Sam Leanza Ortiz is the Managing Editor for 1517 Publishing. She holds a BA in History and Political Thought from Concordia University, Irvine, and an MA in History from Baylor University. She lives in Frederick, Maryland, with her husband, Patrick. 

Blake Flattley is an accomplished singer-songwriter and the head of 1517 Music. He holds a BA in Humanities and an MA in Theology from Concordia University, Irvine and has served as a Worship Director for churches in Southern California, Houston, New York City and the Phoenix area. Blake currently lives with his wife Tara and their three girls, Amelia, Olivia, and Willa in Southern California.

Grant oversees Digital Marketing and Fundraising at 1517. He also helps with the 1517 Academy. He holds a BA in Rhetoric and Economics from Wabash College and is currently pursuing an MA in Humanities from the University of Dallas. He attended the International Apologetics Academy in 2018. He lives and works in Dallas, Texas.

Kevin McClain grew up fishing and surfing in Southern California. He is an avid outdoors-man. He attended Seminary at Wittenburg Institute and was recently ordained as a minister in the NALC. He has a wife and four young children.

Gretchen loves writing about rich theology rooted in real life. She’s authored a training coursefor intergenerational mentoring called Gospel Mentoring. Gretchen also co-hosts the podcastFreely Given as a part of the 1517 Podcast network. It’s a conversation about the freedom thatcomes through dependence on Christ.

Gretchen is a mother to six children who are quickly growing into adults. Her family lives in western Minnesota. Gretchen works as a writer and enjoys knitting, reading many books at once, and embarrassing her teenagers in public.

Katie is the editor of Encouragement for Motherhood: Devotional Writings on the Work of Christ,  Co-host of the Freely Given podcast, and a mental health counselor.  She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota.  Rooted in west central Minnesota, Katie finds joy in exploring the depths of grace through writing, counseling, and conversation alongside her husband Dallas and their four children.