Annual Parish Meeting & Vestry Election

I am honored to have been asked to serve on the Vestry. Taylor and I have been members of GHTC for over 50 years, and his family, many years prior to that. This has been a connection we have treasured. We both have been to Belize on a mission trip, we have served breakfast for many years and have participated in many aspects of Parish life.

I would like to see more innovations that would bring the members of the Church closer to the Vestry, such as input from the congregation as to ideas that they feel would do more for outreach in the community. My connections with other Boards have expanded my boundaries, and I look forward to working with all the committees in keeping our church as vibrant as ever. I serve on the Advisory Board of Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and have served on several boards of Collegiate School and have also served on the Garden Club of America.

I am a native Richmonder. I am a graduate of Collegiate School and Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C. After graduation, I taught World History, Government, and Art History to Upper School students at Collegiate. I am married to Taylor Benson, a graduate of the University of Richmond. We have three grown married children and six adorable grandchildren, ranging in age from 8-25 years old.

I have been in residential Real Estate for over 35 years. I am consistently a Distinguished Producer and have earned my GRI status. I have experienced the many variables of the Real Estate market and am a great source of information about many aspects of Richmond. In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, walking, spending time at our river cottage, and playing couples bridge.

My family and I joined GHTC in 2021. I participate in the monthly Men’s Group meetings at Ellwood Thompson’s, and serve as an usher. My sons, Burn (14) and George (9), are acolytes and active participants in Sunday School. Maggie has hosted a number of Parents Night Out events at her cheese bar in the Museum District. 

Originally from Alexandria, I was raised attending St. Paul’s Church in Old Town and confirmed there. In the 1980s and 1990s, I have fond memories of worshiping at GHTC when visiting my Richmond grandparents. I attended and graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South (B.A. – English Literature) and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.B.A. – Corporate Finance). I am employed as an Executive Director of Wells Fargo Bank where I serve in the Middle Market Commercial Bank.

Thank you for the nomination for Vestry. I want to share my background and where I am today. If elected, a priority for me would be to grow our attendance at all services, especially on Sunday morning. We need to work to fill our church with current members, bring back inactive members, and bring in new members. Our church is beautiful, and our staff works extremely hard! I would also love to see our Sunday School program grow, which would bring in more and younger families.

Currently, I volunteer on Tuesdays to cover the phone and doors during staff lunch and meetings. I serve on the Hospitality Committee. I have a strong work ethic and love to interact with people. I value all opinions including those with whom I may not agree. I graduated from Tidewater Academy in Wakefield and Pan American Business School in Richmond. My career began at Reynolds Metals in 1970 working with the employee magazine. My love of publishing began! After 40 years, I retired from the University of Richmond Law School as Publication Coordinator for the University of Richmond Law Review. I could write a book on what I learned from that job working with 50 students every day – many times nights and weekends. The Law Review board and staff turn over every year and I quickly learned that the person at the top sets the tone in the office. I loved every day at that job!

I love retirement! After 44 years of marriage, my beloved husband, Pete, passed away in 2013. We have two daughters and three grandchildren who live in the Richmond area. One is a teacher for Henrico County and the other is President and CEO of Make-a-Wish – both very demanding jobs!

It is an honor to be considered for the Vestry of GHTC. My service to GHTC and my experience have given me the skills and perspective to help guide the church and its people. Having served on the 2024 Discernment Committee, I currently am the church’s alternate to the Diocesan Annual Convention. Also, I am part of the Belize Mission Trip and lead the Vision Screening Team. I started the Holy Strollers fellowship and walking group. I also help with breakfast, take part in Bible Study/Lectio Divina, and taught Sunday School for 10 years.

My professional background is in journalism and public relations. I proofread correspondence and specifications for an engineering firm and have drafted memorial and commending resolutions for the Virginia General Assembly. I also own and manage rental property. I attended Richmond Public Schools, graduated from St. Margaret’s School, The University of the South, and received a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. My husband, Rick, and I have a grown son, Richard, who also lives and works in Richmond.

Richmond has been my home since birth. I have lived in Northside, the Fan District, the West End, and Southside. I also bought and renovated a house on N. 37th Street in Church Hill.

For a century, GHTC has been a participant in the city’s evolution. I also have watched Richmond change and grow. While GHTC is proud of its history, it is pondering how to counteract societal forces that have resulted in tremendous changes in the Episcopal Church. GHTC remains committed to serving God, the community, and the world. As a member of the Vestry, I hope to help guide the parish through the challenges ahead. With God’s help, we will move forward.

My family and I joined GHTC after moving to Richmond in 2003. We were drawn to the church’s urban location, varied congregation, and strong commitment to service, and felt at home right away. Since our arrival, I have been actively involved in the church, serving as a lector, usher, and on the Sunday Morning Breakfast Team. My wife Mary Cay and I taught Sunday School for six years, and as a family, we have participated in several mission trips to Belize.

I am eager to support Father Brent as he integrates into the life of our congregation, and view serving on the Vestry as a valuable opportunity to aid in this transition. As an advocate for GHTC’s unique and welcoming community, I would also like to help the church recognize its strengths, set future goals, and reach its full potential as the exceptional, faith-driven community I know it to be.

Originally from Norfolk, I graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and served in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1987. After my military service, I returned to Virginia and earned an MBA from The UVA Darden School of Business. I subsequently joined Trader Publishing Co., where I served in a variety of management roles. The Kollmanspergers relocated to Richmond when I took ownership of Entry Guard Systems (EGS) in 2003. I currently lead EGS as the Owner and President, and enjoy working with customers in Richmond and throughout Virginia.

Mary Cay and I have two sons, Kirby (27, in Charlotte) and Matt (24, in Richmond), and feel fortunate to have raised them at GHTC. Some of our closest friendships and most cherished family memories have been formed through our involvement at GHTC and it holds a special place in our hearts. I feel honored to serve this exceptional community of faith.

I have served as Bass Section Leader and Soloist for the GHTC Parish Choir since 2012. I was confirmed in 2015 by Bishop Johnston, alongside my wife, Erica Peak, who was reaffirmed at the same service. Erica and I were married at GHTC in 2015 and our son, Wells, was baptized here in 2021. I have been an involved member throughout my time at GHTC, most recently serving on the Discernment Committee for Priest-in-Charge in 2024, which led to the hiring of Father Brent. I am a native of Richmond and attended Tucker High School prior to earning my Bachelor of Music from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). After touring professionally for vocal performance, I changed my primary profession to finance, and now have 12 years of experience as a financial advisor, currently working for Fidelity Investments. I previously served as treasurer for the VCU Alumni Foundation. I help clients to realize their personal financial goals and achieve a comfortable retirement by constructing sound investment strategies that optimize risk vs. reward. These skills will be valuable to serving on the Vestry, where many of the tasks involve allocation of the church budget. If elected, I hope to continue to improve programming at GHTC for families with young children. In addition, I hope to work with Dr. Melcher Davis and members of GHTC Parish Choir to continue to expand and enhance the already fabulous music offerings that GHTC provides. In my spare time, I enjoy trying the ever-changing restaurant offerings in Richmond, as well as seeing live music. My wife, Erica, also deeply loves the GHTC and greater Richmond communities, and works at VCU Health as a physician specializing in infectious diseases. Our son, Wells, enjoyed his first year in the Christmas Pageant and has enjoyed spending time with parishioners during Parents’ Night Out and on Sundays in the Nursery. I am hopeful that you will consider electing me to the Vestry to continue to serve GHTC over the next three years.

have been a member of GHTC since 2000, when I moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, with my husband Harold and children Drew and Caroline. Harold grew up in the church, both of our children were confirmed there, and Caroline was married at GHTC in April 2024. I grew up in Mobile, Alabama and earned a Bachelors in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Alabama. Upon graduation, I moved to Atlanta where I became a Buyer for Macy’s. Since moving to Richmond, I have been an oil painter, doing commission work and showing my work at Palette on Grove Avenue, and other venues.

I previously served on the Vestry, including as Junior and Senior Warden, Co-Chair of the Stewardship Committee, a member of the Capital Campaign Committee, and as a Sunday School teacher. I currently serve as Chair of the Discernment Committee for Assistant Priest, am a member of the Hospitality Committee, and serve as an usher.