OUR STAFF

Regular Staff

Jon served as a pastor in the Madison area for twenty years before launching Collaboration Project in 2019. He has a passion for serving the local church and encouraging the church as they serve the most vulnerable. Jon has a history of starting programs centered on engaging the church in local service. He helped begin Madison Missions, a local youth service camp, that engages hundreds of students every summer. He also co-founded the Kingdom Justice Summit which annually brings together hundreds of people from dozens of churches around Christianity and justice in our city. He is married to his beautiful wife, Mary, and together they have three kids, Ethan, Charlotte and Hazel.

Nick Ertz brings over 15 years of experience in church and nonprofit leadership, financial strategy, and community development. He’s the co-founder and pastor of Orchard Church in Madison, where he serves alongside his wife, Leiah. Nick is passionate about helping everyday people discover their place in God’s redemptive story—especially in the neighborhoods they call home. He lives in Sun Prairie with Leiah and their 5½-year-old daughter and is also a proud stepdad to two teenage daughters, ages 16 and 18. He enjoys good coffee, slow running, planning travel, and reading theology—sometimes all in the same weekend.

Becca joined the Collaboration Project team in April of 2023 after 5 years of youth ministry in Madison. Prior to parish ministry, she worked in outdoor ministry in east-central Wisconsin where she lived lakeside and loved it. She’s passionate about intentional relationships, authentic experiences that nourish the spirit, and pulling up chairs to make room for more people at God’s table. Becca and her husband enjoy hiking, camping, making music, and playing board games.

Lauren joined the Collaboration Project team in November 2025. Lauren, her husband, Adam, and four kids moved to Madison in 2020 to join Westwood Christian Church where Adam is the Lead Minister. Lauren has seen how valuable it can be for churches to work together and has enjoyed attending Collaboration Project events as a participant. She is excited about supporting the Collaboration Project team administratively so we can support and facilitate even more trust and partnership in the greater Madison area. Lauren enjoys reading, watching movies, sewing and playing board games.

We are in process of hiring more adjunct staff for our Neighborhood Networks in roles of facilitators and administrators.

Caleb serves as pastor of New Beginnings Alliance Church on Madison's East side. His wife, Liz, teaches fifth grade at Winnequah Elementary in Monona. They adopted their two daughters, Rylee (9) and Evie (8), out of foster care and have guardianship of teenager Jwana, a freshman at UW-Whitewater. Caleb has been a full-time pastor since 2014 and in his current role for approximately four years. He is passionate about multi-ethnic ministry and encouraging believers to live out their faith in Christ-like ways.

Abbie is a Pastor, church planter, and entrepreneur. She is the lead Pastor of New Culture Church and Director of Neighborhood Networks for Collaboration Project. She is passionate about seeing Kingdom renewal and equipping the next generation of church leaders.