Meet our teachers
Meet Our Staff
Called to equip God's people for God's work in the world.
Pastors
Andrew Esqueda
Senior Pastor
Andrew began his ministry as the Senior Pastor of First Pres. on October 15, 2023. Previously, Andrew served as the Associate Pastor for Family Ministries at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Andrew has been actively involved in numerous denominational and ministry leadership roles such as working with the Presbyterian Mission Agency on developing guidance for intergenerational ministry, serving on the Examinations Committee and Dismantling Racism Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, and participating in Lilly Grant initiatives with the Presbyterian Foundation and Luther Seminary. Andrew cares deeply about being invested in his community and sees his role as pastor to not just be for the congregation, but the community in which the congregation resides. Andrew is married to Megan who works in the field of commercial real estate and together they have three boys: Isaiah, Desmond, and Maddox. Outside of ministry, Andrew is passionate about his family (including his English bulldog, Cali), collegiate wrestling, the Atlanta Braves, F1 Racing, really good coffee (he’s a self-declared snob), baking homemade bread and Neapolitan pizzas, exploring new restaurants with his wife and friends, working out, and playing the guitar and drums.
610-696-0554 ext. 116
Caroline Cupp
Executive Pastor
Caroline came to First Presbyterian Church in 2015 after serving as a professional hospital chaplain and clinical pastoral education supervisor. Her responsibilities at First Pres center on supporting the deacons and caregiving ministries of the church as well as working with the congregation around mission and outreach both locally and abroad. She is a graduate of Yale Divinity School (Master of Divinity), and the University of Pennsylvania (Master of Bioethics). Caroline and husband Kevin were both born and raised in Chester County. Kevin is a graduate of Messiah College (’02) and works in the information security field.
Ann Dickey
Parish Associate
Ann began serving at First Pres in September of 2019. Since moving here in 1984, Ann Garrou Dickey has pastored four churches in Chester County: Westminster West Chester, Unionville, Doe Run, and Bethany Mendenhall and two in North Carolina in her 38 years of ministry. She is married to David Dickey and has two married children, Heather and James and three very special grandchildren. She retired in 2018 and loves being part of the FPC family!
Anderson Porter
Parish Associate
Anderson began serving First Presbyterian Church in 1997. Born in Bristol, Virginia in 1930, Anderson graduated from Lincoln University with a BA and and M. Div. He was the chair of the local NAACP during the 1960's and even coordinated buses of people from Chester County to attend the March on Washington in 1963. He has pastored numerous churches including Second United Presbyterian in West Chester, and both Bethel Presbyterian and Reeve Memorial Presbyterian in Philadelphia. Anderson has served as both Parish Associate to First Pres and Supply Pastor to Wissinoming Presbyterian since 1997.
Staff
Sándor Kádár
Director of Music
Sándor has been serving at First Pres since May 2016. He holds three bachelor’s degrees in Organ Performance, Sacred Music, and Choral Conducting, as well as a master’s degree in Sacred Music from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (Austria). He knew his calling was to become an organist at an early age and played his first church service at the age of 12. He came to the US in 2012 as a scholarship recipient of prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. In his free time, Sándor enjoys playing card and board games with his friends or works on a future Music Ministry trip to Europe. He does not have a TV, but his loss is compensated for by a 1300 cc Yamaha V Star.
Sara Pantazes
Director of Faith Formation
Sara joined the children's ministry team at First Presbyterian in the summer of 2016. She is passionate about finding creative ways to help all of God's children know and experience God and develop faith as they grow. She holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary. Sara lives in West Grove with her husband and two sons. She enjoys reading, cooking, and exercising, and treasures time with family and friends.
Emily Tang
Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Emily Tang came to first Pres as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries in June 2023. Emily is passionate about leading young people to Christ and helping them create a sustainable faith. She has Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Youth Ministry and Psychology from Eastern University. Emily has also worked with youth, young adults, and congregations in a variety of contexts including retreat and camping ministries, non-profit Christian organizations, and several mainline churches. Emily LOVES innovating and rejuvenating youth ministry as well as finding new ways to lay the groundwork for successful young adult ministry. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband Joe and their three cats Gracie, Auburn, and Gidget. Emily is an avid cat lover, loves to cook, and values traveling and new adventures.
Claire Kramer
Office Administrator
Claire began serving at First Pres in December of 2018, took a short leave of absence in October of 2022 and happily returned in April of 2022. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in Communications and a minor in Psychology. Claire moved to West Chester in 1999. Together with her husband Scott, she raised three daughters: Raegan, Abbey and Paige. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter and two new puppies!
Elizabeth Hess
Director of Engagement
Elizabeth has been on the First Pres staff two previous times and is back as the Director of Engagement. She oversees visitor outreach, hospitality, and helping members use their gifts in meaningful ways. She loves the First Pres family and considers it a privilege to serve. She has lived in West Chester her entire life and loves it! She and her husband have two daughters and two goldendoodles. In her spare time, Elizabeth loves to read and bake.
Pete Galloway
Office Administrator
Pete has been a long-term member of First Pres, but just recently joined the staff as a part-time Office Administrator. Whether you know him or not, you will likely recognize him due to his involvement in the Music Program – singing in the Chancel Choir, playing in the Chancel Ringers (and occasionally in the JuBellation Ringers), and playing tuba in the Miner Street Brass. He has also been Clerk of Session for a number of years. Recently retired from West Chester University after almost 35 years of working in campus housing and student life facilities, he keeps busy with doing contract work for a higher education professional association, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of his college Alumni Association. When not busy with these various activities, he likes to read and is interested in history.
Jeff Somers
Director of Finance and Operations
Jeff began working at First Presbyterian in February of 2019. He is originally from Stroudsburg, PA and graduated from Bloomsburg University. He also earned an MBA from Villanova University. For the past 18+ years he was employed by USA Today and its parent company, the Gannett Company. He was most recently the National Director of Business Operations, spending seven years in Charlotte, NC. While previously residing in the Lansdale, PA area, Jeff served on the church council as well as the stewardship committee for many years at a large Lutheran church. Jeff now resides in Wilmington, DE with his wife Lisa, who is a fourth-grade teacher at the Tower Hill School. They have two adult children, Kyle and Krista, and two grandchildren. Being animal lovers, they also have several dogs and cats that all live harmoniously! Lisa and Jeff enjoy walking the dogs and spending time in Cape May Point. Jeff is a fan of all Philly sports teams and of course Villanova basketball. He enjoys watching sports in person and on television as well as working on home improvement projects.
Jennifer Rosenberg
Preschool Director
Jen is entering her eighth year at the Bucket School. She previously taught in both the 2s and 3s Bucket School classes. She has a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Marywood University, Scranton, PA. She resides in the Borough of West Chester with her husband, Eric and their two boys, Jack and Henry, who are both alumni of the Bucket School. Teaching young children is her passion and she loves to watch them grow throughout the years at the school. She is very excited to be in her new role and will continue to love and educate the children here at The Bucket School.
Karen Goldstein
Office Manager
Karen began working at First Pres as a part-time secretary while her three children were in early elementary school. That was back in September of 1987 – she has been here over 35 years and has been the Office Manager since 1999. She and her husband Dave live in Coatesville, where he is enjoying retirement from teaching and coaching college football. They have 4 grandchildren. In her free time, Karen enjoys gourmet cooking, reading, as well as traveling with her husband all over the world – their favorite was going to South Africa which included safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana. It was an amazing experience.
Willy Oliveras
Custodian
Willy joined the First Pres Staff as a Full Time Custodian in January, 2006. Prior to that, he worked for Wyeth Labs in the same field for many years. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to Florida at 17, and on to West Chester, PA at the age of 18. Willy feels comfortable enough with the church that he calls First Pres, “home” and misses it when he is away. Willy always tries to catch one service each Sunday – his favorite part is the music and he enjoys both traditional hymns and our new contemporary music style. About 7 years ago, His companion Estella came from Puerto Rico to West Chester for the first time. In their spare time, they love to watch movies at home and go shopping. Shopping trips often include one of their 16 grandchildren – they have 8 each!
Amanda Erno
Children's Music Director
Amanda joined the music ministry team at First Pres in the fall of 2023. She oversees the Children’s Choir and the Miner Street Bell Connections, which is a 25-member intergenerational handbell ensemble. Amanda is currently at West Chester University pursuing her B.M. in Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She teaches private voice and piano lessons and is the Director of Choral Activities at Valotta Studios. Teaching is her passion. Amanda ensures the best education possible for all her students by teaching in a positive, and effective manner. In the future, she intends to further her career by pursuing a master's degree and a doctoral degree in Choral Conducting. When Amanda is not working on anything music related, she loves hanging out with her three cats and planning her next travel destination.
Kiana Rivera
Lead Singer, Contemporary Band
Kiana has been worshipping with First Presbyterian Church since the Fall of 2019. Originally from the Lehigh Valley, Kiana moved to Chester County to complete her bachelor’s degree in Music Education at West Chester University. During her final year, she joined our choral scholar program in the 9:00 traditional service, singing with the Chancel Choir and playing in the JuBellation handbell choir. In January of 2020, she joined our Contemporary service as a vocalist. Kiana has been a part of worship groups for as long as she can remember. She is passionate about singing. When she was a child, a pastor gave a word over her life: that she would be a worshiper for God’s kingdom. She enjoyed volunteering with the church when the ESL program first began and serves as a leader in First Pres’ youth ministry program. Kiana also loves reading and going on new adventures with her boyfriend, Kevin. She is currently enrolled in a Post-Baccalaureate Spanish Teaching Certification program at WCU and is expected to graduate in the Spring 2023.
Gretchen Huebner
Wedding & Funeral Coordinator
Wedding Coordinator is her job function at present but she has also served as a bookkeeper, teacher and Assistant Director of the Bucket School in years past. Gretchen graduated from Kutztown State College with a degree in Elementary Education and is certified in Bookkeeping. She has used these skills at First Pres for over 20 years. She has a passion for helping others and works tirelessly in the areas of ending hunger, providing meals for those in need, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and making hats for Naphtali and Migrant Ministry. She also fundraises for these passions using her organizational, leadership and cooking skills in running bake sales, Stop Hunger Now events, Bridge Dinners, the National Day of Prayer. She has been married to Glenn for 35 years they have two children whom both live in West Chester. They are blessed to be so close and enjoy volunteering as a family for different events. She has a broad range of skills and passions that she uses throughout her ministry here at First Pres.
Nolan Prochnau
Technical Support Coordinator
As an Exton native, Nolan has grown up in the church, participating in the services as a musician for years. He has been a part of the Children’s Choir, the Youth Choir, and the JuBellation handbell choir, as well as participating as an instrumental soloist. When the 10:42 contemporary service started in 2018, Nolan started volunteering in the back of the sanctuary, helping to run the tech equipment. He is a current student at West Chester University, pursuing a degree in Viola Performance.