Our Wonderful Staff

At Briarwood, we believe that God gives us all we need to do what God is calling us to do.  One of the greatest gifts God gives us is a gifted staff.  Our staff is working hard to make Briarwood an excellent summer camp and retreat facility.  They have already renewed relationships and made new relationships, rebuilt the summer program, added new systems for financial record keeping, and reorganized the camp tracking system.

You are invited to come and meet and staff – new and old – as they lead Briarwood Lutheran Ministries into a new era of ministry.

Executive Director of Briarwood – Pastor Phil Geleske                                                                       Email-phil@briarwoodretreat.org

Pastor Phi begins this role on May 15, 2012.

Program Director/Facilities Director – Jon Thompson
Email – jon@briarwoodretreat.org

Jon began his ministry at Briarwood in May of 2008.  He has significant experience in camping ministry – including serving on the programming staff in Boy Scout and Girl Scout Camps.  He also is well versed in grounds keeping, having owned a professional landscaping company.  Jon does an incredible job both in his role as Program Director (running the summer camp as well as all Briarwood sponsored retreats) and as Facilities Director (working to bring the camp into the best shape it has been in many years).

Jon came to Briarwood from Teton Valley, Idaho.  He has a degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Purdue University.  Jon is a dog lover whose latest family addition is “Bo,” an energetic dog who still thinks he is a puppy.

Operations Director – Matt Baumhardt
Email – matt@briarwoodretreat.org

Matt also began at Briarwood in May of 2008, serving as Briarwood’s Operations Director.  He has extensive experience in hotel and resort management.    Through his gifts and hard work Briarwood has a better system in managing its resources and is well on its way to reducing its debt, Matt has successfully refinanced all of Briarwood’s long-term secured debt in 2010.

Matt graduated from Purdue University in Hotel and Resort Management.  The latest addition to Matt’s family is his dog “Comet,” who loves to chase the golf carts all over the camp.

Ambassador – Jean Oswald
Email – jean@briarwoodretreat.org

Jean has been serving at Briarwood for many years – primarily as the good will ambassador for the ministry.  She has been the spokesperson at many congregations and represented Briarwood and many ministry events.  Her big gift is hospitality and she serves with excellence as the “hostess” to most groups who come to Briarwood.

“Momma” Jean is the one the rest of the staff goes to when they have any questions about the history of Briarwood.  She is the primary person at Briarwood who answers the phone and gives tours.  Her love for Briarwood is evident in all that she does.

Head Chef – Norman Isa

Norm has been with Briarwood since January of 2002.  He has a well deserved reputation of being an excellent chef.  Norm is a master as creating and serving delicious food.  You will never have ANY camp food better than Norm’s creations.  He is the originator of Briarwood’s popular “Sunday Brunch,” a delicious brunch held at Briarwood once a quarter.

Before coming to Briarwood, Norm served in a variety of country clubs in Texas and Hawaii, most recently as a banquet chef.  Briarwood is blessed to have Norm serving on our staff.

Program Assistant – Erin Farley
Email – erin@briarwoodretreat.org

Erin has been a “regular” at Briarwood for many years – serving as a summer counselor for several years.  After serving as the Senior Counselor in 2009, Erin joined the staff as our part time Assistant Program Director.  She works with Jon in designing and coordinating the summer camp and Briarwood sponsored retreats.  She also serves as the main liaison with the Lewisville School District (which does all its 5th grade outdoor learning at Briarwood).

Erin graduated from the University of Louisiana in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Maintenance Assistant – Brandon Clark

Brandon served two summers as a counselor at Briarwood before joining our year round staff in 2009.  He serves part time as our Maintenance Assistant – helping to keep Briarwood the beautiful place is.

Our ministry has been blessed by Brandon’s ministry with us.