The Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation Board of Directors is made up of local community leaders. The Board guides the Foundation’s activities and helps identify the charitable needs of the South Haven area. Officers and members of the Foundation Board of Directors are:
Andrew Barnes
President
Andy is a South Haven native and has returned to the area to live with his wife and three sons. Andy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University and his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law. He is an attorney/shareholder with the law firm of Kotz Sangster Wysocki P.C. and practices law out of his main office in South Haven, in addition to other offices the firm maintains in St. Joseph and Niles. He is active in the community and enjoys helping coach in local youth sports leagues.
Jim Marcoux
Executive Director
Jim has been a Board member and was one of the original board members to help take the South Haven Community Foundation independent in 2005. After retiring from a sales and marketing career for Navistar International Corporation and Detroit Diesel Corporation Jim and his wife moved to South Haven where they finished raising their 5 children. Jim is active in the community and St. Basil Church and is a past member of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development authority.
Dene Hadden
Vice President
Dene is retired from South Haven Public schools in 2007 after serving thirty five years in the system. During his administrative tenure, he instituted the athletic hall of fame, increased MEAP and ACT test scores and enlarged dual enrollment programs that allowed SHHS students to earn college credit while in high school. Dene also served as a coach in the district, coaching JV Baseball for six years and varsity volleyball coach for 17 years. He is a member of the Rotary Club, a member of the South Haven Public Schools Foundation Board, and is the public address announcer for the South Haven High School volleyball program.
Dennis Dascenzo
Secretary
Dennis earned an Accounting degree from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the University of Detroit. He spent most of his career in Labor Relations at Detroit Edison. He spent many years as a coach and official in youth and high school sports. He currently serves several local non-profit organizations as a volunteer and Board Member. Dennis and Kathy Dascenzo have been married 43 years and have three grown children.
Laura Hayward
Treasurer
Laura is a partner with DeBoer Baumann & Company PLC and has been a certified public accountant for 30 years. Laura is a past president for the South Haven Kiwanis Club and a charter member of Women Who Care – South Haven. Born and raised in South Haven, Laura left for 20 years and returned to South Haven in 2002.
Thomas Powell
Past President
Tom has a BBA in accounting and MBA in finance from Western Michigan University. His background includes seven years in business operations at WMU and twenty-nine years in corporate finance at Upjohn and Pharmacia. He has served many years as a community volunteer and organizer for a wide diversity of non-profit organizations.
Brian Dissette
Brian has been the South Haven City Manager since 2009. Previously, he worked for three years as the Assistant City Manager for Public Works. Brian earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Western Michigan University. A South Haven native, Brian is married to Kelly Getman-Dissette, with whom they have three young children, Carson, Calvin, and Mairen.
Paul Hemmeter
Paul began his career as a practicing CPA. He then returned to Indiana University to pursue doctoral studies. Upon earning his doctoral degree, he served on the faculties of Indiana University, The University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas. While at the University of Texas, he was recruited to join Oracle Corporation where after serving in a number of executive positions, he retired as Senior Director for Global Financial Services.
Dan Liehr
Dan is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial. He has a bachelors and masters of science degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Lake Forest. He currently serves on several non-profit boards.
Suzanne Loafman
Suzanne is a marketing, business development and public relations professional with 15 years of experience. Previously, she worked for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Travelzoo.com and metromix.com. She currently serves on the South Haven planning commission, the Saint Basil Catholic School board and SHPS Superintendent Advisory Board and volunteers her time at St. Basil Catholic School doing public relations and marketing.
Glenn Pietenpol
We are saddened by the loss of Glenn Pietenpol, founding member of the Greater South Haven Area Community Foundation. Glenn was dedicated to making our community a better place for everyone who calls South Haven home. His work will continue to help our community for years to come.
Alan Silverman
Alan is a retired attorney with more than 40 years experience advising businesses and individuals. He has served on the boards of the Michigan Maritime Museum (former Chair), South Haven Boating Foundation, the South Haven Yacht Club (former Vice-Commodore) and other local, regional and national organizations. He is currently a member of the South Haven Harbor Commission (former Chair). He is an active sailor, cruising Lake Michigan extensively with Judi, his bride of 50 years, and racing with a dedicated crew. Alan Chairs the SHCF Grants Committee.
Ida Sledge
Ida is a retired educator/mentor at Covert Public Schools. She serves as secretary of the board trustees at the South Haven Memorial Library and is an active church and community volunteer.
Robert Straits
Former President
Bob has served as the Administrator at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and is now retired, but remains on staff as a consultant. He has also been the Assistant Secretary Treasurer of the W.E. Upjohn Unemployment Trustee Corporation and was elected to five terms on the Kalamazoo City Commission. His current affiliations include the Board of Trustees of the South Haven Health Systems and The South Haven Rotary.
Janice Varney
Janice served as the first Executive Dean of Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus. She was the former chair of the South Haven Chamber of Commerce Board, on the Michigan Maritime Museum Board, and LDFA/Brownfield Authority. She received the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Award from the South Haven Rotary. Janice currently serves on the South Haven Speakers Series Board, and Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy Board with special interest in Pilgrim Haven and Black River Preserve.
Roger Beglin
Roger has a BBA in Accounting from Western Michigan University and was a CPA with Price Waterhouse for nine years. He then held senior level corporate tax positions with Upjohn / Pharmacia and with Hospira, Inc. in Lake Forest, Illinois, from which he retired in 2016 as Vice President- Corporate Tax. Roger and his wife, Heidi, have resided in South Haven since 2006.
Karen Willming
Karen graduated from Western Michigan University and has worked in finance for various corporations in South Haven over the years, currently for OTR Wheel Engineering. She is an active member as well as the treasurer of Peace Lutheran Church and supports many other community organizations. She was on the board of GSHACF many years ago and has recently returned and is serving on the Donor Development Committee.
