Riverwood Staff:

As a staff, we recognize the authority of God and realize that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.

Want to connect with our staff? Please email our office and we will connect you to the appropriate staff person.

Pastor Keith Robinson, Senior Pastor
Pastor Keith is a graduate of University of Northwestern, St. Paul (formerly Northwestern College) with a B.A. in Christian Ministries, and he received his Master of Divinity Degree from North Park Seminary College in Chicago, IL. Before coming to Riverwood to be Senior Pastor in 2004, he served as a Pastor in Youth Ministries for 25 years at Covenant Churches in Brooklyn Park, Forest Lake and Maple Grove, Minnesota as well as in Grand Rapids, Michigan and in the Kansas City area. He resides in Rockford with his wife Amy and they have four children and six grandchildren. He loves riding his motorcycle (often with the “Fossil Apostles”), smoking ribs and other meats, and following most/all of the Minnesota sports teams. He is working on writing a book about the “Squares” – a concept he teaches often in messages at Riverwood. It is a way of considering how God uses circumstances in our lives and how that impacts our walk with God. Pastor Keith also has moonlighted as an adjunct professor in Christian Ministries at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul and as the Cornerstone instructor at Solid Rock School of Discipleship at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. His life verse is 3 John:4 which says “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” This being closely followed by Galatians 5:6, Riverwood’s key verse, which says “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.”

David Ellis, Executive Pastor

David is a passionate leader with over two decades in professional leadership as well as 13 years leading Heart Revolution—a ministry designed to help a man discover his identity, recover his heart, and pursue his destiny alive and free. In 2017, David released his first book, Losing Dad Finding Father, leading readers thru his own story of lost boy marked by childhood sexual abuse and abandonment to loved son. As Riverwood’s part-time Executive Pastor, David’s focus is growing the staff into a purposeful team while maximizing processes to help facilitate actual ministry and less time in “administratia.” David is married to Jan, has 4 adult children, 2 daughters-in-law, and 4 grandkids. When not at Riverwood or working full-time as a technology firm leader, David is caring for 3 horses, 4 cats, 18 chickens and 3 dogs on their Greenfield hobby farm.

Andrea Canniff, Worship Director

Andrea has been active in the Worship Ministry since 1998. She held several Worship Ministry positions at Plymouth Covenant Church including an Internship in Worship Arts, Apprenticeship in Worship Arts and finally as the Interim Worship Director. She came to Riverwood and has been serving on the Worship Team since August of 2013. She and her husband Rory reside in Delano with their two children. Andrea loves Music (singing/writing/attending concerts) and spending her time with family and friends. Andrea’s life verse is Galatians 2:20 which says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Rachel Kleinschmidt, Office Administrator

Rachel has served as Office Administrator at Riverwood since 2014. She also serves as Ministry Consultant for Women Ministries of the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She received her Ph.D. in Agricultural History and Rural Studies from Iowa State University in 2013 and spent her graduate school years as a college history instructor. She lives in Rockford, Minnesota and enjoys reading, writing, cooking, spending time with her husband Micah and corgis Waffles and Mocha, and singing with the Worship Team. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 150:6, which reads, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

Geo Linna, Director of Elevate Student Ministries

Geo has been active in student ministries since 2001. When committing her life to the Lord in her early 20’s, she sought His direction in where to serve. He made it very clear that she belonged with the youth! Geo served as a volunteer in student ministries at Wayzata Evangelical Free Church and has been a part of Elevate Student Ministries here at Riverwood for the past 3 years. She understands the importance of coming alongside students during these middle and high school years and is excited to share Jesus with the kids in her own community!

Geo lives in Rockford with her husband Kevin and children Bailey, Faith, and Micah. Now that the two oldest are in the youth group, it has become a family affair and they are enjoying this adventure together. When not hanging out with the youth, she enjoys running, traveling, and quality time with her family and friends. Her favorite verse for ministry is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Tami Keene, Director of Children’s Ministries

Tami began volunteering in Children’s Ministry when she lived in Soldotna, Alaska at the age of 17. She has remained committed to serving in children’s ministry ever since. For the past 25 years she has taught and led children at the churches she has attended in both Alaska and Minnesota. God has given Tami a heart and desire to help children and youth navigate through this life by introducing them to a personal relationship with Jesus and by also helping equip them with the tools found in the Word of God, that will help anchor them through the storms of life. She believes with all of her heart that all people should be taught the infallible Word of God at a young age. Having the Word of God hidden in your heart during your formative years will absolutely, without a doubt steer you and guide you through all of your years on this earth. One of Tami’s favorite verses is Hebrews 4:16, “So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.” Tami lives her life believing that the “God kind of love”, never fails.

Miranda Gill, Director of Congregational Care & Assistant Youth Director

Miranda has been involved in youth ministry since she graduated high school in 2001. She has a passion for the next generation and for caring for those in need. This led her to getting a degree in Psychology and Christian Counseling. She spent time working at a youth homeless shelter before joining the Riverwood staff in November 2018. Here she splits her time between mentoring the next generation in their walks with God, and providing love and support to the congregation of Riverwood and their needs. Miranda lives in Rockford with her husband, Andy, and children, Andrew, Ainsley, Adalynn, Asher, and Averly. When she is not working, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, playing games, and making memories. Her favorite verse is II Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Leadership Board:

Our Leadership Board in collaboration with the Senior Pastor prayerfully discern God’s will for the church, evaluate the execution of the mission and direction of the church, provide spiritual leadership, oversee the business affairs of the church, facilitate resolution of disagreements and conflicts, or spiritual recovery, and cultivate a community marked by love.

Josh Soukup, Chair

Josh has served Riverwood on the leadership board since 2014 and as chairman since 2015. Prior to that, he served as the church’s Director of Operations for several years. Along with his wife Erin and their five children, he lives in Greenfield and has been a part of the community since 2008. His favorite verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Jeremy Huebsch, Vice Chair

Jeremy has served on the leadership board since 2016 and has had multiple roles with the Imagine campaign and membership. One of his favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. When not serving at Riverwood, he enjoys spending time with his family and attending swimming, hockey, track and band events as well as enjoying local playgrounds. He and wife Jo Ann have three girls. Jeremy works as a marketing analyst in Medina.

Erik Brown, Treasurer

Erik has served on the leadership board as treasurer since 2016. He has co-led Financial Peace University at Riverwood with wife, Kerrie, serves on the welcome ministry and really enjoys volunteering at the Food Shelf. Erik and Kerrie make their home in St. Michael. Erik and Kerrie have 2 adult children and two grandchildren. One of Erik’s favorite verses is James 1: 2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Outside of Riverwood, Erik enjoys spending time with family and friends and spoiling his grandchildren.

Andrea MacLean, Secretary

Andrea has been privileged to serve on the leadership board as secretary since 2016. She also enjoys teaching Sunday School in the preschool room. One of her favorite verses is Philippians 1:27, which says “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. When she is not serving at Riverwood, she enjoys spending time with her family on their rural Delano hobby farm. She and husband Daryl have two emerging adult children. Andrea works as a paralegal in St. Louis Park.

Steve Jeska, At Large

Steve and his wife Renee have lived in the Greenfield-Rockford area for the past 25 years. They began attending Riverwood Covenant back in June 2014 after deciding they wanted to attend a church where they could make an impact on their local community. After learning about the Covenant church and Riverwood, they decided to make a commitment to the church, becoming members in October 2017. His spiritual journey began in the summer of 1988 when he recognized the vacuum that religion left in his soul, making the decision to begin to seek the truth. Steve has been married to Renee for 33 years. Together they have raised three wonderful adult children, of whom two are married and have given them the gift of four spectacular grandchildren. Their youngest son is currently serving overseas in the United States Air Force. Steve has been self-employed as a painting contractor and project manager for the majority of his professional career.

Gayle McCracken, At Large

Gayle lives in Rockford with her husband, Jeff, and their two boys, ages 16 and 17. She committed her life to the Lord when she was 15. She has been a member of Riverwood since 2000 and has participated in youth ministry, children’s ministry, worship ministry, and now works in the nursery. She enjoys her work as a hair stylist and likes to watercolor paint and travel. Her favorite scripture verse is Phillippians 1:6, Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.