Meet the team.
Kathleen L. Kluck
Pastor
Vanessa Smith Whitford
Office Manager
Vanessa, her husband Darren and her two children Owen and Kendall haven been members of First Lutheran Church since 2010. They have been active in all facets of church life. She began work as the Office Manager in November 2023. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading and cooking.
Brenda Jacob
Controller
Brenda and her husband Bob joined First Lutheran Church in 1996. They both have been active in many areas of congregational life. Brenda began her role as Controller in 2005. She loves to travel across the country to see her three children and three grandchildren .
Zack Richards
Music Director
A native of Ashtabula, OH, Zack has been destined for Music Ministry from an early age. His mother would often tell the story of finding him standing on the kitchen table, barely old enough to talk or walk, singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.
Zack graduated from The University of Akron in 2014 with a BM in Trumpet Performance and a MM in Choral Conducting. A few months later, he joined First Church as the Director of Music Ministries.
An avid performer and composer, Zack has traveled the world making music in some of the oldest and most beautiful venues around. When not making music, he enjoy reading, writing, and hanging with his wife, Becky, and their four purr-babies.
Zack graduated from The University of Akron in 2014 with a BM in Trumpet Performance and a MM in Choral Conducting. A few months later, he joined First Church as the Director of Music Ministries.
An avid performer and composer, Zack has traveled the world making music in some of the oldest and most beautiful venues around. When not making music, he enjoy reading, writing, and hanging with his wife, Becky, and their four purr-babies.
Andrea Cassidy
Contemporary Band Leader
Andrea Cassidy has been attending First Lutheran Church as an active member since her family moved here from the Chicago area in 1982 - a LOT has changed since then, including the addition of a Contemporary Worship service of which she has been involved with the music from the start. Andrea, her husband, Todd, as well as their 5 children are active members and continue to serve through the music programs here at FELC. Andrea is a high school math teacher, a Cleveland sports fan and enjoys dining out, playing games and watching movies and TV.
David Gooding
Organist
David Gooding is a native New Yorker and has had an international career in music as a performer, conductor, composer, and teacher. His many awards include the Cleveland Arts Prize for composition and an Emmy award for his work in television. He is a longtime resident of Strongsville.
Justin Lauschin
Media Director
"Justin has been attending First Lutheran Church with family since 2000, and actively supporting the A/V Ministry team since 2004. He is a big Cleveland Guardian’s fan and enjoys golf, bike-riding, hiking, and spending time with his beautiful niece."
Gloria Reichert
Kids Hope Director
Kids Hope Director, Gloria Reichert, a former teacher, and her husband, Sam, are long time members of First Church. Through the years, she has served the church in various capacities and has been the KIDS HOPE USA Director since the program’s inception in 2009. Gloria enjoys working with the mentors and prayer partners and visiting with her family, reading, writing, crafting, and experimenting with new recipes.
