Kathleen McBroom, a lifelong resident of Beverly Hills, is a librarian, educator, and most recently, docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Kathleen conducts tours - both on-site and virtual - for visitors, families, and special groups, which can range from wedding parties to corporate functions to Cub Scouts. When she's not at the museum, Kathleen teaches at Wayne State and fills in occasionally as a substitute librarian at the Baldwin Public Library.
Executive Director of the Birmingham Shopping District
Aug. 16, 2021 12:00 p.m.
Sean Kammer is the new Executive Director of the Birmingham Shopping District. Prior to this, he served as Downtown Manager of the city of Royal Oak for four years, where he won a national Main Street Forward award for his recovery and relief efforts for downtown businesses during the covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Kammer has also served as Assistant City Administrator for the City of Lathrup Village, Executive Director of its Downtown Development Authority, and had worked in the City of Flint's Mayor's Office. Mr. Kammer possesses two master's degrees in political science and public administration from Wayne State University and a graduate certificate in economic development.
Local author and professor in the MSU School of Journalism
Aug. 23, 2021 12:00 p.m.
Joe Grimm has been visiting editor in residence in the Journalism School at Michigan State University since 2008. Before that, he worked at the Detroit Free Press for 25 years. He has written or co-authored about 30 books. They include “Windjammers: Songs of the Great Lakes Sailors,” “Michigan Voices,” “The Faygo Book” and “Coney Detroit.” He has self-published books for journalism job hunters and has helped students at Michigan State publish more than 20 books. Most are in the Bias Busters series, which answers 100 common questions about different ethnic, racial, religious, gender, cultural or occupational groups.
Cathleen Russ has been the director of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library since December 2020. Prior to that, she was Director of the Troy Public Library from 2007-2020, during which she led the Library through several contentious millage campaigns. She also taught Library Administration and Management as an Adjunct Professor at Wayne State University from 2010-2014.
Cathy holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts, Honors, Communications from Loyola University Chicago. She served on the Michigan Library Association Board of Directors from 2017-2020, and was recently re-elected to another 4 year term. The Michigan Library Association honored Cathy as the Michigan Librarian of the Year in 2019.
Cathy is also the President of the Metro Detroit Book and Author Society, and has led the Village Club of Bloomfield Hills book discussion group for over 20 years.
Cynthia Tupper has been a member of the Farmington Players since 1980, when she moved back to the Midwest from New York City. Her first role was in "Guys and Dolls," dancing in the chorus as a Hot Box Girl. Since that time she has designed costumes for 75 shows, acted in 31 shows, directed 16 shows, and been on the Board of Directors for many terms. She is currently serving her 9th term as President. In real life, she is a retired fashion designer.
Cris Braun – Executive Director of Next, a 50+ Community Center
Next is a non-profit serving the 50-plus communities of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin and surrounding areas. As Executive Director, Cris works to enrich lives and support independence.
In 2015, with a new name and a renewed mission, we transitioned into Next. This was the start of a more active, youthful and comprehensive community center. With expanded hours, the introduction of unique, high-quality programming, and more diverse offerings, we have grown almost exponentially in all areas; membership, fund development, programming, attendance, and retention. With a clear and deliberate vision, we are providing more opportunities to the 50-plus cohort than ever before - Next is a wonderful, warm and welcoming place to stay active and connected.
As the Director of Economic Development for Oakland County, Birmingham resident Ingrid Tighe oversees business development and international business attraction; community development and planning; and the County’s workforce development and veteran services. Prior to this position, Ingrid served as the Executive Director of the Birmingham Shopping District and also worked for the State of Michigan, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and the Michigan Economic Development.
Ingrid attended Vanderbilt University on a four-year R.O.T.C. scholarship and was commissioned as a U.S. Army Signal Corps officer upon graduation. She served from 1998 to 2005 with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany, participating in NATO peacekeeping operations in Macedonia and Kosovo and later with the 1st Cavalry Division leading troops in 2004 to 2005 in the combat zone of Baghdad. In Iraq, she had the unique opportunity of working alongside Iraqi National Guard soldiers and training and mentoring Iraq’s first class of female Army officers. After honorably separating from the Army, Ingrid used the post 9/11 G.I. Bill to obtain her Master of Public Administration from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
Ingrid serves on the University of Michigan, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Alumni board and is a Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellow. She also served as a City of Birmingham Board of Review Member. Ingrid is a member of the Iraq and Afghanistan’s Veterans of America (IAVA) and participated in the IAVA 2014 Storm the Hill initiative in Washington D.C. campaigning to combat veteran suicide. Ultimately, these efforts paid off with the Clay Hunt SAV Act signed into law by President Obama. In addition, Ingrid has published her writing in the book She's Out There: Essays by 35 Young Women Who Aspire to Lead the Nation: The Next Generation of Presidential Candidates and in the Huffington Post.
Executive Director, Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center
Oct. 11, 2021
Antonio David Garcia is the Executive Director of Affirmations, an LGBTQ+ community center that has been located in Ferndale, Michigan, for 30 years. He is putting in his second stint there, after serving five years, in between, as the Director of Policy and Community Building at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Previously, Dave also served served as the Executive Director of The Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center (now OutFront), and before that, he worked in various leadership capacities at the YMCA.
Dave first began his fight for LGBT equality after being fired from his position as the Community Services Coordinator of Swartz Creek for his attempt to start a Gay Straight Alliance in the public schools in 2000. After walking 55 miles overnight from the doors of Swartz Creek High School to the State Capitol, Garcia delivered one of his many heartfelt and inspiring speeches. Over the past 20 years, Dave has continued his dedicated efforts to improve lives and advance justice for all.
Among his other accomplishments are: being named “Civil Libertarian of the Year” by the ACLU of Flint, being featured in Dan Woog’s book, Jocks II – Coming Out to Play, winning two 2009 Michigan Addy awards for his film work, and being named Student of the Year in Communications and Media at the University of Michigan – Flint. In addition, Dave has completed a full-length documentary, Fences and is a critically acclaimed playwright. His play Candy Corn, Christ and the Convoluted Creation of Golf debuted to sold-out audiences at the Performance Network in Ann Arbor and was named a top ten show of Michigan by the Flint Journal.
State Representative Mari Manoogian was born and raised in Birmingham, Michigan—where she continues to reside—and is now serving her second term representing the 40th District, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, and a portion of West Bloomfield. She currently serves as the Deputy Democratic Caucus Whip and the Minority Vice Chair for the House Committee on Energy.
At 28, Manoogian is the youngest woman serving in the 101st Legislature. Prior to joining the Legislature, she served in various capacities at the federal level, including interning for then-Congressman John Dingell, working with the Council on Foreign Relations, and assisting Ambassador Samantha Power at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
Manoogian is a third-generation Armenian-American whose great-grandparents came to America in the 1920s to escape the Armenian Genocide. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international affairs at George Washington University.
Manoogian is an avid Detroit sports and Team USA fan, and enjoys figure skating, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is a member of Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Dearborn.
Annie VanGelderen joined the BBAC Board of Directors in 2003 and later also assumed a full-time volunteer staff position as Enterprises Director. In 2011, she was appointed President and CEO of the BBAC. VanGelderen plays a leadership role in the community, serving on the boards of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham's Public Arts Board, and the Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Council. She is also on the advisory council of Southfield's Partnerships for Education Council and the membership committee of the regional CultureSource organization. In Oakland County, she is an alumna of Leadership Oakland and of the Advanced Leadership Institute. In 2015, she was given the Leader of Leaders Award. VanGelderen was also a member of the 2015-16 Leadership Detroit class. Since 2011, with a focus on inclusivity and increasing opportunities to those who might otherwise lack access, she has advanced the BBAC’s roster of ArtAccess programs. Beneficiaries include individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia, incarcerated youth, people of all ages with cognitive and physical challenges, and senior citizens. VanGelderen continues her own practice of art-making and is committed to the BBAC vision of “art for all.” On October 25, she will bring to the Rotary meeting a Halloween-inspired art package for everyone to take home!
Proper recycling habits, plus educating children and adults about the environment
Nov. 01, 2021
Saundra Porter is a Project Manager with Iris Waste Diversion Specialists, a consulting company contracted by SOCRRA to provide education and outreach programs. She has worked in the industry for 12 years. Although not formally educated in environmental studies, Saundra's passion and commitment have guided her personally and professionally. She is driven by a deep personal passion for stewardship of our earth and for educating children and adults about the positive impacts our behavior can have on the environment.
An asset management professional, Rob Grimaldi has been a Board member of Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund for seven years and now serves as President of the FWSF. Rob is proud to help bring the talent, passion, and energy of the all-volunteer members of the FWSF to our heroes in need.
Jeremy Fick is a combat veteran and an FWSF Board member.
Madonna Van Fossen is the Oakland County Ombudsman for SMART, Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. SMART is the public transportation system that services Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and a portion of Monroe County. She has been with SMART for 8 years.
In her role as Ombudsman she serves as a liaison/resource to communities, County and State governing agencies, organizations, and individuals within Oakland County, regarding public transportation and SMART.
One of the things she enjoys about this position is being able to educate people about the value of public transportation. She has been known to describe her job as ‘she gets paid to talk to people and since she’s “a talker” this job has served her well. She loves her job!
Madonna also serves on the Troy Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; the Oakland University Kresge Library Board of Directors and the Forester Square Homeowners Association Board of Directors.
Other positions Madonna has held during her career at SMART include:
Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) Advisory Board
MI Career Quest Executive Board member and Planning Committee
MI Works Workforce Development Committee
Oakland County Business Roundtable Economic Development Committee
Oakland County Business Roundtable Transportation Committee
Oakland County Homeless Healthcare Coalition Transportation Taskforce
Troy Medi-Go Board of Directors
Prior to SMART she was the Executive Director for the Oxford Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for 5 ½ years.
She lives in Auburn Hills, is mother to 4 children – 3 sons and 1 daughter and “honeygramma” to 4 grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 to 10 years old and she has a 5 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback, named Lala.
With more than 20 years' experience providing visionary and strategic leadership in the field of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Services, Roxanne Brinkerhoff has served as CEO of the Detroit Institute for Children (DIC) since October 2018.
Prior to joining DIC, Roxanne served as Chief Operating Officer at Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and as Senior Director with The Guidance Center, a multi-faceted human service agency serving nearly 25,000 children and adults annually at 23 Downriver locations. While with The Guidance Center, she was responsible for all operations within the Center for Early Childhood, Children Advocacy Center, Autism Center, and the Center for Excellence.
A graduate of the University of Michigan and Leadership Detroit XXXVII, Roxanne's passion for serving children is also evident outside of the normal "workday" environment given her roles as a member and Immediate Past Chair of the Wayne County Great Start Collaborative.
Dr. Scott Grant is a first-time puppy raiser, raising a Future Leader Dog named Cloe. He completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, where he graduated with honors and received a degree in physiology. In 1988 Dr. Grant began attending Wayne State University's School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1992. Dr. Grant trained in General Surgery at William Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak, and in Family Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He has been the annual recipient of the American Medical Associated Physician Recognition Award for the past 15 Years, and was the recipient of the Patients' Choice Award in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He is an expert in Hair Restoration Surgery. Since 1998, he has been certified by the FAA as an Aviation Medical Examiner for Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers, and he has served as the Production Physician on over 30 motion pictures since 2008.
Connection between mental well being and physical exercise
Dec. 06, 2021
Teri Keller has an exercise science degree, is a nationally certified ACE personal trainer, and is the Membership Experience Director at the Birmingham Family YMCA. She is also a proud mom of five boys and one girl. In her career Teri found a love for movement and collected every certification she could that would be a good tool in her belt. While working with several women's groups, she learned, early on, the connection between mental health and movement. Teri has a deep love for the YMCA because she is able to combine all the things she loves into her role there … family, friends, community, and shaking bootie!
Heidi Boyd joined the Area Agency on Aging 1-B as Director of Philanthropy in August of 2021.
Heidi’s career has been focused on fundraising, most recently in Massachusetts, where she served as Director of Philanthropy for the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra and as Director of Development for the South Shore Art Center. She also worked part-time as a graduate assistant at the University of Southern Maine, where she is studying for a master’s degree in leadership and organizational studies.
Heidi received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in vocal performance. She is a classically trained soprano. She has sung with the Milwaukee Opera Theater and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus.
Before the family moved to Massachusetts, Heidi worked as Campaign Director for the Wisconsin Humane Society. She is a native of Milwaukee.
Heidi and her husband Joel are parents to three young children—daughter Clara and twin boys Benjamin and August. The family recently relocated to Michigan so Joel could serve as senior pastor at a Congregational Church in Novi. They are excited to go on hikes together and explore their new community in southeastern Michigan.
Wren Hack grew up on a small animal farm in rural Massachusetts, where she developed her lifelong passion for organic farming. Later, she managed greenhouses and developed a love of natural healing. She then moved into education, working in Waldorf and Jewish experiential education. Thus began her Jewish professional journey, from being a teacher to administrative positions at synagogues and the Jewish Community Center.
Ms. Hack has raised two children and now lives in a recently completed eco-friendly house in Milford, where she watches over her bees and seedling trees as she learns the ways of her land and her tractor.
She is beyond excited to work now as the Director of Hazon Detroit. Hazon is a nonprofit organization based in New York City, which seeks to create new vision in the Jewish community through outdoor and environmental education.
Ken Johnson grew up in Detroit. At age 18, he got a job at Ford's River Rouge Plant as a welder. One year later, in 1978, he started a game manufacturing company in his parents' basement, producing games he invented. His first big success came in 1982, when he invented the Phase 10 card game. Five years later, Ken licensed the manufacturing and distribution rights of Phase 10 and began receiving royalties from the worldwide sales. Today, Phase 10 is produced by Mattel, sold in over 30 countries, and remains the second-best-selling card game in the world. In 2012, he as nominated for a TAGIE Award--the Oscar of the toy and game industry. In 2013, he founded "The Inventors Academy," which is a free online community designed to provide education, resources, and community to both new and experienced inventors. He is the author of The Simple Plan: Six Easy Ways to Make Millions From Your Ideas.
Ken lives in Franklin, Michigan, with his wife of 18 years and their seven-year-old son. He curently owns two other businesses.
Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization based in Oakland County, endeavors to build equitable communities and alleviate poverty in partnership with, and in service to, individuals, families, and organizations.
Russ Russell is Lighthouse's Chief Development Officer. He is responsible for managing the operations and resources for fundraising, corporate giving, and development for Lighthouse. He oversees all aspects of funding, communication and events. He has 40 years of experience working with local, national, and international organizations, to reach their funding goals successfully.
Russ came to Lighthouse in 2019, and worked to steer the merger of South Oakland Shelter with Lighthouse of Oakland County to become the new Lighthouse. Shortly thereafter, he guided Lighthouse’s pandemic response with partners Oakland University and the Pontiac Community Foundation, and increased emergency shelter capacity four times and emergency food 20 times. Before Lighthouse, he was at Detroit PAL and Forgotten Harvest.
Russ is a graduate of Mid America Nazarene University (1982) and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. Russ currently serves on the Pontiac Farmers Market Board of Directors and is an active volunteer on various projects with the Mayor of Pontiac. He lives with his family in Pontiac.
Kellie MacAloon is Lighthouse's Strategic Gifts Manager. She is responsible for working with current and new Lighthouse donors, and supporting efforts for an upcoming Capital Campaign that will increase the scope of how Lighthouse will serve the growing need in Oakland County.
Kellie began at Lighthouse in 2019 as a volunteer, working on various marketing projects related to the merger with South Oakland Shelter, then came on board as a member of the Development Team in October 2021. Prior to Lighthouse, Kellie had a 30-year career in advertising, and spent 20 years as Director of Vanity Fair/Conde Nast in Detroit. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Bloomfield Hills with her husband and dog.
Dr. John Todd grew up in Farmington. In 1967 he joined the Army and became a Chief Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot. In January, 1969, his gunship was shot in the nose, and the flak entered his eyes, leaving him blind.
He received a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University. From 1979, he was a Professor of Business Law at Rochester University. Recently, he retired.
In 1977-78, he wrote and got a bill passed through Congress, giving new benefits for widows and orphans of disabled veterans who die.
In 2013, he was named the National Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year by the Disabled American Veterans organization.