Karla Spence Kurtz is is a nonprofit professional with over 25 years of experience and a storyteller.  She uses those skills to help organizations and individuals share their stores and build passion for their mission.  Karla has a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and a Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from East Tennessee State University. 

Karla is a cradle United Methodist with deep roots on both sides of her family.  The women in her family have been part of the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS), the United Methodist Women (UMW), and now the United Women in Faith (UWF).

She is active in the United Methodist Church and has served in many roles throughout Holston Annual Conference and the districts within, including Board Chair at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Wesley Foundation, District President and District Officer for the Oak Ridge District United Methodist Women.  She was on the organization committee for the Domestic Violence Task Force for the Holston Conference and led the effort to write a resolution that mandated training on domestic violence and advocacy for all clergy, which passed.  She is a domestic violence survivor and strong advocate for women’s rights and common sense gun control.  In the local church, she has directed Vacation Bible School, taught adult and children’s Sunday School classes, organized trips to Resurrection for youth groups, and sung with the Oasis contemporary music group.

Her hobbies include geocaching, 4-wheeling in Jeeps, photography, scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and reading.  Originally from Oak Ridge, TN, Karla is married to Rev. Billy Kurtz from the Karns community outside of Knoxville and they moved in June 2023 to Bluefield, VA, where he now serves First United Methodist Church. Their home is blessed and run by two feline children (rescues Roberto and Willie).