Directors

Executive Director

Brianna Zhang

Director of Operations

Aanya Goel

Board of Directors

Erin Geschwendt

Board Member

Attorney Erin Geschwendt works on a wide variety of issues and focuses on police prosecution and ordinance enforcement. After graduating from WMU Cooley Law School in 2020, Erin spent two and a half years in the Kalamazoo Public Defender’s Office where she gained significant trial and negotiation experience. In addition to her law degree from WMU Cooley, Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and serves on the board of the Portage Community Center.

Michael Bila

Chair

Attorney Michael Bila works on a wide range of issues for Bauckham Thall, with a focus on legal research and writing, the Freedom of Information Act, and Michigan Election Law. As a graduate from the University of Michigan Law School, he gained government law experience working for the City of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Department of Attorney General Criminal Trials & Appeals Division, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General Corporate Oversight Division.

Mark Cardwell

Treasurer

Mark Cardwell is a former Computer scientist at Bell Laboratories, Senior Investment Analyst for European Telecommunications at Sanford C. Bernstein, and teacher at Kalamazoo Central High School and the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center. He has degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University, University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago, is the father of five adult children, and is now retired.

Ashley Seiler

Board Member

Ashley Seiler is the Fitness Center Coordinator at the YMCA. She is excited to join this nonprofit as a board member as it hits close to home for her. She grew up as an athlete and played college basketball. She has coached volleyball, basketball and soccer for a school/youth organization that had many kids that weren't able to afford the proper equipment as well as her current work at the YMCA that provides countless families with scholarships for memberships, swim lessons or youth sports. She has always had a passion for helping others and looks forward to continuing helping and branching out into the community more.

Amanda Telgenhoff

Secretary

Amanda Telgenhoff grew up in Cadillac, MI and graduated from WMU with a B.A. in Public Administration in Political Science with a minor in General Business. She spent 12 years in veterinary medicine, and was the director of a large companion animal hospital. She's now the Election and Office Coordinator, as well as a staff liaison for the YAC for the City of Portage.

Team of Advisors

Grant & Fundraising Advisor

Masha Canfield

Social Media Advisor

Ellie Alleman

Branch Advisor

Anniken Holm

Branch Leaders

Kalamazoo Area Branch

Isabella Zegerius

Joshua Ryan

Advisor

Joshua Ryan is a YMCA Portage Youth Development Sports Coordinator and Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Kalamazoo Valley Men’s Basketball. In his previous role at Western Michigan University he worked as the Director of Operations for their Women’s soccer program and worked extensively on its the logistical side. He also worked as a student manager for the Men’s basketball team at Western Michigan University. He have a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management, both from Western Michigan University.

Director of Marketing

Janelle Yao