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.

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 Leaders

Kalamazoo Branch

Anniken Holm

Shelby Hirdning

Board Member

Shelby Hirdning has worked at the Beacon Health and Fitness Center for about 5 years now as a Strength and Conditioning Coach/Personal Trainer. She has her Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University and will be pursing my Master's Degree. She runs the Athletic Performance division where they train mostly high school and middle school athletes as well as college athletes preparing to play professionally. She has been a coach for youth athletes for roughly 10 years now and wants to help grow the community.

Director of Marketing

Janelle Yao

Grand Rapids Branch

Harini Manikandan

Parchment Branch

Shay Janssen & Elli Wachowski