Meet the Elders

Dan Englert

Dan grew up near Dekalb, Illinois, and has been a part of Park since 2010 after moving to Chicago for a job in banking. He came to faith at a young age after having talked through with his parents His need for Christ as his Savior. Dan met his wife Amy on a Park retreat in Lake Geneva and they were married in 2012. They have 5 kids: Nate, Elizabeth, Charlie, Brooks, and Catherine and live in the Old Town neighborhood.

Joe Riccardi

Originally from Astoria, New York, and having grown up in Long Island, Joe has been in Chicago since September of 1992. He came through the doors of Park as a spiritual seeker in April of 1993 and four years later became a follower of Jesus at Park. Joe graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Moody Theological Seminary. He has been on staff at Park as a pastor since October of 2004, leading our Lincoln Park church since 2009. He lives in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and he always loves to try new restaurants in the city!

Brandon Tanner

Brandon was born in Kenya and grew up in a small village in Tanzania as the child of missionary parents. He came to faith while attending a Christian boarding school in middle school. After graduating high school, he attended Northwestern University and got involved in campus ministry and grew in his heart for Evangelism and passion for the Great Commission and unreached people groups. He graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree and has worked in industrial robotics ever since. Brandon married his wife Amanda in May of 2022 and has been serving as an elder at Lincoln Park since January 2023.

Shane Vitosh

Shane grew up in Odell, Nebraska. He met his wife Laine at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and they got married in 2009. After growing up in the church, he truly recognized his need for Savior late in college and began to follow Jesus after moving to Kansas City. After three years there, they moved to Chicago in October of 2012 and began attending Park shortly after. Shane and Laine have two daughters, Audrey and Mellie, and live in Lakeview.