Meet Our Staff

The staff and leadership here at Pluckemin Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can contact the church office by phone at 908-658-3346 or email office@ppch.org.

  • Rev. Ian Rankine

    pastor

    Rev. Rankine was born and raised in Central Scotland. He attended St. Andrews and Edinburgh Universities where he completed his Seminary training. He and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Maureen Paterson came to North Carolina in 1996 and moved to New Jersey in 2006. Maureen is the Associate Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge, where she has served for more than 10 years. Ian served 10 years as the Associate Pastor of New Providence Presbyterian Church and recently was the Chaplain at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge. Ian and Maureen have four children Gregor, Angus, Callum, and Isla.

  • Melina bolanos

    office administrator

    Melina graduated from Kean University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management. Her family is originally from Costa Rica but 23 years ago New Jersey became her second home. Melina has been happily married to Saulo Blanco for 10 years. They are blessed with two beautiful, loving children, Luka (7) and Kamila (5).

     

    After taking a few years off from her career to raise her children, Melina returned to the workforce. She is excited to bring her skills to a new role and is committed to contributing to the success of Pluckemin Presbyterian Church.

     

    Melina is an active member of Christian Center of Somerset in Bound Brook. There, she serves as a children’s ministry director's assistant and youth group leader. She is happiest when children and youth come to believe in Jesus as their Savior, and are then interested in knowing more about God and His truth.

     

    Out of the office, you’ll find Melina attending her son’s soccer games, playing “house” with her daughter, singing, cooking, and planning her next family vacation. 

  • Karl Geiger

    Director of Music Ministries

    Karl received a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and has served as the Director of Music and Worship at The First Presbyterian Church in Dunellen for over 20 years. He is also a music teacher and vocal director in the Dunellen school system. His choir directing experience includes adults, youth, children, handbells, and praise teams, and he plays both the organ and piano with mastery and passion. Most importantly, Karl has an absolute heart for Christ and serving His people. Karl and his wife, Laura, have three children: Antonio (20), Heidi (7), and Hannah (5). Besides music, Karl also enjoys running and hiking.

  • Chris Staffin

    Director of child and family ministries

    Chris will be responsible for developing all ministries for families and children from birth through 12th grade in both our congregation and our community. 

     

    Chris received both her BA and MBA from Cornell University. Her varied career experiences include preschool and high school teacher, brand manager, VP of a software company, and professional speaker, where she has led workshops for parents, teachers and caregivers on topics such as creative discipline, Christian parenting, and media violence. In addition, Chris has held leadership positions on five different non-profit boards, including three years as the Pluckemin Preschool Board President.

     

    As member of Pluckemin Church for over 20 years, Chris has served in numerous areas including Children’s Ministries, Youth Ministries, Adult Ministries, Worship & Music, and Session. But Chris’s heart for Christ and His children has probably been most evident through her role as Pluckemin’s VBS Director for the past eight years.

     

    Chris and her husband Don have four daughters, Alanna (24), Danielle (24), Rachel (24) and Ariel (21). In her spare time, Chris enjoys a cappella singing, skiing, golfing, hiking, traveling, and playing board games with her family.

  • laura simone

    director of communications

    Laura is originally from upstate New York, and is a life-long Presbyterian. After graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Law & Public Policy, Laura relocated to New Jersey to work in institutional banking. She attended night school at NYU Stern School of Business where she earned an MBA in Finance and Marketing. Laura is a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, where she currently serves as a Ruling Elder responsible for Public Relations and Outreach. It was there that Laura discovered her calling as a church marketer and after 32 years in banking, switched careers to focus on helping churches improve their visibility in their physical and digital communities.    

     

    In her free time, Laura likes gardening, cooking, exercising and spending time with her husband and two daughters. 

  • marcia mcburney

    director of carillons handbell choir

    Marcia Waage McBurney is the Director of the Carillons Handbell Choir. Mrs. McBurney is a graduate of Bucknell Univeristy where she studied and performed under the direction of Dr. William A. Payn. Mrs. McBurney has performed for conductors such as Cynthia Dobrinski, Hart Morris, Kevin McChesney, Betty Garee, William Griffin, Donald Allured and many more. She has traveled to Europe twice to participate in handbell tours that performed in 6 different countries. She has also participated in over two dozen Area and National Festivals during her 26 years of ringing and directing handbells.
    In September of 1992, Mrs. McBurney began directing the Carillons. Recently, she has performed with The Raritan Ringers, an advanced adult choir, in Somerville, NJ.