The Berks County Suicide Prevention Task Force was developed in 2015. The task force is a group of community members with common goals who have come together to focus on the needs of our community so that we can eliminate stigma of mental illness and put an end to suicide.
Each of the members is a key part of obtaining our goal as they represent a part of our larger community. We believe that suicide prevention is everyone’s business.
The committee members are:
Edward B. Michalik Psy.D.
Administrator, Berks County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Program & Executive Director, Berks County Area Agency on Aging
emichalik@countyofberks.com
Mary Hennigh
Deputy Administrator for Adults, MH/DD Program
mhennigh@countyofberks.com
Adrian Grieve
Executive Director, American Red Cross
adrian.grieve@redcross.org
Amy Groh
Director of Crisis Intervention Services, SAM Inc.
agroh@sam-inc.org
Ann Blankenhorn
Surgical and Psychiatric Nursing Division Director, Tower Health
Ann.Blankenhorn@readinghealth.org
Brian Richardson
Certified Peer Support Supervisor – Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance
brianrichardson@grmha.com
Chief Chris Neidert
Chief, Exeter Police Department
cneidert@exeterpolice.com
Chief Erik Grunzig
Chief, Muhlenberg Twp. Police Dept.
EGrunzig@muhlenbergtwp.com
Christine Schuler
School Counselor, Reading Intermediate High School
schulerc@readingsd.org
Dennis Hess
Coroner, Berks County
DHess@countyofberks.com
Jonn Hollenbach
Asst. Chief Deputy, Berks County Coroner’s Office
JHollenbach@countyofberks.com
Jessica Jones
Deputy Director, Area Agency on Aging
jjones@countyofberks.com
Dr. Kolin Good
Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Reading Hospital
Kolin.good@readinghealth.org
Marietta Wert
LCSW
mwert@berkshirepsychiatric.com
Jonathan Quier
President Funeral Director Association
jmquier@gmail.com
Gary Hawkins
Executive Director, Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance
garyhawkins@grmha.com
Harry Deitz
Editor, Reading Eagle
hjdeitz@gmail.com
Jeffrey Gregro
Deputy Chief, Berks County Juvenile Probation
JGregro@countyofberks.com
Dr. Jill Hackman
Executive Director, Berks County Intermediate Unit
jilhac@berksiu.org
Jim Conrad
EMS Chief, Reading Fire Dept.
james.conrad@readingpa.org
Lauren Heydt
Program Manager, MH/DD Program
lheydt@countyofberks.com
Michele Ruano-Weber
Deputy Administrator for Children, MH/DD Program
mruanoweber@countyofberks.com
Rev. Jane M Kropa
Pastor, Huff’s Union Church
krosmart@enter.net
Rev. Jeremiah Sassaman
Pastor, St. Paul’s Lutheran Congregation and EMT and President/ Topton Ambulance
revsassaman@ptd.net
Rick Wolf
Assistant Superintendent (Retired) , Governor Mifflin School District
Rickwolf@embracethechallenge.org
Tom McNelis
President/CEO, Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
tmcnelis@trsinc.org
Tracy Evans
Administrative Assistant and Coordinator, MH/DD
TEvans@countyofberks.com
Wendy Seidel
Director of In-Home Services, Berks County Children and Youth Services
wseidel@countyofberks.com
Yvonne Stroman
Community Program Specialist – Council on Chemical Abuse
ystroman@cocaberks.org
Bob Sheffler
CEO, Haven Behavioral Health LLC
Bsheffler@havenllc.com
Brandon Monk
Community Health Coordinator, Tower Health
bmonk@readinghealth.org
