Meet the Staff
Our Pastor: Rev. Stephanie Scovell
Stephanie grew up in Texas and moved to Cleveland in 2020 when her husband began his urology residency at the Cleveland Clinic.
She is married to her high school sweetheart, Jason, and they have two children, Hannah (3) and Chloe (1), along with fur baby, Whisper.
Appointments Served:
* Good Shepherd UMC (Parma, OH) 2020-2024
* Bering Memorial UMC (Houston, TX) 2015-2020
Connectional Responsibilities:
* Northern Waters dCOM registrar
* Cleveland Clinic House Staff Spouse Association Board Member
* Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio volunteer
Education:
* Perkins School of Theology (TX) MDiv- 2014
* Baylor University (TX)- BA in Religion, Child & Family Studies – 2010
Our Associate Pastor: Dr. Allan Georgia
Allan lives in Cleveland Hts. with his wife Clare and their dachshund, Dexter.
He reads old, thick books, plays guitar and mandolin and admits to eating more noodles and drinking more coffee than he should!
Appointments Served:
* Director of Religious Education at UU Cong, of Cleveland 2018-2024
* Adjunct Professor, Case Western Reserve University 2020-2022
* Lecturer: John Carroll, Ohio Wesleyan, MTSO
Education:
* Fordham University (NY) – Ph.D in Theology 2016
* Fordham University (NY) – M.Ph. in Theology 2012
* Methodist Theological School in Ohio – MDiv, MTh 2009
* Taylor University (IN) – BA in Biblical Studies/Eng. Lit 2005
Our Music Director:
Ira Cooper joined the Ridgewood United Methodist Church staff as Director of Music and Organist in 2007 following 25 years of service as Minister of Music and Organist at Grace Lutheran Church in Elyria, Ohio. Formerly he was interim organist and choir director at Westlake United Methodist Church.
Ira received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Findlay University and went on to earn his Master of Church Music from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. He recently retired from the Lorain City Schools where he taught choir at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School and acted as Assistant Band Director at Lorain Southview High School.
In addition to serving as music director for the Lorain County Community Chorale’s annual “Messiah” presentations in the past, he has also been music director for Elyria Summer Theater, Lorain Community Music Theater and Bay Village’s Huntington Playhouse to round out his musical theater experience.
Ira has been a member of a variety of professional music associations, including the Ohio Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Lorain County Chapter American Guild of Organists, Lorain Education Association and Association of Lutheran Musicians, and was active in the Lorain County Arts Council.
Ira has a real passion for service planning and service playing, which sparked his interest in writing countless psalm tones, antiphons, introits, organ improvisations for hymn stanzas, choir descants and hymn concertos for the church services. All of his compositions remain unpublished.
At Ridgewood, he hopes, through music and fellowship, to open the eyes, hearts and minds of the worshipping body in order to gain a closer glimpse of the beauty and warmth of Jesus the Christ. He is a true asset to the music ministry at Ridgewood!
Our Office Staff:
Mrs. Mary Cain
Mrs. Sue Hamric