Staff
Dan Smith
Lead Minister
Smitty was born and raised in the Buckeye State, but he didn't grow up in a religious home. His family literally never went to church – which gives him a pretty unique perspective on faith. He has his Bachelor of Arts in Ministry from Kentucky Christian University and his Master of Arts in Storytelling (Yep, it’s a real degree. Seriously.) from East Tennessee State University. After working for a great church in the Washington, D.C., area for 8 years, Dan came home to Ohio and led the amazing team of people who started Momentum.
Dan and his amazing wifey, Shannon, have 3 mini-me’s: Zion (son), Azlan (daughter), & Journey (son). They all find him mildly funny. Dan is an avid NFL, Cavs, and Buckeyes fan. He loves studying the Bible, working out, reading nerd books, photobombing, watching movies (mostly for the theater popcorn with fake butter), and eating all foods that are Mexican, Amish, or Asian.
Fun facts:
-In 2005 Dan made a comedy video that generated 26 million hits in one year.
-In 2007 Dan was chosen as one of Cleveland Magazine's "Most Interesting People."
-In 2012 Smitty won an Ohio Hip-Hop Award and was nominated again in 2013 and 2017.
Nicole Gates
Part-time MoKids Director
Nicole was born in Maryland and had spent parts of her life in the DC Suburbs of Maryland and Virginia before deciding to “take her talents to Cleveland” in the summer of 2006. Since then Nicole has become a huge Cleveland fan and considers this city her home. Eating at the Happy Dog, going to Cavs games, sipping coffee, and reading in Tremont are her favorite Cleveland pastimes. Children and families are something very close to Nicole’s heart and she is passionate about making Sunday morning the highlight of your child’s week.
Lauren Love
Part-time Student Ministry Director
Lauren has lived in the Cleveland area her entire life. She grew up in Sagamore Hills, OH, and graduated from Nordonia High School. After high school, she attended Kent State University (Go Golden Flashes!) and received a Bachelor’s degree in integrated social studies for young adult education with a specialization in history. She returned to Kent State later to receive her Master’s degree in educational administration. Kent State holds a special place in her heart for many reasons, but mainly because it is where she met her husband, Mike. They now live in Stow, OH, with their two boys, Luke and James.
Lauren first met Dan and Shannon Smith when she was a teenager attending Summer in the Son, a youth week of camp at Kentucky Christian University. When she later found out that Dan and Shannon were planting a church in Cleveland, she jumped at the chance and started attending not long after launch in September 2006. Now, she is a full time stay-at-home mom and part time student ministry director at Momentum. Knowing the importance of student ministry in her own life, she loves investing in teens!
Lauren enjoys reading, drinking coffee, singing along to musicals, taking walks with her boys, Cedar Point, visiting the beach and watching sports, especially live sporting events. While loving all things Cleveland sports, she sincerely hopes that the Cav’s championship parade she attended in 2016 with her dad will not be her last Cleveland championship!
Andre Frazier
Part-Time Worship Music Director
I was born in Canton, Ohio, and lived in quite a few places growing up as a kid from Germany, to Texas, Michigan and back to Ohio. I spent my young adult life playing soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis, but even before those things, I'd always known my love was music. Out of high school, I jumped into the music scene singing and performing at many local area clubs.
I worked for Cinemark in Valley View for 20 years where I met my Dr. of Science wife, Laura, with whom I’d also have two amazing children, Aislin and Lleyton. Through Cinemark, I found Momentum Church. Friendships started to form. Listened to weekly sermons and many conversations on what it meant to become a follower of Jesus and it was (worship) music that eventually got my attention and I've never looked away since. I left the theatre and went and got my BA in Music from Kent State University. Now I’m a worship music director for Momentum leading people to Jesus through the ministry of music.
Currently, I've been performing/singing with the band The Avenue (part of the Cle Music Group), and also drumming and singing in a local Akron, Ohio, band, “The Angie Haze Project.” I'm either at a concert, performing on a stage or rehearsing with a band. I'm a VERY LOYAL everyday Starbucks coffee drinker. My daily snack is a pb and j sandwich. Outside of music, I enjoy the cities of Vancouver and New York, overeating at Indian food buffets, watching soccer, going to Broadway shows, playing tennis and dominating my kids in Mario Kart.
Shannon Smith
Part-time Mo Groups Director
Shannon Smith was raised all over the place, but will give a shout-out to Crowley, LA, because that is where she spent most of high school and because the Cajuns have the best food. After graduating from Kentucky Christian University, Shannon went on to teach high school math in northern VA – which technically makes her a nerd. Now she resides in Cleveland, OH, where she enjoys great Vietnamese food at #1Pho, awesome (and cheap) ice cream at The Big Dipper, and chai tea lattes with her hot husband and three cool kids. Although Shannon wears socks on her arms, has a bandana fetish, and only has high heels in her shoe collection, she’s still allowed to lead the Mo group ministry at Momentum. She’s passionate about creating small environments that move people forward spiritually and truly believes that “Mo group is better than no group.”
*It’s no coincidence that Dan and Shannon Smith have the same last name and seem to flirt a lot. To avoid nepotism, we have arranged for any concerns about Shannon’s leadership (that already have been discussed directly with Shannon; Matthew 18:15) to be directed toward Jason Peterson, an elder at Momentum
Cortney
Part-time Administrative Assistant
Keeping Mo organized and running smoothly is what Cortney does best! She worked as an accounting assistant and administrative assistant and is thrilled for the opportunity to use these gifts at Momentum. She grew up in the middle of Amish country, where she rode horses and spent most of her time in the barn. She has since traded in her cowboy boots for hiking shoes to explore the Cleveland Metro Parks. She's married to a nerdy engineer, Josh, and they have two crazy boys, Vaughn and Isaac. They spend a lot of time exploring local museums, going to the zoo and enjoying the Cleveland restaurant scene (s/o to Barrio for the best tacos in CLE).
Rachel Gregory
Part-time Administrative Assistant
Rachel has lived in the Cleveland area most of her life. She is the mother of a spunky little girl and enjoys spending time with her as they explore parks and the outdoors, crafting, coloring, and fun!! Rachel has been with Momentum since the Twinsburg Macedonia Campus launched. Her organization and attention to detail are two of the things she’s excited to bring to the table as an Admin Assistant for Momentum! Her love for God is evident through her work-ethic and the way she helps people win!