Peace Neighborhood Center Board of Directors

Making Our Community Better . . . One Person at a Time

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Board

Amy Pachera, President
Amy started working with Peace after graduating for college by tutoring with the “Special Friends” program, and Peace has always had a special place in her heart. Amy worked for EDS for 13 years in business development. When she had her first child she started a small personal business and this allowed her more opportunity to get involved. She is active with her church board/council, and with the school system, including the Ann Arbor Public School Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity, among other things. Amy is married to Tom Pachera and they have two sons: Nicholas, 8, and Zachary, 6.

Kathy Sample, Vice President
Kathy Sample is a consultant living in Ann Arbor, MI. Her recent experience includes a position as Vice President, Global Market Development for a British automotive supplier. She has also held sales management and marketing management roles, including the management and integration of newly acquired companies’ sales and marketing departments. Kathy and her family have lived in Ann Arbor since 2001, moving here from New Jersey. Kathy graduated with an MBA from the University of Michigan. She currently serves on the Alumni Board of Governors of the UM Business School as well as working with the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation and the Burns Park Foreign Language Initiative. Kathy believes that the long-term approach Peace takes towards their “family members” is the most effective way to help people be the most that they can be.

Larry O'Connell, Treasurer
Photo and information Coming Soon!

Sarah W. Newman, Secretary
As a recent retiree from the University of Michigan, Sarah is beginning a second "career" in community service. Her goal is to find asmall number of community service organizations in Ann Arbor where she can make a difference, and to invest in those organizations.

In August 2007, she re-retired from a career as a Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology. Between 1970 and 1996, and then again from 2004-2007, Sarah taught neuroanatomy to medical and graduate students, ran a neuroscience research laboratory, and served the University in a wide variety of administrative positions. Most recently, as an Associate Dean at Rackham Graduate School, she was the UM institutional coordinator for a national Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs by the National Research Council. Between 1996 and 2003, Sarah lived in Ithaca, New York, where she taught and did research with colleagues at Cornell University.

Sarah lives on the Old West Side of Ann Arbor, making Peace truly a Neighborhood Center for her.
She loves the out-of-doors and works as a volunteer Park Steward at Furstenberg Nature Area for NAP (Natural Area Preservation) in Ann Arbor. Additionally, she goes on walking and hiking trips with the Ann Arbor Hikers. Sarah is also a volunteer at the Chelsea Retirement Community. Her pleasures are reading, drawing, painting, cooking, attending local theater performances, music, and, most importantly, spending time with friends.

Matt Derrenberger, Board Member
Matt Derrenberger is the owner along with his wife Marti of “Ann Arbor Insurance Associates, LLC” located at 1925 Pauline Boulevard, which gives them the designation of a true neighbor to PNC. Matt started the agency October 1, 1996 from scratch after 12 years at another local agency. Matt is an Ann Arbor lifer that includes going to Junior High and High School (Go River Rats) with our illustrious leader Bonnie Billups. Matt attended two years of college at WCC, where he was also a member of their golf team. From there Matt transferred to EMU to obtain a degree in Business Administration. He has been in the insurance business for over 26 years and obtained his “Certified Insurance Counselor” designation in 1995. This designation requires that he fulfill 25 hours of CE every year. The importance to this is more than just meeting a requirement; it is an educational means to continue to learn how he can make himself better for his staff as well as his clients. Matt was a board member of the “Washtenaw Area Apartment Association” from 2004-2006, also serving on their community group for several years.

Matt has tried to devote his life to assisting kids which he feels is truly the foundation to a better world. He has done that mainly through athletics via coaching to administration. For 9 years, Matt served as the State of Michigan director for one of the largest Junior Golf tournaments in the world known as the “Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic, dubbed by Tiger Woods as one of his favorite Junior tournaments. He was the President of the Pioneer athletic booster club in the year 2008 and served on their board from 2003 through 2008. Along with many other community projects, he is finishing his designation as a “Certified US lacrosse Coach” with coaching at the high school level a goal in the very near future.

Mike Fitzsimmons , Board Member
Since 2003, Mike has been the Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of the Ann Arbor YMCA. During the past thirty years, Mike has worked with YMCA's in Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, San Franciso, San Mateo and Santa Clara Valley, California and Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, from 1981-1984, Mike was the Director of Physical Conditioning Programs for the Texas Rangers Professional Baseball Team.

With undergraduate and graduate degrees in exercise science, educational research and measurement theory, since 1998 Mike has been involved professionally and personally in the youth development work framed by the Search Institutue's Developmental Asset concept. With the important work being done by Peace Neighborhood Center, Mike is very excited to be involved.

Chuck Hatt, Board Member
Chuck Hatt is currently the Coordinator of Literacy and Social Studies Instruction for the Ann Arbor Public Schools. He has consulted with several schools and school districts in Southeastern Michigan, as well as various non-profit organizations, about effective literacy programming. For many years Chuck was an elementary teacher at Bryant and Pattengill Elementary Schools and he has worked with teachers and students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Chuck and his wife Vickie have lived in Ann Arbor since 1987 and their three sons, Chuck, Brendan, and Nathan attended the Ann Arbor Public Schools from Kindergarten through High School. Chuck's son Brendan and daughter-in-law Erica are both elementary teachers in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Jackie Hogan, Board Member
Photo and information Coming Soon!

Heather Khanna, Board Member
Photo and information Coming Soon!

Seth Kopald, Board Member
Seth Kopald is a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Migrant & Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) Technical Assistance Center at the Academy for Educational Development in Washington, DC. Seth has worked in the field of education since 1989 and has served the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in many ways. He has been a Director of a private childcare center, an ECE consultant; a state-level, MSHS Education Specialist for Oregon Child Development Coalition; a Community College, Early Childhood Education Instructor; and a preschool teacher. He has a Masters Degree in Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education from Loyola College in Maryland. His training spans across many theoretical perspectives. Seth presents at national and state conferences and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organization Management with a Specialization in Leadership at Capella University. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors at PNC, Seth has played drums in the house band during two of the Performing Arts performances.

Laurence H. Margolis, Board Member
Larry Margolis is an attorney who practices law in Ann Arbor, MI, owning a boutique law firm that focuses on individual rights – criminal defense, immigration defense, and personal and economic injuries.

Larry was born and raised in Ann Arbor and returned to the city with his family in 2007 after living in Atlanta, Georgia for more than a decade where he was a partner of a law firm, and where he successfully handled civil and criminal jury trials. In Atlanta, Larry received accommodation from the City of Atlanta for his contribution to social justice for work done on behalf of the Grady Coalition. He was also recognized by the State Bar of Georgia for doing pro bono work on behalf of children and families. In law school, Larry was been involved with research on death penalty cases and prisoner rights litigation while interning at the Southern Center for Human Rights. He has clerked with Legal Aid. Larry has been a member of numerous state bar organizations and he continues to take court appointed criminal cases in Washtenaw County.

In his youth, Larry has worked for or been affiliated with local community service organizations such as Huron Services for Youth, the Corner Health Center, and Prospect Place Family Shelter. After college, Larry worked as a youth care worker and for U.S. Senator Carl Levin before going to law school.

Larry Margolis received his undergraduate degree at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, BA in Political Science, and his Juris Doctorate (JD) from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Larry comes to Peace in order to try and follow in the footsteps of his mother, Nancy Margolis, who was an early supporter of Peace and a former Board Member. Larry joined the Board of Directors of Peace Neighborhood in September, 2009.

Fred McCuiston, Board Member
Fred McCuiston is a retired General Motors Powertrain Development Systems Manager.
Fred played a major role in reorganizing Ann Arbor NAACP in 1982. Also elected president and served until 1992. Currently, Life Member NAACP, Education Committee Chairman, and treasurer.

Leslie McGraw , Board Member
An Ann Arbor native, Leslie has been connected to the Peace Neighborhood Center family since 2002. In her role as a Senior Administrative Assistant for the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and Economy at the University of Michigan she helps at risk businesses in Michigan. Leslie hopes her B.S. in Management, personal experiences, and extensive background in writing and continuing education will continue to move her forward as an activist for social justice, access for all Americans to similar resources, and strengthening family structure and communities across demographics. She believes in Peace and their vision for slow, positive change and the empowerment of underserved populations. She is excited to have recently joined the Board and contribute to this invaluable resource in the community we endearingly call "Peace".

Christy Perros, Board Member
Christy is a life long resident of Ann Arbor. She attended Abbot Elementary, Forsythe Junior High, and Pioneer High Schools. She has been familiar with and supportive of Peace Neighborhood Center for several years. A few years after attending the University of Michigan and receiving a degree in Economics she opend the doors of her current business, Absolute Title, Inc. with her partner, Scott Broshar. Christy has served on several non-profit Boards in town including: Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, Builders and Remodelors Associates of Greater Ann Arbor, and Wild Swan Theater. She and her husband, Tom Dewhirst, have two children that attend Skyline High School. In addition to running a small business, sitting on various committees and boards, Christy is enjoying her new found interest in running. Christy is looking forward to working with Peace's Board of Directors to continue their important work which is so impactful on our community's children.

Don Vereen, Board Member
Don Vereen is the Director of Community-Based Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He is a physician who has used his training in psychiatry and public health to develop strategies to tackle public health issues such as violence, addiction, and doping in sports. Don recently moved with his family from Washington, D.C. where he held positions at the National Institutes of Health and at the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He also served on the Boards of several non-profits in D.C. addressing the needs of children and the mentally ill. Don believes that communities are key to healthy lives.