A VOICE FOR WORKING AMERICA United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 951 (UFCW 951) is a dynamic labor union representing more than 29,000 employees across the state of Michigan. Members work at Meijer, JBS, Twin Cities Nursing and Rehab, Harding's, Knouse Foods, JLL, Kroger, Polly's and Rite Aid. UFCW 951 belongs to the UFCW International Union. With 1.3 million members, the UFCW International Union is one of the largest private-sector unions in the country.

Our mission is to increase economic prosperity for all in Southwest Michigan. We pursue our mission by collaboratively advancing regional strategies and catalytic initiatives in the following areas: • Economic Development: Retaining, Expanding, and Attracting Businesses • Workforce Development: Enhancing, Preparing, and Aligning our Workforce • Community Development: Advocating For, Enhancing, and Promoting Vibrant Business Environments and Communities VISION We envision Southwest Michigan as one of the most economically prosperous regions in Michigan and the United States. VALUES • Leadership - We believe in the transformational power of leadership. Our work is advanced by harnessing the collective power of our existing leaders while cultivating, fostering, and equipping the next generation. • Excellence - We provide the highest level of service and value to the region and believe that we can achieve more when we collaborate and work together. We value and develop our employees’ diverse talent, initiative, and leadership to provide superior quality in all that we do. • Inclusivity - We believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive communities and workplaces create greater vibrancy and engagement. We value everyone and treat people with respect, dignity, and professionalism. • Integrity - We build trust through honest and transparent relationships. We make responsible decisions that support community vitality and are ethical. • Innovation - We research, anticipate, and respond to emerging trends to ensure a vibrant future for the region. We believe that the future is bright and we can curate the future through curiosity, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to challenge and change our best every day.

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. With approximately 140,000 members affiliated through over 600 state and local chapters across the nation, we are on the front lines to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support and services they need to be fully engaged in their communities. The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. If you are interested in a career with The Arc, visit our job board: http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/resources/job-board.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation, established in 1925, has the vision of Kalamazoo County being the most equitable place to live, with the mission to mobilize people, resources and expertise and to advance racial, social and economic justice. Learn more at kalfound.org.

The Battle Creek Community Foundation is a public foundation built by generous residents who have donated their time, talent and treasure to make Battle Creek a better place to live. It was founded in 1974 by Leonard White, Robert B. Miller, and Harry Davidson. Their goal was to create a way for people of all means to be able to give back to their community. Over the years, the Community Foundation has received gifts from individuals, corporations and organizations. These gifts are placed in endowment funds, and these funds are then invested to generate earnings. The Community Foundation uses these earnings to distribute grants to a variety of nonprofit programs, organizations and other community-oriented charitable efforts that benefit Battle Creek residents. Funds are also created to provide scholarships to local students. The Community Foundation also provides community leadership by bringing diverse groups of individuals and organizations together to develop community-wide solutions for problems and issues. A volunteer board of local leaders, representing the interests of the Battle Creek community, governs the Community Foundation’s administration and distribution of funds. The generosity of donors, the vision of our Board of Trustees, and the dedication of our many volunteers and professional staff are what enable the Community Foundation to continually respond to the changing needs of our community.

Gull Lake Ministries is a spectacular family resort and conference center with a staff who wants to joyfully serve you! We recognize that real service is about meeting the real needs of our guests. Because Jesus is our model, we want to demonstrate our love for Him in the little opportunities that occur everyday. Established in 1920 as Gull Lake Bible Conference Association, our purpose remains the same as that of our founding fathers: “to impact lives for God’s glory,” while we continue to develop meaningful ways to strengthen the family and equip the saints for God’s service.

United Way of Southwest Michigan is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and people’s lives. Building on more than a century of service as the nation’s preeminent community-based fundraiser, United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results.

Crossroads Prison Ministries is an international prison ministry located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Crossroads connects men and women in prison with volunteers from churches around the world through its mail-based Bible study/mentorship program. The unlikely friendships formed through studying the Bible together and exchanging letters transform both those inside and those outside prison walls. Mission: Crossroads connects prisoners with mentors in Christ-centered relationships so that lives, prisons and churches are restored through the Gospel.

Our Mission: To inspire and empower Greater Holland's children and teens, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland is a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. It is the place where great futures are started each and every day. Our Club offers programs and services designed to create academic success, character citizenship, and healthy lifestyles in a fun, safe, and constructive after-school and summer environment. We have three facilities, a South Side Unit and a North Side Unit and East Side Unit, used solely for youth programs. The Club is open every day after school, and weekdays during the summer when youth are unsupervised and need positive and productive activities. We have full-time, trained youth development professionals providing guidance, direction, and mentorship. The Club charges $5.00 per year for a membership to allow affordability for all children. Visit our website, www.bgch.org, to find more information about our Club and how you can get involved!

United Way of St. Joseph County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating long-lasting change, ensuring all residents have access to the building blocks to a better life: education, income and health. United Way is unique in its ability to bring together multiple active members in the community. With the help of business leaders, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, problems in St. Joseph county are able to be identified and changed. Our mission is to mobilize the community to collectively reduce poverty. We work with more than 50 local partner agencies and over 12,000 donors, advocates and volunteers every year who in turn work with thousands of individuals and families living in poverty. United Way conducts community needs assessments, secures critical resources to fund vital social services and the community safety net, provides fiscal oversight and accountability for community partners, and evaluates program results to measure and communicate community impact. United Way gives people a trustworthy place to donate funds, knowing that their dollars will go to meet the greatest areas of need in the community and that money raised locally stays in the community. Our United Way has contributed more than $122 million to St. Joseph County individuals and organizations since 1914.

2010-2017 Executive Director 2009-2010 Deputy Director 2008-2009 Finance & Technology Director - Managed a non-profit shelter and resource center serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse with 26 employees and a $1.2 million annual budget—the mission is to empower people to make positive life changes - Led a successful $6.5 million capital campaign - Managed a $5.5 million design and construction project - Developed a new operating/service provision model based on observations, research, and best practices (features: tracks and manages data relating to client services; monitors client engagement; facilitates internal communication and goal tracking; established key metrics for program evaluation) - Successfully recruited and managed relationships with donors/ foundations/businesses - Effectively led the development and ongoing implementation of strategic plans - Achieved strategic goals including increasing service capacity without major budget implications - Created mutually beneficial partnerships with other agencies, strengthening the local human service sector as a whole - Effective and compelling public speaker/representative to the community - Built several websites/portals for external and internal communication - Authored and/or edited all major organizational grants, reports, and communications - Developed comprehensive employee orientation process including education on self-care, caring confrontation, and diversity and inclusion - Facilitated/lead internal and external meetings and forums - Excel in oversight of personnel, daily operations, fund development, finance, and board relations