Leaders & Staff
Reggie is a native of Roanoke and attended Virginia Commonwealth University for his undergraduate training. He received a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Masters of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia Union University. Mr. Tuck has also studied at the Hebrew Union University-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, Wesley Theological Seminary and the University of Virginia. He has served pastoral appointments at Sayreville United Methodist Church (New Jersey), Messiah United Methodist Church and Springfield United Methodist Church in Springfield, Virginia, Weyers Cave United Methodist Church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and The Brandermill Church in Midlothian, Virginia. Reggie is married to Catherine McCollough who is a minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA and a Pastoral Counselor with a practice in Blacksburg. Reggie and Cathy enjoy their two daughters, Monica and Nadia.
Chris McLain comes to Blacksburg United Methodist Church having served as the pastor of Burnt Factory UMC in Winchester, the part-time associate pastor at Francis Asbury UMC in her hometown of Virginia Beach, and the pastor of Mount Moriah UMC in Charlottesville. Chris grew up on the Chesapeake Bay with her older sister Becky and younger brother Mike. Their parents Denise and Bruce came from Texas to the Tidewater area with the Navy Medical Corps. Together they enjoyed camping, fishing and Mexican food.Chris met her husband-to-be John through his younger brother David at the end of her Junior year at Cox High School. For their first date they saw the movie Free Willy. They remained friends after a few dates. Later, both, by coincidence, attended Virginia Wesleyan College. The two dated again when Chris was in her final year at VWC, following Chrisʼs failed attempt to get John to ask out a friend of hers. For their next movie date they went to see Titanic. The two married on December 26, 1999, at Christ UMC, Norfolk, where Chris had served as a Childrenʼs Minister and Pastoral Intern.
While Chris was in seminary at Duke, the two enjoyed Randyʼs Pizza in Durham so much that Randy became their friend. To offset the abundance of pizza and hot wings in their life, they enjoyed hiking and jogging the Duke Forest trail. They continue to enjoy hiking today with their two sons Isaac, who will be 8 in June, and Sam, who will be 5 in July. Together they enjoy swimming, reading and the Elmo Loch Ness roller coaster at Busch Gardens, the only roller-coaster they can all agree on! They are all looking forward to their move to the beautiful Blacksburg area and to meeting their new church family.
Leigh Anne is a Deacon in Full Connection who serves BUMC as Minister of Music.
She received her Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Master of Sacred Music from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
She served churches in Texas and Kansas before coming home to Virginia.
She is the mother of Emma and Taylor, hiker of mountain trails, reader of good books, lover of nature and grateful counter of many blessings.
Tindal grew up in Florida before attending Davidson College in North Carolina, where she earned a degree in religion.
After college, she moved to Virginia, living first in Richmond, where she earned a masters degree in special education at Virginia Commonwealth University, and then coming to Blacksburg, where she has lived for ten years. Tindal worked as a special education teacher at Shawsville Elementary School for five years before acquiring the new job title of mother.
She also worked as a tutor and homebound teacher before becoming the Coordinator of Children’s Ministries at BUMC. Tindal has one son. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and outdoor activities.
Darryl was born and raised in Roanoke, VA, where faith and sports played a significant role in his life throughout his teenage years. Darryl graduated from William Byrd High School in 2000 and enrolled at Virginia Tech the following August. He has earned a degree in Education and is currently working on his Masters of Divinity through Fuller Theological Seminary. As long as he can remember, Darryl has had a strong desire to work with youth. Darryl has been working with church youth groups since he graduated from high school. He has led and worked many youth retreats up and down the south east as a speaker and worship leader. Darryl has been the youth minister at Blacksburg United Methodist since June of 2004. Since his arrival, the youth have benefited from weekly worship services, Bible studies, and retreats, as well as numerous mission trips around the country. On one of the middle school mission trip to the Jeremiah Project, Darryl met a staffer named Kristie who became his wife two years later. Kristie, though not an “official BUMC staff member,” leads a weekly Bible Study and serves as a leader at every youth event. Kristie was an art major at N.C. State, so Darryl uses her talents to create almost all of the graphics for the youth group. Without Kristie, Darryl would be lost! Darryl and Kristie cherish the time they have with their son, Grayson; they also love hiking, mountain biking, going to concerts, watching Hokie football games (ok, maybe that is only Darryl), and spending time with the many teenagers who take part in the BUMC youth ministry.
My name is Bret Gresham and I am so excited to be the Director/Campus Minister at the Wesley Foundation at Virginia Tech! I love my alma mater and feel blessed to be back in Blacksburg serving at the Wesley Foundation. I am married to Erin Gresham who is also a graduate of Virginia Tech. We have a little girl, Clara Wimberly, who is a bundle of joy! She loves coming to Wesley and getting love from all of the students. We also have an English Mastiff, Sophie, who wants to become the Wesley Foundation mascot. After graduating from VT, I went to Duke Divinity School where I received my Masters of Divinity. I am an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and have served as the senior pastor at Enon UMC in Studley, VA, and the associate pastor at Asbury UMC in Harrisonburg, VA. As the Director/Campus Minister at the Wesley Foundation I feel the most fulfilled in my ministry than I ever have. I am passionate about serving Jesus Christ in campus ministry and seek to provide a safe and comfortable environment where students can live out their faith and lives while at school. I am a huge sports fanatic as the students will quickly tell you. Most of my clothing is orange and maroon or New York Yankees (my two favorite teams!) I was a Cameron Crazy for one year before Tech joined the ACC, but my blood flows Orange and Maroon so I no longer call myself a Dookie (only when they play uVa!). Go Hokies!
Herb is Pastor Emeritus of Blacksburg United Methodist Church. He is a retired member of the Virginia Annual Conference, following 42 years of active ministry in the conference. He began his ministry at the White Stone Charge, White Stone Virginia, Rappahannock District, in 1959. Following this appointment, he served Princess Anne Plaza United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, for five years, then became the first full time chaplain at Ferrum College, a United Methodist College in Ferrum, Va. After eighteen years as chaplain, he was appointed to Baylake United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, where he remained for six years before being appointed to BUMC. Educated at Randolph-Macon College (English major), Duke University Divinity School(M. Div.) Married for 49 years to Evelyn. Father of two children, Karen and Steve; grandfather of three. From 1993 to just recently, he served as “chaplain” for the Virginia Tech football team.
Travis is from Cary, North Carolina and is a freshman at Virginia Tech where he majors in Piano Performance and Mathematics.
He attended Enloe High School where he enjoyed performing in the Chamber Choir as well as in Musicals. Travis has studied piano for 13 years and organ for 4, and has substituted at various churches in the Cary area.
He is delighted to be the new Organist at BUMC and loves his new church family!
Val Skripak, Office Administrator
Val was born in St. Nazaire, France and raised in Salem, Virginia. She attended Virginia Western Community College, earning a Certified Legal Assistant designation. She has lived in Blacksburg since August 2006, after relocating from Richmond. She has served as a legal assistant/paralegal to attorneys in South Carolina, Michigan, and Roanoke, and has also lived in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, as well as returning to live in France for just under a year. She has been happily married for 27 years to her husband Steve, a Virginia Tech administrator, and she has two daughters, Carly (21) a junior at Radford, and Dana (11), a sixth grader at Blacksburg Middle School. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and serving at BUMC.
Charlie grew up in Blacksburg and worked for Marriott in landscaping before coming to his position at the church. Charlie continues with landscaping and has a business of his own now.
Charlie is a hard worker and you’re apt to see him working in a number of places. He works at Carolee Donuts and at the Cooper House and Newman Center.
When Charlie relaxes, he enjoys watching his two favorite football teams, the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Dallas Cowboys.
Charlie is also a big NASCAR fan (probably because he races around so much himself!). Charlie is married to Wanda and they have two daughters.
Walter grew up in Whitethorne, Virginia and worked many years in construction.
He worked on the Coliseum at Virginia Tech while he was employed with T. C. Brittan out of Atlanta. He also worked with Moss Associates at the Celanese Plant in Narrows.
Walter started his own janitorial business over twenty years ago. He also takes care of The Wesley Foundation and several physicians’ offices.
Walter is married to Frances and they have four children, eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In his free time, Walter enjoys visiting historical sites. Walter has been a Deacon at his church for twenty-five years.