & Music

Other Committees provide oversight of the church’s infrastructure:

  • Finance
  • Nominating
  • Personnel
  • Vision & Planning

Deacons serve under the authority and supervision of the church Session (elders). The office of Deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Deacons minister to those who are in need: to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress.  If you are in need, please call (310) 474-4535 or email the church office that we might come alongside you with care and support.  As well, the Board of Deacons organizes the preparation of the elements of Holy Communion, visitations to people in need, the delivery of Easter Lilies and Christmas Poinsettias to the home-bound.