Board President

Jennie Nowak, LMSW

Director of Population Health Activation, Priority Health

Jennie is a population health leader who currently serves as Director of Population Health Activation for Priority Health. She has worked for the Corewell Health/Priority Health system for the past 10 years.

Jennie’s passion in her career is focusing on early childhood and maternal health with a focus on reducing disparities and optimizing outcomes. Jennie has spent time in direct care for children with special needs, school social work, early head start and population health for medically complex children.

Board Secretary

Dr Alison Fox, MD

Physician, Port City Pediatrics

Dr. Alison Fox is a board certified Pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who has served West Michigan children and families in her role at Port City Pediatrics for the past 14 years.

Dr. Fox completed her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, obtained her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI and completed her Residency training at William Beaumont Hospital Department of Pediatrics in Royal Oak, MI.

Board Treasurer

Grant Veurink, CPA

Director of Global Finance, Shape Corp.

Grant is Director of Global Finance at Shape Corp., with more than fifteen years of progressive accounting and management experience. He is a key member of Shape’s leadership team, overseeing all aspects of accounting in a growing global company.

Grant graduated from Calvin University with his bachelor’s of science in Accountancy.

Cindy Anderson

Retired Speech/Language Pathologist

Cindy Anderson is a retired Speech/Language Pathologist who spent 29 wonderful years serving the Grand Haven Area Public Schools (GHAPS).

Throughout her career, she has remained deeply involved in the community, volunteering with several local organizations including Humanity for Prisoners and C3. Cindy also completed a fulfilling six-year term as a trustee at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. She is a co-founder of Tri-Cities Women Who Care, a group focused on giving back to the community.

Cindy earned both her BA and MA in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Western Michigan University.

Martha Bottomley

Retired Executive Director, Volunteer Muskegon

Martha served as the Executive Director of Volunteer Muskegon and Youth Volunteer Corp Program Director for 17 years.

She has an extensive background with non-profits and community, including serving on her neighborhood association board for 11 years, AmeriCorps service, and working as a costumer for Muskegon Community College’s theater department for 25 years. Martha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.

Gabrielle Gerlach

CEO, Muskegon YMCA

Gabrielle is the new CEO of the Muskegon YMCA, having served the organization as COO and Executive Director for the past 5 years, focusing on fiscal management and development.

She has an additional 10 years of recreation management and teaching experience. She graduated from Frostburg State University with her Master’s in Management degree.

Elizabeth Griffin

Youth Services Librarian, Loutit District Library

Elizabeth is an experienced youth services librarian, passionate advocate for early literacy, former preschool educator, and talented presenter of children’s programming.

She has a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan, with specialization in library and information services and school library media.

Kelly Grimes

Retired Elementary Teacher, Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Kelly is recently retired from her successful 32 year career as an elementary educator at Griffin Elementary School. In 2016, Griffin School was proudly recognized as a prestigious ‘National Blue Ribbon School’.

Presently, Kelly is looking forward to applying her extensive knowledge and expertise to this wonderful opportunity to enhance our surrounding communities.

Kelly earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Western

Michigan University.

Kim McLaughlin

Educator and Tri-Cities Preschool Roundtable Facilitator

Kim McLaughlin has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Elementary Education from DePaul University. She currently is the facilitator for the Tri-Cities Preschool Roundtable, a member of the Spring Lake Schools Foundation and parent liaison on the Spring Lake Curriculum Advisory Committee.

Kim’s passion for education is evident in everything she does. She was previously the Director of the Tri-Cities College Access Network and Educational Initiatives Officer at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Prior to returning to the Tri-Cities, Kim taught middle school in Chicago, Illinois.

Doug McNeil

Attorney, Saunders Winter McNeil

Doug concentrates his practice in the areas of general business and real estate law. He provides legal advice to a wide spectrum of new and established business owners on entity ownership, financing and structuring, and day-to-day operational issues. Mr. McNeil also handles sophisticated business and real estate acquisition and financing transactions. A unique area that Mr. McNeil serves is the charter school industry, advising an array of start-up and existing Michigan public school academies on financing, operational, compliance, governance, and authorizer contract matters.

A lifelong sailing and sailboat racing enthusiast, Doug now serves as special advisor to a number of junior sailing foundations throughout western Michigan and the Midwest. Doug is currently the President of the Spring Lake Junior Sailing Association, board member of the White Lake Sailing School, and advisor to the Western Michigan Yachting Association.

Sarah Meinel

Attorney, Honigman LLP

Sarah is an Associate Attorney at Honigman LLP, specializing in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and general corporate matters.

Before earning her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law, Sarah spent 15 years at a lakeshore-area nonprofit, where she developed expertise in nonprofit management and board governance.

Sarah also holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

Developmental Director

Rachel Dody, MHA

Founder, Grand Haven Children’s Museum

Rachel has her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from GVSU, a bachelor’s in Psychology from Hope College, and has worked for Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, West Michigan Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Access Health, and 1 in 21 Healthy Muskegon County.

She founded and organized the Muskegon Street Performers community event series, and has served on the board of The Little Red House.

Meet our Board