Board of Directors

Board and Committee Members

The NKC Board of Directors and committees are comprised of individuals living and/or working in Belmont, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Rockford and Sparta. They represent various Christian denominations including Baptist, Christian Reformed, Episcopalian, Methodist, Non-Denominational and Roman Catholic. Every board and committee member offers unique skills, talents and life experiences, making North Kent Connect a stronger organization.

Executive Committee

  • Michael Bohnsack (President) – President, Bohnsack & Associates
  • Steve Trudell (Vice President) – President, Courtland Consulting
  • Cheryl Scales, PE (Secretary) – Principal, Progressive AE
  • Adriane Schrauben (Treasurer) – Shareholder, Hungerford Nichols
  • Ben Taylor (Clergy Representative) – Pastor, Sparta Baptist

Board of Directors

  • Jen Bellamy – Vice President Commercial Lending, ChoiceOne Bank
  • Michael Birkmeier – Chief Operations Officer, Harlo Corp.
  • Cathy Cooper – Senior Director, Community Partnerships and Giving, Meijer
  • Lisa Cooper – PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Human Resources, Tech Defenders
  • Kim DeLong – Pastor, Courtland-Oakfield United Methodist Church
  • Keith Scott – Chief Financial Officer, Auto-Wares Group
  • Dean Whittaker – Corporate Treasury Manager, Spectrum Health

Building and Grounds Committee

  • Chairperson Michael Birkmeier – Chief Operations Officer, Harlo Corp.
  • John Decker – President, John Decker Chevrolet, retired
  • Larry Hulst – Owner, LH Consulting, LLC
  • Bob Langerak – Maintenance Supervisor, Forest Hills Schools, retired
  • Cheryl Scales, PE – Principal, Progressive AE
  • Rick Schroder – Director of Commercial Construction, Nugent Builders, retired

Finance Committee

  • Chairperson Adriane Schrauben – Shareholder, Hungerford Nichols
  • Mike Cuneo – Assistant Superintendent Finance, Rockford Public Schools
  • Gretchen Mousel – Finance Director, West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology
  • Keith Scott – Chief Financial Officer, Auto-Wares Group
  • Julius Suchy – Village Manager, Village of Sparta
  • Ken Syrba – Director of Finance, Supply Chain, Wolverine Worldwide
  • Dan Triezenberg – Controller, Wolverine Gas and Oil Corp
  • Inge Whittemore – Pastor, East Nelson United Methodist Church

Major Gift Committee

  • Thom Arends – Owner, Thom’s Hair Design
  • Dianne Bennett – Accounting Analyst, Amway, retired
  • Neil Blakeslee – Attorney, Blakeslee and Rop, retired
  • Nancy Hager – Community Volunteer
  • Chantel Hopping – Community Volunteer
  • Carol Muth – Community Volunteer

Outreach Committee

  • Co-chair Jen Bellamy – Vice President Commercial Lending, ChoiceOne Bank
  • Alexis Ader – Owner, Signs with Design
  • Megan Dean – Event Coordinator, Rockford Chamber of Commerce
  • Danna Dykema – Realtor, Keller Williams
  • Bailey Hanrahan – Commercial Account Manager, White Insurance Agency
  • Kyle Herlein – Branch Manager, Independent Bank
  • Andrew Lidral – Community Volunteer
  • Kristin Wynalda – Community Volunteer
  • Lindsey Younglove – Branch Manager, United Bank

Personnel Committee

  • Chairperson Steve Trudell – President, Courtland Consulting
  • Gerry Brom – Chairman, Grand Rapids Transport, retired
  • Drinan Gorney – Risk, Compliance, Technical Services & IP Manager, Byrne Electrical
  • Jason Parker – Vice President Commercial Loan Officer, ChoiceOne Bank
  • Linda Southwick – Executive Director, Rockford Chamber of Commerce
  • Laurie TenHave-Chapman – Pastor, First Congregational Church of Rockford
  • James Ward – Director of Human Resources, Eenhoorn LLC

Program Committee

  • Co-chair Kim DeLong – Pastor, Courtland-Oakfield United Methodist Church
  • Amanda Burrell – Community School Coordinator, Cedar Springs Middle School
  • Amanda Sterzik, LMSW, North Kent IHN Program Manager, Family Promise
  • Ben Taylor – Pastor, Sparta Baptist
  • Dean Whittaker – Corporate Treasury Manager, Spectrum Health

Retail Steering Committee

  • Chairperson Michael Bohnsack – President, Bohnsack & Associates
  • David Bonney – Construction Project Manager, Wolverine Worldwide
  • Cathy Cooper – Senior Director, Community Partnerships and Giving, Meijer

Board Governance Committee

  • Chairperson Larry Hulst – Owner, LH Consulting, LLC
  • Lisa Cooper – PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Human Resources, Tech Defenders
  • Cheryl Scales, PE – Principal, Progressive AE
  • Ken Syrba – Director of Finance, Supply Chain, Wolverine Worldwide