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
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
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."
David Gooding
Organist
Gloria Reichert
Kids Hope Director