Our Leadership

Char Speicher is a retired community advocate who has served as the Director of Development for Hubbard Hill Retirement Community and Executive Director of the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation. Char is known for her dedication to building strong relationships within the community and her ability to inspire others to get involved. Her leadership style is collaborative, focusing on empowering team and volunteers to achieve shared goals.

Char has a Business degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. She served as board chairman of the Michiana Early Childhood Academy, board member of the Mishawaka Education Foundation, and member of the St. Pius X Church Pastoral Counsel. Char is currently a member of the Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Foundation Board.

Her professional background and board experience coupled with her passion for helping people, is the reason she has chosen to serve on the board of the Miracle League of Northern Indiana - where everyone deserves a chance to play ball!

Char and her husband, Dean, have three daughters and two grandchildren. Donelle Zunker and her husband, Steve, Danielle, and Sara who is mother of 15-year-old Davin and 11-year-old Mabel. When not busy with her family, Char enjoys entertaining and traveling.

Dr. Christopher Ketcham is a Physiatrist whose work is centered on a simple but powerful goal: helping people regain the ability to move, live, and participate fully in their lives after illness, injury, or disability. He cares for individuals with both congenital and acquired conditions, guiding patients through the long and often difficult process of recovery with a focus on restoring independence and meaningful daily function. Over the course of his career, he has also been deeply involved in strengthening local rehabilitation services, helping build systems of care that allow patients to move more seamlessly from the hospital back into their homes, families, and communities.

This commitment to access and inclusion extends beyond the hospital. Dr. Ketcham has been a passionate supporter of the Miracle League at Normain Park, an effort dedicated to creating a space where anyone—regardless of physical ability—can experience the joy of being outdoors, playing, and participating in the game of baseball. The accessible field and park are designed so that children and adults with physical impairments can take the field alongside their families and friends, ensuring that the simple but powerful experience of playing baseball is truly open to everyone.

Dr. Ketcham’s dedication to helping people live active lives is rooted in his own upbringing in South Bend, IN. As a child, he spent countless hours on local baseball fields playing Little League and in the Catholic school league, experiences that taught him the value of teamwork, perseverance, and community. Today, those same fields remain part of his life as he coaches his youngest son’s baseball team—passing along the lessons that shaped him.

Whether working with patients striving to walk again or coaching young athletes learning the game, Dr. Ketcham is guided by the same belief: that with support, persistence, and community, people are capable of more than they often imagine.

Dick Pfeil graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1954. He then received a scholarship to Indiana University, graduating with an M.B.A. in 1956.

Dick joined South Bend’s Koontz-Wagner Electric Company in 1956, and served as Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1963 to 2008. His team led the company through a series of expansions from $2 million to over $70 million in yearly sales and employment of 550 people. Dick credits part of this growth to a leadership philosophy termed “Montessori Management.”

Dick supported the Pfeil Innovation Center at Bethel University. He is on the Board of Ivy Tech, Indiana Chamber, and Indiana Manufacture Association. He serves as chairman of the Capital project for the construction of Normain Miracle Field.

Dick has been honored as South Bend’s Man of the Year, he received the E.M. Morris Award and was named South Bend-Mishawaka Area Businessperson of the Year. Dick and his wife, Donna, co-chaired the $6.2 million South Bend YWCA Capital Campaign.

Dick and Donna live in Granger and have five adult children: Mary, Laura, John, Holly and Eric. Mary and John live successful lives with cerebral palsy.

John Farron is a 42-year retired Financial Advisor having worked at Prudential Securities, Raffensberger Hughes, and lastly Robert W. Baird & Co where he was Senior Vice President.

He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned his BBA followed by an MBA from Eastern Michigan University. He went on to complete his CFP and CIMA professional certifications.

John has served on many boards including the South Bend Chamber of Commerce, Project Future, Jean and Julean Levy Foundation for the Arts, and founding member of the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation where he was President for nine years and received its prestigious Cornerstone Award. 

John and his wife Marci, have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. His grandson is severely disabled and plays on the Miracle League of Westfield in Indiana. Because John understands the challenges that face families with special needs, he has chosen to serve the Miracle League of Northern Indiana to provide adaptive baseball for children and adults with disabilities on a specialized, accessible field. 

An avid golfer, when not spending time with family or volunteering, John can be found at Morris Park Country Club or most any other golf course.

Barb Michalos has been a lifelong advocate for individuals with disabilities as evidenced by her long-standing support in the educational setting as a special education teacher, administrator and director. In her current role as the Northwest Regional Director for Special Olympics Indiana, she brings a unique perspective on the positive role that sport plays in the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Barb has lived her life as a champion of practices and opportunities that empower individuals with all abilities to reach their full potential.  She prides herself on creating and fostering collaborative relationships to create and strengthen an inclusive community.

With a foundation in special education and nonprofit service, Barb brings a thoughtful and inclusive perspective to the Miracle League. She believes in removing barriers and building programs that allow every participant to feel successful and supported. Barb is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Miracle League of Northern Indiana and advance its mission.

Barb and her husband, Victor, are the proud parents of four adult children and grandparents to five grandchildren. Her family has been a constant source of support throughout her career and community service, including her advocacy for individuals with disabilities and her past role as a board member of the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.

Phil Blasko has served as Superintendent of Mishawaka Parks and Recreation since 2016, leading a transformative era of growth, inclusion, and community engagement throughout Mishawaka, Indiana.

When Blasko stepped into the role, the department offered only a limited number of programs and events. Under his leadership, it has expanded dramatically to include more than 50 annual events, 18 recreational leagues, and numerous summer camps, significantly increasing opportunities for residents of all ages to connect, stay active, and engage with their community.

A hallmark of Blasko’s leadership is his commitment to inclusive recreation and community-centered development. His vision helped drive the complete renovation of Normain Park, transforming it into a regional destination. Central to that transformation is the Pfeil Miracle Field, designed to give individuals of all abilities the opportunity to experience the joy of playing baseball. With fewer than 300 Miracle Fields nationwide, the addition represents not only a meaningful local investment but also a significant regional asset.

Blasko’s inclusive philosophy extends beyond the ball field. Amenities such as Lilly’s Playground and the Schwartz-Weikamp Splash Pad were thoughtfully designed to ensure Normain Park is welcoming, supportive, and accessible to individuals of all abilities.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Blasko is widely recognized for his community spirit and family involvement. He, along with his wife and three children, earned national attention as featured winners on the television competition The Great Christmas Light Fight, showcasing their creativity and civic pride.

Through strategic leadership, community-focused programming, and a passion for inclusivity, Phil Blasko has played a pivotal role in elevating Mishawaka’s parks and recreation system into a vibrant and accessible cornerstone of the community.

Eric Bastine brings over two decades of experience as a technical production leader for live events, directing, producing, and coordinating corporate events, conferences and social gatherings.

His passion for storytelling started early and was further shaped at Washington High School, and later through the broadcasting and communications programs at Ball State University, where his creativity in writing and visual media took off. 

Beyond his professional work, Eric has loved serving on Little League boards, coaching sports teams, all the while creating opportunities for families to connect. Coming from a family of educators, coaching athletes and building youth sports programs is his own way of teaching and mentoring those around his family.

A lifelong baseball fanatic, Eric has visited 22 Major League stadiums, studying and appreciating the game always with the same enthusiasm he had as a young Cubs fan.

Eric and his wife, Cindy, are the proud parents of three - Evan, Avery, and Cassian. Cassian is especially excited to begin his baseball journey this fall on our new Miracle League Field. Together, Eric and his extended family are passionate about creating inclusive opportunities that bring people together, with a joyful focus on supporting individuals with special needs.

Adam Schwelnus is a certified public accountant with 15 years of experience in the areas of administrative, managerial, and operational financial guidance for privately held companies and nonprofit organizations. Adam is involved at the partner level in the firm’s Client Accounting Services practice. He joined Kruggel Lawton in 2006 as a staff accountant and over the years was promoted to a management role primarily focused on audit work.

From 2013 - 2017 he went on to serve as vice president / CFO for LOGAN Community Resources, Inc., one of Indiana’s leading providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His diverse experience in both public and private accounting uniquely positions him to anticipate client needs and provide tested solutions.

Adam is a former college baseball player and still enjoys staying active by biking, and playing golf. With three young children at home, Adam and his wife, Carly, are always on the go. They especially enjoy taking family vacations to destinations around the country.