Meet your 2023 Team
Over the last 15 years, CFTC has been championed by leaders across the city, from different denominational, economic, and vocational backgrounds. Scroll down to meet your 2023 CFTC Leadership Team.
Executive Producer
Chuck Spong (pictured here with his wife Sara) is the executive producer of Christmas for the City. He’s been on the CFTC journey since the beginning when a small group of folks gathering in back of the Millennium Center in the summer of 2008 to brainstorm and imagine what a Christmas experience might look like in the heart of the city where guests encountered Christ and felt community. These days, he serve in a broad oversight role to bring some of the historical context as well as to continue to re-imagine and create a unique experience each year.
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“My favorite part about CFTC has always been the rich diversity of volunteers and guests. From Day One, we had always hoped to welcome “all people everywhere.” But, never could we have imagined such a broad cross-section of people culturally, racially, denominationally, generationally and socio-economically. Our hope is that every person who walks through the door feels immediately welcomed and loved.”
2023 Co-Producer
This is Liz's ninth year with CFTC. Since 2015, Liz could be found coordinating over 60 nonprofits around the building lead experiences and facilitate conversations with community members. This year she’s co-producing the event with her CFTC-bestie, Mike - focusing on operations, partnerships, and the event marketing. Liz serves Director of Youth and College Ministries at Lutheran Church of the Epiphany and attends Wartburg Theological Seminary. She enjoys life full of coffee, good books, deep conversations and her new husband their cat, Early, and dog, Edna.
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“My favorite part about CFTC is seeing people from such diverse backgrounds serve and celebrate alongside each other & seeing nonprofits interact with future ambassadors, volunteers, and clientele of their services in a casual and positive environment. The unique, divine connections made around the city are beautiful.”
2023 Co-Producer
Mike (pictured on the left) has been with CFTC since 2013. After spending several years on the Table design team and serving as the North Pole Village coordinator, Mike has moved into a more involved role as the Logistics Producer. When he's not helping with CFTC, Mike can be found at Project:Re3 in Kernersville where he serves as executive director. He also enjoys playing disc golf and board games with family and friends.
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“The thing I love most about CFTC is it's truly a Christmas party for EVERYONE. No matter where you're at in life, there is always a place for you at CFTC.”
Volunteer Administrator
Affectionately known as "AnGii" as the daughter of a pastor and a soprano appreciates the melodious and soulful sounds of yesteryear's music, classical, opera, jazz, gospel, to name a few. Her hidden talents are piano, event coordinating, decorating, marketing production, and catering, just to name a few.
The value of her R&R can be found in her strong faith, devoted daughter, book writing and journaling experiences, connecting family, clients, and culture. Family is everything, especially friends who become family.
Making her debut to CFTC in 2019, AnGii works closely with CFTC team and volunteers to recruit, assign, and create a positive volunteer experience for 500+ volunteers at CFTC. Angela holds to her faith and believes in the passage “whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might" and strives to apply Dr. King's quote "Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” Angela, plans to be around for a long time with CFTC as it is a therapeutic, nurturing, loving and Christ-centered movement.
Nonprofit Director
Brooklyn joined the Love Out Loud Staff as the Partnership Administrator in 2022 after two summers of interning with Love Out Loud. Brooklyn gets excited about creating partnerships in Winston-Salem and helping people find their unique service engagement.
This year at Christmas for the City, she will be managing nonprofits all throughout the building as they bring experiences and the community feel to the event.
MUSIC & Arts Administrator
Welcoming him back for his second year - Chris is a composer, performer, and singer-songwriter in the Greensboro area. He is most excited anytime he has the chance to use music (or any type of art) collaboratively to connect with people.
Co-Health Coordinator
SnowBall dance Coordinator
Donna has a passion for advocating for and supporting those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. In 2015, she brought Joy Prom to Winston-Salem, under the guidance and support of Love Out Loud. She became involved with CFTC about that same time, volunteering in various positions since then. This year at CFTC, she will be leading the 3rd annual Snowball Dance - a dance for our "differently-abled" friends.
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“CFTC is such an amazing event! My favorite part of CFTC is seeing the community come together and celebrate! Christmas in Winston-Salem brings to mind Lovefeasts, Moravian Stars, the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, The Nutcracker, and now, CFTC. It's a Winston-Salem tradition!”
Music & Art Producer
Jonathan (pictured in the front) was new to Christmas for the City in 2018 - but you may have seen him helping with decoration, setting up stages, passing out sunshine, welcoming, and assisting Jo in keeping all the musicians organized. The for three years he served as our Creative Producer - managing the wide variety of creative elements that we have in the building and making CFTC a more meaningful experience for ALL members of our community. This year he will be serving as the Music & Art Producer conducting all things technical and performance in the building
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“My favorite part about CFTC is the wide variety of gifts and service on display throughout the event. I believe that with so many volunteers and attendees on one accord, there is a sweet, sweet Spirit in that place, and I know that it's the presence of the Lord.”
Recital Hall Coordinator
In effort to provide more spaces for all our symphonic local music partners - Karen is coordinating the Recital Hall this year! Outside of the CFTC season, Karen serves as the Director of Love Out Loud Yadkin and The Shore House in East Bend, NC
Prayer
Lanie Ehlinger is an educator, mentor, writer and loves to pray. She leads prayer initiatives locally and globally. She works at Wake Forest University as an academic coach and tutor to scholarship athletes. She has been involved in prayer for CFTC for several years and is leading the prayer for this year's CFTC.
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“My favorite part of CFTC is the energy and atmosphere of people from all parts of the city coming together to bless each other and celebrate Christmas together.”
Community Art Coordinator
Leo Rucker, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina artist began his love for art at the early age of 5 yrs old. He presently works as the Lead Historic Interpreter at Old Salem Museum and Gardens at the St. Philip's African Moravian Heritage site. Leo has a deep love of the community and the Christmas for the City team has been so privileged to work alongside him for the past several years with his vision, connections, and fellow artists filling spaces in the Benton with beautiful work.
For a number of years, Leo has partnered with Christmas for the City to make sure the arts were represented in a variety of ways. From painting live to most recently designing and coordinating a community-engaged art project created live at Christmas for the City - Leo is an amazing team member!
LOVE FEAST Coordinator
Madi is an ordained Moravian Pastor and lifelong Moravian who has worked in various settings advocating for social justice and is passionate about making the world a better place for our neighbors. She loves working in the areas of Education and Advocacy and has served as a chaplain at Baptist Hospital and Pastoral Intern at The Dwelling.
This year she’s coordinating the Community Love Feast - a time for our community to come together and be encouraged in the call to unity, justice, and togetherness.
Refreshments Coordinator
Matthew Harmon started attending Christmas For City when it first started in 2008 with his family. Over the years, his mom started getting more involved with various volunteer roles at CFTC helping instill a passion in him for this event and the impact that it makes on the city each year. Matthew loves to connect with all people and spread joy to others through any way he can help. Last here he did this by stepping up in a big way and taking on the position of Refreshments Coordinator. This year he is coming back to serve our guests again in this way. You can recognize Matthew by his festive outfits around the time of the event each year!
Volunteer Admin
Morgan is a senior at Appalachian State University studying Political Science and Nonprofit Management. After spending this past summer interning with Love Out Loud, Morgan has joined us to help support the administrative duties of the executive team. As a Winston-Salem native, she is excited to serve in her community this Christmas!
Co-Health Coordinator
Rachel is a Nurse Practitioner at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and leader of the Community Health. She is the clinical director of a mobile health program that serves communities that are medically underserved and is a health equity researcher.
Development Coordinator
Sarcanda joined CFTC in 2021 and assisted with the North Pole Village design. Sarcanda has a passion for people and helping them prosper. Her experience in sales and networking within the community will bring value to the CFTC team. Sarcanda enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering within the community and staying active.
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“My best memory of CFTC 2021, was the excitement from each kid as their eyes would light up when they saw Santa for the first time and told him what they wished for Christmas! You could feel their excitement as they shared their wish with Santa!”
Event Admin
Sydney came to Winston-Salem in 2021 after graduating college at James Madison University and joining the Winston-Salem Fellow’s program. Within the Fellow’s, she was able to volunteer within the community, including Christmas for the City. She absolutely loves meeting new people and making them feel seen and loved, especially through events. She currently works at River Birch Lodge as a manager.
This is her first year on the executive team for Christmas for the City where she will be serving as one of the Admin coordinators
North Pole Village Coordinator
Terri Moy was involved in Christmas For the City at its beginnings until 2020, when she took time to focus on her adorable daughter (now 5 yrs old) Kailey and her husband Alex. During that time her family transitioned further into the calling God had for their lives both through new vocational and ministry opportunities. Terri runs an event coordination/production company, Favored Conferences & Events, while devoting most of her time to being a stay-at-home mom. Terri was able to build her love for events as a teen in church, and since then has loved to serve God and others by planning and coordinating in the background to produce memorable experiences. She rejoined the team in 2022 and is excited for 2023 Christmas for the City. Her prayer is that those participating experience the joy and peace of Christ through the excitement and unity that this event brings.
Volunteer Pastor
Victoria has served with Christmas for the City’s for a number of years (2016-2019 and 2021!). She uses her gifts, skills, and talents to spread joy and encouragement to all the volunteers throughout the building and to make everyone feel like the most important person in the room.