Celeste Ryan Blyden is now vice president for strategic
communication and public relations for the Columbia Union Conference. Four
other staff members received promotions at the Executive Committee’s spring
meetings. Celeste Ryan Blyden was promoted from assistant to the president for
communication to vice president for strategic communication and public
relations. Rubén Ramos, who served as assistant to the president for
Multicultural Ministries since 2007, was promoted to vice president for
Multicultural Ministries.
Beth Michaels, who has spent eight years at the Visitor magazine,
the last two as managing editor, will now serve as editor in chief and the
union’s associate director of communication. Tabitha Martinez, who has served
as the union’s assistant treasurer since 2006, was promoted to associate
treasurer.
“We appreciate the contributions you all have made to the
mission of the church here in the Columbia Union. We applaud your dedication
and service,” said Dave Weigley, union conference president.
Turning to Blyden, he said the union
committee voted unanimously to elevate her to vice president. “It was one of
those decisions where you could catch and feel the electricity in the room. It
was time to do this. This is the right thing to do. It is the first time, to my
knowledge, that the Columbia Union has had a woman vice president,” he said as
the room exploded with a standing ovation.
Blyden has spent 12 years as editor of the award-winning Visitor
magazine and has 25 years of communication experience. She has served the
church as a journalist, editor, public information officer, marketing
coordinator, media relations manager, corporate communication director, social
media strategist, and television producer. In addition to her new duties, she
will continue to lead the Communication Department and serve as publisher of
the Visitor. During her tenure, Blyden and her team grew the Visitor
brand to include a weekly e-mail newsletter, videos, Web sites, a popular
annual calendar, social media, and other platforms.
Ramos, a champion for soul-winning and church planting, was born
in Argentina and grew up in the home of missionaries. He holds a degree in
education and theology from River Plate University in Argentina, has experience
as a literature evangelist, and pastored several Hispanic churches in the
Potomac Conference before serving as the Hispanic Ministries director there for
11 years.
Beth Michaels is now editor in chief of the Visitor. Prior to joining the Columbia Union Conference, Michaels
worked for several non-profit organizations around the Washington, D.C. area,
leading and assisting in their communication and marketing departments. She
also spent five years at ADRA International helping and then leading its news
and public relations efforts.
“Like me, Beth is a daughter of the Columbia Union and a
graduate of Washington Adventist University. She also shares my passion to connect, inspire, and engage membersthrough the Visitor and our other communication platforms,” Blyden
said. “We’re all thankful for her commitment to the ministry of communication
in the Columbia Union.”
Tabitha Martinez is now associate treasurer. Martinez has also
served four years as an assistant staff auditor for the General Conference
Auditing Service. She holds a bachelor of business administration from
Southwestern Adventist University in Texas and recently earned an MBA at
Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. “Over the years,
Tabitha has served as a dedicated and faithful member of our team,” said Seth
Bardu, Columbia Union Conference treasurer. “As an associate treasurer, she
will be presented with even more opportunities to serve her church.”
New
Consultant Helps With Evangelistic School
Executive Committee members also voted to have Cindy Tutsch join
the office team for a part-time, one-year appointment. Tutsch, who recently
retired from her post as associate director at the Ellen G. White Estate in
Silver Spring, Maryland, will help launch an evangelistic school for young
adults in the Columbia Union. “Cindy has served as a pastor and conference
youth director. She understands young people and has started a number of
evangelistic initiatives with young adults,” said Frank Bondurant, vice
president for Ministries Development. “She will serve as a consultant to our
study committee as we lay the foundation and discuss core values, a mission
statement, and outcomes for this school.”
