Heart of West Michigan United Way has appointed its 2017-2018 board of directors.

The board consists of 20 members who serve three-year terms.

To sit on the board, United Way seeks out community leaders who are committed to creating lasting, sustainable changes for Kent County and are passionate about building a thriving community.

“We are fortunate to have a strong and active board of directors, staff and organization,” said Michelle Van Dyke, president and CEO, Heart of West Michigan United Way. “The recently elected leadership and the returning board members will help us collaboratively address complex community issues with many other community organizations.”

Executive team

Chair: Janet Veldhouse, director, global operations finance, Steelcase

Vice Chair: Robert Kaminski, president and CEO, Mercantile Bank of Michigan

Secretary/Treasurer: Mary Command, principal and CFO, Williams Group

Past Chairperson: Richard Pappas, president, Davenport University

Past Campaign Chair: Jamie Mills, president, JRM Holdings

First-term board members

Bill Pink, president, Grand Rapids Community College

Greg Hahn, principal, Crowe Horwath

Gwen Sandefur, president, Spectrum Health Hospital Group

Timothy Williams, vice president, assistant general counsel, Meijer

Returning board members

Renwick Brutus, speaker, consultant, Achievement Resource

Khumbo Croft, HR compliance manager, Gordon Food Service

Marisa Didur, director of communications, United Food & Commercial Workers, UFCW Local 951

Floriza Genautis, CEO, Management Business Solutions

Jack Greenfield, president/CEO, Arbor Circle

Claire Groen, vice president, global litigation, employment law and governance, Amway

Mary Hannon, director of marketing, Aspen Surgical

Michael Jandernoa, founder, 42 North Partners

Ryan Letts, president, CWA Local 4034

Yvonne Trupiano, senior vice president, chief human resources officer, SpartanNash

Tom Welch, president and CEO, Fifth Third Bank Western Michigan

United Way

Heart of West Michigan United Way unites community resources to reduce poverty in Kent County.

Founded in 1917 and locally operated, the nonprofit has been a part of Kent County for 100 years and connects community resources to pressing community needs through direct programming, community engagement and partnerships with local nonprofits, companies, donors and volunteers.