Jennis Thomas is a career educator, having first taught high school before making the leap to Corporate America where he has spent over 30 years working in Human Resources and Organizational Development. He first attended Unity of Tampa in 2005 and soon realized he had found a wonderful spiritual home. When his two sons were young, he was very active in the Youth and Family Ministry, including serving one year as Co-Director.
Vice-President
Oscar Bernard began attending Unity of Tampa in January of 2022 and became a member that same year. He is an assistant professor at the USF College of Nursing. He had the good fortune to be introduced to the transformative influences of Unity and A Course in Miracles in his early adulthood. These powerful principles guided him throughout his life and were instrumental when selecting his Ph.D. research focus in education. Oscar is one of the leaders of A Course in Miracles classes and panel discussions offered here.
Annette Montanez enjoys creating connections! With over 30 years of experience in event management, Annette has a real knack for bringing people together. This passion shines through in all her endeavors, from authoring a children’s book to her past experience as a business owner. Whether she’s managing large-scale events or crafting engaging programs for local communities, Annette’s focus is always on creating enriching experiences and supporting others.
For three years, Annette has been part of the Unity of Tampa community (becoming a member in her second year). She has enjoyed volunteering in such activities as the Social Lights Vision Team, Rev. Nancy’s Unity Ordination event and reception, the craft fair, and most recently the kitchen remodel team led by her husband, Alfred. Annette truly appreciates the camaraderie and enriching spiritual discussions that Unity of Tampa offers.
Joanne Wells has been a member of Unity since November of 2001, when she joined First Unity Church in St. Petersburg, FL. She and her husband, Dwight, attended there until 2010. That was when they moved to Tampa and joined Unity of Tampa with Rev.’s Allen and Debbie Moss. Joanne became a Prayer Chaplain on March 25, 2012 after training under Rev. Debbie. In addition, she has served on many of the Unity of Tampa Vision Teams and often volunteer as needed. Her community involvement includes membership and participation in the Sierra Club, ACLU, South Democratic Organization, and the Huddle.
A graduate of the University of Alaska with a BA in accounting, Joanne is a retired accountant. She volunteers to prepare returns during tax season. Joanne believes she has a spiritual gift for reaching out to people in need. When she and Dwight travel in their RV, they reach out to friends and family, as well as to the new friends they meet along the way! They have attended many Unity Churches across this nation, meeting many wonderful like-minded people.
Sam Esser is a long-time resident of Tampa. He was introduced to Unity of Tampa in 1983 and has always considered himself a child of Unity. A heartfelt problem-solver, he has a strong affinity for music, art, natural medicine and spirituality. He is grateful to be of service to Unity of Tampa and its members and congregants.
Sean Lee is retired with a diverse background in business operations, human resources, and marketing strategies. His last 20 years were spent working for Defense Contractors as an Industrial Security Officer providing presentations on counterintelligence and security.
Throughout his career, Sean volunteered providing support services to non-profit and county organizations in various capacities with training or direct hands-on support. Now retired, Sean volunteers with Meals on Wheels and Hydrate the Homeless in our local community and supports an endless list of youth and outreach activities at Unity of Tampa.
Sean began attending Unity of Washington DC under Rev. Sylvia Sumter in 2007 and then attended Unity of Fairfax under Rev. Russel Heiland. Sean has made Unity of Tampa his spiritual home and has been an active Member and volunteer since 2021.
Teri Bennati is a Tampa native and has been attending Unity of Tampa since 1994 when Ross Goodman was minister. She remembers walking in and hearing ” All thoughts are prayers and we are always praying” and ” We honor whatever path you are on ” and she knew she was home. She became a member in 2007 and she and her wife Liane have raised their triplets with the guidance of Unity principles. During their younger years she ran the service program at their school and encouraged continued community service.
Professionally, she is a Nurse Practitioner and recently retired. She graduated from HCC and then went on to obtain her Bachelors and Masters in nursing from the University of Tampa. She served on the Ethics committee and was an active member of several professional nursing organization. Being a mother who teaches her children by example has been a guiding principle in her parenting. She now enjoys traveling, managing rental property and renovations and spending time with family and friends. She is currently studying Evolutionary Astrology and works with a Course in Miracles daily. She feels called by spirit to deepen her spiritual practice and community and looks forward to being of service with Unity of Tampa.
