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 CDC it was determined that the organizational structure was an excellent way to assure maximum county wide involvement and transparency of purpose for economic development activity.  Therefore GGDI kept the CDC broad membership structure.  Today GGDI has a 32 member board of directors.

The 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 assure that all significant economic sectors are represented and the widest interests of the county community are addressed. 

Board Member Eligibility

Any person interested in Board membership may inquire through GGDI or through any of the organizations having standing membership.  

Representative	Title	Organization
Jeff Abernathy	President, Alma College	Member at Large
Jan Amsterberg	Superintendent Gr-Is RESD	Education
Steven Bakker	Ackley Peters Insurance Agency	Ithaca Promotional Committee
Greg Baleja	Professor, Alma College	Member at Large
Jeffrey Barker	President and CEO, Commercial Bank	Banking
Kevin Beeson	Supervisor, Pine River Township	Pine River Township
Julie Bolt	Clerk, Lafayette Township	Township Association
Marci Browne	Realtor, American’s Choice Realty	Realtors Association
Kevin Collison	Senior Vice President and Senior Lender	Member at Large
Chuck Fortino	Attorney	Gratiot Bar Association
Nicole Frost	County Administrator	Gratiot County
Phil Hanson	Director, Downtown Development Authority	Middle of the Mitten Association
John Hardman	Lauer Farms	Agriculture, alternate
Angie Iocco	Vice President, Cartridges Are Us, Inc.	Member at Large
Greg Mapes	Vice President and Treasurer, IBT	City of Alma
Robert McConkie	City Manager, St. Louis	City of St. Louis
Tim Miller	Division President, IBT	Breckenridge Chamber
Dave Nelson	Chief, Fire/Rescue Department	City of Ithaca
Jayne Norris	Executive Director, Gratiot Area Chamber	Gratiot Area Chamber
Harmony Nowlin	Community Services Area Manager	Utilities
Don Pray	Chief Finance Officer, Masonic Pathways	Member at Large
John Renneberg	Retired	Gratiot County Commissioner
Becky Roslund	Supervisor, Newark Township	Member at Large
Dan Rossman	County Extension Director	Agriculture
Tim Schaub	Branch Manager, Wilbur-Ellis Company	Village of Breckenridge
Scott Showers	Financial Advisor, Beacon Wealth Mgt.	Gratiot County Commissioner
Kirk Smith	Owner, Integrity Printing, Inc.	Member at Large
Ralph Ward	Publisher, Boardroom Insider	Employment and Training
Steve Wendzel	Technical Sales Rep, Wilbur-Ellis	Agriculture/Farm Bureau
Jim Wheeler	President and CEO, Firstbank	Alma Industrial Development
Rich VanderVeen	Founder and President, Mackinaw Power	Utilities / wind energy
Brad Vibber	President, Chemical Bank & Trust	Member at Large
Robin Whitmore	Vice President, Gratiot Medical Center	Member at Large