Vestry meetings are open to all parishioners excepting executive sessions. Our next Vestry meeting will be Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30pm. Please direct any questions to info@nvepiphany.org.
Read the March Meeting Notes Here
Vestry of Epiphany
Sr. Warden – Deb Sullivan
I am both honored and humbled to serve as your Sr. Warden this year. It is especially inspiring to see
the power of the Spirit in all that is happening at Epiphany. Happily retired from public school teaching
since 2022, I enjoy a variety of activities including ceramics, card making and recreational reading.
My favorite genres include mysteries and history. I currently volunteer with Spread the Word Nevada,
and CCSD Stay in School Mentoring Project. At Epiphany, I occasionally sub on the organ for
services, and co-facilitate along with my spouse, Vicki, the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Maintenance Group for individuals suffering from cognitive decline.
Jr. Warden – Kristen Makhathini
Kristen, her husband Mannie and their children Zia & Zavian, have been members of Epiphany since 2005. She is a licensed Realtor/Broker, works as the Managing Broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Summerlin Centre Campus, and loves helping people reach their real estate goals. Kristen is very involved with her community and serves on several committees that align with her interests, including the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas Realtors, and Galilee Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center. She loves to dance and is a member of the WNBA Las Vegas
Aces “High Rollers” Dance Team. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys practicing yoga, reading, streaming tv shows, and spending time at home with her family, their dogs Dasher & Ella and cat Kacey.
Treasurer – Ed McGary
Clerk – Gina Venglass
I have been at Epiphany since 2006 after being introduced to the church by my very best friend. I fell in love with the church and eventually was reaffirmed (having been Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church). During my time at Epiphany, I have had the pleasure of serving on Vestry for 2 consecutive terms as Clerk for 4 years, and Senior Warden for 2 years. I have been Church School Director since 2009 and have taught on and off through the years. I was on the Website Team for years, as well as the Finance Committee which I am still involved with. I currently teach Epiphany’s 6th – 12th grade students.
Professionally, I am a licensed Civil Engineer and currently the Assistant City Engineer for a local
municipality. I am involved with the American Public Works Association and have been the annual
fundraising chair for 10-years, helping raise over $100,000 for Nevada families. As a part of this, we
partnered with Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada, as well as The Just One
Project.
I have two grown sons and enjoy spending time with them, being a member of Toastmasters, reading
and dancing.
Mary Ellen Howey
Mary Ellen grew up in St Louis MO, the daughter of a physician and homemaker wife. She was raised Catholic, attended Catholic schools though college and graduated with a degree in Speech & Drama from Clarke College, Dubuque IA. Mary Ellen moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue graduate work in theatre at American University. She was an actress for many years in the DC area and was nominated for 3 Helen Hayes awards for best and supporting actress roles and became a real estate agent in 1999.
Mary Ellen was received into the Episcopal Church in 1999 at St Nicholas Episcopal Church in Darnestown, MD. St Nick’s was a mission congregation that was granted parish status by Bishop John Chane. When she moved to Henderson, NV she discovered Epiphany Episcopal Church and has been home ever since. At Epiphany she has been on the Vestry off and on for 5 years, served as Senior Warden and was part of Fellowship and head of Special Events. Mary Ellen also serves as a Reader and Eucharistic Minister. Mary Ellen is married to retired theatrical producer, Nicholas Howey, and they have three children, Christopher, Jennifer and Florin and two grandchildren, Mimi and Nick.
David Graf
David Graf grew up on a small farm in Northern Wisconsin. His father was a farmer and his mother a high school teacher. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he taught high school in Michigan and Minnesota where he met Diane. They married in 1971. After teaching high school, he changed his career path to university teaching. He graduated with a PhD from the University of North Dakota in 1975 and became a faculty member at Montclair, University (NJ) and Northern Illinois University. He worked at NIU for 28 years where he assumed administrative positions leading to the deanship of the College of Business for 12 years before retirement in 2005.
After retirement he was hired by the United Arab Emirates University to be dean of the College of Business & Economics. He served as dean until 2014. Prior to moving to Nevada in 2020, David and Diane were members of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Rockford, IL. When he and Diane moved to Henderson, they discovered Epiphany Episcopal and became members of this wonderful church community. He and Diane are frequent ushers, and David serves on the Stewardship Committee.
William Flowers
William Flowers was born in Belize City, British Honduras, and received baptism and confirmation at St. Mary’s Anglican Church. He attended St. Mary’s School for primary education. In 1974, William relocated to the United States, where he served in the US Army and later retired from the City of Los Angeles after 33 years as a Facility Manager at Los Angeles International Airport. Following retirement, William and his wife relocated to Las Vegas in 2017, having been married for 47 years, with two children and two grandchildren.
Elaine Martinkovic
I am a lifelong Anglican having been baptized as an infant at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. At the age of 12, I was confirmed at St. James Anglican Church in Roseland (Windsor). Shortly after, my father moved us to Huntington Beach, CA. I attended St. Anselm in Garden Grove, CA. I attended schools in SoCal.
I hold a Bachelor of Economics degree and an MBA. For several years I was a Senior Director of a Fortune 20 company before I left the corporate world.
Highlights of my ministries are two years hosting the Alpha program for All Saints Church, Beverly Hills, CA. Also, one key focus has been working with vulnerable populations. For ten years I committed myself to the Homeless Program at All Saints. We provided meals for over 200 individuals every Monday. We also provided donated clothing for those who needed them. And we gave bus tickets and provided information for several services including medical clinics, shelters and other resources. I also wrote resumes and coached job seekers looking for work.
In addition to my work at All Saints Church, I spent over 3 years as a Chaplain at the Twin Towers Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, CA. I conducted a Catholic service every Sunday and I conducted a Latin service once per month for inmates. This included eucharist. Yes, the first woman Catholic priest. But that’s another story. Ask me.
Kristin Lavachek
I grew up as a member of Christ Church Episcopal with my mom, Ann McMahan. I attended church school, participated in EYC, and was an acolyte for 8 years. I have been a member of Epiphany since 2015. I worked with the acolytes for a few years before joining our Youth Ministry. I have been
assisting Gina in Middle School for 3 years and extremely love these kids and the journey we are on together! I now have a son Hayden, 7yrs., attending our church school. I have been a Montessori teacher for 17 years. I enjoy movie/game nights with my husband and son, puzzles, reading Us
History or mystery/suspense books, and Disneyland!
Sam Fugazzotto
Sam Fugazzotto is originally from Chicago, Illinois and was raised Roman Catholic. He was received into the Episcopal Church in 2006 at the Church of the Resurrection in New York City and has been with Epiphany since relocating to Las Vegas in 2019. As a new member of the Vestry, he looks forward to working with the entire congregation as the church changes and grows.