Board of Trustees 2025-2026
• Mark Sturdevant, President, 3-year term expires 2027 (president@unitywm.org
• Joy Biever, Vice President, 3-year term expires 2028
• Rusty Cuave, Treasurer, 3-year term expires 2026
• Paul Diaz, Secretary, 3-year term expires 2027
• Rev. Dr. Sheryl Padgett, Senior Minister (minister@unitywm.org)
• Janelle Stauffer, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2026
• Barbara Courtight, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2028
• Adriana Neagu, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2026
Prior Board of Trustees 2024-2025
• Mark Sturdevant, President, 3-year term expires 2027 (president@unitywm.org)
• Sherry Ellis, Treasurer, 3-year term expires 2025
• Rusty Cuave, Secretary, 3-year term expires 2026
• Rev. Dr. Sheryl Padgett, Senior Minister (minister@unitywm.org)
• Linda Hoy, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2025
• Paul Diaz, Vice President, 3-year term expires 2027
• Janelle Stauffer, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2026
• Mike Campbell, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2025
Prior Board of Trustees 2023-2024
• Doug Barningham, President, 3-year term expires 2024
• Rev. Dr. Sheryl Padgett, Senior Minister (Email: minister@unitywm.org)
• Barbara Courtright, Vice President and Music Director, 3-year term expires 2024
• Rusty Cuave, Secretary, 3-year term expires 2026
• Sherry Ellis, Treasurer, 3-year term expires 2025
• Mike Campbell, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2025
• Janelle Stauffer, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2026
• Joy Biever, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2024
• Mark Sturdevant, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2024
Prior Board of Trustees 2022-2023
- Doug Barningham, President, 3-year term expires 2024
- Rev. Dr. Sheryl Padgett, Senior Minister (Email: minister@unitywm.org)
- Barbara Courtright, Secretary and Music Director, 3-year term expires 2024
- Joy Biever, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2023
- Janelle Stauffer, Alternate, 1-year term expires 2023
- Bill Crull, Vice President, 3-year term expires 2023
- Sherry Ellis, Treasurer, 3-year term expires 2025
- Mike Campbell, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2025
- Rusty Cuave, Member at Large, 3-year term expires 2023
Prior Board of Trustees 2021-2022
- Janelle Stauffer, Alternate
- Barbara Courtright, Secretary and Music Director
- Bill Crull, Vice President
- Rusty Cuave, Member at Large
- Jan Choti, Alternate
- Mike Campbell, Member at Large
- Rev Sheryl Padgett, Senior Minister (Email: minister@unitywm.org)
- Sue McKenzie, Treasurer
- Doug Barningham, President
Mark Sturdevant, President
I was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating high school, I served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, conducting search and rescue operations, and received an honorable discharge in 1973.
I founded several small businesses, held executive positions in aerospace subcontractor companies and served on nonprofit boards in California. My career path then shifted to public service, first as a special assistant to a member of Congress and ultimately as the President/CEO of the La Habra Area Chamber of Commerce for 15 years until my retirement in 2018.
My wife Melodie and I have been living in Lakeside since 2019. I am also a proud father of two grown children, grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of ten.
Joy Biever, Vice President
I am part of Unity of the White Mountains, where I’m embracing my spiritual journey and connecting with others on similar paths. Serving on the board allows me to actively support Unity’s vision and mission. My professional background is in medical radiology. I’ve also been involved in various social activities, from motorcycle groups to competitive dancing.
Paul Diaz, Secretary
I grew up in Tombstone, AZ and graduated from Tombstone High School in 1977. After graduation, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After my first 4 years, I got out and worked as a police officer in Abilene and Sweetwater, TX. I later reenlisted in the Marines for another 20 years. After I retired from the Marine Corps, I worked in support of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and then later as Dept of Defense contractor to help provide the best chemical and biological defense equipment to the Services. Before I finally retired for good, I worked for a couple of years in the Arizona Dept of Veterans Services, helping Arizona veterans get the all the benefits they are entitled to.
How I ended up here! I learned early on in my life that organized religion and I just did not see eye to eye on a great many things. I knew I was a spiritual being and investigated many different spiritual paths. Along the way, I sort of took the things I liked from each one and fused them together into a path that I felt fit my needs and that would lead me to the “truth”. I did not think that I would find anything up here on the mountain that was even close to where I was at or that would help me to continue on my path. However, I noticed this little building on the side of the road one day on my way to the collection center and thought, “I had never heard of Unity before”, so, looked it up. After a quick read of the web site, I knew I had been found. The rest, as they say is history. Finally, a spiritual home complete with people who are truly like minded as myself. It was a long journey, but as always, the universe put me exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be there.
Rusty Cuave, Treasurer
I am serving a second 3-year term on the Board of Trustees. Following is information about me.
After high school in Snowflake, I earned a BS in Chemical Engineering at ASU in 1974. While going to college, I learned Transcendental Meditation (TM) to reduce stress and improve memory for those hard tests and I still use that method every day to reduce anxiety and stress in my life.
I worked as an engineer in California, but soon realized I was more of a “people person” than a technical guy. I transitioned into chemical sales and then managed a small cleaning chemical business in Stockton, CA. Around that time I became life partners with Perry Sanchez.
During that time, we discovered Unity of Antioch and I became the board president for a total of eight years. Also, I was the Uni-teen Leader for about 3 years and attended several regional conferences with our group of 4 teens.
We moved back to the White Mountains in 2002 and attended Unity here for several years. When Perry passed away last year, I knew it was time to come back to this wonderful group of supportive friends to help process my grief of his passing. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees, I have also served on our Prayer Chaplin team.
I am so grateful to have be serving on our wonderful Board of Trustees, to give back and help grow our loving, compassionate congregation.
Janelle Stauffer, Board Member
I have been attending Unity of the White Mountains since 2004. I have had the honor of serving two one-year terms as Board of Trustees Alternate and would like to continue for another year.
The message of Unity speaks loud and clear to me and I also enjoy seeing people that are loving and getting along together and helping those in need.
I have been married for 7 years and have two grown sons from a previous marriage. I had a career in the Airline Industry for 34 yrs. I also drove a school bus when I returned from an adventure in Maui for 3 years.
I’ve been involved in numerous church activities over the years and active in the community from being the first woman president of the Palo Verde Little League baseball organization to participating in a Christian based Parent Study group, all while working full-time and being a mother.
Presently, I am very active with Unity of the White Mountains church. I am on the Unity Board, an active member of the Think Tank group, very active with our consignment fund raising initiative and always helping out with our monthly bake sale and all other fundraising initiatives.
Barbara Courtright, Board Member
My name is Barbara Courtright, and I am a former Early Childhood Educator and Administrator. I worked in corporate childcare and Head Start programs for 35 years. I also served on the Board of the local chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. I have been a member of Unity of the White Mountains for nearly fourteen years. I have been the Music Director for seven of those years, and served six years on the Board previously. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve again and assist in planning for our church's future. It is an honor to be part of this community.
Adriana Neagu, Board Alternate
Born in Germany to Romanian parents, my global upbringing in Montréal and Missouri fueled my trilingualism and love for travel. I hold a BA in English Literature and a French minor (Lyon, France), and have taught music appreciation in Taiwan, while performing with orchestras like the White Mountain Symphony. Currently, I specialize in life insurance, serving the Pinetop community and finding my spiritual home with our Unity family.