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Board of Directors

 

EDC Director

 
EDC DIRECTOR
 

Bob Balzer, EDC Director | Director of Business and Economic Services Gladwin County

 
 
Bob is a graduate of Gladwin High School and received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Central Michigan University.

He worked in the banking industry for 18 years as a Branch Manager, Retail Sales Manager and Business Development Representative prior to joining Michigan Works! Region 7B and the Gladwin County Economic Development Corporation in 2012.

As Director of Business and Economic Development, he is employed by Michigan Works! Region 7B.  His position is a unique combination of workforce and economic development and is partially funded through county and city government, as well as private industry and local college support.

He serves as a board member for the Arnold Center, Gladwin County Leadership, and the Gladwin County Land Bank.  Bob is the Finance Committee Chairman for his church, is a leader in the local Trail Life USA program, and is the Regional Coordinator for Hunter Safety Instructors in Gladwin County.

Bob enjoys camping with his family, hunting, fishing and the outdoors, and positively impacting the lives of youth.
 

Board of Directors

 
GLADWIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
EDC Board of Directors - 2020

Becca Beaty - Members First Credit Union
Scott Govitz - EDC Vice-President,  M-Tech Mid Michigan Community College
Karen Blonde - EDC Secretary, Gladwin City Housing Commission
Joel Vernier - EDC Treasurer
Ray Stover - Exec. V.P. MidMichigan Medical Center 
Sharron Smith - County Commissioner 
Yvette Keast - Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce
Chris Shannon - Gladwin City Administrator
Heath Kaplan - EDC President, Beaverton City Administrator
vacant - Transit 
Kelley Peatross - Consumers Energy
Sandra Russell - Clare-Gladwin R.E.S.D.
Dave Petteresch - Gladwin County Road Commission
John Clexton - Gladwin District Library
 

Becca Beaty - Members First Credit Union

 



 

Scott Govitz - EDC Vice-President | M-Tech Mid Michigan Community College

 
 
With nearly 30 years of experience working with small business and manufacturing Scott is engaged with several local and regional economic development initiatives and boards. As a previous City Administrator, Mayor and currently as the Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development at Mid Michigan Community College, Scott brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the local and regional economy, serving on numerous boards and committees throughout the region and State. 

Scott completed his graduate and undergraduate work in Public Administration at Central Michigan University.





 

Karen Blonde, EDC Secretary | Gladwin City Housing Commission

 
 
Karen Blonde, Program Specialist for Gladwin City Housing Commission, wears many hats.  She is responsible for occupancy of affordable housing rental properties in the City of Gladwin and Beaverton and community development for Gladwin County.

Blonde has an associate’s degree from MMCC in Office Management, but has learned most of work skills from hands on experience.  She worked for many years in various office positions and for 7 years owned and operated her own successful business as a florist in the City of Beaverton.

Karen has lived in Gladwin her entire life and is very proud to be a member of this community; therefore she tries to be very active to support it.  She volunteers countless hours to help maintain the community she loves.  Her family is very important also; so she has dedicated a lot of years to her children’s involvements.  She has been a 4-H leader for 15 years and sat on school committees.

Blonde is a board member of Gladwin County Economic Development Corporation and Gladwin County Livestock Association.  She is a member of the Gladwin 4-H Leadership Committee and Gladwin Horse Association.  She has been a lifetime member of Gladwin’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Karen is married to her high school sweetheart.  She has two daughters and enjoys gardening, traveling and the simple life on their ranch watching the wildlife and caring for their horses.
 

Sharron Smith - County Commissioner

 



 

Ray Stover | Exec. V.P. Mid-Michigan Medical Center

 
 
Ray is the President of the MidMichigan Medical Centers in Clare and Gladwin. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a major in accounting from Saginaw Valley State University.

Ray has been active in the Clare and Gladwin communities by serving as a trustee on the MidMichigan Community College Foundation Board of Directors, treasurer of the Gladwin Rotary Club, a former member of the Clare and Gladwin United Way Board of Directors, and is a current member of the Beaverton and Harrison Lions Club.  Ray also serves on the Board of MidMichigan Community Health Services in Houghton Lake and the Board of MidMichigan Continuing Care.

Ray and his wife Rose have four daughters. He is an avid sports fan who played baseball at Saginaw Valley State University and continues to play both men’s and coed softball in Midland.  He enjoys traveling and spending time with his family, especially at Detroit Tiger baseball games!
 

Joel Vernier | County Commissioner

 



 

Yvette Keast | Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce

 
 
Yvette Keast, is currently the Executive Director for the Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce. Her position is to create collaboration and partnership among businesses in Gladwin County that will strengthen economics in the area. The Chamber is the epicenter of information for the Gladwin County area for visitors and residents. Yvette works with the local business associations, businesses and non-profit groups to have information available for events and business activities.

As a lifelong resident of Gladwin County and Beaverton, Yvette has always contributed to the communities. She is currently a member and/or a board member of the following organizations: Gladwin Rotary Club, Gladwin Area Friends of the Theatre, Economic Development Corporation, and Jr. Achievement of Gladwin County. In addition to her position at the Chamber, Yvette is an instructor and the Theatre Production Coordinator at Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC), where she has earned her degrees.

Yvette is married and lives in Beaverton, Michigan. She and her husband have 5 children and 15 grandchildren. She enjoys, theatre, riding ORV’s and spending time with family at their cottage in the Upper Peninsula.
 

Chris Shannon | Gladwin City Administrator

 
Chris Shannon 


 

Heath Kaplan | Beaverton City Administrator

 
 

Vacant

 

 

Kelley A. Peatross, Ph.D. | Regional Community Affairs Manager, Consumers Energy

 
 
Kelley A. Peatross is a regional community affairs manager for Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. She proudly serves Gladwin, Midland and Saginaw counties, ensuring her friends and neighbors receive the hometown service Consumers Energy aims to provide.

Kelley is a four-year veteran of Consumers Energy, and currently works out of the Saginaw Service Center. Prior to this role, she was the project manager for the Michigan Talent Architecture Initiative for Consumers Energy, focusing on improving Michigan’s skilled workforce talent pipeline by collaborating with businesses, education, labor and government. She was also a senior human resources consultant supporting the D.E. Karn, J.C. Weadock, J.R. Whiting and Gas, Compression and Storage facilities across the state.

Before joining Consumers Energy, Kelley served as Interim Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for Saginaw Public Schools as well as their Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Support Services. She retired in 2014 with over 30 years of experience in K-12 education.

Kelley is a member of the Board of Directors for the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, Great Lakes Bay Region Boys and Girls Club, Saginaw Future and Gladwin County Economic Development organizations along with volunteering her time annually with the Midland and Saginaw Walk for Warmth and Habitat for Humanity campaigns.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor University in Human Resources and a master’s and PhD in educational leadership and administration from Western Michigan University. Kelley is originally from Lansing, Michigan but currently resides in Old Town Saginaw.
 

John Clexton - Gladwin County District Library

 
 

Sandra Russell | Clare-Gladwin R.E.S.D.

 
 
 

Dave Pettersch | Gladwin County Road Commission

 
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