Late this past November, our longtime friend, colleague, and sister in Christ, Susie Truax, retired from her position as Parkside’s receptionist for the past eight years. While we will all miss her cheerful greetings and helpful assistance, we wish her an exciting next chapter in her life as she spends more time with family, friends, and pursues new interests and ministries.

As we ring in the new year, please join us in welcoming the newest member of our team, Nicole LaRocca, who has assumed the receptionist duties for Parkside Church. Many of you may have already spoken with Nicole who started in her new position at the end of November.

“I like it,” says Nicole regarding the new job. “The days are busy and every day is different because the calls are all so different.”

As the first person many people reach when contacting Parkside, Nicole sees her role of receptionist as a ministry. “It’s really my job to understand how best to help [the caller] and get them in touch with the right person,” explains Nicole. “I do my best to be welcoming and kind on the phone while I try to figure out who can help them. There are so many people calling in for different reasons -- be it a kind word, requesting prayer, or wanting to use our facilities, and they all need to be put in touch with the appropriate person that can best help them.” In addition to fielding all the calls coming into the church, Nicole is also responsible for scheduling the rooms in the church for meetings and events.

About Nicole

Parkside has been Nicole’s church home since 2009 when she moved from Cincinnati back to Northeast Ohio. Originally from the Boardman/Canfield area, Nicole attended Miami University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 1993. She’s glad to be back near Boardman where she is close to family and can get her favorite flavor of ice cream, Chocolate Pecan, from Handel’s. She enjoys old movies, HGTV, chocolate, and dogs. She also enjoys reading in her spare time and is currently reading God Took Me By the Hand by Jerry Bridges.

How You Can Pray

For Nicole: “That things will go well as I’m learning all the new things about the job. Please pray for discernment as the calls are coming in.”

For Susie and Bill: “Please pray for great wisdom for the next steps we’ll be taking, where the Lord would plant us if it’s any place other than here, or if it’s here, then it’s here!”