Wednesday, June 19, 2013
   
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Spirit Catholic Radio Staff

Jim Carroll - Executive Director
jimc@kvss.com

Jim Carroll has been the Executive Director for Spirit Catholic Radio since July 2002. Over 20 years ago, an evangelical fundamentalist co-worker challenged Jim in his knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith. After struggling with the fact he had taken his Catholic faith for granted, he embarked on a five-year quest for personal knowledge of the Truth, which he rediscovered in the Roman Catholic Church.

His journey has led him to the study of the Bible, Cathechism, Encyclicals, Church Fathers and Apologetics. Jim has been involved with Salvation History and Bible Timeline presentations. He has served on the Parish Council, is an EMHC, RCIA sponsor, CEC attendee and Knight of Columbus. He is also a member of Serra Club of Omaha, Mission Advancement Council for the Institute for Priestly formation at Creighton University and Chapter Coordinator for Legatus of Omaha, an organization for Catholic CEOs and their spouses. Jim has also served on the board of the Catholic Radio Association, with its 160 member stations across the United States. Jim's 20-year career in the secular world included AVP with Norwest Bank, Director at Applied Communications, Inc. and VP with First Data Resources.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (Go Mavs!) and served 11 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve Seabees. Jim and his wife, Karol, have five children and celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2009. Jim's favorite saints include St. James, St. Patrick, St. Therese the Little Flower, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas Aquinas. He has a special devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. His favorite prayer is the "Anima Christi":

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. Oh good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from You. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come unto you, that with your saints I may praise you forever and ever. Amen. 

Bruce McGregor - Program Director
bruce@kvss.com 

Bruce McGregor has been the program director for Spirit Catholic Radio since 2004. Bruce believes that God has prepared him to serve in this important ministry by providing for him a solid 30-year career in broadcasting and a love for Christ and the church. Many in Omaha remember Bruce as the program director and afternoon drive air talent on both Z-92 and CD105 radio stations for over 14 years. He and his family would later move to Orlando, Fla., where he served as program director at WHTQ and then at WZBA in Baltimore, Md. But a fateful call from Jim Carroll touched Bruce's heart in the winter of 2003; the McGregors decided to return to Omaha, which they considered their "hometown," and to a mission they felt called to long ago.

Bruce's actual involvement in Catholic radio in Omaha began in 1992. He laid the groundwork for a non-profit Catholic radio group called "Light of Christ Broadcasting." LOC members included attorney Bill Lindsay, Mark Bonkiewicz, Fr. Gerry Gonderinger and Fr. Gene Jakubek, SJ. They received much encouragement from then Archbishop Daniel Sheehan. However, everything moves forward in God's time, and the time was just not right. So after several years of effort and prayerful discernment, Bruce turned over the foundational work to Steve and Heather Hruby in the spring of 1998. Bruce, his wife, Kris, and their kids moved to Orlando. They never stopped praying for the success of the mission in Omaha, and they were delighted when Spirit Catholic Radio, KVSS, finally made it on the air in January 1999. He realizes now that the time in Florida and Maryland helped to fully prepare him for the job ahead. When asked to come back and join in the mission in 2004, Bruce didn't hesitate to say "yes!"

Bruce and Kris have three children. He's a Knight of Columbus, EMHC and lector and has sponsored candidates in the RCIA and CEC. And it's no secret that Bruce LOVES to golf. Bruce's patron saint is Dominic, and the Blessed Virgin Mary has a very special place in his heart. His love for Our Lady is deep and profound. His favorite prayer is the "Our Father":

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Bernie Schaefer - Development Director
bernie@kvss.com

Bernie Schaefer joins the Spirit Catholic Radio family as development director after serving the Church for the last 20 years through Catholic higher education at Briar Cliff University, Saint Louis University and Creighton University. Bernie's tenure at those institutions involved extensive work in major gift fundraising, marketing/PR, board management, social outreach and ministry.

Bernie feels that he has been blessed by the unique charisms of each order that have been a part of his education and career, dating back to the Benedictines in grade school and high school (Hartington Cedar Catholic), the Franciscan Sisters at Briar Cliff and the Jesuits at Saint Louis University and Creighton. Bernie attributes the most significant growth in his faith to his introduction to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius while a graduate student at Saint Louis University.

Bernie and his wife, Nikki, are members of St. Robert Bellarmine parish and have five children. Both are active with parish and church organizations, including couples ministry, prayer groups, choir and apologetics. Bernie also serves on the development committee for Essential Pregnancy Services and is a board member for Creighton University's Magis program, which places highly motivated, faith-filled teachers to serve underprivileged Catholic schools in the midwest. You'll also often hear Bernie's voice during broadcasts of some of our local high school football and basketball games as he joined T. Scott's broadcast team in September 2006.

Bernie is inspired by the works of St. Ignatius, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph the Worker. Bernie's favorite prayer is the "Memorare" by St. Bernard:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in they mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Mary Beth Jorgensen - Director of Business Underwriting
mbj@kvss.com

Mary Beth Pope Jorgensen is an Omaha native. Mary grew up on Fontenelle Boulevard and attended Holy Name Grade School, Marian High School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is the third of four daughters of the late Robert and Anne Pope. The Holy Name neighborhood has given Mary a great foundation and is her home parish, although she and her husband, Jeff, reside outside of Omaha.

Mary began her radio career in a small market outside Nebraska and was thrilled to return to Omaha after learning the industry from the ground up. Mary's commercial radio background includes Triathlon & Journal Broadcast Groups (KXKT "The Kat" and KKCD "CD105"). Mary feels truly blessed to be given this opportunity at Spirit Catholic Radio. 

"It's exciting to be able to combine my faith, spirituality and professional life at Spirit Catholic Radio. To be on the ground floor of innovative programming, which provides reliable Catholic information is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I feel privileged to be part of Spirit Catholic Radio."

Ryan Broker - Lincoln Development Director

"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10).
 
Ryan Broker joined the Spirit Catholic Radio family as the development director for Lincoln on the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - January 3, 2013. As part of the team at Spirit Catholic Radio, Ryan is a proud member of a magnificent group of collaborators - a faithful, listener-supported apostolate that works together to bring Christ to people and people to Christ!
 
Ryan, his wife, Kimberle, and their four children are members of Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish in Lincoln. Converts to the Catholic Church in 2004, Ryan and his family were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beatrice, their home for nine years, before moving to Lincoln in 2011. Ryan has been active in various parish organizations as a member of the Knights of Columbus (4th Degree), as a Godteen Leader, Cantor/Choir Member, and Parish Pro-Life Coordinator. 
 
For the last two and a half years, Ryan served in the District Office of Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Prior, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre and Television Arts from Valparaiso University in Indiana, completed graduate coursework at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, worked at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, and for the State of Nebraska. A native of the Chicago 'burbs, his love for the Cubs remains strong. "There's always next year," he says.
 
Ryan holds a special devotion to St. John, to whom Christ entrusted the care of His Mother, to St. Joseph of Cupertino, and to St. Paul the Apostle who says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12). Ryan's favorite prayer is the "Salve Regina," known as the Hail, Holy Queen, a Marion antiphon and the final prayer of the Rosary:
 
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. 
Scott Bonham - Central Nebraska Development Director
 
As Central Nebraska development director, Scott Bonham is responsible for ensuring that the station’s mission of evangelization is sustained and advanced through oversight of annual and planned giving campaigns, communications, public relations and through coordination of the station’s semi-annual, on-air fundraising and membership drive. Working from Spirit Catholic Radio’s Grand Island studios at 828 N. Diers Avenue, his duties cover the 91.5 FM Central Nebraska and 90.1 FM North Platte listening areas.
 
Bonham is a graduate of Hastings Saint Cecilia High School, attended Central Nebraska Community College Hastings campus, and is a graduate of the Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. He is retired from the natural gas industry having worked for SourceGas in central Nebraska providing natural gas distribution and service to customers for 35 years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a volunteer at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, member of the Hastings Evening Lions Club and is a member of American Legion Post 300 in Doniphan. Bonham also served in the Nebraska Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves over 25 years attaining the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He has been involved with Spirit Catholic Radio as a volunteer and member of the Central Nebraska Advisory Committee since its inception. Bonham and his wife Deb live in Hastings and are members of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church. They have two married children and four grandchildren.
 
As the son of a long-time radio and television personality, media was an integral part of his youth. Bonham's hobbies include boating, RVing, attending his grandchildren's activities and their annual family get-together at Mahoney State Park with his son John and daughter Tammie's families.
 
His favorite prayer is the Hail Mary, favorite saints are St. Michael the Archangel, St. Ann, St. Francis Xavier, St. Blaise and St. Christopher. He has a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.
 
"I am truly blessed to have become a member of the Spirit Catholic Radio Team during 'The Year of Faith' and 'New Evangelization' which invites each Catholic to renew their relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. 'It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.'" MK 4: 31-32
 
Jen Brown - Daybreak Morning Show Co-Host
1 Corinthians 12:27, 28--Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.  Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gift of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongue. This verse from the Bible helps convey my feeling of joining the Daybreak team at Spirit Catholic Radio. I feel God designated me with a gift that I have been sharing in the secular world of radio for many years -and I am now overjoyed to share my gifts, in a holy light, to Spirit listeners.
 
Jen Brown was born and raised in the metro area. A CB gal and churchgoer, Corpus Christi Tri-Parish, and catholic education kindergarten through college - St. Albert Schools in Council Bluffs and College of St. Mary in Omaha.  Jen has been a fixture in Local radio for 20+ years. You'll find her rollin’ in her minivan following her teenaged son to his many school activities; he attends her Alma mater St. Albert schools.   She also enjoys volunteering at his school along with other charitable and parish organization. Jen is delighted in the fact that she gets to share on-air (with spirit catholic radio listeners) unveiling and evangelizing the works of The Lord.
 
Her favorite saint is Saint Rebecca--the patron of sick people and loss of parents. She became a nun at the age of 21 to the Marian Order of the Immaculate Conception. St. Rebecca prayed that she might share in the sufferings of Christ which resulted in her blindness and paralysis. For 30 years she struggled with deteriorating health and spent her time spinning wool and praying. Saint Rebecca worked on an autobiography towards the end of her life and her grave is credited with many miracles. St. Rebecca's feast day is March 23. This is a small easy prayer I love to say throughout the day and sing as I fall asleep:
Lord make me a means of your peace. A Bible quote I like is Ps 19:15 --May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favor in your sight, O Lord.
 
Another prayer I enjoy: Divine Savior, transform me into Yourself. May my hands be Your hands. May my tongue be Your tongue. Grant that every faculty of my body may serve only to glorify You. Above all, Transform my soul and all its power, that my memory, my will and my affections may be the memory, the will and the affections of You. I pray You to destroy in me all that is not of You. Grant that I might live but in You and by You and for You and that I might truly say with St. Paul, “I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me.”
 
Kelly Miller - Marketing and Promotions Manager
 
Kelly Miller joined the Spirit Catholic Radio network as marketing and promotions manager in 2012. 

A native of rural, central Nebraska, Kelly and her husband, Scott, moved to Omaha in 2010. She graduated with a B.S. in journalism and public relations and a minor in political science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Her professional experience includes work as the public relations manager for a regional health system; marketing director for the Hastings Family YMCA in Hastings, Nebraska; and prior to joining the team at the Spirit Catholic Radio Network, Kelly worked as a public relations associate for Swanson Russell in Omaha where she worked for a variety of clients in the agriculture and healthcare industries. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and Public Relations Society of America-Nebraska chapter. 

Kelly specializes in strategic public relations planning and implementation, communications writing and social media strategy. Her goal at Spirit Catholic Radio is to support the organization's mission of evangelization through the use of effective public relations and marketing tactics in order to bring Christ to people and people to Christ.

From the Prayer of St. Francis:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;"

Matt Willkom - Program Manager/Producer
matt@kvss.com

Matt Willkom joined Spirit Catholic Radio in 2012. In addition to being co-host and producer of the Daybreak morning show, he produces other programs and assists the network with overall imaging as well as shapes content for individual stations and markets. Willkom holds a B.A. in philosophy and Catholic studies with a communications minor from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. and is currently in his final year of master’s studies at the Ave Maria University Institute for Pastoral Theology. He brings rich professional experience in Catholic radio having worked for Vatican Radio’s “Jubilaeum” channel; Relevant Radio Network in Minneapolis; and producing and contributing to Lino at Large on Sirius XM satellite radio. Matt also portrayed Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in the 2006 film “Seelos: Tireless Intercessor”, seen on EWTN.
 
He, his wife and two children enjoy raising chickens and playing make-believe (his kids have dreams of him one day becoming an Astronaut Matador).
 
His favorite prayer is from the Byzantine Melkite Divine Liturgy (after Communion): We have seen the true light. We have received the heavenly Spirit. We have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, who has saved us. "This prayer never fails to make my heart soar, especially when it's sung at Divine Liturgy," said Willkom.
 

Irene Lempke - Advancement Coordinator
irene@kvss.com 

Irene Lempke has been a part of the Spirit Catholic Radio team since February 2007. Born and raised in Omaha, she graduated from Skutt Catholic High School and went on to college at Creighton University for one year, then transferred to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is leaning toward a major in business, which she says was influenced by her work at the radio station. 

Lempke began her career at Spirit Catholic Radio working part time with program scheduling software. Over the past several years, her responsibilities at the network have grown and she is now the advancement coordinator.  

"Spirit Catholic Radio is a wonderful, God-filled place to work, and I love every minute of it. God is in all that we do and is at the center of everything that this radio station represents. It is so wonderful to work in a place where God is at the center of all that we do."

Mark H. Voris, CBRE - Chief Engineer
mark@kvss.com

I am Mark H. Voris, chief engineer for Spirit Catholic Radio. I have been in broadcasting a good part of my life starting out in television and moving on to radio. Born and raised in North Platte, Neb., I moved my family to Cozad, Neb., taking a job with the Nebraska Rural Radio Association's stations KRVN, KNEB and KTIC as engineer. After being laid off due to budget cuts, I sought work in the field of radio.

A good friend and fellow engineer working here in Omaha found out that Spirit Catholic Radio was in the process of needing help for the central Nebraska and northeast Nebraska expansion projects and was looking for an engineer. I received a call from Jim Carroll one evening, and after an interview, I was asked to come on board. I am truly blessed and fell the good Lord had plans for me to be here and help spread His word through this wonderful medium called radio. I have a lovely wife, Janet, and two wonderful sons. My favorite prayer is the "Our Father."

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Check out Mark's Engineering page

Sandy Smith - Production Manager

Jim Taphorn - Office Manager (Volunteer)
jtaphorn@kvss.com

Jim Taphorn has been a board member since 2000 and a "full-time" volunteer since October 2009. He and his wife, Joan, have five grown children and several grandchildren. Jim's biggest claim-to-fame is being the father of Fr. Joe Taphorn, Vicar for Clergy and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Omaha. Jim enjoys the many treats that are brought in to the station.

 

 

 

 

Karol Carroll - Development Associate (Part-time)
karol@kvss.com

Karol is the wife of Executive Director Jim Carroll and the mother of their five children. She is a graduate of Holy Cross Grade School, Mercy High School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is in the office on Tuesdays and works from home throughout the week.





 

Cheryl Erker - Development Associate (Part-time)
cheryl@kvss.com

Cheryl Erker joins our Spirit Catholic Radio family, going from a Tuesday volunteer to a part-time development associate. Her job is assisting the Advancement Team Mondays through Thursdays. She is originally from Hartington, Neb., and graduated from Cedar Catholic High School. Cheryl and her husband, Dan, have three daughters, Madeline, Audrey and Tara. Their home parish is St. Robert Bellarmine, and their children attend Duchesne Academy and St. Robert Bellarmine Grade School. She was a stay-home "supermom" for 15 years and felt it was time to spread her wings and share her talents. Her interests are family, friends, camping, boating, music and the boy she prayed for...her dog Buddy.

"I am grateful to have an opportunity to work in such a spiritual and religious environment doing God's work," she said.

Our Lady has a special place in Cheryl's heart, as does one of her favorite saints, Gianna Beretta Molla.

"God's Providence is in all things; it's always present." - St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Wilma Ernesti - Development Associate (Part-time)
wilma@kvss.com

Wilma Ernesti is from Carter Lake, Iowa. As a development associate, she is focused on database projects and processing payments. Before joining Spirit Catholic Radio, she volunteered at Our Lady of Carter Lake church from 1990 to 2005 and then worked full-time for Queen of Apostles. Her favorite saint is St. Faustina.  

 

 

 

Mary Lempke - Administrative Assistant 
mb2@kvss.com

Mary Beth Lempke (MB2) is the station receptionist and administrative assistant to Mr. Carroll. She began her career at Spirit Catholic Radio as a Care-a-thon volunteer in 2003. After her 20-year, full-time mom stint, she happily became a staff member in the fall of 2007.

Mary's office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"I have been blessed beyond measure with the opportunity to be part of this incredible team and mission."


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