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.
Ken Weber, Board Member
Photo and information Coming Soon!
|
Links and Information
Make a Secure Online Donation
Join our Email Newsletter List

"Youth On the Move" Summer
Day Camp 2011

"Youth On the Move" Summer
Day Camp 2010

"Youth On the Move" Summer
Day Camp 2009

2008 Thanks For Giving Benefit Dinner

Peace House Supportive Housing
Center opens early 2009!

Peace Neighborhood Center's 'Honorary
Tigers'

Peace Neighborhood Center's Leadership
Development Camp
2008 Graduation Photos |
|