First Responder Chaplain Association Board of Directors

  • A man in a chaplain uniform smiling, with an American flag in the background.

    Paul Taylor

    President

    Paul was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He attended college in Winfield, Kansas, is married and has four children and 15 grandchildren. He worked as a paramedic from 1975 to 1995, and served as a Pastor from 1995 to 2015. He served as Administrative Office and First Responder Assistance Coordinator from 2016 to 2020. Hobbies include grandchildren, biking, backpacking, fishing, and the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. Contact Paul at Ptaylor@frchaplain.org

  • Older man in a white uniform with a black collar and shoulder patches, standing in front of an American flag.

    Ron Nadvornik

    Vice President

    Ron has been a resident of Lawrence, Kansas, since 1964 and graduated from the University of Kansas. He has been married for more than 50 years and has three children and 10 grandchildren. He was a civil engineer with 46 years of experience in highway construction with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Hamm Construction Companies as chief engineer and project manager.  He is a teaching Elder at the Lawrence Bible Chapel for 40 plus years, and his hobbies include golf, trout fishing, grandchildren, and BBQ. Contact Ron at rjnadvor@sunflower.com

  • A man with glasses wearing a white and black uniform, standing in front of an American flag.

    David W. Cornell

    Treasurer

    Dave was the Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the Department of Accountancy at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City, until his retirement in September, 2019. dcornell@frchaplain.org‍ ‍

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    Steve Koberlein

    Secretary

    Steve, a Kansas native, has served as the pastor of Lawrence Heights Christian Church for the last 15 years. He has an undergraduate degree in psychology and also a doctorate in pastoral leadership. Steve and his wife, Kelli, have three adult daughters, a son Who is a senior at Free State High, and four grandchildren. His hobbies include motorcycles, classic cars, fishing and family time.
    Contact Steve at Skoberlein@frchaplain.org

  • Portrait of a smiling man with white hair and beard, wearing a white polo shirt with black collar, standing in front of an American flag.

    Greg Gardner

    Board Member

    General Gardner flew fighters (F-4s and F-16s) for most of his 27-year military career. He also commanded a B-1 wing, and served as Adjutant General and Director Emergency Management & Homeland Security for Kansas, leading the Kansas response to 9-11 and multiple major disasters. For 13 years after that, Greg served in Infrastructure Protection regional leadership positions in the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Greg holds a MS in Human Resources and a BA in Business.
    Contact Greg at ggardner@frchaplain.org

First Responder Chaplains

  • Woman in uniform with an American flag in the background.

    Rita Rials

    Rita was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas and is a Christian Playwright and Director with Life Restoration Ministries (LRM) of Lawrence. LRM is a non-profit organization which builds on a triad of performing arts, mental health, and faith. LRM's mission is to instill hope, reconcile broken relationships, and restore healthy living. Through her writing, Rita brings complex life issues to the stage and provides a hopeful message of hope and healing. Rita’s hobbies include fishing and gardening. Contact Rita at rrials@frchaplain.org

  • A woman in a police uniform standing in front of an American flag.

    Matt Holahan

    Matt comes to us from Bellevue, Pennsylvania where he was a Police Chaplain for 7 years. He has also served as a hospital chaplain, Workforce Development Director, Co-Director of Missions, and Campus Minister.  Matt has a Doctor of Divinity, a Masters of Divinity, and a Masters in Alcohol & Drug Recovery. His hobbies, martial arts, and target practice. Contact Matt at mliamh@outlook.com

  • Portrait of a smiling woman in a uniform in front of an American flag.

    Nicole Rials

    Nicole was born and raised in Lawrence, and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Master of Social Work Degree in 2000. In 2007, Nicole founded Life Restoration Ministries which dedicates part of its programming to supporting First Responders.  Nicole believes that being a First Responder is a regarded profession and a noble service. She believes the best contribution to helping First Responders fulfill this service is to seek to understand their unique and complex culture, support their efforts, advocate for ongoing training and resources, and serve alongside them in their time of need.  Nicole enjoys singing, traveling, and grilling. 
    Contact Nicole at knrials@frchaplain.org

  • A man with gray hair and a beard wearing a white and black sports jacket, standing in front of an American flag.

    David Young

    David spent his childhood years mostly in Newton, Kansas, and graduated in 1979. He married his high school sweetheart Cindy that summer. They currently reside in Lawrence, Kansas, to which they moved in 1987. They have four children and 12 grandchildren. David was a lineman for several years and then a journeyman electrician. He enjoys classic cars, showing his car at car shows, and loves spending time with his family. He currently serves as an Elder and Bible Speaker at the Gospel Chapel in Baldwin City, Kansas.

    Contact David at dyoung@frchaplain.org

  • A man in a white and black uniform standing in front of an American flag. He is smiling. The uniform has patches and a name tag that reads 'Corneal'.

    Mark Winton

    Mark is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and currently serves as Assistant Pastor of Care and Compassion at Grace PCA here in Lawrence.  Mark recently retired from the US Army with over 33 years of service, 20 years of those serving as an Army Chaplain.  Mark and Karen have been married for 28 years, have 5 children, and currently live in Eudora KS. 

In Rememberance

  • In loving rememberance

    Bill graduated from Wichita State University in 1967 and the Fuller Theological Seminary in 1974. In 1974, he began his 44-year career as a pastor and served in Seattle, Illinois, Washington, and Kansas. He retired from the Lawrence Free Methodist Church in 2018. He married his wife Marcy in 1971 and they had 3 children and 7 grandchildren. He served on the Board of Central Christian College. He served aa a Chaplain and was on the Board of Directors of the First Responder Chaplain Association since 2018.