Chad Hershberger

Executive Director

Chad is the camp’s second full-time Executive Director, starting in 2001.  Prior to that, he was a Mount Luther camper and summer counselor and program director.  A graduate of Penn State University, Chad served on the camp’s Board of Directors for five years until his appointment as director, holding the offices of president and secretary. Before becoming director, Chad was the Public Information Director for Northumberland County and a radio news anchor/reporter on WKOK/WQKX in Sunbury. Chad also holds a Master of Arts in Religion degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.  In addition to his work for the camp, Chad serves as the Director of Communications for the Upper Susquehanna Synod, as Webmaster for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and as an adjunct instructor at Susquehanna University.  He also is a leader for Cub Scout Pack 3520.  He and his wife, Sarah, live in Mifflinburg with their children, Claire and Aaron, and dog, Cooper.

Jim Vitale

Associate Director

Jim is the husband of Isabel and the father of Ezra (6) and Benjamin (3). He is an ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Upper Susquehanna Synod. Originally from Albany, NY, Jim and his family have called Pennsylvania home since 2019. He, his family, dog, and two cats live in uptown Harrisburg. While Jim fulfills most of his responsibilities remotely, he cherishes every opportunity to drive north and bask in the beauty of Camp.

 

In his free time, Jim loves to hike, read (favorite authors include Madeliene L’Engle, C. S. Lewis, Ursula LeGuin, Andrew Peterson, Wendell Berry), write, listen to music (favorite musicians include: Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Mumford and Sons, Andrew Peterson, Joshua Luke Smith), play video games, and watch whatever TV show he happens to be obsessed with at the moment (favorites include: Frasier, Parks and Rec, Firefly, Avatar: the Last Airbender [the show, not the movie—obviously], Ted Lasso). He also loves building Lego with his sons.

Toni Gessner

Hospitality Manager

Toni is the camp’s Hospitality Manager.  She lives outside of Mifflinburg and has four kids,  one granddaughter and two grandsons.  Prior to coming to camp, Toni was the owner/operator of DC Coffee in Mifflinburg and also worked at Woodward Camp. In her free time, Toni also works doing some catering and cake making and doing accounting for several clients.  She began at Mount Luther in April 2015 as Food Service Manager and added retreat hosting responsibilities to her portfolio that fall, being named our Hospitality Manager.

Rod Gessner

Caretaker

Rod Gessner is the camp’s Caretaker. He lives outside of Mifflinburg and has four kids, one granddaughter and two grandsons. Rod oversee maintenance, repairs and plowing, and lagoon and pool maintenance and monitoring. Rod works full-time for Mid-State Mechanical (an HVAC company), and has been a coach for elementary wrestling and owned his own business.

Charlene Rineer

Administrative assistant/ Summer Assistant Director

Charlene Rineer serves as our summer assistant director and in the non-summer months is our part-time administrative assistant.  Charlene’s full time job is as the Coordinator of Faith Formation for Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewisburg. Also for the Upper Susquehanna Synod she is on the GROW Team. When she first was employed as the craft director at camp  she was a teacher in a small Christian School in York. Prior to that, she was a Youth and Education Director for Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. Charlene has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Millersville University. She also has a Master’s Degree in Lay Ministry from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

 

In any free time Charlene likes to read, watch movies, put together jigsaw puzzles, and solve other number and word puzzles. She is also an avid scrapbooker and cross-stitcher. Her favorite two vacation spots are Washington D.C. and Cape May, New Jersey.  And at camp, we all know Charlene likes to take photographs!

Barbara Collins

Campaign Coordinator

Barb Collins was born in Johnstown PA and raised in Hollidaysburg, PA. She and her husband, John, met at Penn State as Music Education majors and Blue Band members and married shortly after graduation. They have two children and seven grandchildren. Over the years, Barb has engaged in various careers, such as teaching art in Oil City, PA and being co-owner of a saddle repair business in Bloomsburg, PA. Since graduating from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg (now ULS), she has served the former Trinity Lutheran Church in Milton, the Follmer Lutheran Parish, Zion Lutheran Church in Kratzerville, and the Upper Susquehanna Synod as the Director of Evangelical Mission and as Bishop. In retirement, she enjoys birdwatching, trying new recipes, and volunteering at the camp. She also serves as the Abbot of a spiritual community and as a member of the Board of Trustees of The United Lutheran Seminary. 

Linda Aurand

Bookkeeper

Linda began her work at Mount Luther as a part-time secretary in 1991. She then worked for us part-time and for the Upper Susquehanna Synod.  From 1996 to 2019, she was our office manager. She retired full-time at the end of 2019 but continues to serve as our financial bookkeeper, working in the office one day per week. Linda lives in Mazeppa and is mother to two sons and a daughter. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She also serves as the bookkeeper for the Upper Susquehanna Synod. 

Summer Staff

In the summer, about 20 college students serve as counselors and program staff and go through two weeks of intense training.  Our Summer Ministry Team consists of young men and women (age 18 and older) who are trained to deliver the Mount Luther program. Many of our staff are former campers and members of area churches. Members of this team need not be Lutheran in faith, but must possess a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, a desire to work in the outdoors and a sound sense of responsibility. If you or someone you know is 18 years of age or older, believes in the mission of Mount Luther and is willing to give 10 weeks of the summer to the camp, please contact the camp office. Pastors live in camp each week to assist in worship and Bible study. Nurses and other program volunteers help, too.

Board of Directors

President:  Rev. William Henderson
Vice President:  Rev. Gary Schaeffer
Secretary: Anne Gates
Treasurer:  Terry Gardner
Upper Susquehanna Synod Bishop’s Representative: Ty Turner
Upper Susquehanna Synod Council Representative:  Gabriel Schaeffer
Episcopal Diocese of Central PA Bishop Representative: Rev. Ken Wagner-Pizza
Episcopal Diocese of Central PA Board of Trustees Representative:  Robert Kilp

 

Term Ends 2024
Rev. Erwin Roux
Rev. Gary Schaeffer
Sandy Strother

 

Term Ends 2025
Terry Gardner
Anne Gates
John Knouse

 

Term Ends 2026

Sister Marianne Brock
Andy Gates
Erin Hayes