Board and Committees
Affinity’s Board of Directors meet bimonthly in addition to serving on one of the three committees below. We recruit new board members biannually, Dec/Jan and Jun/July. If you are interested in learning about board service or joining a committee please contact Sharalle Ankrah at sankrah@affinitymentoring.org.
Join a Committee
You do NOT have to be board member to serve on one of our committees.
- Executive Committee
- Finance Committee
- Governance Committee
- Events Committee [Staff led]
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Committee [Staff led]
- Donor Relations Committee [Staff led]
- Officer Position Descriptions
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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![]() | JOHN ROBINSON | Head Start for Kent County President and Executive Committee Chair John is an experienced education professional focused on the power of relationships, and currently the Parent, Family & Community Engagement (PFCE) Manager at Head Start for Kent County (HS4KC). Prior to HS4KC, John spent 20 years in K-12 education in various roles: teacher, teacher coach, curriculum specialist, athletic coach, assistant principal, assistant director, principal, executive director and superintendent. Outside of his work with Affinity Mentoring and HS4KC, John is a Life and Leadership Coach, a member of Pi Lambda Phi (a fraternity dedicated to Leading Courageously and the Elimination of Prejudice), an actor and musician, a husband, a step-dad and a grandfather. |
![]() | FUAD HASANOVIC | Kamps Pallets Vice President and Governance Committee Chair Fuad is the Marketing & Communications Manager at Kamps Pallets, one of the nation's largest pallet recycling and manufacturing companies. He manages and supports the company-wide branding and communications strategy at Kamps. Fuad is active in his community, and in the past has served on the Emerging Leaders Advisory Council for the Special Olympics Michigan chapter. Moving to the United States as a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those growing up with English as a second-language and overcoming cultural barriers. Fuad earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Davenport University; along with an MBA with a specialization in Strategic Management. In his spare time, he likes to read, watch basketball with his dog, Mia, and travel. |
![]() | MALAINA WELDY | Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Secretary Malaina received her Bachelor of Arts in Business from Goshen College and her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently an attorney in the business practice group at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP and focuses her practice on corporate governance, formation, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial financing. She also assists with trademark licensing and domain name dispute resolution. Malaina grew up in northern Indiana and has loved getting to explore Grand Rapids and call it home. Malaina volunteers with her church and enjoys playing soccer, reading, and walking her rescue dog, Vinnie. |
![]() | FRANK ACOSTA | Independent Bank Frank is a dedicated and driven young marketing professional focused on making a difference in the community. He currently serves as the Digital Marketing Manager for Independent Bank. When he’s not in the office, you can likely find him outdoors or spending quality time with his family and friends. Frank has volunteered through Affinity Mentoring at SWCC in Grand Rapids for 2 years and is excited to give back to the organization through board service. Frank also serves on the board of directors for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids. He is Vice-Chair of the Marketing Committee for the Michigan Bankers Association and a Planning & Strategy Committee member for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. He earned an Associates in Science and Arts Degree from Muskegon Community College and a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing Degree from Davenport University. |
![]() | DR. ANDREA BLUE | Blue Pathways Dr. Blue hails from Baldwin; MI. Dr. Blue is a mentor, personal and business coach, entrepreneur, author, and educator. Her education includes a Doctorate of Management and Organizational Development and Change in Higher Education Organizations; Colorado Technical University; 2 Masters Degrees; Ferris State University in Business Administration and Career Technical Education with a focus on management, business, and education. Dr. Blue is the Founder and CEO of B & J Enterprises, LLC where Blue Pathways Educational Mentorship Services and Paramount Recruitment Agency were birthed. Her focus is on corporations, business owners, and individuals that operate a business that works with underprivileged and underrepresented populations both locally and globally. Andrea brings 15 plus years of business, management, and education experience along with DISC Certification Training. She is intentional with our corporations, business owners, and individual clients to help transform lives through mindset mentorship and coaching strategies. |
![]() | MARCIA BOYCE | Honigman LLP Marcia is a Partner at Honigman LLP and a member of the Corporate, Finance, and Commercial Transactions practice groups. Marcia focuses her practice on commercial transactions, contract negotiations, and other general corporate matters. Marcia has significant experience representing borrowers and banks in syndicated and single-lender facilities, secured and unsecured revolving and term loan credit facilities, loan workouts, restructurings, and other corporate and credit transactions. Marcia received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Yale University, her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law, and she is licensed to practice law in the states of Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Marcia is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Marcia has a passion for serving her community. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Board of Ada Vista Elementary PTO, Board Member of Broadway Grand Rapids, Committee Member of the Wine, Women, and Chocolate Event Committee for the Women's Resource Center, and is the Vice President and a member of the Greater Grand Rapids Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. In the past, Marcia served on the Fundraising Board of the Kent District Library and as Treasurer of the Board of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute. Marcia and her husband, Hayden, have two children, Christian and Morgan. Marcia enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. |
![]() | ABIGAIL BRUINS | Canopy Resources Abigail was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and currently resides in the Baxter neighborhood. She has a background in community engagement, sales and development, and environmental chemistry. Abigail spends her days working as the Director of Business Development for local company Canopy Resources. She also owns and operates her own pet sitting business. Abigail is a graduate of Michigan State University where she received a degree in Earth Science. In her early 20s, Abigail spent time teaching middle school science, which is, in part, what drew her to Affinity Mentoring. Abigail is eager to support Affinity Mentoring in driving forward the mission to create equitable learning opportunities throughout our city. |