Our Board
Are you passionate about early childhood education, community, equity, and social justice? Join our Board!
Jump to: Past Board Minutes Board FAQs
-
Jeff Wilkerson
President
Terms of Service: President, 9/2023-Present, Treasurer, 1/2023-9/2023; Member-at-Large, 10/2022-10/2024;
Jeff received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in 2010 and went on to co-found a small multinational logistics company that specialized in material delivery for manufacturing in Asian markets. In 2013 Jeff began investing in single family residential rental properties before expanding into commercial and industrial real estate. During this time Jeff also began actively developing raw land for future development in growing markets in coordination with a number of local architectural, engineering and construction firms. He co-founded an Ann Arbor-based home building startup that focused on producing net zero energy homes for the residential market and served as an active member in EBBA, the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance. Jeff’s current efforts are dedicated to overall company growth and project management as the founder and director of A2 Collaborative, a local design firm that provides architectural and site planning services. Jeff is also the managing partner of A2 North Maple Properties and North Maple Road Apartments.
-
Katie Pieper
Secretary & Manzanitas Family Representative
Term of Service: 06/2022-06/2024
Katie Pieper moved to Ann Arbor in 2019 with her husband and dog after many years in Chicago, where she worked in various public interest law and nonprofit positions. Katie is a graduate of Grinnell College and holds a JD from the University of Illinois College of Law. From an early age Katie has been motivated to empower others and work with overlooked communities, most recently working for the John Howard Association, a prison watchdog organization, monitoring Illinois prison conditions, and advocating for people incarcerated in facilities across Illinois. Katie is now focusing on her two small children, and is appreciative to have her toddler at Manzanitas, an organization with a mission and people upholding values that align with her own.
-
Nick Baldus
Treasurer
Term of Service: Treasurer, 9/2023-12/23, Member at Large, 8/2023-8/2025
Nick received his Master’s Degree in Accounting from Michigan State University in 2016. Nick has spent his entire career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the PwC Private Assurance practice, a practice that is dedicated to working with entrepreneurs, family owned businesses and large privately held Companies. Nick has extensive experience in the construction, automotive and manufacturing industries; working with companies having operations locally, nationally and globally. Nick has also currently serves in the role of PwC Transformation Leader within the Greater Michigan Market, focusing on the implementation of new tools, technology & methodology across the practice. Nick holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to practice in Michigan and is a member of the AICPA and Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
-
Leah Jones
Member at Large
Term of Service, 8/2023-8/2025 *Currently on leave until 4/1/2024
Leah Jones was born and raised in Ypsilanti and has resided in Washtenaw County most of her life. She holds a BS in anthropology from EMU with a focus on geography and the environment. Beginning her work experience in the construction industry as an administrative assistant and working up to project manager assistant, she eventually changed career paths to take a job in early childhood education. She has been a teacher at a daycare center in Ypsilanti since 2019 and is now also an outreach assistant for City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation and an Environmental Educator with the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor. When she isn't working, Leah enjoys running a small family photography business, spending time with her partner and three boys, fly fishing, hiking, and gardening.
-
Kelley Stearns
Family Representative
Term of Service: 11/2023-11/2025
Kelley grew up and lives in Ann Arbor, and her son attends Green Apple. She holds a BA in Elementary & Special Education from MSU and a MA in Educational Leadership & Policy from U-M. Kelley is currently the Associate Director at Camp Michigania, the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan alumni family camp in northern Michigan. She loves hiking, gardening, and exploring with her family.
-
Sam Kachuck
Family Representative
Term of Service, 11/2023-11/2025
Sam is a parent of two muddy and messy Green Apple kids (one current, one alum) and a computational physicist and climate researcher at the University of Michigan. He moved to Ann Arbor in 2018 to research the earth’s remaining ice sheets after studying physics, mathematics, and geosciences at Wesleyan University (BA), the University of Cambridge (MS), and Cornell University (MS, PhD). He is thrilled to be a member of the Apple Playschools community, embracing the messy but beautiful kaleidoscope of life's experiences, understanding the everyday human narratives behind global phenomena, and developing sustainable ways of living.
-
Gina Maksimchuk
Member At Large
Term of Service, 11/2023-11/2025
Gina is a Kindergarten teacher at Abbot Elementary. She loves children and is passionate about helping little minds grow. She and her family love hiking, reading, and visiting new places. She earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and attended Eastern Michigan University to receive her Master’s in Special Education. Gina is excited to join the Apple Playschools team and help transform our community and create a better world.
Past Board Members
Lilly Connett, Green Apple Family Representative, 11/2021-11/2023, 11/2019-11/2021 Sam Larson, Manzanitas Family Representative, 6/2022-11/2023 Ricky LaFosse, Green Apple Family Representative, 11/2021-11/2023, 11/2019-11/2021
Patricia Alvarez de Fallon, President, 4/2022-08/2023, 11/2019-03/2022
Lauren Gwin, Member at Large, 10/2021-10/2023
Amanda Bloomfield, Treasurer, 4/2022-12/2022; President 1/2021-3/2022; Member-at-Large, 12-2018-12/2020
Whitney Tarver, Member at Large, Mud Day Committee Chair, 8/2019-8/2022
Michael Allerding, Treasurer, 2019-2022
Nimish Ganatra, President, 2019-2020
Stephanie Moore, Secretary, 2018-2020
Ann Stalhandske, Member at Large, 2018-2020
Oliver Hart III, Member at Large, 2019-2020
Pete Blank, President 2018-2019
Dianne Curry, Member at Large 2016-2019
Ashley Waddall Tingstad, President 2017-2018
Amanda Maurmann, President 2016-2017
Dr. Samm M. Pryce, 2016-2017
Andrew Kelley, Board Fellow and Treasurer 2015-2017
Stephen Woodcock, Member at Large 2015-2017
Katie Jedynak, Secretary 2015-2017
Cheryl Rivera, Secretary 2015-2016
Emily East, Treasurer 2015-2017
Tom Drake, President 2015-2017
Past Board Minutes
Board FAQs
-
“At Apple Playschools we are committed to our mission and vision, and truly believe in our play-based and child-centered approach to education. Serving on the board offers an opportunity to support this approach and mission directly! Whether you are passionate about cultural inclusion, environmental stewardship, or the building blocks of a more equitable world, serving as a board member will allow you to realize these passions every day. In addition to giving back to the community, you will have plenty of opportunities to grow professionally including developing a sharp financial mind, expanding your team building abilities, improving fundraising and development expertise, and so much more.” -Pete Blank, Interim Board President
-
Approximately 5 hours per month, including one 2-hour board meeting and committee work, emails, phone calls, and attendance at Apple Playschools events. This work may vary due to time of year or specific projects the board member undertakes. There is also an annual 8-hour board retreat during the summer months or two 4-hour board retreats per year (format is determined by current board members according to scheduling needs). Board meeting days/times are set each August and typically will fall on the same evening/week of month. In addition, board members are asked to do one site visit for each of our three school sites each fall, and are invited to come for “board hour” at an all-staff in-service meeting or event each year.
-
Board terms are two years. Officer terms are one year. Board members can serve up to six consecutive years at a time. Because there is about a 6-month learning curve for new board members to become acquainted with the full functioning of operations, it is crucial to the long term stability of the organization for board members to make a full two year commitment.
-
No. All board positions are 100% volunteer.
-
We strive to maintain a board of 9-11 members. Our maximum size is 13 board members with family representatives never comprising more than half of board membership.
-
2015
-
Yes! Our Strategic Plan includes major goals over a 5 year period and provides general direction for our decisions.
-
The Board oversees the governance of the organization, ensures the organization has the necessary resources to deliver its mission, and provides support to the Executive Director, including conducting the Executive Director's annual performance review. When at full capacity, Apple Playschools has approximately 120 families enrolled in total, approximately 45 employees, and an annual budget of $1.4-1.6M. Financial information, including our 990 tax returns and budget information can be found on the Apple Playschools Guidestar Profile.
-
As is best practice, we expect every board member to make a financial contribution to Apple Playschools at least annually. While we do not have a minimum contribution amount, we ask that a board members' contribution to our organization is one of their top three philanthropic gifts in a year. In addition, board members serve as essential ambassadors for our organization in the community and all board members actively participate in fulfilling our annual fundraising goals.
-
We expect board members to contribute Time, Talent, and Treasure. Many board members contribute heavily in one area and less in another. The Board Member Memorandum of Understanding is available below, and gives full details of specific expectations.
-
We are looking for board members with expertise in Business, Accounting/Finance, Law, Nonprofit Management, Fundraising and Development, Building and Property Development, and Commercial Real Estate. We are especially interested in board members who are bilingual in Spanish and English. Roles for board members include Executive Committee roles (President, Secretary, and Treasurer), committee chairs for Fundraising and Finance committees (and any others that are formed by the Board to meet organization needs), and members at large. The Board elects its own Executive Committee and committee chairs after each new board convenes in the Fall.
-
Like our organization, our board is highly collaborative, somewhat informal, and committed to equity, inclusion, feminism, and radical respect. We believe in play, gratitude, and lifelong learning. We practice honesty, fiercely advocate for our community, and wrestle with hard questions using our guiding principles and social justice branches as the frame and foundation of our work.