Our Staff

Amber Gilles
​Office Manager/Streaming Service Operator
amber@1stpresby.org

​Amber Gilles is the Office Manager at First Presbyterian. She began work in the office in April 2021. Amber is an East Side of Waterloo native, having attended West High School, Hawkeye Community College, the University of Northern Iowa, and currently working on completing a degree in accounting at Upper Iowa University. She has 10+ years of experience at various local businesses working in accounting, payroll, human resources, and office management. She enjoys working in the background helping to make the various office details run smoothly. Amber lives with her husband, Gary Jr., and two daughters, Iris and Ivy. Amber and Gary also run the live streaming for the church's worship services.
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Tyler Gajewsky
​Sanctuary Choir Director

Tyler Gajewsky began service as Music Director in September 2021. He is in his fourth year at the University of Northern Iowa, studying choral music education. Tyler is a Des Moines native, growing up in the Urbandale area and attending Urbandale High School where he found his passion for music. Tyler is a part of multiple choirs at UNI and other choirs outside of the school of music. Tyler is the music director of the Beta Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a music fraternity at UNI, and also helps direct the UNI Community Children's Choir.

Melody Steed
​Bell Choir Director
melnkans@verizon.net

Melody Steed serves as First Church's Bell Choir Director. Melody comes with a wealth of experience leading worship in churches of various denominations. She comes to the Cedar Valley from Lindsborg, KS where she taught at Bethany College for 12 years. While there, she directed the Bethany College Handbell Ensemble, developing the program into a thriving ensemble that frequently participated in their chapel services. While she has recently moved to Waterloo, she is not a stranger to the area as an alumni of UNI. She currently teaches at Cunningham Elementary School as the Music Teacher.   

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