THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Faith Formation
Becky joined the staff of Third Presbyterian Church in the fall of 2001. Prior to that, she served two churches in the Presbytery of Western New York-First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown and North Presbyterian Church in Williamsville. For one year between these two positions, Becky served as a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Young Adult Volunteer in the Time For God program in Birmingham, England, where she met her husband, Robert Veitch.
Becky graduated from SUNY College at Fredonia with a BSEd in Elementary Education. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Youth and Theology from the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is a Certified Christian Educator (CACE) in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Becky serves the larger church through her work on the General Assembly Special Committee to Study the Reformed Perspective of Christian Education in the 21st Century, and through the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) where she serves on the Leadership Council as the Regional Connector for the Northeast.
Becky and her husband Robert have two teenage daughters, Madeline and Sophie.
Job Titles:
- Facilities & Maintenance Manager
Bill Cleary is our new Facilities & Maintenance Manager. Bill's degrees and certifications are in Business Management and Tool and Die Making. His first career was as a Tool and Die Maker, which he retired from to move into what he defines as meaningful work in and for the church. He was the Director of the Physical Plant of the De La Salle Vocational School of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the Building Manager of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown before coming to us.
Bill is a native Canadian from the Niagara-on-Lake region of southern Ontario, so he is delighted to be returning to the part of the country that feels like home. Bill is married to Patty, and an adoring grandfather to Maddalena.
Charles Francis is a British-born organist who is moving to the United States of America to undertake organ studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, in the studio of Prof. Nathan Laube. While in the United Kingdom Charles earned considerable recognition both as a solo recitalist and a church musician. He won First Prizes in both the IAO/RCO Organ Playing Competition (2022), the Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Competition (2019) as well as being awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians (2022). Recent engagements include solo recitals at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and St John's, Smith Square in London as well as St John's College, Cambridge, Colchester Town Hall and most recently a solo recital during the St Alban's International Organ Festival.
Charles's undergraduate studies were at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where his organ tutors included Daniel Moult and Nicholas Wearne as well as regular opportunities to study with Prof. Martin Schmeding (Visiting Professor). Charles is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and until July 2023 was Assistant Director of Music at St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton where recently his playing was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Before this, Charles spent two years as Organ Scholar at St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham and has also held deputising roles at Rochester and Canterbury Cathedrals.
Job Titles:
- Interim Director of Music / Organist
A prize-winning young organist, James Kealey is the full time Interim Director of Music/Organist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. In this capacity, James is responsible for the music at Third Church, including the direction of the Chancel Choir and the Third Church Choristers. Alongside this position, James is a candidate for the Doctor of Music Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY in the studio of Prof David Higgs.
James is the first prize and audience prize winner of the 2022 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP), the premier organ competition of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). His most recent CD, Rhapsodic, can be purchased from the ProOrgano record label.
In the spring of 2020, James completed his Master of Music degree from Eastman in Organ Performance and Literature. A native Brit, James came to the USA having held positions at notable English Cathedrals.
James received his undergraduate degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, and worked as Senior Organ Scholar to the Chapel Choir in their series of live broadcasts, international tours, CD recordings, weekly services, and concerts.
In 2021, James was honored as one of the ‘20 under 30' by The Diapason in 2021, an accolade awarded to the most successful artists in the field. As a recitalist, James has been featured as a solo artist in England, the USA, and Europe, including recitals such as Westminster Abbey; Methuen Memorial Music Hall, MA; St John the Divine, NYC; and recitals for AGO Chapters around the country. Future recitals include concerts across the US, including a solo organ recital at the 2024 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in San Francisco.
James is represented in North America by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
Jean started playing bells more than 30 years ago. After getting the basics, her director convinced her to learn solo ringing, and the obsession with bells began. After years as a marketing manager and co-owner of a startup company, bells seemed destined to be a bigger part of her life. She studied conducting and began directing the bell choirs at Bethany Presbyterian Church in 2013. She added the ringers at Third Church to her portfolio in 2019, and loves sharing her passion for music, bells, teamwork and fellowship with our handbell choirs. Jean grew up in Penfield and attended St. John Fisher College. When not ringing bells, she enjoys knitting, tutoring as a literacy volunteer, and being involved in other church activities.
Joey has served as a Sexton at Third Church for more than 20 years. When he is not at work taking care of the church's physical space, Joey exercises his passion for comic book culture, attending Comic Con events and collecting comics and toys.
Job Titles:
- HR Manager
- Office Administrator
- Manager of Office Services
Kathy joined the staff at Third Presbyterian Church in June of 2020 as Manager of Office Services. Before joining Third Church, she spent twelve years working for the Southeast Rochester Catholic Community of Blessed Sacrament/St. Boniface/St. Mary's in administrative capacities, but most recently as the Communications Coordinator for all three churches. Kathy is also an adjunct business instructor as well as an academic tutor for Bryant & Stratton College.
Before life at the Southeast Rochester Catholic Community, Kathy was the Director of Special Events at Genesee Country Village & Museum. She holds a bachelor's degree in American History from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and her MBA with a focus in human resource management from Upper Iowa University, Fayette. Her joys in life are decorating, gardening and spending quality time with family and friends-and of course, working at Third Church and getting to know everyone!
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Digital Ministry
Job Titles:
- Director of Stewardship, Development and Communications
Rachel has been the Director of Stewardship, Development and Communications since the spring of 2018, and she has been a part of the congregation since early childhood, having grown up at Third Church. Before joining Third Church's staff, Rachel spent ten years working in the nonprofit sector in the U.S. and abroad. Her professional fundraising experience includes grantwriting, event planning, and strategic donor engagement work for both domestic and international nonprofit organizations (in Washington D.C., Boston, Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Miami). Rachel also served as a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Ukraine in 2006.
Rachel holds a Bachelor's degree in art history from Vassar College and a Master's degree in art history from the University of Maryland, College Park. She finds joy in raising her daughter Eva, running along the Genesee River, and indulging her sweet tooth.
Job Titles:
- Temporary Stated Supply Associate Pastor for Congregational Car
- Temporary Stated Supply Associate Pastor for Congregational Care
The Rev. Rebecca Segers was called into leadership of Third Church in 2021, and began her ministry as Pastor and Head of Staff in January 2022. Prior to joining this congregation, she served as the Head Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Germantown in Philadelphia, PA; the Solo Pastor of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Stewartsville, NJ; the Solo Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Sweet Hollow in Melville, NY; and an Associate Pastor of Wilton Presbyterian Church in Wilton, CT.
Rebecca was raised Presbyterian and remained active in the church throughout her life, but she did not feel the call to ministry until after a successful career as a theater, television, and film actress. She holds an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY and a BA in Theater Arts from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Rebecca loves her daughter Grace, a Capitol Hill Reporter for The New Republic in Washington DC, her elderly cats Lisa and Bailey, and her mountains of books.
Job Titles:
- Associate Pastor for Outreach
- Third Church As a Stated Supply Associate Pastor
Tedd joined Third Church as a Stated Supply Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Outreach in summer 2021, after serving at Ogden Presbyterian Church and New Life Presbyterian Church. Tedd's passion for urban ministry was kindled during his field ministry at former Calvary St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in the South Wedge and continued during his tenure at New Life. Tedd also worked as a Mission Co-Worker at People's Ministry in Christ in northwest Rochester, and at a boy's group home in the city-an experience he describes as transformative.
Tedd holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Binghamton and a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School.
Tedd and his wife Kathy have three wonderful, young-adult children.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant
- Receptionist
Rose joined the staff at Third Presbyterian Church in October of 2021 as the Church Secretary/Office Assistant.
Before joining Third Church, she spent fifteen years working in hospice as both a Volunteer Manager and a Community Outreach Representative.
Originally from Southwest Virginia, Rose lived in Birmingham, AL for five years before relocating to Rochester, NY with her husband.
Rose has two small children and her favorite pastimes include spending time with her family and friends, traveling, exercising and reading.
Job Titles:
- Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- New Director of Youth
Tony Loreti is our new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry/Camp Whitman Assistant Director for Camper & Counselor Care. This is a shared position, but we are blessed to have Tony with us 28 hours a week during the Program Year and 3 hours a week remotely during the summer camp time. His first day in the office was Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
Tony is a life-long Presbyterian who grew up in Hamilton, New Jersey, attending and very active in the First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square. He has a B.A. from Roberts Wesleyan College right here in Rochester and an M.Div. from Princeton Seminary. He brings a great deal of experience with youth ministry from both sides of the leadership spectrum as he was very active as a teenager in youth group and as a camp counselor at Camp Johnsonburg, Camp Whitman's PCUSA analog in New Jersey. He has a deep passion for the outdoors and has hiked the Appalachian Trail, served as a wilderness guide for Summit Achievement in Stow, ME where he worked with troubled teens, and was a rock climbing and zip lining tour guide on the southeastern coast of Alaska.