Current Focus:

• Leadership and strategic planning
• Corporate and External Relations
• Board Development
• Public Relations and Marketing

Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO in September 2002
• Assistant Vice President of Corporate Relations: MEDC
• Partner Relations Manager: Michigan Jobs Commission
• Women Business Owner Advocate: Michigan Jobs Commission
• Grant and Loan Division Director: Michigan Department of Commerce
• Account Manager: Michigan Department of Commerce
• Master of Public Administration and BA: Michigan State University

Community Involvement:

• American Chamber of Commerce Executives - Member 
• Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce - Executive Committee and Board of Directors (non-voting), Micro-enterprise Development Advisory Group, Business Advisory Group
• Battle Creek Unlimited - Board of Directors
• Battle Creek/Greater Calhoun County Convention Bureau - Board of Directors and Nominating Committee
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation - CEO Advisory Group
• Michigan Economic Developers Association - Member and Advocacy Task Force Member
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce Executives - Member
• Michigan Manufacturers Association - Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Committee
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Accrediting Board of Directors

Awards:

• Friend of NAWBO - Greater Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners - 1996
• Regional Leadership Steward - Regional Leadership Alliance-  2004
• Most Influential Women in Western Michigan - West Michigan Business Review - 2005

Current Focus:

• Maintain Accounting records for both the Chamber & Foundation and assure that all operations adhere to GAAP.
• Upgrade the Accounting systems to a newer and more flexible software package.
• Assure that all aspects of the annual audit are completed timely.
• Provide current financials for both the Chamber & Foundation for all Board Meetings.
• Review current operations and focus on opportunities to increase revenue and ways to affect cost savings.
• Supervise and assist the Chamber & Foundation staff.
• Review internal controls and all operational procedures and processes.

Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber as CFO October, 2007
• Bachelor of Science Degree, major Finance,
  Rider University, Trenton, N.J.
• 40-years of accounting experience in several industries, including manufacturing, construction, and service.
• Positions held include Controller, Vice President of Finance, & Treasurer.
• Accounting instructor at Harrisburg Area
  Community College, Harrisburg, PA
• Military veteran during Vietnam era.

Community Involvement:

• Member Alumni Association of Leadership Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA
• Member Board Directors for Central Pa Lions Eye Bank, Hershey, PA
• Member Board Directors for Gaudenzia, Drug & Alcohol Treatment
• Leader & mentor for 10-years for youth of my church.
• Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Harrisburg, PA & Battle Creek, MI

Current Focus:

• Marketing, Branding and Communications
• Chamber Webmaster
• Insight Editor
• Monthly Eye Opener Breakfast Programs and Expo
• Chamber Ambassador Program
• Military Affairs Committee
• Armed Forces Day Event
• Civic Leaders Tour Event
• Silent Observer Committee 
• Silent Observer Golf Outing
• Ribbon Cuttings and Mixers

Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber July, 2007
• Battle Creek City Commissioner 2005 – 2007
• City of Battle Creek for 34 years retiring in 2005 as City Clerk
• Graduate of Kellogg Community College
• Graduate International Institute of Municipal Clerks – Michigan State University 

Community Involvement:

• Festival Manager for community signature events
•  Vietnam Veterans of America - Associate Member
•  Navy League of Battle Creek/Kalamazoo  - Member
• Honor Guard at Fort Custer National Cemetery
•  Program Advisory Committee for AccessVision Public Television - Member
•  Community Development Advisory Council - Member
•  Urbandale/Level Park Business Association  - President
•  Urbandale/Level Park Homecoming Alliance - Treasurer
•  Woodland Park and Nature Preserve - Treasurer
• Kingman Museum Board of Directors
• Heritage Battle Creek Board of Directors

Current Focus:

• Business Advocacy and government relations
• Political lobbying
• PAC fundraising
• Legislative affairs
• Candidate development
• Public Policy Committee and Education Committee Liaison
• "Rap With Your Reps" Monthly Events

Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce in
  2005 as Vice President of Business Advocacy
• Deputy City Manager - City of Kalamazoo, MI (2005)
• Assistant City Manager - City of Portage, MI (2002)
• Administrative Assistant - City of Littleton, CO (1995)
• Intern - Michigan House of Representatives
  Republican Press Office (1990)
• Intern - Colorado House of Representatives
  Republican Press Office (1991)
• Graduate of Michigan State University (1991)

Special Recognition:

• International City/County Management Association
  (ICMA) Savvy Award (2001)
• International Resource Cities Participant (1996-2001)

Current Focus: 

• Administrative support to President/CEO, CFO and staff
• Development of brochures, reports and surveys
• Media Placements/Strategies
• Monitor Chamber inquiries and requests
• Support for Chamber’s newsletter Insight; and
• Self Employment Program 

Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce February, 2010
• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal  2008
• Member of NALS (National Association of Legal Secretaries) since 2007
• Harbor Freight Tools Corporate office in CA from 1991 – 2006. Area of expertise in Employee Relations Administration.

Community Involvement:

• Rescue Mission
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Burnham Brook

Current Focus: 

• Membership  Retention
• Chamber Leased Space
• Archives
• Assist Self Employment Program     

• Joined Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce November, 2005 
• EmploymentGroup - Co-owner/Vice President 22 years
• Federal Home Life Ins. – Personnel         

• Battle Creek Unlimited – Exec. Board, Secretary (past member)
• Battle Creek Community Foundation – Exec. Board, Secretary (past member)
• Rotary Club of Battle Creek – Board of Directors, Secretary (past member)
• Music Center of South Central Michigan – Board of Directors (past member)
• Administrative Management Society – President (past member)
• Cereal City Development Corporation – (past member)

 Current Focus:

• Leadership Development
• Leadership Curriculum and Programming 
• Program Development
• Sponsorships
• Recruitment

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce as Managing Director of the Battle Creek Area Leadership Challenge in February, 2008
• Presidential Prize for Best Paper at the 2006 National Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Education
• Published Writer
• Corporate Director of Community Outreach and Education Great Lakes Cancer Institute
• President and CEO ROSS Healthcare Strategies
• Partner, ROSS Healthcare Strategies
• Assistant Administrator, Marketing and Strategic Planning, Rockford Clinic, LTD
• University Instructor: University of South Alabama, McNeese University
• Master of Education: Educational Leadership Candidate, University of South Alabama
• Bachelor of Arts: Psychology, Bethel College 

• Advisory Group Member: Battle Creek Project 20/20
• Board Member: Local Development Financial Authority, Grand Ledge, Michigan
• Past Board Member for Clinton County Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Current Focus:

• Entrepreneur Training
• Business Plan Development
• Motivation
• Organizational Development
• Packaging and Managing Loans

Professional Background:

• Licensed Trainer
• MBA Organizational Development
• Post Graduate Diploma Oxford University
• PhD Candidate "Restorative Justice

Community Involvement:

• Genesis Leadership Institute CEO
• Weekly Leadership focused Radio Talk Program
• Writer on Church, Community and Leadership issues
• Business Leader
• Motivational Speaker

 Current Focus:

• New Member Acquisition
• Member Retention

 Professional Background:

• Joined the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce April, 2008 as Membership Sales Associate
• Retired CEO/President of EmploymentGroup 1958-1991
• Independent Office Services Institutue - Past President
• National Association of Temporary Services - National Committee Member
• Michigan Association of Temporary Services - Past President
• Michigan State Chamber of Commerce - Board Member
• Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce - Interim President
• Administrative Management Society - Past President
• Battle Creek Engineers Club - Past President

Community Involvement:

• Battle Creek Host Lions Club - Past President
• Battle Creek Central Hall of Fame - Board Member
• Battle Creek Central Centennial Committee
• Commons Condo Association - Past President
• First Congregational Church - Church Council