Meet Our Staff

Rev. Dr. Lawrence A. Ruby, Pastor

Pittsburgh is home since he grew up in Hopewell Township and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. After a year in graduate school at Pitt he answered God’s call to ministry, graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1975. He later received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

Larry comes with a wealth of experience in both large and small churches, as an Associate Pastor, a solo Pastor and as a Senior Pastor. This has served him well as together with the people of God at Hiland he seeks to grow into all that God is calling us to be and to do.

Linda Davis, Director of Children’s Ministries

Linda Davis is a long-time member of Hiland Presbyterian Church, as well as an ordained Deacon, and has been serving as Director of Children’s Ministries since 2003. She is married and has two grown daughters. Linda enjoys creating a safe environment where children can have fun and learn and she aspires to create opportunities for them and their families to help them grow in their faith and in their love of God.

Chad Johnson, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Chad has been serving as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry since March of 2004.  His call and service over the years has varied from volunteering with youth for 10 years at Glenshaw Presbyterian, along with 10 years of outdoor ministry at Crestfield Camp & Conference Center, and 2 years as an interim Director of Youth at Southminster Presbyterian Church.  With the exception of 10 years living in Slippery Rock, Pa, he has always called the North Hills his home.  Chad is honored to be married to his beautiful wife Katie and proud to be the father of their ridiculously cute children Chloe and Caleb. 

Although not a very serious person, Chad takes his call to Youth and Young Adult Ministry very seriously and is passionate about providing a safe place for young people to be themselves and be a part of a community of faith.  He loves what he is called to do and is thankful for the blessing of this community to serve in.

Jim Grapes, Director of Music Ministries

Jim has directed church choirs since 1965, coming to Hiland Presbyterian Church in 2005.  His interest as a leader in music dates back to his college days when he served as a paid soloist for a church in Buffalo, New York and as the Student Director of Chorus at the Niagara County Community College.  Jim’s interest in piano and keyboard comes from the guidance of his mother who insisted he start with lessons at the age of five. Jim received and Associates Degree in Business from Niagara County Community College and Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

At the present time, Jim spends his free time officiating basketball and volleyball for local school districts as well as recreational groups. With his wife Marcia, they enjoy six children and thirteen grandchildren.

Clay Johnson, Director of Operations

Clay has been serving as Director of Operations at Hiland Church since 2005.  He was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, is married to his wife Yvonne, has five sons, eleven grand children and one great grand child.  Clay is a life long Presbyterian.  He is an ordained elder and is active at his own church and with the Pittsburgh Presbytery.  He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors degree in business and engineering and from the University of California at Long Beach with an MBA

 Clay’s business background includes managerial and executive positions in the steel industry where his experience spans: Operations management; Financial management; Industrial engineering; Marketing and commercial research management; Mergers and Acquisitions and Executive and General Manager Responsibilities.

 After early retirement Clay served as Executive Director and Head of Administration for several major law firms.  He was then recruited into the Consulting industry where he assisted many companies in operational change; productivity improvement and financial management.

Maureen Profeta, Administrative Assistant

Maureen Profeta is a resident of the North Hills area and has worked at Hiland since April 2003. Her creativity and skills as an Administrative Assistant have added much to our ministry. She always has a smile, a kind word, and a helping hand ready when it is needed. Over the years, she has been an active member in her own church’s ministry in worship, mission, Stephen Ministry, as a small group leader, newsletter editor,  and most recently as prayer chain administrator. When she is not at Hiland, she enjoys writing, photography, and quilting.

Ami Wessel, Financial Secretary

Ami has worked as the Financial Secretary at Hiland since 1996, when her family transferred from Glenshaw Presbyterian to Hiland. Ami graduated from North Hills High School and then went on to earn a B.S. in Mathematics from Grove City College.  She worked as a Certified Insurance Premium Auditor for Aetna Casualty for eight years, prior to staying home to raise her family. In addition to the hours worked at Hiland, Ami also keeps the books for her husband’s pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe of Ingomar.

In her spare time, Ami enjoys working on her family genealogy, golfing and reading. She and her husband, Dave, live in McCandless with their three sons.