Meet the Grace Lutheran Team

Rev. Kevin LoughranSenior Pastor
Pastor Loughran graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne Indiana in 1993. He served parishes in Wolcottville, IN and Sheboygan, WI prior to coming to serve as the Senior Pastor of Grace in August of 2006. He is married to Kersti and has four children: Justine, Matthew, John, and Penelope. Besides teaching and preaching God's Word, Pastor Loughran enjoys music, golf, reading, and watching sports. He is originally from Connecticut.

Nicole CliftonPrincipal
Mrs. Nicole Clifton, Principal, comes to us with over 20 years of experience in education. She has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Additionally, she is an alumnus of Grace Lutheran School and regularly attends services at Grace Lutheran Church.

Rev. John KyleAssociate Pastor
Pastor John Kyle completed the 4 years of a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He felt the urge to pursue the public ministry after a career as a Materials Research and Process Chemist with a BS in Chemistry from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. He has three daughters: Kimberly, Christen, and Jacqueline. He enjoys reading and sharing the Word of God. He was a long time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Royal Oak, MI, where he also attended school from 1st-8th grade.

Marissa KroenkeDeaconess
Deaconess Marissa graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN in August of 2022. She has a bachelor's degree in Youth and Child Development with an emphasis in programming, and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. She knew from a young age that she wanted to work with children and as a child of two LCMS rostered church workers she grew up watching their service to the church, so serving in children's ministry became a natural next step. Marissa and Andrew were married in February of 2020 and have two children, Theodore and Clarice.

May ItzcovitchDeaconess

Jennifer TippettMusic Director
Jennifer is a native of St. Petersburg and 1991 graduate of Northeast High School. She attended the University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss") and graduated Cum Laude with a degree of Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education in 1995. At that time, Jennifer was also inducted in to Pi Kappa Lambda, a music honors society that recognizes music majors for the highest level of musical achievement and academic scholarship.
Jennifer began her teaching career in Pasco County, FL at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School where she was the choral director and general music specialist. After her first year, she moved back to Pinellas County, FL and was the Director of Choral Music for 4 years at Dixie Hollins High School.
Jennifer moved to Grace Lutheran School in 2000. Joining the teaching staff at Grace was a great move, especially since Jennifer was already an active member in the Music Ministry at Grace Lutheran and singing in the choirs under the direction of then Minister of Music, Dr. Bill Brusick. Grace has always been close to her heart as she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Tippett, who is a Grace Lutheran School alum, in 1997.
Jennifer holds her Florida Teaching Certificate in Music K-12 and has taught all levels of music at Grace. She became the Director of Music for the church and school in 2010. In the school, she currently teaches general music for 2nd through 5th grade and is the director of the Choristers (elementary choir), Spirit Singers (middle school choir), Drama Club, and directs the school musical. She is also a co-director for the school's Praise Team with her colleague, Colton LaMay. She is also an administrator of the Grace Conservatory of Fine Arts, which began in 2013. As a church musician, Jennifer oversees all of the activities, ensembles, and budget of the Music Ministry. She directs the Chancel Choir and Joy Choir and sings with the New Song Band. She is also a soloist with the Pinellas Lutheran Choir.
Jennifer and her husband, Jerry, live in St. Petersburg with their 2 children. J.P. and Elise are 2nd generation students at Grace Lutheran School. They live close to family and enjoy camping and other fun outdoor activities. The Tippetts are truly blessed to call Grace Lutheran Church and School their spiritual home.

Ellen ProhlDirector of Instrumental Music, Organist

Laura BeditsMarketing Director
Mrs. Bedits graduated from St. Petersburg College in 2015 and is a Grace Lutheran alumni. She started working at Grace Lutheran as a teacher in 2016 and as the art teacher in 2017. Besides teaching and creating art, Mrs. Bedits enjoys scuba diving, Disney, sharks, nature, and traveling.

Deborah RiberBusiness Administrator
Deborah Riber has been a member of Grace for 30 years, is a parent of two now-grown men who attended Grace, and also worked as the School Administrative Assistant for almost 17 years. She has been truly blessed to work at Grace and watch all of the scholars grow up over the years. She considers Grace Lutheran Church & School her second family.

Cory HallChurch Pianist
Cory Hall was born in Palo Alto, California and from age six grew up in the city of Davis where he began his piano studies. He earned piano performance degrees from various institutions in California, New York, and Kansas, and as a young adult taught piano in Germany for three years where he learned fluent German and became immersed in German culture. He later served as Adjunct Professor of Music and Humanities at St. Petersburg College and Eckerd College, and as the organist at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo. Since founding his own business in 2012, Cory has been teaching worldwide piano lessons via Skype and publishing his own music editions (www.BachScholar.com).