Board - About Us

Greater Gratiot Development Board of Directors and Affiliations

The GGDI organizational and board member structure is designed to mimic the requirements first advocated for the Federal Small Business Administration’s Certified Development Corporation (CDC) program. GGDI was once an independent CDC but now affiliates with the Michigan Certified Development Corporation to offer certain types of business financing. Even though GGDI chose to no longer be a CDC, it was determined that the organizational structure was an excellent way to assure maximum countywide involvement and transparency of purpose for economic development activity. Therefore, GGDI kept the CDC board membership structure. Today GGDI has a 32-member Board of Directors.

GGDI board membership includes representatives from political and geographic areas of Gratiot County and represents the major segments of the local economy. The Board has organizational appointments and at-large appointments. All board positions are annual appointments. Member organizations have standing positions and are responsible for annual appointments to the GGDI Board. At-large positions are determined and selected by the GGDI Board to ensure that all significant economic sectors are represented and the widest interests of the county community are addressed. The GGDI Board of Directors meets on the third Friday of every month at various locations around the County.

Board Member Eligibility

Any person interested in Board membership may inquire by contacting GGDI.

FY 2026 Officers

Marita Hattem-Schiffman, Chair
Kevin Collison, Vice Chair
Kevin Beeson, Treasurer
Pam Munderloh, Secretary
Greg Mapes, At-large Official
Bill Henderson, At-large Official

GGDI Board Affiliation | Fiscal Year 2026

City of Alma*

Greg Mapes

City of Alma*

Aeric Ripley

Village of Breckenridge*

Chuck Seeley

Village of Breckenridge*

Tim Schaub

Gratiot County Commissioner*

Dave Owens

Gratiot County Administrator*

Awaiting appointment

City of Ithaca*

Jamey Conn

City of Ithaca*

Brett Baublitz

City of St. Louis*

Kurt Giles

City of St. Louis*

Josh Leppien

Township Association*

Kevin Beeson

*Municipal entities appoint to GGDI Board in January following an election.

Manufacturing

Bill Henderson (Aircraft Precision Products)

Manufacturing

Joe Bowen (Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing)

Business

Sam Smith (Smith Family Funeral Homes)

Banking/Commercial Lending

Kevin Collison (Commercial Bank)

Healthcare

Marita Hattem-Schiffman (MyMichigan Health)

Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce

Shana Dancer (by position)

Agribusiness

Adam Geers (MAC)

Value-added Agriculture

Vacant

Agriculture

Hannah Reeves, Gratiot County Fair for Youth

Real Estate: Residential

Marci Browne (America’s Choice Realty)

Real Estate: Commercial

Adam Vibber (Century 21 LeeMac)

Utilities

Bob Balzer (Consumers Energy)

Utilities-Alternative Energy

Gary Melow

Education : K-12

Paul Hungerford (GIRESD)

Education : Employment and Training

Vacant

Education : Higher Education

Carla Jensen (Alma College)

Education : Vocational Education

Doug Bush (GIRESD)

Member-at-large

Brian Goward (Isabella Bank)

Member-at-large

Garth Anderson (Commercial Bank)

Member-at-large

Pam Munderloh (Smith Bovill)

Member-at-large

Bob Studt (Village of Ashley)

Member-at-large

Chelsea Holmes Matz (Gratiot County Community Foundation)

Member-at-large

Steve Bakker

Member-at-large

Karla Childers (Mercantile Bank)

Member-at-large

Curtis Dancer (Young Professionals Network)