Madeline Stafford has joined the staff of the Greater Northwest Area’s Shared Services team as the new payroll and benefits administrator for churches in the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences.
Stafford, who will be located in the Oregon-Idaho Conference office, replaces Meg Bonwitt who stepped down last week after seven years working for the Oregon-Idaho Conference and GNW Area.
“We are thrilled to have Madeline join our team as she brings years of human resource experience to the work of supporting our churches, clergy and staff,” said Kristi Durham, director of human resources and benefits for the Greater Northwest Area.
She is a self-described pastor’s kid who was raised in the Evangelic Covenant Church and moved around as a child to places like Washington, Canada, California and Chicago.
“I think I’m most excited about kickstarting my career in a faith capacity and getting to solve a few puzzles along the way,” she said. “I’m also excited that I get to be a part of a team whose mission is to help others and to work in a space that puts people first.”
She and her spouse moved to the Portland area years ago and she’s spent time working in the hospitality industry, specifically with places like the Hyatt, Hilton and Hoxtons where she developed her HR skills. Stafford holds a degree in biblical and theological studies.
“I wanted to step away from hospitality in pursuit of that. It felt like this was the perfect opportunity to combine my HR skills with my theological skills,” Stafford said.
Fun facts about Stafford: She and her husband got married this past October, they are the proud parents of two cats, and she’s played the clarinet for 15 years and wants to get back into playing in musicals.
