Joan Baert, Executive Director
Joan Baert comes to Lakes Area Community Coalition with more than two decades of experience as a leader in schools and in the community. A resident of Wixom since 1997, Joan holds education degrees from Western Michigan University and University of Michigan and worked as a teacher in Huron Valley Schools for 21 years before first joining the coalition in 2018 as project coordinator. Joan and her husband Brian are the proud parents of four young adults who graduated from Walled Lake Western High School in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. In addition to teaching and raising kids, Joan is a professional musician and is active in the community as a pianist and singer. She brings a passion for helping kids make positive choices as well as empowering parents to help their kids succeed. Joan is passionate about leading the Lakes Area Community Coalition and using her skills to create a healthy, vibrant, drug-free community!
McKaya Groenwald, Project Coordinator
McKaya Groenwald brings energy, enthusiasm, and drive to the work of the coalition. As a Grand Valley State University graduate with a degree in Sport Management she strives to connect with the youth in our Walled Lake Consolidated School District to educate students on the importance of choosing to be drug-free. McKaya has recently moved to the White Lake area from Northern Michigan and is thrilled to assist LACC in creating a healthy, vibrant, drug free community!
Natasha Carmichael, Assistant Project Coordinator- Project Resilience
Natasha comes to LACC with a sociology degree from Johns Hopkins and an excitement about making positive change for youth in our community. In her role leading Project Resilience, Natasha is building connections with local professionals to bring activities to our most underserved kids to help them develop communication and coping skills, connections to strong positive adults, and a greater sense of self worth. She resides with her family in Commerce Township and is also a yoga instructor in her free time.
Mike Boyle, President
Originally growing up in Detroit, Mike has been a long-time resident in the Lakes area. Mike began volunteering with LACC in 2019 and moved into a leadership role shortly after. He has enjoyed a successful career in multinational manufacturing business leadership, both living and working abroad, after studies at Wayne State University and MIT. Mike was honored as a 2016 recipient of the Detroit Achiever Award from the Metro Detroit YMCA for his work as a coach and mentor for youth in Detroit. Additional community interests and activities include support for The Children’s Center in Detroit and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Mike serves on the finance and governance subcommittees and brings his local knowledge and skills in organizational leadership to our coalition.
Kristen Quinn, Past President, Board Member
Kristen Quinn is the past president of the Lakes Area Community Coalition and a person living in long term recovery. She founded the Lakes Area Community Coalition in April of 2016 in an effort to create a healthy, vibrant, drug-free community in the Lakes Area. She is committed to preventing substance use in our youth and advocates for prevention programs throughout the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. She is a Sobriety Court graduate and now serves as the Vice President of the Sobriety Court Promotions Program at the 52-1 District Court. She has served the Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship in a variety of capacities including Treatment Committee chair, Group Service Representative, and District Committee Member. Kristen is often invited to share her story with others in recovery and continues to sponsor newcomers to the AA fellowship. In June of 2018 Kristen became a Hope Not Handcuffs angel serving the Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, South Lyon, and Wixom police departments to assistant individuals with substance use disorders seeking treatment. She is a graduate of Walled Lake Central High School and proud to call the Lakes Area home for most of her life.
Marjorie Rieckhoff, Vice President
Originally from France, Marjorie moved to the USA many years ago. She speaks fluent French, English, Creole, and a little Spanish. After obtaining a Master of Business Administration at Wayne State University she moved into the lakes area. Prior to her career in the banking industry, she worked as a nanny for many years. Marjorie is currently involved in her church as a greeter. Before that, she volunteered in the child ministry for many years. Now that she lives and works in the community, she wants to donate her time and knowledge to the Lakes Area Community Coalition. She believes that children are the future and we ought to guide them in the right direction for a better tomorrow. She also believes that the Lakes Area Community Coalition has the necessary, positive influence to guide, direct and educate our future generation. That is why when the opportunity to join the board presented itself, she did not hesitate to join. Marjorie is the branch manager of the new Commerce branch of the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union. In addition to serving as LACC board vice president, Marjorie chairs the governance subcommittee.
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Dan O'Donnell, Secretary
Dan is a local dad, an outdoor enthusiast, and an IT professional and he brings his skills and commitment to our community to the LACC Board. Dan was tireless volunteer at Pedal for Prevention and continues his service by chairing the development subcommittee and advising the coalition on technology issues.
Grant McNutt, Treasurer
Grant McNutt, a life-long Wolverine Lake resident, brings a fresh perspective to our coalition as he represents the young adult age bracket. A 2021 graduate of University of Detroit Mercy, Grant works two jobs in order to fund his continued education at Wayne State in their Mortuary Science graduate program. Grant provides a perspective of the pressures our young people face. He strives to model the benefits of living cleanly by living a healthy, active, and productive lifestyle. Do your best, be your best (repeat tomorrow) being Grant’s personal motto, he understands each day is an opportunity to contribute. Grant chairs the finance subcommittee of the LACC board.
Ashley Gray, Board Member
Ashley has served on the board since 2018 as an advocate for youth and families. She brings diversity and a passion for serving the community in all that she does. Ashley leads the coalition’s dynamic summer program called Camp CREATE for students who are becoming the leaders of tomorrow. Ashley is an LMSW working in both the schools and in private practice and she serves on the development subcommittee of the board.
Glen Schwartz, Board Member
With varied, cross-functional educational backgrounds in business, law and policy, Glen has provided strong institutional management focused on return driven strategies in a wide range of industries including, but not limited to, environmental, trucking, rail, construction, component manufacturing, healthcare and real estate. As an implementer of processes focused on systems intended to ethically maximize return and identify unmet needs, he has represented and evaluated both large and small business and investors alike.
In 2013, Glen sold his business to The Andersons, a Fortune 500 Company. He then went on to start / co-found Viewpoint Psychology and Wellness, one of the leading mental health clinics in metro Detroit and Words of Hope 4 Life, a nonprofit focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Glen serves LACC on multiple subcommittess, bringing his broad range of interests and skills to serve the community.
Dena Potter, Board Member
Dena has lived in the Lakes Area since 1971, raising her family and living in the city of Walled Lake since 1985. Dena worked in local government for most of her career, serving on the Advisory Council for Oakland County Community Development Block Grant Program and also as it's director. Since her retirement in 2017, Dena has remained active in the community, serving as secretary on the Quake on the Lake board.
Jodi DiMarco, Board Member
Welcome new LACC board member, Jodi! Bio coming soon...
Nikki O'Donnell, Youth Action Board Liaison
Nikki is a Master’s Level Psychologist with over 15 years of clinical experience working with people of all ages. Nikki is passionate about serving the community in which she lives as an outpatient therapist at Viewpoint Psychology & Wellness in Commerce and is excited to connect with Lakes Area youth leaders- supporting them as they cultivate a thriving and healthy drug free community! Nikki is a sought-after public speaker, co-owner of ViewSpire and Words of Hope 4 Life, and was named one of Oakland County's 40 Under 40 for 2020.
Nikki lives in Walled Lake with her two children, Zaine and Violet, husband Dan, dog and 2 cats. In her spare time she enjoys geocaching, running, calligraphy and crafting!
Board Member
Matt Voss, originally from Bay City, MI has lived in White Lake since 2016. He has a business degree from Saginaw Valley State University and has worked in the financial services industry for 12 years. Matt and his wife Gretta are proud parents of three young children. Matt has personally experienced how substance abuse can affect individuals and their families, so when the opportunity to join the LACC presented itself, he jumped at the chance to serve his community and try to make a positive impact on current and future generations. In addition to spending time with his family, Matt enjoys golfing and is a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ and movie buff.
VOLUNTEERS
Thomas Fox
Thomas has served LACC for years in many roles: project coordinator, board member, vice president, event volunteer, and marketing specialist volunteer. He grew up in the Walled Lake area and is passionate about preventing youth substance use.
Kathy and Ron Eberline
The Eberlines are active volunteers, serving at community events like the Wixom Family Fun Nights and working to grow LACC's connection with our local faith community.
Pam Blair
Pam leads Hope Not Handcuffs and we partner with her organization whenever we can. Pam volunteers with us at our fall and spring DEA Take Back Days and also at the Walled Lake Farmers Market, connecting our message of prevention with hope for recovery.
Cheryl McMahon
Cheryl is a therapist working in the field of mental health and substance abuse. Her programs focusing on drug & alcohol abuse as well as domestic violence, anger management and retail fraud have been implemented in the courts since 1998. She attended FAN meetings hosted by the coalition during 2016 & 2017 and began volunteering directly in 2017. Cheryl conducts the Synar tobacco outlet compliance checks on behalf of the coalition in the lakes area.
Lori Kuriwchak
Lori, a local mom, conducts the Synar tobacco outlet compliance checks on behalf of the coalition in the lakes area.
Nancy Perpich
Nancy is local real estate agent who volunteers during the coalition's medication take back events every April and October.