Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Tami Burks-Condon
Priest-in-Charge

Email Tami Call the Office Meet with Tami

Clergy

Tami Burks-Condon

Tami was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of New York in October, 2016. Born and raised a Lutheran, she was received into the Episcopal Church in 2007. Before discerning a call to the priesthood, she was a teacher and director of Christian education in a variety of schools and churches in Pennsylvania and New York. She is passionate about offering Christian formation, preaching, and worship that equip parishioners to go out and be Christ’s hands and heart in this world.

She loves that St. Thomas consistently professes its welcome to all “seekers, searchers, and doubters”, because she ventures that all of us can find ourselves in one of those categories at any given time.

Tami has been active in the Mamaroneck community in a variety of ways over the past 20+ years. She currently is a member of the Coalition for Community and serves on the board of the Mamaroneck Coalition for Affordable Housing. She is on the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and has served as a congregational facilitator.

Tami is the proud mom of three adult sons. She enjoys walking near water or mountains, geocaching, playing board games, scouting out the best gluten free food in Westchester, and most recently, showing off pictures of her adorable grandson. She lives in Mamaroneck with her husband Tom Condon.

Matthew Sheens
Organist/Director of Music

Program Staff

Matthew Sheens

Listed as one of Fred Hersch’s “pianists you should know”, and described as “an outstanding pianist, stoked full of creative ideas and limitless technique….totally innovative and luminous” by The Australian (national newspaper), Matthew graduated from the Elder Conservatorium in 2008 having been awarded the prize for top Undergraduate for piano, most outstanding honours student, and having being awarded the Adelaide University Medal for excellence in the humanities.

In 2009 he became the first Australian to win a coveted Downbeat Magazine Student Award, and was offered a scholarship to complete a Masters Degree in Music Performance at Boston’s New England Conservatory, studying with 10-time grammy nominated pianist Fred Hersch, and Macarthur Fellow, Jason Moran.

Upon graduating in 2011, Matthew relocated to NYC where has been engaged as composer, bandleader and performer since. In 2014 he was the winner of the APRA/AMCOS Professional Development Award. The same year Matthew was a Freedman Fellowship finalist, performing a set of original music at the Sydney Opera House. Sheens has performed with many musical luminaries including Bob Mintzer, Chris McNulty, Paul Bollenback, Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, Jim Pugh, John Hoffman, Tom Patitucci, Jerry Bergonzi, Jon Gordon and performs regularly with bassist John Patitucci. He has performed across Australia, USA, New Zealand, Japan, The Netherlands, at the Jazz Hoeilaart International Jazz Festival in Belgium, Montreux International Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Europafest in Romania, Australia’s Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and at the International Panama Jazz festival in Panama City.

In 2012 Sheens released his debut album, ‘Every Eight Seconds’, to wide acclaim and won the 2013 APRA/AMCOS Professional Development Award. Sheens released his second album ‘Untranslatable’ (ABC Music) in 2014, and ‘Cloud Appreciation Day’ (QFTF) September 2016, which won the ‘Jazz Couleurs Hit Award’ in France. His fourth album,’American Counterpoint’ (QFTF) in 2018, was named Australian Jazz work of the year at the APRA Art Music Awards. In 2019 his first Symphony was premiered by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and orchestrated for the Czech National Symphony Orchestra the same year.

Kelly Chubet
Director of Christian Education

Email Kelly

Program Staff

Kelly Chubet

Kelly is a seasoned Episcopal Sunday School teacher dedicated to fostering intergenerational relationships and connecting education, faith, and service. She believes that by nurturing one's sense of self, we can cultivate a kinder, more inclusive community.

Born in Maryland and raised Episcopalian, she earned a double major in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of Vermont. Kelly has lived in the area with her husband Charlie since 2005. They currently reside in New Rochelle with their two sons and little dog, Milo.

Before taking time to raise her family, Kelly worked for Morgan Stanley in business development handling global stock plans for the firm’s new and existing corporate clients.

Currently, Kelly sits on the Board of the ECW and the Vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Larchmont. Kelly enjoys coffee, books, laughing with friends and being on the water.

Barbara Gessler
Parish Administrator

Call the Office Email the Office

Program Staff

Barbara Gessler

Barbara grew up in Germany. She received a Master’s degree from the University of Cologne in German Literature, Philosophy and Communications.

During a year of studies in Vienna she met her husband Paul (who is from Michigan). Both relocated to Amsterdam, where they lived for almost 10 years. In Amsterdam Barbara worked as an editor and translator, specializing in subtitling, and also trained as a gold and silversmith.

In 1998 they moved to Larchmont/Mamaroneck and made this community their home. They have two adult children. Since 2006, Barbara has been the Parish Administrator for St. Thomas Church, and she has enjoyed every year.

Shanna Ortega
Bookkeeper

Email Shanna

Program Staff

Shanna Ortega

Shanna has a robust background in non-profit administration spanning from religious institutions to higher education. She is active in her community as a committee member of Safe Routes to School Rye Neck, board member at Mamaroneck Community Nursery School, and a Girl Scout troop leader.

Originally from White Plains, Shanna has lived with her husband and two daughters in Rye Neck since 2018. In her free time, Shanna enjoys reading, taking family trips to Vermont, and playing soccer with her girls at Florence Park.

David Bilotti
Property Manager

Program Staff

David Bilotti

David grew up in Mamaroneck and brings an incredible wealth of experience to his position as Property Manager.

Before coming to St. Thomas, David worked for the New York State Thruway for 37½ years. He managed I-95 from Connecticut to just outside of New York City, supervising a large staff and dealing with all aspects of highway maintenance.

He was also the superintendent of an eighteen-family apartment building in Harrison.

When he’s not working, David enjoys boating, motorcycles, archery, and spending time with his fiancé, Patty.