MEET THE BOARD

                

Bill Crowder       Chairman   Mr. Crowder, General Manager of Signature Automotive Group for 22 years, has resided in Bridgman since 1995. Bill has three children; Brandon, graduate of Bridgman Schools in 2011; Ashley and Austin which currently attend Bridgman Schools. He has been married for 24 years to his wife, Kim.  Bill enjoys sports and the outdoors, not to mention automobiles. He loves spending his free time with his family and friends in Michigan's Great Southwest.  What he enjoys most is working with people and especially enjoys working with our youth by volunteering. Bill has coached recreational soccer, taught Hybrid Technology in science classrooms and volunteered with Junior Achievement for several years. He has been featured twice in Time Magazine for these efforts and by winning the President's award from Toyota.  His organization has been awarded this coveted award multiple times.  Bill was also presented the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Cornerstone Chamber in February 2009. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce as its Secretary.  Bill has served on the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence board since 2009 as its Public Relations chair and most recently as the Foundation's Chairman.         Joellen Kamp       Vice Chair-Projects   Born and raised in La Porte, Indiana Joellen has considered Bridgman home since 1988. She is a graduate of Valparaiso University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry.  She currently works as a Quality Analyst for DSM Food Specialties in South Bend, Indiana and previously worked for International Diagnostic Systems and Indiana Michigan Power.  Joellen has three children that have enjoyed the many benefits of being students in the Bridgman Public School District.  Jackson is currently a junior, while Michael graduated in 2011 and is a freshman at Grand Valley State University and daughter Emily graduated from Bridgman with the class of 2008 and will be graduating from Michigan State University spring of 2012.  Joellen has been involved with the schools since her children started pre-school.  Her efforts have ranged from helping out with activities in the class room, serving on the school board, being a member of parent-advisory committees, volunteering at various athletic and extra-curricular events, and most recently serving as a trustee for the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence since 2009.   In addition to being involved with her children’s activities, Joellen enjoys her two dogs, reading, and gardening and looks forward to her favorite time of year, March Madness.        Rob Milano      Vice Chair-Fund Development   Rob’s zeal for educational excellence was rooted in his childhood, growing up as the son of a 30+ year High School administrator.  After high school, Rob studied Natural Resources and Environmental Science at Purdue University where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree.  After working for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for a short period, he returned to school for post graduate studies in polymer science at North Dakota State University .  For the past 25 years he has been engaged in the management of a chemical distribution/brokerage firm.  Rob has been a resident Bridgman for 21 years, and he moved to the community, in part, due to the excellent reputation of the Bridgman School system.  He has been active in the community having served on the City of Bridgman Planning Commission, the Parish Council at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Bridgman, and has acted as the Commissioner for the Bridgman Youth Floor Hockey League.  He and his wife Trish have two children, Dominic and Vincent, who are both enrolled in Bridgman Schools.  He spends most of his free time in the outdoors managing a private nature sanctuary, hunting, fishing, skiing and scuba diving. Rob joined the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence board as a trustee in 2011 and accepted the Vice Chair and Fundvelopment position in 2012.          Glenda Wiese        Secretary   Mrs. Glenda Wiese has worked at the Cook Nuclear Plant for the past 22 years and is currently the Dosimetry Coordinator for the Radiation Protection department.  She has been married for 14 years to her husband, Brian, and they have a daughter, Bailey,  who is a School of Choice student at F. C. Reed Middle School.  Glenda enjoys supporting her daughter’s various activities including Science Olympiad, Softball, Soccer, and Volleyball. Glenda’s bucket-list accomplishments have included Skydiving, hiking the Grand Canyon, and riding Ragbrai, a 500 mile bike ride across Iowa.   Glenda served on the Bridgman Softball Association as Secretary from 2008 to 2011.  Since 2009, Mrs. Wiese has served on the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence board as its Secretary.       Dr. Kevin M. Ivers     Treasurer   Born and raised in Highland, Indiana, Kevin began his 30-year career in teaching and educational administration in several Indiana schools as well as Tinley Park, Illinois.  While teaching at Highland High School, he met his wife, Betty (also a teacher)  and was married in 1984.  Kevin and Betty are the proud parents of two sons, Blake and Luke, who are currently students at Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University respectively.  In 1996, the Ivers family moved to Bridgman, where Kevin accepted the position as principal of F.C. Reed Middle School.  He was appointed superintendent of Bridgman Public Schools in 2001 and served in that capacity for nine years.  In 2010, Kevin was appointed the superintendent of Berrien Regional Education Service Agency (Berrien RESA) in Berrien Springs, Michigan.  Dr. Ivers received his B.A. from Ball State University and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University.  He is currently a member of the Bridgman Lions Club and Berrien Springs/Eau Claire Rotary Club.  He has been a charter member of the Bridgman Foundation for Educational Excellence since 2008 and has served in the roles of secretary and treasurer.