Directors

Todd Gehrmann – Worship Director, Founder

Co-Founder and Worship Director, Todd Gehrman is the spiritual leader of the Next Step team. Todd has over 13 years of active experience and education working within the pastoral field of student ministries. He received his bachelor’s degree in Theology from Bethel University and continued to receive his Masters of Theology from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Todd served for 8 years as the Student Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, Wisconsin, helping to reach hundreds of students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Todd has worked with a denominationally diverse array of congregations stemming from nondenominational, Union, Evangelical, Lutheran, Baptist General Conference, and United Methodist. He has an imaginative heart for God and is aggressive, yet lovingly tactful, at proclaiming the good news of the gospel in word and practice. When Todd is not working with students or locked away in his office creating the programming curriculum and devotional materials for Next Step Ministries, he is spending time with his wife Tabitha and their two amazing children, Christian and Trinity.

Nick Cocalis – Missions Director, Founder

Co-Founder and Missions Director, Nick Cocalis oversees the amazing communities that Next Step is blessed to serve. After growing up in Madison, WI and stopping to play a little golf in North Carolina, Nick Graduated from Marquette University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and continued to earn his Masters Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2008. God called Nick to full-time ministry straight out of college and Nick has been serving with Next Step from the beginning in 2007. Nick’s life was changed on a mission trip when he was in 8th grade and now Nick has over 10 years experience leading mission trips. Nick is most passionate about developing young leaders for Christ and creating sustainable community projects and initiatives.

Andrew Atwell – Creative Director, Founder

Co-Founder and Creative Director, Andrew Atwell is the vision and creator of everything “Next Step”. Andrew co-founded Next Step Ministries in 2007 after he was inspired to leave Hollywood for the sweat and tears of the mission field. A writer and filmmaker by trade, Andrew graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in English and History and studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. Andrew also has a Law Degree from Marquette University...although he's not sure why. While living in Los Angeles, God helped Andrew reevaluate his life and realize what it really meant to live for Jesus Christ. Andrew is the driving force behind the design of Next Step Ministries, using his film production and media development background to create the marketing material, promotional videos and website. Missions have been a huge factor of Andrew’s life for over 12 years, and he can’t be more excited to live out God’s calling for him through Next Step Ministries.