LAKES AREA

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 three teenagers in Walled Lake Schools and one 2018 graduate of Walled Lake Western High School. 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!

KAREN PERSON 

Project Coordinator

Karen Person brings energy, vision and drive to the mission of the coalition.  She has experience working with youth and has planned and executed events at the local and national level. Karen is a Milford resident, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, and a proud mom of two teen boys.  She has a passion for youth and is looking forward to bringing her skills to the coalition to create a thriving drug-free community.

KRISTEN QUINN

President and Founder

Kristen Quinn is the 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.

THOMAS J. FOX

Board Member

Thomas J. Fox has been an active and vital member of the Coalition since he joined as a volunteer in January of 2018. Thomas has been active in the marketing sub-committee since 2018, became the Coalition's Interim Program Director in May of 2018 and was elected Vice President from November 2018 to September 2020. Thomas is now an active board member and still resides on the marketing sub-committee. The Fox Family has been part of the Walled Lake Community since 1973. Thomas grew up and resided in Walled Lake for many years. He went to St. William Catholic School, Walled Lake Middle School (Geisler) and graduated from Walled Lake Western High School. He graduated  with a degree in Marketing from Cleary University, he is a licensed Realtor since 2007 and has worked in the Real Estate Industry since 2004. He currently runs his own Private Digital Marketing Firm and works with a slew of Real Estate Companies, Independent Contractors, and private businesses. In his spare time he enjoys reading, biking, activities with his Parish in Downtown Detroit - St. Joseph Shrine, advocating for LGBTQ Christian-Conservatives and spending time out in nature at Kensington & Indian Springs Metro Parks. He is very passionate about Prevention and Recovery, he is a boots on the ground advocate not only in the Lakes Area but in Waterford/White Lake where he currently resides. His favorite quote is, "Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak." Saint Anthony of Padua

REGINA NOCK

Treasurer

Regina Nock is a resident of Commerce Township, relocating form Eastpointe in 2016.  She received her Bachelor's and Master's degree in accountancy from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.  Her professional background includes working for both public and private employers in a multitude of industries, in capacities ranging from a staff accountant to a controller.  Currently, she owns and operates her public accounting practice, Nock Accounting & Tax, PLC, located in Commerce Township.

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Besides for the honor of serving on the board of the Lakes Area Community Coalition as the treasurer, she also serves on the board of the Hospitality House Food Pantry.  She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA), serving on the MICPA's Small Practitioners and Emerging Leaders Task Forces.  Her business is an active member within the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Regina is excited and proud to have a wonderful community and the opportunity to apply her positive output by giving to others through her volunteerism.  In her free time (outside of tax season, of course), she enjoys gardening, cooking, and travelling the United States.

MARJORIE RIECKHOFF

Secretary

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.

ASHLEY GRAY

Board Member

Ashley has served on the board for 2 years 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. 

HANNA KHOR

Board Member

Hanna Khor joined the Lakes Area Community Coalition in 2019 in an effort to support a local nonprofit organization and make a positive impact on the community. She loves to be involved, asking questions and offering suggestions, making her experience with the coalition meaningful. Hanna takes pride in contributing to the organization’s cause and hopes to see the coalition achieve its goal of building a healthy, vibrant, drug-free community.

GRANT McNUTT

Board Member

Grant McNutt, a life-long Wolverine Lake resident, brings a fresh perspective to our coalition as he represents the young adult age bracket.  Currently in his third year of college, Grant works two jobs in order to fund his education at The University of Detroit Mercy.  Caring for the future of young minds, 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.   

DR. DAVID MANCHEL

Board Member

Dr. David Manchel, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who has been providing psychological treatment for over 25 years.  His career has taken him to diverse settings, including both inpatient and partial day units of a psychiatric hospital, a maximum-security prison, a community mental health agency, outpatient mental health clinics, and nursing home/rehabilitation facilities.

Dr. David Manchel has supervised graduate students in Psychology, taught Psychology courses at the community college level, and has traveled across the country as a surveyor and consultant of behavioral health programs seeking national accreditation.  He works with children, teens, adults, families and couples.  His approach to treatment draws from his years of experience providing direct care to clients, drawing from interventional skills best suited for each unique situation.

Above all else, Dr. David Manchel strives to create a comfortable, safe, and judgment-free space for clients to develop emotionally.  He places great importance on creating an effective working alliance with his clients.  He also is receptive to a collaborative approach to care, incorporating input (as is needed) from other health care providers, such as psychiatrists, primary care physicians, pediatricians, or others who are involved in the care of the individual.

Dr. David Manchel has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology.  He is a current member of the American Psychological Association.

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’s professional and educational background has allowed her to pursue her passion of serving children, teens and families in many facets. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Albion College, Nikki went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Clinical and Humanistic Psychology from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. While pursuing her degrees, Nikki gained extensive clinical experience in both private practice and inpatient psychiatric settings where she helped teens struggling with self-harming behavior, children with autism, athletes, and emotionally impaired children. Nikki’s client appreciate her down to earth, creative and energetic approach to mental health!

Nikki lives in Walled Lake with her two children, Zaine (7), Violet (2), husband, dog and 2 cats. In her spare time she enjoys geocaching, running, calligraphy and crafting!

Other Accomplishments:
Certified Love and Logic Parent Training Instructor
Licensed Personal Fitness Trainer
Certified through the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Speaker/Presenter on Topics of Mental Health, Children and Wellbeing
Contributor to Metro Parenting Magazine
Leader of Henry Ford Health System “Let’s Get Healthy Program”
Behavioral Health Expert for Local News Stations WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, and WDIV Local 4