Staff
Pastor
Rev. Pam DeDea began serving as our senior pastor on July 1, 2021. She is visionary in her ability to see the needs of the community and helping to develop ministries that help alleviate community needs. Since her arrival UM Temple has partnered with First Presbyterian in the Buddy Break Ministry, Heartland For Children and is growing our partnership and ministry with Cygnet School.
She serves on the Board of Aldersgate Emmaus as the Spiritual Director. She is married to Pastor Steve DeDea, who serves as a Local Pastor at Alturas United Methodist Church. They have two grown children Jennifer/Bill and Larissa/Andy, two grandchildren Nicole/Darien and Tommy/Tori, three great grandchildren Skyler, Josiah (JJ) and Noah, and four fur babies, Charles, Abbie, Gracie, and Cosmo.
Melanie Pranno - Melanie.umt@outlook.com
Administrative Assistant
Melanie Pranno joins us as our Administrative Assistant in training. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of South Florida. She served for 37 years as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. She played Second Flute in the Imperial Symphony Orchestra for 35 years and performs extensively as a soloist and chamber musician. Her summers were spent as Executive Director of the University of Central Florida String Workshop for 21 years. She is married to Art Pranno our Music Director. Together they have 5 cats, 1 dog, a turtle and a Greek tortoise.
Art Pranno - ArtpUMT@outlook.com
Music Director
Art serves as our Music Director. Since 2016 Arthur Pranno has been string instructor of the Bartow area Schools. As a violinist, conductor, and educator he brings over 30 years of public school, university, and professional experience to share with his students. Art also serves on the faculty of Polk State College. He has served as Associate conductor and concertmaster of the Imperial
Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Summer String Workshop held at UCF. He's served as Music Director of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has served as guest clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.
He has guest conducted The Pilsen (Czech Republic) Philharmonic on two occasions, the Orchestra del Teatro Marrucina and at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 2009 he was named the Florida College Music Educator of the Year. Art enjoys free time with his wife, Melanie, dog Boops, six cats, turtle, and tortoise.
Andrew Crosswait - AndrewUMT@outlook.com
A/V Technician
Andrew is a passionately creative individual who loves making people happy. His primary passion is video game design and development, but he’ll do whatever creative endeavor strikes his fancy, from video editing to writing to 3D modeling. If you need some insight into design or creative inspiration, he’s the guy to go to! He’s also the proud owner of two Chihuahuas, Tootsie and Squigly.
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(He also made this website! And is currently writing this blurb!)