Executive Committee

Nicole Bergsma - Treasurer 

Patti Diaz-Lawton - President

Missie Endres

Carrie Everhart - Vice President

Liz Henry

Marlene Kenneway - Co-Founder

Stephen Sanford - Artistic Director

Community Outreach Committee

Dana Doyle

Carolyn Evans

Marlene Kenneway - Co-Founder

Mary Jo Kuhlman

Brigitte Nelson - Co-Founder

Mary Anne Rosely

Finance Committee

Nicole Bergsma
Cesar Gonzalez
Caren Kerprich

Fund Development Committee

Chelsea Austin

Amy Feather

Marlene Kenneway - Co-Founder

Brigitte Nelson - Co-Founder
Sally Shull

Nominating Committee

Melissa Endres

Carrie Everhart
Judy Sulka - Chair
Pat Waring

Operations Committee

Heather Cassady

Patti Diaz-Lawton - Chair
Carrie Everhart
Amy Feather
Liz Henry

​Rachel Yenchar

Chelsea Austin 

Miller Johnson, Associate Attorney; current board member of Women Lawyers Assoc. of Michigan; previous experience with Michigan State Black Law Students Assoc. as Secretary and President, Michigan State Law Review Editorial Board as Notes Editor, MSU Law Musical Theater Revue as Marketing Director, and MSU Sports & Entertainment Law Society as Vice President; interests include community outreach and the arts.  WMYB Fund Development Committee.

Patti Diaz-Lawton 

Volunteer and Homemaker; is a Critical Care RN and specializes in Cardiovascular; is a long-term volunteer at the WMYB and a current WMYB dancer parent. WMYB Board President; WMYB Operations Committee and WMYB Executive Committee

Carolyn Evans 

Grand Rapids Public Schools, retired Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; with a 43-year career in education, Evans’ career spanned several roles which included principal of Dickinson Elementary School, a public performing arts school and Assistant Superintendent.  Evans studied with the Harvard Change Group, Institute for Learning and ASCD; each group placing a keen focus on individual and organizational change, as well as, efficacy as a key element of inclusion.  WMYB Community Outreach Committee.

Amy Feather 

Conlin Travel Corporate Travel Agent (specializing in International Business travel). Experience in organizing community events, participated in employee morale focus groups to develop ideas within the travel industry; parent of a current WMYB dancer and parent volunteer; manages the WMYB Boutique in charge of purchasing merchandise, organizing set up and assisting with sales. WMYB Operations Committee.

Liz Henry 

Verdier Eye Center, P.L.C., Business Analyst; Vice President of WMYB Board and 13-year board member since its inception.  Henry coordinates all communications with our dancers and their families. Former PTO President, Ada Elementary School.  Previously, a facilitator for Junior Achievement; Junior Great Books; Cultural Arts Council Committee and Forest Hills Public Schools Parent Advisory Committee. Henry is the parent of two graduated dancers at WMYB.  WMYB Operations Committee and WMYB Executive Committee

Caren Kerprich 

West Michigan Shared Hospital Laundry, Director of Finance; also currently serves Forest Hills Northern High School Football Parents Board President; formerly served as Cookie Mom for Girls Scout and Brownie troops.  Kerprich is the parent of a graduated female WMYB dancer and former male WMYB dancer.  Kerprich has served on the WMYB Board since its inception.  WMYB Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Executive Committee.

Brigitte Nelson

Nelson (Emeritus, non-voting) - Co-founder of WMYB (2007), Volunteer, Homemaker, former pediatric nurse, former foreign missionary, foreign language teacher, mother of former youth ballet student and current professional ballet dancer (NYC Ballet). Nelson was interested in providing her son and other area dancers an opportunity to perform in full scale classical ballets and approached Kenneway, then owner of Ada Dance Company.  Together, Nelson and Kenneway co-founded WMYB, formed a board, consisting of parents of dancers, and began rehearsing in September of 2007.  WMYB had its first show in March 2008. Brigitte has served on the Board since and became Emeritus in 2020.  WMYB Community Outreach Committee.

Sally Shull 

Retirement Planning Associates, Inc., Co-owner; Shull serves as Secretary for Forest Hills Central Choir Boosters and as Secretary for the Theatre Advisory Council for Forest Hills Central.  Shull is the proud parent of a former WMYB dancer.  WMYB Fund Development Committee and Finance Committee. 

Pat Waring 

Grand Valley State University, Director of Community Relations, Office of the President; Waring has served on the boards of Junior League of Grand Rapids (past President), Children’s Healing Center (Chair), and Grand Rapids Ballet (Executive Committee); Waring is a highly respected community leader who is known for her ability to navigate new and challenging community initiatives and issues, connecting community resources, and she is a tireless advocate for community social justice; In 2018, Waring was honored at the JLGR Gala for her exemplary leadership and countless contributions.  Waring previously served on the Michigan Humanities Council Board of Directors and currently serves on their Emeriti Directors’ Board. WMYB Nominating Committee.

Nicole Bergsma

Associated General Contractors of Michigan, Chief Financial Officer; Bergsma is the parent of a current WMYB dancer and parent volunteer. WMYB Finance Committee and Executive Committee.

Missie Endres

Volunteer, Homemaker, and Mother of a graduated WMYB ballet student. 13-year Secretary of WMYB since its inception. Former Home and School secretary at St. Patrick Catholic School. Endres long-term history with the WMYB organization and its families is invaluable.  WMYB Nominating Committee and WMYB Executive Committee

Carrie Everhart 

The Everhart Law Firm, Office Manager; retired from Accenture as a Partner in 2003; Everhart is the parent of WMYB dancers and has served as a WMYB parent volunteer for over ten years.  Carrie works many hours sewing costumes for WMYB productions.  Her talents and creativity are shared with all who see our productions.  WMYB Operations Committee and WMYB Nominating Committee

Cesar Gonzalez 

Mercantile Bank of Michigan, Mortgage Loan Officer; past Board Chair of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and the Grand Rapids Housing Appeal Board; certifications with Indiana Bankers Association - Mortgage Lending School and UNIDOSUS - Nonprofit Leadership Certification; interests include building relationships and working collaboratively on projects and strategic objectives.  WMYB Finance Committee. 

Marlene Kenneway

WMYB Co-Founder (2007) and Board Chairman; Kenneway has a life-long passion for ballet and as her husband’s career brought Kenneway and West Michigan together, Kenneway brought her love of ballet to the youth of West Michigan, first founding Ada Dance Academy in 1992 and running it for over 27 years (and Ada Dance Academy is still teaching and inspiring dancers today). Kenneway also had a ballet school in Worcester, MA; did choreography for the Fenwick Theatre at Holy Cross College as well. Kenneway has served on the steering Committee for the American Ballet Theatre summer seminar. Kenneway is the past advisor and board member for the Grand Rapids Ballet, past board member of the Erie Civic Ballet, past board member of the YMCA, co-chaired the Town Hall series in Erie, PA; past President of the Ada Council for the Arts and a member of the Mary Free Bed Guild.  WMYB Executive Committee and WMYB Community Outreach Committee.

Mary Jo Kuhlman 

Grand Rapids Public Schools, retired Assistant Superintendent of Organizational Learning; Kuhlman is a leader in transformational collaborations, her skills include organizational leadership and seamless transitions of community systems; Graduated from Michigan State University with additional learning programs at the Harvard School of Education; Kuhlman’s lifelong interest in the education and welfare of children inspired her leadership; past Board Executive Committee Member with Frederik Meijer Gardens, the Junior League of Grand Rapids (past President), and Blandford Nature Center; Kuhlman has a love of nature in all its forms generates many kinking experiences and knowledge of the State of Michigan.  WMYB Community Outreach Committee

Mary Anne Rosely 

NAI Wisinski of West Michigan, Partner and office advisor; Rosely is the VP SIOR Michigan Chapter, a member of Grand Valley State University Economics Advisory board and Forest Hills Eastern High School Academic Boosters Treasurer.; Rosely was formerly volunteered with Dwelling place, Welcome home for the blind, Ronald McDonald house, Conductive learning Center, Cascade Hills Country Club and President of the Commercial Alliance of Realtors. Rosely is the proud parent of a graduated WMYB dancer and serves as a parent volunteer.  WMYB Fund Development Committee and Executive Committee.

Judy Sulka 

Educator and Literacy Coach; previous experience with Psi Iota Xi Philanthropic Sorority as VP, Timothy Ball PTO Board as Treasurer, Indiana University Kelley School of Business Educational Leadership Academy, Professional Development Workshops for Educators, and School Corporation-wide teacher development, technology in the classroom and curriculum writer; parent of a current WMYB dancer and parent volunteer. WMYB Nominating Committee, Chair.

Rachel Yenchar

Wellness and Healthy Aging Coordinator for Ionia County Commision on Aging, Alzheimer's Association Volunteer Support Group Facilitator; Yenchar is the parent of a current WMYB dancer and parent volunteer. WMYB Operations Committee