PASTORAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE
MEET THE NOMINEES FOR THE PASTORAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE
HOLLY CHEN
I’m a retired radiologist, now a stay-at-home mom, and an Arizona native—yes, we do exist! Born and raised in Tucson by an amazing mother, I studied Foreign Service and International Economics at Georgetown University and the London School of Economics before earning my MD at the University of Arizona. Go Wildcats! My fellowship at the Mayo Clinic brought me both professional fulfillment and my wonderful husband, Fred. We are the proud parents of Abby, our 12-year-old daughter, who is now in middle school.
At MVPC, I’m involved in 41 Women and value the friendships and fellowship that connect us as a church family. My Presbyterian roots run deep: I was baptized in the Presbyterian church and attended with my grandparents, continuing a family tradition of faith that stretches back to at least eighteenth-century Scotland. In addition I have attended the Mexico mission trip and am in involved in the MS/HS parents group.
DOUG MCKINNEY
Raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, my family attended St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, where I was baptized into the Christian faith as a young child. During my high school years and while attending Arizona State University, I became actively involved at Valley Cathedral, a non-denominational church in Phoenix. There, I participated in both the high school and college ministry programs, which helped strengthen my faith and deepen my walk with Christ. After graduating from ASU, my career relocated me to a number of cities across the country. During those years, I attended various non-denominational churches while continuing to grow in my faith. In 1993, Scottsdale again became home with the purchase of a house on McCormick Ranch. As a single father raising my son, we attended St. Barnabas Episcopal Church over the years. Throughout those years, I remained committed to my relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, and occasional church involvement. However, as time passed, I felt called to become more deeply connected to a smaller church family where I could experience meaningful fellowship, continue growing in my faith, and give back to a community of believers.
I began attending MVPC in the summer of 2024 and quickly felt that I had found the church home I had been seeking. In the spring of 2025, I became a Covenant Partner and member of MVPC. In the fall of 2025, becoming a prayer partner for one of the youths in our congregation provided the opportunity to deepen my commitment to serving the body of Christ at MVPC. That has also allowed me to develop meaningful relationships with members of the congregation. Today, I am grateful for the spiritual growth, fellowship, and opportunities to serve that I have found at MVPC. I look forward to continuing to deepen my faith, support the church's mission, and actively participate in the life of this church family.
Professionally, I serve as a commercial insurance broker and risk management consultant, helping organizations design and implement strategic risk management and insurance programs.
HELEN ALEXANDER
A Texas native raised in the faith, Helen Alexander accepted Christ early in life and her faith has led her to serve several ways in church, including as a camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, and deacon. She and her husband moved to the Valley in 1998 and joined Mountain View in 2021. She currently serves as a board member of the MVPC Foundation. Professionally, Helen is a CPA with a career in banking. She brings administrative and leadership experience to the Pastor Nominating Committee, having previously served on the boards of two other churches and on two prior pastor search committees. She and her husband Dan live in Scottsdale with their two cats. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and occasionally dabbling in arts and crafts.
ADAM MCANALLY
Adam McAnally, his wife Elena, and their three children (Conrad, Eva, and Izzy) have been at Mountain View Presbyterian Church since 2023. Adam and Elena first met while doing ministry as Summer Staff at Young Life’s Lost Canyon camp in Williams, AZ. Adam has worked at Salt River Project for 11 years predominantly in Public Affairs. Prior to that he worked in Governor Jan Brewer’s Office of Energy Policy. He has served on the boards of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR), City of Phoenix Library Advisory Board, Colorado River Energy Distributors Association (CREDA), Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association of Arizona, and Arizona Municipal Power Users Association. During his time at PCFR, CREDA, and the Phoenix Library system he was involved with Executive Director searches and transitions.
BETH BURTON
As a child, I attended Grace Episcopal Church in the small town of Newington, Connecticut where my mother was the organist. The youth program there was my primary social life throughout my school years. When I married and adopted two daughters, our family attended First Congregational Church in Cheshire, Connecticut. We were very active in the church, where I served as Youth Program leader and sang in the choir. Then came our big move to Scottsdale, Arizona. My husband’s bank had been sold, and I left my job to move to Scottsdale where we had close friends. Once here, we attended a small Congregational church while we searched area churches for our permanent church home. When we walked through the front doors of the Mountain View sanctuary in 2000, and sat down, we knew we had found that home.
Since joining Mountain View, I have sung in the choir, taught Beth Moore Bible studies for three years, designed and offered three women’s retreats, and worked as a deacon. I have worked with many partners through these endeavors. My faith journey at this church has been powerful. I have studied, learned, and developed a strong personal prayer life. I feel surrounded by a loving, Christian community. I believe that we have a grace filled future ahead of us. My personal goal is to serve our growing faith community.
GUS MILLER
As a Mountain View member for twenty years, Gus has served as elder, bible class teacher, Special Needs music leader, and choir member. For the last five years, he has served on the Mountain View team which prepares and serves monthly meals for the homeless at South Scottsdale Presbyterian Church.
JOEL JENKINS
I was raised in a Christian family in Charleston, South Carolina, and I have attended church and participated in various ministries, including mission trips and church music, since high school. My wife, Meredith, and I moved to the Phoenix area in 2011. We served with a small church for over 10 years before we came to Mountain View in 2023, where we attend with our children Grant (10) and Caroline (7). My career has been in operations management for manufacturing and new product engineering. Currently I am a consultant specializing in operations management for a growing technology company. It’s would be a privilege to serve Mountain View as a member of the PNC!
PEGGY TAZELAAR
I was blessed to grow up in a home with believing parents for whom church membership was an important part of our family life. I was baptized and made profession of my faith in the Christian Reformed Church, and have been an active member of Reformed churches ever since. My church service has included helping to found and lead Women’s Ministries in two of our churches, teaching Bible studies, and leading small groups. I also was a small group leader in Bible Study Fellowship for many years.
Since my husband Henry and I joined MVPC in 2018, I have served as an elder where my responsibilities included Missions Team, Flourishing Disciples, and the Theological Grant Committee. I currently lead a Flourishing Disciples huddle and serve on the Women’s Core Team. I also sing in the choir.
Henry and I have two sons. Andrew and his wife Christina live in Grand Rapids MI and have two children. Jeff lives here in Phoenix. Prior to the birth of our sons, I was employed as a social worker. I love MVPC, subscribe to our ECO tenets, and would be honored to help us prayerfully search for and nominate “Pastor Next.”
I began attending Mountain View Presbyterian with my wife Kira in 2016, and we became members in 2018. Over the years, I have enjoyed serving alongside the tech and sound team, and I was recently installed as a Deacon. In that role, I have served on committees supporting special events, communion, Manna Closet, and coffee service. Our family is especially grateful for Mt. View’s youth programs and the many dedicated staff members and volunteers who invest their time and hearts in serving our young children. The community this church has thoughtfully built has become a meaningful part of our lives, and we are thankful to be part of it.
I am honored to be nominated for this important role and thankful for the opportunity to give back to a community that has meant so much to our family. If elected, I look forward to prayerfully discerning alongside fellow members who God is calling to lead Mt. View into its next chapter.