Team & Board

What began as a small group of neighbors united by their love of parks has grown into a vibrant, community-driven organization. Today, we’re powered by a skilled staff team, an expanding summer Youth Green Team, and a remarkable network of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy every year.

Our Team

Man with a beard smiling and wearing a checkered shirt and a green cap, stands outdoors with blurred green foliage in the background.
Stacy Bare
Executive Director

Favorite park: Richmond
Favorite tree: Tulip Tree
Favorite trail: Richmond

A bearded man with a bald head is smiling while wearing a white shirt. He stands outdoors in a lush green setting with trees in the background. The weather appears sunny and pleasant.
Lauren Davis
Director of Park Programs

Favorite Park: Huff 
Favorite Tree: Dawn Redwood
Favorite Trail: Ball Perkins

A person with curly red hair smiles at the camera. They are wearing a black top and a necklace with a leaf pendant. The background features green, blurred foliage.
Becky Pobst
Director of Forestry

Favorite park: Huff
Favorite tree: American Elm
Favorite Trail: Riverside

Amanda Mulder
Director of Development

Favorite Park: Riverside
Favorite Tree: Tulip Poplar
Favorite Trail: Huff Park

Melanie Manion
Conservation Manager

Favorite Park: Ken-O-Sha
Favorite Tree: Black Gum
Favorite Trail: Plaster Creek

Smiling person with long, wavy hair wearing a red cardigan over a dark shirt. They are standing outdoors with a blurred background of yellow flowers and greenery.
Gaby Pineda
Senior Community Forester

Favorite Park: MLK
Favorite Tree: Burr Oak
Favorite Trail: Crahen Valley Park

Person with long dark hair in a ponytail, wearing a cap, glasses, and a brown plaid scarf over a black sweater. They are smiling in front of a blurred background of autumn leaves.
Liam McCarthy
Community Forester

Favorite Park: Wilcox
Favorite Tree: Ginkgo/Dogwood
Favorite Trail: Provin

Amy Hinman
Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Favorite Park: Lincoln
Favorite Tree: Catalpa
Favorite Trail: Oxford

Liz Visser headshot
Liz Visser
Park Stewardship Manager

Favorite Park: Aman
Favorite Tree: Burr Oak
Favorite Trail: The Highlands

Syri headhot
Syri Runyan-Abanilla
Trails Coordinator

Favorite Park: Ball Perkins
Favorite Tree: rocky mountain juniper 
Favorite Trail: White Pine

Anna Monkmeyer
Community Conservationist

Favorite Park: Cherry Park
Favorite Tree: Eastern White Pine
Favorite Trail: Aman

Heather Bell
Forestry Technician

Favorite Park: Huff and Ken-O-Sha 
Favorite Tree: All trees planted as a volunteer!
Favorite Trail: Aman

A person with curly hair, wearing glasses and a floral top with dark suspenders, is smiling outdoors against a backdrop of trees with autumn foliage.
Lauren Vermilye
Operations Coordinator

Favorite Park: Riverside
Favorite Tree: Weeping Willow
Favorite Trail: Huff Park’s boardwalk

Board of Directors

Victor Holt
President

Fifth Third Bank

Richard App
Vice President

Grand Rapids Chamber

James Heid
Treasurer

Steelcase

Angela Day

TriPonds Family Camp Resort and Parkside Campground

Audrey Logan

Fifth Third Bank

Bob Dompierre

Tower Pinkster

Danielle Poma

Kellogg

Eddie Tadlock

ASM Global

Evette Pittman

City of Grand Rapids, Office of Special Events

Gail Gunst Heffner

Calvin University Emeritus

Kristine Szurna Bersche

The Right Place, Inc.

Nick Stevenson

Sweet Express LLC

Shakerah McRae

Grand Rapids Housing Commission

City Liaisons

Laura Cleypool
Director

City of Grand Rapids, Parks & Recreation

Kelsey Perdue
3rd Ward City Commissioner

City of Grand Rapids

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