Education Program Manager

• Nov 2021 - Present

Executive Director

• Jan 2021 - Present

Networking with others to stimulate action in areas of critical importance toward the health of our planet. Networking with others to stimulate action in areas of critical importance toward the health of our planet.

Virtual and Onsite Mentor

• Jun 2016 - Jan 2017

Helping to develop the roles of being a Virtual Mentor (building relationships online) and a Site Mentor (building relationships in person at two different locations) for middle and high school Learners who choose to voluntarily attend a site once a week. I craft and present Life Skills modules on topics like respect, relationships, caring, attitude, and gratitude. The goal is to make education interesting and engaging. Helping to develop the roles of being a Virtual Mentor (building relationships online) and a Site Mentor (building relationships in person at two different locations) for middle and high school Learners who choose to voluntarily attend a site once a week. I craft and present Life Skills modules on topics like respect, relationships, caring, attitude, and gratitude. The goal is to make education interesting and engaging.

National Sales Manager

• Apr 2012 - Apr 2015

Helped to take a regional operation nationwide by recruiting, training, and supervising independent sales representatives. During the 18 months as National Sales Manager, I hired 15 inside and outside sales representatives, which generated over $1.5 million in sales, doubling total company sales during a time when education publishing was experiencing negative growth. Created a comprehensive sales training manual, initiated the use of SalesForce and exhibited at dozens of conferences across the country. Show less

Founder/President

• Apr 1988 - Apr 2012

Founder and President of Sign Source for over 24 years. Successfully assisted a wide variety of organizations with signage, branding and way-finding. Specialized with schools, churches, hospitals, health facilities, libraries, retirement homes, non-profits and corporations. Founder and President of Sign Source for over 24 years. Successfully assisted a wide variety of organizations with signage, branding and way-finding. Specialized with schools, churches, hospitals, health facilities, libraries, retirement homes, non-profits and corporations.

Program Presenter

• Aug 2009 - Mar 2012

Presenter for Resources Against Violent Encounters (R.A.V.E.) to middle schools and high schools mostly in the inner city of Grand Rapids. Able to handle diverse, challenging GRPS student populations at Ottawa Hills, Union and Creston High Schools along with Westwood and Burton Middle Schools. Presenter for Encouraging Family Foundations (E.F.F.) to couples who are pregnant but not married. Trained to facilitate Shaken Baby Syndrome and Mandated Reporting. Presenter for Resources Against Violent Encounters (R.A.V.E.) to middle schools and high schools mostly in the inner city of Grand Rapids. Able to handle diverse, challenging GRPS student populations at Ottawa Hills, Union and Creston High Schools along with Westwood and Burton Middle Schools. Presenter for Encouraging Family Foundations (E.F.F.) to couples who are pregnant but not married. Trained to facilitate Shaken Baby Syndrome and Mandated Reporting.

Executive Director

• Jun 2009 - Mar 2012

Creating effective partnerships between family and community connections with schools. Includes parent involvement, character education, mentoring, career development, service-learning, and workforce readiness. • Chair of the Parent & Family Support committee for the Wyoming Community Youth Coalition. • Member of KC-CAN - Kent County College Access Network Strategic Planning Committee Creating effective partnerships between family and community connections with schools. Includes parent involvement, character education, mentoring, career development, service-learning, and workforce readiness. • Chair of the Parent & Family Support committee for the Wyoming Community Youth Coalition. • Member of KC-CAN - Kent County College Access Network Strategic Planning Committee

Assistant Teacher

• Oct 2010 - Jun 2011

Helped to build a pilot after school literacy program, Project BLAST, a project-based learning program through Public/Private Ventures of Philadelphia, PN, RDV Corporations’ Believe2Become initiative and the G.R.P.S.’ LOOP after school program. Helped to build a pilot after school literacy program, Project BLAST, a project-based learning program through Public/Private Ventures of Philadelphia, PN, RDV Corporations’ Believe2Become initiative and the G.R.P.S.’ LOOP after school program.

Middle School Mentor Coordinator

• Nov 2009 - Feb 2011

Organized and facilitated the Middle School Mentor Program. Developed and worked with community partners to create caring relationships between at-risk students and positive adult role models. Connected over sixty mentors to sixty students. Organized and facilitated the Middle School Mentor Program. Developed and worked with community partners to create caring relationships between at-risk students and positive adult role models. Connected over sixty mentors to sixty students.

Program Developer

• Sep 2008 - Jun 2009

Mission to transform lives of youth by instilling character and hope for success in school and life. Participated in the National Forum on Character Education in Washington, DC. •Established contacts with high level character education “characters”. •Collected resource materials for development of a district-wide character education program. Attended Dropout Prevention Summit. Active in Kent County Dropout Prevention strategic planning. Attended conferences focused on mentoring, service learning, after school, charter schools, Detroit Youth Commission, and National Association of Independent Schools. Became certified as a Safe Dates presenter - a comprehensive relationship violence prevention curriculum. Show less

AmeriCorps*VISTA

• Apr 2008 - Sep 2008

Mission to divert at-risk youth from dropping out of school and engaging in criminal activities to being successful in school, the workforce, and the community. •Success Coach (building character) for seventh graders at Gerald R. Ford Middle School. Certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) through Kent ISD. September, 2008 Became active with the Kent/Allegan Workforce Development Board – Educational Advisory Group, Youth Council and 21st Century Skills Mission to divert at-risk youth from dropping out of school and engaging in criminal activities to being successful in school, the workforce, and the community. •Success Coach (building character) for seventh graders at Gerald R. Ford Middle School. Certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) through Kent ISD. September, 2008 Became active with the Kent/Allegan Workforce Development Board – Educational Advisory Group, Youth Council and 21st Century Skills

AmeriCorps*VISTA

• Jan 2008 - Apr 2008

Mission to build capacity for literacy in two Grand Rapids Public Schools grades K-3 with Schools of Hope program. •Initiated and designed a summer reading program to impact third grade MEAP reading scores. •Initiated a program to use local libraries as “literacy centers” to tutor youth in reading. Mission to build capacity for literacy in two Grand Rapids Public Schools grades K-3 with Schools of Hope program. •Initiated and designed a summer reading program to impact third grade MEAP reading scores. •Initiated a program to use local libraries as “literacy centers” to tutor youth in reading.