Meet the Team

Jordan Maroon

Executive Director

  • Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

    I tend to overwork, to find too much of my value as a person in professional success, to place too much pressure on myself to lead and minister perfectly every time.  Jesus’s words have repeatedly brought freedom, space to just take a breath, and the reminder that the work is for Him, by Him, and not intended to crush me.

  • When I used to take the (18 flights of) stairs every day to my internships with the Virginia Tourism Department and later with Virginia Economic Development Partnership.  Or maybe when I had to deal with an outrageous plumbing disaster (that I didn’t cause) only a few months into my tenure at Needle’s Eye.

  • I love the mission of Needle’s Eye and our great team but I think my favorite thing is anytime I get to see someone come alive when it clicks just how deeply God cares about them and their work.  I think we have a general sense that God loves us because of course He does - its kind of His job.  But wrapping your head around the depth of His awareness of our hopes and struggles and His compassion and kindness in the midst of it all can be truly life-changing.

  • Either “Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen (life-changing in understanding God’s love and acceptance) or “Lament for a Son” by Nicholas Wolterstorff (by far the best, more raw, and most helpful book on grief I’ve ever read)

  • There are many but my guiding principle as Executive Director of Needle’s Eye is that the closer you get to the center of the organization (the more involved you are, the more you see under the hood, etc.), the better you should feel about it.  We need to walk the walk about working with godliness, humility, and excellence far more than we need to talk the talk.

    Connected to that is the principle that (like Jesus) leaders are meant to be servants, to elevate and empower others to succeed instead of seeking our own glory and accolades.

Pamela Padgett

Office Manager

  • The Traveler, because I am always taking trips big and small.  I was a Travel Agent for 25 years and have been regularly traveling since I was 2 years old!

  • Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness”

    There are good and bad days in every job, but the Lord has placed me here for His purposes.  Don’t hold onto the bad things and look for His abounding grace in everything.

  • Café Rustika

  • Orange Bird – He’s a cheerful little chap who flits about a good bit!

  • Jordan sets a great tone and has created a culture where it’s okay if you make a mistake, we don’t stress about the little things, and we pursue excellence, not perfection.

Jeremy Woltz

Director of Cohorts and Groups

  •  The Smoky Mug coffee shop! Coffee and Texas BBQ? Tell me a better combination — I’ll wait. And, the Mi Jalisco Mexican joint near my house. The chori-pollo is ON POINT…and, every so often, they sneak me a free margarita. What’s not to love?

  • Kristoff from Frozen. Partially because I have a 3 year old daughter and that is the only movie I’ve seen in the last 2 years - and partially because Kristoff is that guy who always comes through in a pinch, but always seems like he is having too much fun to take anything seriously. 

  • Can I say the people? Is that too cheesy? It’s the first time I’ve worked with an entire team that I feel like I can be fully myself around, and it won’t scare them off. 

  • Recently, I’ve been trying to break into bourbon collecting. Turns out this is harder than it seems! Also, when the weather is nice…it’s hard to beat spending a Saturday by the grill smoking multiple pounds of meat!

  • Peter’s Vision in Acts 10, especially verse 15, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This verse has opened my eyes and my heart to anybody anywhere. There may be some people I would prefer to keep at arm’s length…but God doesn’t give me that right. Especially when I work in His service, it is my duty to welcome everyone. Like Peter says in Acts 10:28, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”

Michael Ferreira

Operations and Accounting Administrator

  • Put me outside in any season with some kind of human propelled sports equipment and I’m having a great time. A mountain bike, canoe and downhill skis are my weapons of choice.

  • Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia

  • SO many. I am highly motivated by food. Every chore is possible if I know I’m going to get some local and differentiated comfort food at Lunch/Supper. And I must shout out Sabai Thai.

  • Honestly, I still sense I’m at the beginning of my faith & work journey. I was given a good theology of faith & work from a young age, and I understand the principles found in verses like Col 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

    Philemon 1:11, “Formerly [Onesimus] was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me…”

    And, 1 Cor 10:31, “do all to the glory of God…”

    I received great teaching on the cultural mandate woven throughout my undergrad business program at Redeemer University; Gen 1:28, “God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…’”

    But I still wrestle with seeing traditional career work and jobs as, at worst, a curse that keeps me away from family and adventure, and at best, just a means to supporting family and adventure. The verses that have begun to impact me the most on this journey speak to the simple fact that work was designed by God for a pre-fallen world and by extension it is called good, Gen 2:15. And, appended to that add Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

    I will be chewing on these verses and everything they mean for my daily life at work for years to come.

  • Needle’s Eye has been such a sweet part of the story God has been authoring with my life. After moving to Richmond just over 3 years ago, I worked with a friend at another (smaller) ministry in town and practiced a lot of the administrative skills required for this position. After about a year and a half of intense hands-on ministry and strategic leadership development, I came up against some serious burn out. The Lord began to make it very clear it was time to leave that organization, but I did not feel well connected to the broader business community in Richmond, and I had little direction on even which industry to pursue. I just happened to know Katherine (Hodges) Elsea, (another long God story) and she recommended Needle’s Eye as a potential employer. Little did either of us know that Jordan and the team had been looking for someone with precisely my skill set and background to fill a role. It literally looked like the job posting was written for my resume. I had such a peace about the transition, seeing it as a natural progression in the way God has been gentle and generous toward me throughout this ordained journey of leaving my roots up north and settling in Richmond. And peaceful has been the defining word for my experience working on this team. That is my favorite thing. As a team, we desire to set a standard of excellence and restfulness in our workplace culture. And this has been a true gift for me in this season.

Roxanne Crosby

Director of Ministry Strategy

  • Ephesians 1:17-21, “17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

  • Rainmaker; makes stuff happen!

  • A redeemed Cruella DeVille; still large and in charge but for good.

  • Calling and equipping people to their greater purpose, identity and influence.

  • Seek first to understand before being understood; from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This is still one of the best books I know to guide interpersonal relationships in the workplace and elsewhere.

Grace Bush

Digital Marketer

  • I’d love to be Rapunzel from Tangled! Like her, I’ve got a passion for art and painting, and an adventurous spirit that’s always up for new fun. I also love being barefoot! Still waiting for my golden hair to show any magical qualities, though!

  • Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

    This verse holds a special place in my heart because it serves as a powerful reminder of God’s goodness and the incredible opportunities He has for us. Whenever I find myself worrying about the future or longing for things, this verse feels like a breath of fresh air, calming my doubts and reassuring me of His unwavering support and care.

  • I love that my role allows me to be creative while promoting a team, community, and mission that are positive, uplifting, and align with my values. Even though I work remotely, I still stay connected to Richmond and its wonderful network of Christians and professionals. The Needle’s Eye team goes above and beyond to care for their employees and community members.

  • Garnett’s Café! It's such a charming and nostalgic spot. I love that the entire menu can be gluten-free – including their amazing cakes. The café’s encouragement to picnic in the park adds a unique touch! It’s a perfect reflection of the things I adore about Richmond.

  • I love being creative and active and spending time with people (and dogs) who make me laugh!