Home->Who We Are->Our Staff
Michael J. Kaucher
Executive Director
After graduating from Central Catholic High School in Reading, Michael learned the trade of printing as a printing press operator. His time in printing led to production management, as well as customer service. From printing he continued advancement in customer service and eventually into customer service management. Looking for further advancement and experience, Michael went into outside sales from management and worked in this arena for over 10 years. Additional skills of graphic design and print marketing experience were added along the way.
During this journey, Michael was afforded many ministry opportunities that allowed him to develop not only a heart for ministry itself, but a heart for church unity. In the mid and late 80's Michael served as guitarist for the St. Catherine of Sienna and Sacred Heart guitar choirs. Michael and his wife Pamela led adult bible studies at St. Gabriel's in Douglassville in the early 90's. From 1998-2001, along with a close friend, Michael engaged in a traveling music ministry at various churches in Berks and Lancaster counties. For the past five years, Michael and his wife Pamela have led the youth program at St. James Church in West Reading.
He served as a board member of RBCC from January of 2007 – October of 2008. In November of 2008 Michael was brought onto the staff of RBCC as Associate Director.
Michael, his wife Pamela and their two teenage children reside in Wyomissing.
Rev. Calvin Kurtz
Executive Director Emeritus
Calvin is a native of Berks County and is a member of the Mennonite community. He left a successful farming career to answer a pastoral call. After serving a city church for 10 years, he became the Executive Director of the Reading Berks Conference of Churches in 1995. Here he enjoys embarking on new ministry opportunities involving the Church and the religious community and in being the hands and feet of Christ in the serving.
He and his wife Esther Mae make their home near Morgantown and are the proud parents of 5 children and enjoy their 13 grandchildren.
Claire Young
Administrative Assistant
Claire has been involved in ministry since the age of 17, serving in both volunteer and paid capacities, and in various areas including music director, teacher and small group leader, administrator, and pastor, and was honored to have pastored a new church start for three years. Her education includes CPE (through Reading Hospital & Medical Center) RACC, Penn State University, Local Pastors Licensing School at Drew University, and Wesley Seminary, as well as many short term educational opportunities. She started her employment with RBCC as office assistant in the chapel at Berks County Prison, and became the Administrative Assistant at the office on Elm Street in January 2008.
Originally from Luzerne County, she is proud to be the daughter of a dairy farmer and United Methodist minister, and is even more proud to be the mother of three adult children, Laura, Bryan & Keith.
Daniela Fiorentino
Receptionist
Bio coming soon.
Eileen McKeown
Berks County Jail System Supervising Chaplain
Eileen McKeown discovered a love for Christ and His poor during her fourteen years of life in a monastery. After this, she entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, a religious community dedicated to the service of Christ in the poor. She was trained in pastoral care at Good Samaritan Hospital in Pottsville. She was then sent to Brooklyn, N.Y. as an outreach worker, while pursuing a degree in religious studies at St. John's University. She was sent to Albany, N.Y. to serve as Pastoral Care Minister for a local church, and continued studies at the College of St. Rose. After leaving the Daughters, Eileen graduated, and began work as a Legislative Assistant for the Chairman of the Assembly Health Committee. After eight years, she worked with the Alzheimer's Association as Director of Programs and Services, then as Reminiscence Coordinator for an assisted living facility. Since 2005, she has served as an officer on the parish council of St. Matthew's Greek Orthodox Church 2. Her interest in serving the poor and disadvantaged has led her to the Berks County Jail where she has served as a chaplain since 2006.
Paul Long
Berks County Jail System Assistant Chaplain and ReEntry Chaplain, CRC
Chaplain Paul Long is a life long resident of Berks County, PA. Through his church, Glad Tidings Assembly of God, he has served as a Worship Leader, Community Outreach Coordinator, Royal Ranger Leader, Men’s Ministry Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Nursing Home Ministry Coordinator and Prison Ministry Director. He served his country in active duty from 1954-1959, and in inactive duty from 1959-1963, when he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force. He completed the Berean Study Course of the Assembly of God in 2006 and was commissioned in that same year. Paul came to the Berks County Prison as a volunteer in 1997. He joined the Chaplain’s Staff in 2000. He is the Chaplain of Aftercare, which includes the one to one mentoring program and the HalfWay Church re-entry outreach.
Paul received the 2008 RBCC Presidential Award for ecumenical community service.
Larry W. Mast
Berks County Jail System Assistant Chaplain
As a child I was raised in the Nazarene tradition and in 10th grade my family relocated to Reading and transferred to the Methodist Church. I was unsettled in my faith journey and later found acceptance and warmth in the Lutheran Church, which is where I met my wife and best friend, Marcia, 44 years ago; her support and friendship have been a real source of strength in my life.
I served three years in the Army during the Vietnam Crisis, and spent over 30 years in Industry. I have served the Lutheran church in numerous capacities over the past 45 years. My goal from high school was to be a Minister. I began my education to achieve this goal while working in industry. Upon completion of my education five years ago, and after CPE, I felt a much stronger call to Chaplaincy.
My new goal is to serve the Lord as long as he allows me to do so. I am currently Supervising Chaplain at Berks Heim, a 420 bed long term care Nursing Home, and an associate Chaplain at Berks County Prison. Although my ministry is quite diverse I find both rewarding in their own way. I feel God has put me in this split position for a reason and in time His reason will be revealed.
Diana Oriol
Berks County Jail System Chapel Office Assistant
Married to Hipolito Oriol, Jr. Diana is the mother and grandmother of three daughters and two grandsons. Along with her husband, they have been involved in prison ministry, Freedom Gate Ministries Halfway House since 1992. She is actively involved in the Translation Department at Spring Valley Church of God and also served as an elder. She is also involved with translating church service in the Homeland Security Family Shelter. She served one term on the Board of the Reading Conference of Churches. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Pastoral Counseling.
Rev. Jill Keyser Speicher
Supervising Chaplain, Berks Heim
Jill is a 2001 graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary. Her call to ministry came after an interesting career in development and fund raising for nonprofit organizations. Her call to chaplaincy was confirmed by the completion of various Clinical Pastoral Education experiences, including one unit at Philhaven in Mt. Gretna, four units from a year residency at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and a final unit of CPE at Phoebe Ministries in Allentown, a retirement community of the United Church of Christ. Jill also has experience from serving as a hospice chaplain with two agencies: Heartland Home Care & Hospice, and Caring Hospice Services.
Chaplain Jill was ordained in 2002 by the Church of the Brethren and lives in the Sinking Spring area. She is active in her church, the Wyomissing Church of the Brethren, State Hill Road, Wyomissing, where her husband, Tim, has been pastor for 20 years.
Kerry Hicks
Assistant Chaplain, Berks Heim
In the spring of 1997 I received the Lord as my Savior and His work through me began. I served the Lord in many capacities. I began as an usher/greeter. In time I was soon teaching Bible studies, reading scriptures to open services as well as helping to lead worship service. From the very beginning of my born again experience I believed the Lord had, and still has a plan for me to serve Him. I met my wife at a Christian singles conference in late 1997. Teresa and I were married in late 1998, and since then have served our Lord in many capacities.
I was licensed to preach the Gospel in 2005. My first call from that point was to start and Pastor the Rivers of Life Worship Center. My wife, Teresa, was called to be Director of Christian education. By late 2007 the Lord changed the direction of my ministries to include Chaplaincy. Beginning in January of 2008 I began my Chaplaincy at Berks Heim. I have been blessed to serve the Lord in so many different ways and it is my sincere desire to serve Him all the days of my life!
Clark Bossler
Assistant Chaplain, Berks Heim
Pastor Clark L. Bossler attended Twin Pines Camp in Stroudsburg, Pa., where at the age of 12 in 1970 accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and life. He graduated from Lancaster Bible College in 1980 with a B.S. in Bible, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Bannochburn, Ill. receiving his Master of Divinity degree in 1983. He received Clinical Pastoral Education at Reading Hospital and Medical Center.
Clark served as a Youth Pastor in Miami, Fl. for three years; taught Bible, Science and German at Hamburg Christian School for 3 years; and served as an Associate Pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in West Lawn. While on staff there, he received a challenge to revitalize a church in Richland, Pa. Thirty people left Glad Tidings to reboot the church. He has served at Faith Community Church in Richland, Pa., from January 2003 to the present.
Clark is married to his wife, Harmony, and the father of four daughters: Tanya 25; Aubrey 21; Hannah 13; and Lydia 11.
David Ludwig
Chaplain, Berks County Family Residential Center and Berks County Youth Center
Chaplain David Ludwig began his work at the Family Shelter in June 2008. Prior to coming to RBCC, Dave served as the Associate Pastor at The Bridge Fellowship in Shillington, PA. He has also served as Minister of Discipleship and Youth & Outreach at Baptist churches in Kentucky. Dave graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a diploma in Christian Education and Leadership. He serves as pastor for Triple Tree Ministries, Lancaster Pa. and has served as director of Leadership Development, SBCA, in Elizabethtown, PA.
Dave is married to Sheryl, and has three daughters, Nicole, Amy and Gretchen.
