"Digging Deeper, Reaching Higher” is the 2024 Potomac Pastors/Educators Conference theme. As the title suggests, by continuing to mine the best practices and professional growth opportunities for Potomac Pastors and Educators, we can increase our capacity to serve effectively and in alignment with God’s will for these two very important callings.

WESTFIELDS MARRIOTT, Chantilly, VA

Map of Location

Steve Cornell

Steve Cornell is the former senior pastor of Millersville Bible Church, Millersville, PA (a position he held for 35 years). Steve’s ministry included daily and weekend radio on WJTL (Focus on the Church and Take 5 with Pastor Steve). He was also a correspondent for Lancaster Newspapers Inc. (21 years) and The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Steve is an honored recipient of seven writing awards from the Amy Foundation. Steve has been a featured speaker for many conferences. 

G. Alexander Bryant 

Glenward Alexander (“Alex”) Bryant, DMin, serves as the president of the North American Division and vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dr. Bryant married the former Desiree Wimbish, the current NAD Ministerial Association associate director. She formerly served as assistant director of the NAD Education Department, superintendent of Education of the Central States Conference, and principal of the V. Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School in Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. and Mrs. Bryant are the proud parents of Travis, Traven, and Terrence.

Charles A. Tapp

For nearly 42 years, and in many scenarios, Tapp has been a pastor, professor, administrator, writer, and radio/television host, sharing God’s love and saving grace with the world. His ministry is fueled by the message found in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.” Prayer is at the center of his life and how he leads the Potomac Conference's ministry. An avid tennis and golf fan and a veracious reader, he also enjoys being a lifelong student. He and his wife, Maureen, a former nurse administrator, have three adult daughters and one grandson.

Rick Wormeli

Rick Wormeli has presented to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and the White House. He is a seasoned veteran of thousands of virtual, national, and international seminars, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin Award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service, and Leadership. Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, where they have successfully launched their kids into adulthood.

Desmond Suarez

Desmond Suarez works at Richmond Academy, where he has been teaching since 2012. He teaches religion, social studies, computers, and photography/videography. He is a proud graduate of Southern Adventist University with a bachelor's in Religious Education and a minor in Computers. He also has a Masters in Instructional Systems and Learning Technology from the great Florida State University. He enjoys helping people learn to fulfill their most significant potential and finding the best tools. He loves to hang out with a lovely wife and two sons. 

Courtney Brown

Courtney Brown teaches as the 6th – 8th Math teacher and K – 8 Innovations Director at TA Prep. She solidified her passion for math and science while pursuing a BS in Biology at Oakwood University from 2002 - 2006. She has worked in education since 2008 as a long-term substitute, tutor, first-grade teacher, and STEM specialist instructor. In each academic work, Courtney looks forward to learning and growing with both new and returning scholars within the core content subjects and in Robotics and Innovation initiatives. She strives to make math learning fun and engaging while still maintaining rigor and robust instruction. Courtney loves God deeply and seeks to daily exhibit His love to others.

David Dildy

David is from a small town outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a BA in History and later studied law at Regent University School of Law on an academic scholarship. David has experience in a broad array of legal matters. In 2020, David joined Weisberg & Weisberg, where he uses his fourteen years of experience in family law to help his clients successfully navigate what is often the most stressful event in their lives.  David and his family live in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he is very active in the church he helped found in 2005.

Jorge Quintiana 

Jorge felt his calling to pastoral ministry at a young age. Raised in a pastoral home in Cuba and coming to the United States at age 14, Jorge went on to study theology and Biblical language as an undergrad at Southern Adventist University and continued to complete his master’s in evangelism and homiletics. In full time ministry since 2008, Jorge is passionate about using his gifts to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. He currently pastors the Virginia Beach and Redeeming Grace Fellowship Churches.

Buz Menhardt 

Buz has been an associate pastor at New Market since 2008. Some of his favorite ministry assignments include involving students in community outreach projects, neighborhood visitation, worship service participation, and conducting summer day camps for children. Buz has served on different church and school campuses throughout his career, including as an associate pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church with Dwight Nelson.

Junnie Pagunsan

Born in Mindanao, a small island in the South Pacific, Junnie comes from a pastoral family. He graduated from Mountain View College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. Before coming to the US in 2000, Junnie served as a Chaplain and Missionary Coordinator of Adventist Muslim Relations and as a district Pastor, serving 13 churches in the Southern Philippines.

In the fall of 2000, Junnie was accepted to the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Loma Linda Medical Center and made the tough decision to leave his family to pursue better opportunities for them here in the US. After completing the program, an anonymous donor enabled him to continue his ministry at the Medical Center while also serving as the Associate Pastor of Claremont Fil-Am Church in Claremont, CA, where he served the church until 2004, when his family finally moved to Richmond, VA. Junnie is the senior pastor of the Far West End SDA Church in Rockville, VA.

Rick Labate

Rick serves as the Vice President for Pastoral Ministries for Potomac Conference. Labate previously served as the associate for Pastoral Ministries for eight years. Rick began his ministry in Potomac in 1983 and has been in Potomac Conference for 38 years plus four years serving as lead pastor for the Aldergrove/Church in the Valley SDA Church in British Columbia, Canada. “Ministering to pastors, working with churches and their leaders, leading a team of outstanding associates, and finding ways to effectively and creatively help fulfill God’s mission through pastors and churches is why our department exists. We love what we do.” Rick is also an accomplished pianist and recording artist.

Amilcar “A.J.” Groschel

Born in Brazil to German and Jewish-Italian immigrant families, As an Ordained Minister, Dr. Gröschel currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the Waynesboro SDA Church. He has served professionally in Brazil and the United States in different capacities, such as Teacher, Chaplain, Youth and Lead Pastor, University Dean and Graduate Director, Professor, Researcher, Administrator, Corporate Executive, and Attorney. He considers their most incredible privilege and higher calling to serve their Father and King and all His most beloved children wherever He leads them.

You’ll find him on various social media platforms and TV as a frequent guest with Hope Channel’s Bible Help Desk.