Our Staff
Nicholas Barber
Business Manager
814-833-1761 ext. 100
Nick is originally from Oil City, PA, but was confirmed here at St. Paul's in 2003 and has been working here since 2015. He enjoys playing hockey and golf, reading history, and boating and fishing on Lake Erie. He graduated in 2011 from Penn State Behrend. Nick met his wife, Marit, at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh and they were married in 2019. His favorite things about St. Paul's are the friendships he's made and all the support he's received over the years.
Melissa has been a member of St. Paul’s for 26 years, dedicating around 24 of those years to nurturing young minds as the Youth Director, a Sunday School teacher, and a pre-K teacher. Originally from Northumberland, PA, Melissa moved to Erie to attend Gannon University, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She and her husband Mike are proud parents of two adult children: Emily, who lives in Perrysburg, Ohio, working as the Emergency Response Planner at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, and Andrew, who is studying to become a Special Education teacher at PennWest University. Their family also includes an adorable little dog named Cali and a grand-puppy named Jesse.
Melissa loves traveling, especially to destinations where she can hike and embark on new adventures, with Jamaica and Colorado being favorite spots she shares with Mike. In her free time, she likes walking with friends, visiting farmers markets, watching movies around the firepit and spending time with Emily in Ohio. Melissa is also a big fan of In-N-Out. What she values most about St. Paul’s is the community. She finds the people to be incredibly friendly and helpful, often saying that the church feels like family to her.
Nancy Dahlquist
Director of Child Development Center
814-833-1761 ext. 124
Nancy began working at St. Paul's in June of 2019. She was born and raised in Erie and attended both Gannon and Mercyhurst Universities. Nancy's family includes four children and three grandchildren whom she loves to spend time with and who are the light of her life. She also enjoys reading, crafting, and gardening. Prior to working at St. Paul's, she was a teacher in Early Childhood for 25+ years and a director at three Star-4 facilities. In her free time, Nancy enjoys animal documentaries and learning about real crimes involving serial offenders. Her favorite thing about St. Paul's is the support and cooperative community.
Debbie Dravecz
Director of Communications & Administration
814-833-1761 ext. 100
Debbie has been a member of St. Paul's since 2010. Raised in the Lehigh Valley, PA, she moved to Erie in 2007. In her free time, Debbie enjoys reading, spending time collecting beach glass along the shores of Lake Erie, and hanging out with friends and family. Her favorite thing about St. Paul's is the community.
Bridget Nair
Director of Children's Ministry
814-833-1761 ext. 105
Bridget grew up in the Pittsburgh area and moved here to attend college and has been in the Erie area ever since. She has a degree from Edinboro University in Education and has been in the Early Childhood Education field for 21 years. Along with being the Children’s Ministry Director, she is also the Assistant Director at St. Paul’s Child Development Center. She is married and has 2 teenage children. She enjoys reading and crafting when she has time. Bridget also enjoys traveling to visit her family overseas. Her favorite part of St. Paul’s is the sense of community and support.
Erik Young
Pastor
814-833-1761 ext. 103
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. Erik Young graduated from Judson College (now University, in Elgin, IL) in 1988 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Youth Leadership. He continued his education at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1996. Following graduation, he was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, accepting his first call that same year in Southern California. He would go on to serve a total of three congregations there over the next almost-two decades. Pastor Erik and his family moved to Erie in 2015 (yes, on purpose!) as Senior Pastor for a local sister congregation, joining St. Paul's in May of 2023. Additionally, Pastor Erik serves our country through the US Navy Reserve as a Captain (CAPT) in the Chaplain Corps.