Great Lakes Leadership
Great Lakes
Board of Directors
Timothy L. Booth
Board Chairman: Serves through June 30, 2009.
Board Chairman: Serves through June 30, 2009.
Professional: Director of Guest Services, Michigan International Speedway
Experience: Active in current post with MIS since 1999. Tim has developed all Guest Service Programs for the Speedway.
Education: Bachelors of Science degree, Eastern Michigan University. Associates in Arts degree, Jackson Community College.
Community activities: Mr. Booth is a Sixteen Gallon Blood Donor, and coordinates the Spirit of American Blood Drive, which occurs every year on 9-11. He serves as Treasurer of the Brooklyn Kiwanis Club, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Drug Education Breakout Program.
Regina Bell is well-grounded in government affairs and monitoring legislative activity. She’s worked for SBC (the new AT&T), serving as a liaison to elected officials on local, state and national levels. She’s also worked for the City of Detroit in providing a transportation program for work-first and welfare-to-work customers, and as legislative staff for the Michigan House of Representatives.
She graduated from Michigan State University's James Madison College and is on the James Madison College Alumni Association Board. Regina is also active in the Michigan Political Leadership Program Steering Committee, Lansing Chapter of Inforum (formerly Women’s Economic Club),Boarshead Theatre Board of Directors and is the host of “Old School,” on WQHH 96.5 FM.
State Representative Brian Calley was elected to a first term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2006. He represents the 87th District, which includes all of Barry County and a large portion of Ionia County.
Mr. Calley graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and Grand Valley State University with a master's in business administration.
Rep. Calley is a former Ionia County commissioner and Board of Public Works member. He has served on the Mid-South Substance Abuse Council, Ionia County Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Ionia County Personnel Finance Committee.
Juliet Dragos joined WZZM 13 in April of 1991 and is the Co-Anchor of the 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM weekday newscasts.
Ms. Dragos has been honored with several awards, most recently the Special Olympics Michigan award for Outstanding Media Support and the Associated Press Best Feature for a story she and Co-Anchor, Lee Van Ameyde, did on "Men Versus Women Drivers." She also received the "Professionalism Award" from American Women in Radio and Television. She's received national recognition as one of the "Outstanding Young Women of America." Juliet was also given a "Local Hero" award from the Susan G. Komen Foundation for her work in bringing about awareness of breast cancer.
Ms. Dragos is the station spokesperson for the WZZM 13 "Friends for Life" campaign, which encourages monthly breast self-exams for early detection of breast cancer (Facts For My Friends For Life). She's hosted the Grand Rapids "Race for the Cure" for nine years and is also the Honorary Race Chair. She volunteers her time for many community causes and events including the Grand Rapids Symphony and is involved in numerous fundraisers and events to help local children and families. Ms. Dragos serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Great Lakes Region, Bio-Medical Services.
Juliet Dragos has a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA.
Natan Espinosa is the owner of NatanEspinosa.com World Properties, a real estate company in East Lansing.
Mr. Espinosa has worked in the real estate industry for over a decade and is currently the President Elect for the Greater Lansing Board of Realtors.
Mr. Espinosa also has extensive management experience in the food service industry, working with Mountain Jack's Restaurant and the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.
Natan Espinosa has a B.A. in Anthropology from Michigan State University and obtained his broker license from Holloway's Real Estate Institute.
James D. Flickema is the Director of Professional Services for Northern Michigan Hospital, where he is responsible for financial performance, program development, planning and oversight.
Mr. Flickema holds a Master of Science Administration from Central Michigan University, and also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Public Health from Michigan State University.
Mr. Flickema is a member of the Finance Council for St. Francis Xavier Parish in Petoskey, Michigan.
Jeffrey L. Green has extensive experience in formation of corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies for both general purpose and single purpose businesses. A significant portion of his practice is dedicated to representation of developers and owners in matters concerning acquisition, development and financing (including low income housing tax credits) of affordable housing and operation of all forms of commercial real estate. He also has significant experience in the creation of commercial, residential and mixed use condominiums. His environmental practice includes advising purchasers and sellers in real estate transactions, investigation and cleanup of environmental sites.
Awards, Recognitions, and Public Service: Oaks Board, Downtown Lansing Optimist Club (President 1995), Greater Lansing Jewish Welfare Federation, Board of Directors (President 1997-1999).
Ronald C. Haas is an Associate Broker specializing in commercial sales and leasing. He joined The Lawton Group in 2005.
Ron has more than 35 years experience in business and government, the last two decades involved largely in real estate development, leasing, sales and management. His public sector experience was primarily in city management.
He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Brown University, and a master's in public administration from Penn State. Between college and graduate school, he served more than four years as a Navy officer.
A resident of the Lansing area since 1980, Ron is involved with several community and professional organizations. He was a board member of Ingham Regional Healthcare Foundation, served as a trustee of the Waverly Community Schools board of education, and was a two-term president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Michigan. He is a long-time member and past-president of Delta-Waverly Rotary.
A long-time blood donor, Ron serves on the board and chairs the blood services committee of the Mid-Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross. Before settling in Lansing, he was a member of the boards of Calhoun and Muskegon chapters of the American Red Cross.
Ron lives in DeWitt with his wife, Ginny, who works in government affairs at Michigan State University. They have two grown children, and two young grandchildren.
Candy Helmbold is a dedicated whole blood and platelet donor through the American Red Cross and is a 69 gallon donor. The Flushing, Mich. native currently works for the Genesee District Library.
Ms. Helmbold has worked in nursing and as a professional nanny in several areas of Michigan. In addition, she is very active in her church, serving as a deacon and elder. Candy also volunteers with the Red Cross at the Flushing Senior Center in Genesee County on a part-time basis and takes care of her 89-year-old mother.
Ms. Helmbold has three nieces and nine great-nieces and nephews that live in Maine, New York and Ohio.
Webb F. Martin is a member and principal of the Harbor Springs, Michigan law firm, Ramer, Moore, Schmoll & Martin, PLLC. He concentrates his practice in trust and estate planning, fiduciary risk management, non-profit governance, and small business.
Mr. Martin spent 32 years in banking and managed trust and private banking activities for Genesee Bank in Flint, NBD Bank in Michigan and Bank of Hawaii prior to entering law practice in 2002. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and graduated from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Bank Management.
Mr. Martin has been active in community work, including service as a board member and chair of the Genesee-Lapeer (Michigan) Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has also previously served as vice chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, treasurer of the Hawaii Community Foundation and national chair of the Michigan State University Development Fund and the MSU Presidents Club. He is currently serving as a trustee of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and a member of its Executive and Investment committees and as a director and secretary of Perry Farm Village in Harbor Springs.
Bruce G. McAttee is the United Auto Workers Region 1C Community Action Program Coordinator, where he has served for twelve years. He has been elected to the Planning Committee for the Capital Area Health Alliance.
Mr. McAttee has served as a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Board and General Board since 1995.
Julie L. Novak is the Executive Director for the Michigan State Medical Society, an organization she has been involved with for nearly 20 years.
In her current post, Mrs. Novak oversees a professional association of 15,000 medical doctors, including support and oversight of subsidiary and related operations.
Mrs. Novak earned her Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. In addition, she has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Michigan State University.
Mrs. Novak was awarded the Michigan State Medical Society Presidential Citation in 2007. She also serves on such boards and committees as the MSMS Foundation Board of Directors, the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition Steering Committee and the APCapital Medical Advisory Board.
Zach Ripley is currently a student at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, majoring in English with a minor in History. He is expected to graduate in May of 2010.
Zach enjoys an active lifestyle and has been heavily involved with mission trips to Mexico, Alaska and Canada. He also has served in a leadership capacity at basketball and bible camps in Alaska. He plays an active role in the youth ministry at Blythfield Hills Baptist Church in Rockford, MI.
In addition to being a student, Zach is currently employed as an office manager at Primerica Financial Services in Wyoming, MI and as a writer at the Herald.
David A. Seaman currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. In that role, he directs the day-to-day operations of the MHA, including supervision of all functioning divisions.
Mr. Seaman provides advice on all major internal and external issues affecting the Association and its members. He received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Business Administration degrees from Cornell University.
William Sharp is a life-long Lansing resident, currently active in several community groups such as the Lansing Area Safery Council, East Lansing Kiwanis Club and the MSU Blue Line Club.
A graduate of J.W. Sexton High School and an attendee of Michigan State University, William served as a East Lansing police officer from 1950 through 1963. He then moved on to the Michigan Millers Insurance Company, where he retired as the agency manager in 1990.
Mr. Sharp served on the East Lansing School Board from 1968 through 1980 and the East Lansing City Council from 1993 through 2005. He has also served on the Tri County Planning Commission, the Tri County Office for the Aging and helped form the East Lansing Older Peoples Program.
Mr. Sharp also is a member of the MSU hockey off-ice officials, delivers Meals-On-Wheels with his wife Arlene, is a member of the Okemos Community Church and assists in preparing Christmas dinners for the Volunteers of America on Christmas Day.
Ted A. Smith III currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services of the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America.
In that role, he oversees human resources practices and programs, including employment, training and development, health and safety, compensation, benefits and labor relations. He also oversees administrative services, including facilities, receiving and inventory and records management.
Mr. Smith has more than 25 years of experience, and, prior to joining Accident Fund, he was director of Human Resources for the North American Service and Solutions division of Johnson Controls in Milwaukee, Wisc. His background also includes management positions in Human Resources at Honeywell, Inc. and American Express Travel Related Services in Arizona.
Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Industrial Safety from the University of Central Missouri. He is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and is also a member of the Global Who's Who.
Kim Stoutenburg is a junior at Siena Heights University, expecting to graduate in 2009. She is from Roscommon/Higgins Lake, Michigan. As a McNair Scholar, Kim holds the position of vice president in the Sports Management Association and serves as the team captain of the Siena Heights women's soccer team. As her life has been personally touched by the American Red Cross, Kim believes in and supports the organization's mission. Kim is grateful to participate in this program for it will enable her to reach out to others and help families that are in need of support.
Joy Thrun currently owns and operates Classic Travel Inc., voted Best Area Travel Agency for seven years running.
She oversees all aspects of administration and sales for the company that has experience with multi million dollar corporate accounts, including Dart Container Corporation, Michigan State University, Accident Fund Insurance Company, Emergent Bioport Solutions and Interlochen Center for the Arts to name a few.
Mrs. Thrun currently serves as an instructor in tourism programs at Lansing Community College. She also has served as an instructor at Michigan State University and Davenport University. She also provides intern opportunities for Michigan State and Lansing Community College students in the travel program.
Joy is very active in the greater Lansing community. Currently, she is an East Lansing Rotarian and is the chair of their community service committee. She also is a member of the Women's Economic Club, serves on the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors, Sparrow Hospital's community advisory board and the Okemos Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors. She has also served as a board member for the United Way, Lansing Chamber of Commerce and the Capital Area Literacy Collation.
Katie Tucker is a junior at Siena Heights University in Adrian , Michigan Royal Oak , Michigan
