Who We Are - Church of the Good Shepherd

We love what we do

Meet the team

Our staff is small, but mighty! We are a hard-working, collaborative team from various walks of life– intent on building community, trying new ways of doing things, and having fun along the way.

• MEET OUR STAFF •

• MEET OUR VESTRY •

The Rev. Jacqueline Soltys, Priest in Charge

Rector

The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys

The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys was ordained at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in the city of Chicago, where she served as both Deacon and Curate. After she and her family moved to Virginia in 2017, Jacqueline served as a supply priest at Old Donation, then accepted the position of Assistant Rector at Grace Church in Yorktown, where she served for two years. She is the creator of a wide range of digital projects, including “The Questions Project,” which can be found at jsoltys.org.

The priesthood was a mid-career change after time spent in academia. Soltys has a PhD in Russian Language and Literature from Yale University. She taught in a variety of academic settings and worked as a simultaneous translator for NBC during the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit. Soltys also worked as Prestigious Fellowships Coordinator at Cornell University, where she coached applicants through the application process for the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships.

Rev. Soltys has two adult children: one is a lawyer; the other is pursuing a degree in fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Soltys’s husband, Stuart Henderson, is a physicist. He was Director of Jefferson National Laboratory in Newport News for 7 years.

• Email Jacqueline •

Associate for Children & Youth Formation & Lead of Creative
and Imaginative Projects

Ben Blanchard

I’ve been on staff at Good Shepherd for 17 years. As of the fall 2021 my full time call is to create space and opportunities for children and youth that encourage them to explore who God is as well as participate in the life of an active faith community. When I’m not doing my thing on the corner of North Shore Road and Hampton Boulevard, I can be found creating mixed media art, finding treasures in thrift stores, and checking out food at hip spots around the globe and in my own backyard.

Read this article about some of Ben’s work here.

• Email Ben •

Ben Blanchard, Children and Youth Formation

Music Director

Dr. Harlan Zackery, Jr.

Dr. Harlan Zackery, Jr., is Director of Choral Activities and conductor of the Concert Choir at Norfolk State University. A native of Henderson, NC, he completed the Bachelor of Music degree in music education, cum laude, as well as the Master of Music in choral conducting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to his work as a choral director, he has extensive experience as an orchestral conductor, piano soloist, and musical theatre director. He has also been actively involved in church music work since high school, working in congregations throughout North Carolina, Mississippi and Virginia. When not making music you can find him perfecting a recipe in the kitchen or out in the apiary tending to his beehives.

• Email Harlan •

Graphic Design

Katie Davenport

Katie Davenport has been working with Good Shepherd since Fall of 2021, specializing in marketing and communications, both print and digital. Katie spent 14 years of her career in the Human Resources field as a generalist and HR Operations Manager, but left HR in 2020 to homeschool her three children. Katie has always worked and served beyond primary career, often being contracted to design websites and marketing materials for various organizations, as well as serving as president on the board of her children’s Montessori school for 3 years. She has a passion for helping others streamline and optimize their resources, and loves the opportunities to work creatively with Good Shepherd. Katie is a native of Hampton and lives in Newport News with her husband, Jake, and their three young children, Ellie, Van and Beaux, and their dog, Lucie.

• Email Katie •

Communications Specialist

Emily Kovalesky

I joined the Good Shepherd team in May of 2024. After graduating from Radford University with a Bachelor of Art degree in business management and communications, I have held various marketing positions throughout the last 8 years. I have found the most joy in volunteering my time in creating communities and event planning for different organizations.

I was born and raised in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, but after a few military moves we have found our home in the Hampton Roads since 2022. I’ve been married to my husband, Aaron, for the past 6 years. We have one son, Preston, who keeps me on my toes and a daughter, Sophia, on the way. We also have one German Shepherd dog, Tiny. In my free time, you can find me with a book in my hands by the water.

• Email Emily •

Parish Administrator

Nick Moon

In becoming Good Shepherd’s Parish Administrator, I’ve followed in my father’s footsteps, albeit not exactly in the way he might have expected. My father, Jay, always wanted me to join the Navy and be a sailor like him, but instead, I’ve simply replicated what he did whilst in the Navy: administration. For the last several years, I’ve helped businesses in various industries tighten up, become more efficient, and implement clean administrative practices.

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and my family’s from upstate New York, but I’ve lived in Virginia Beach since 1999, so I’m a quasi-native. Film is my passion. I have my MFA from Regent University in Film Directing. I’m always happy to give film recommendations, should you be bored on a weekend. I have one daughter, Lexi, who is my most frequent source of joy. I’m grateful to be part of Good Shepherd’s team and I look forward to serving the church.

• Email Nick •

An Episcopal Parish

The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ, in 111 dioceses and regional areas in 17 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The mission of the church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism (p. 855), is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”