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Meet Our Team!

Walt Nilsson

Senior Pastor

Raised inside the DC beltway, Walt graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland with a BA in Biology. He and his wife, Holly, both worked for NAVAIR before serving as missionaries in the Philippines with Mission to the World. They returned and moved to St. Louis for three years, where Walt got his MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, he was called to join the pastoral staff of Cornerstone in order to plant a church. However in 2009, the Lord called him to the role of Senior Pastor at Cornerstone.  Recently, Walt earned a PhD in Preaching with a concentration in Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Walt and Holly enjoy hiking and camping with their four children, and they are enthusiastic local football fans. They love helping people experience the freedom and joy that comes through a relationship with Jesus.

Dae Kim

Pastor of Community Life and Discipleship

Born in Korea, raised in Argentina and Philadelphia, Dae graduated with a Business Administration BA from Temple University in Philadelphia. Shortly after, Dae received his MDiv from Westminster Seminary. He has been at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church since 2017. Second to the gospel, Dae is a foodie: he lives to eat! When he is not doing ministry or eating, he is usually delighting with friends or with his wife Jenn, his daughter Arwen, and their cockapoo Bennie.

Joo Young Kim

Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Outreach and Discipleship

Born in Korea, raised in Korea and Northern Virginia, Joo Young graduated with a BA in Psychology from George Mason University. Right out of college, Joo Young moved to Philadelphia, where he received his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon finishing seminary, he moved back down to Virginia, where he met his wife Mi Jin while serving in youth ministry together. In the spring of 2021, Joo Young was called to join the pastoral staff at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Joo Young and Mi Jin enjoy hiking, watching movies, experiencing new cuisines, and spending time with friends and family members.

Janice Shupe

Director of Children's and Middle School Ministries

A native of Baltimore, Janice graduated from Bryant College with a BS in Business Administration. After working for several years in the hospitality industry, Janice and her husband Stan homeschooled their three children. As a team, Janice and Stan have worked with children in foster care, homeschool tutorial, and church settings. Janice has also taught in the public school system, and has been our Director of Children’s Ministry since 2014. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks, playing games, and visiting her children and grandchildren.

Kristin Ashby

Director of Worship Ministries

Born and raised in MD, Kristin is a graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. Following her time in West Virginia, she completed a Master of Music Education Degree at the University of Maryland. Kristin and her husband Jesse came to SoMD in 2005, and they've been with Cornerstone ever since. Kristin teaches elementary instrumental music for Calvert County Public Schools. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with Jesse and their two children.

Chad Reed

Director of Ministries

A native of nowhere, Chad claims he’s a Texan.  A Naval Academy graduate, Chad spent 30 years as a Naval Flight Officer, Tester, and Program Manager.  Having lived in “The County” since 2005, Chad and his wife Keri found their place to call home.  They have shared life with others in SoMD through schools, church, sports, foster care, work on base, seeing patients as a medical professional, and eating out.  Chad spends “off” hours from ministry teaching at USNA and St. Mary’s College, coaching as a SMCM Men’s and Women’s Soccer Assistant, and raising two of their four kids still at home.  They both earnestly hope others around them will know the peace, comfort, and absolute joy Jesus Christ has for all of us!

Vicky Travis

Office Administrator

Vicky is a native Marylander. Born and raised in Montgomery County, Vicky, along with her her husband Tom and their three children, moved to Calvert County in 1994. They found Cornerstone in 1997 and became connected through the homeschooling community. She helped form Cornerstone’s first teaching co-op and served there for five years. In 2004, God planned for her to start working at Cornerstone, even though her education is in health care. Vicky enjoys spending time with Tom cycling, gardening, and traveling. But the most special time is spent building relationships with their grandchildren, who will be the next generation of believers.

Wil Ridley

Facility & Hospitality Coordinator

Raised on the beautiful Hawaiian Island of Maui, Wil served 20 years in the United States Navy and retired in 2000. He and his wife, Bobbie, worked for St. Mary’s County Public Schools for several years. In 2017, Wil was offered the challenge of Facility & Hospitality Coordinator for Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and Bobbie continued to work in education at the government level. Wil and Bobbie enjoy beach life, spending time with their children and grandchildren, and watching our friends and family come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Jill Seyum

Bookkeeper

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Jill originally moved to SoMD to enroll at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. After graduating, she returned to the area with her husband, Esrael, so he could serve as a Campus Staff Minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at their alma mater. Esrael and Jill have been Cornerstone members since 2012, and Jill has been on staff as Bookkeeper since 2015. Jill enjoys raising her young kids, baking, grocery-shopping at Trader Joe's, personality tests, memories of her college summers working in Yellowstone National Park, and discovering more of who God is with each new day.

Noah Varner

Communications Coordinator

Noah is a St. Mary's County native.  Noah attended West Virginia University and received a degree in Communication Studies.  He came to know Jesus and met his wife, Rachel, through a campus ministry called "Cru".  After graduation, they moved to St. Mary's County to start their first jobs.  Noah enjoys drinking coffee, dry humor, and participating in lots of different kinds of sports.  Cornerstone has been a community that has challenged him to trust in Jesus in many ways, and he is eager to keep seeing what God has for him.

Tom & Mary Thompson

Biblical Counselors

Tom and Mary grew up in a small town in southern Ohio and were high school sweethearts. They were married after Tom graduated from the Naval Academy (USNA). He served in the submarine force for 22 years and Mary was a registered nurse in the early years of their marriage. During that time Tom and Mary trusted Jesus as their Savior. After retiring from the Navy, they served on the Officer’s Christian Fellowship staff at USNA for 13 years. Concurrently, Tom earned a Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. Now he serves as a counselor at EP Church in Annapolis and at Cornerstone. He and Mary work as a team when counseling couples and women. Tom and Mary have five children and eleven grandchildren.

The Thompsons make themselves available for Friday appointments.