Staff
Our Team
LINC's work is reflective of a rich organizational culture represented by the different ideas and talents that our staff bring to the team. We take pride in the diverse history, backgrounds and skills of our staff.
LINC's staff come from 4 different countries, speak 3 different languages, and have had very divergent career and life tracks.
Read about our team members below.
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Co Executive Director
Jeremy DeRoo Email
Jeremy DeRoo has a BA in Psychology from Calvin College and a Masters in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University. Born and raised on a dairy farm in Southern Ontario, DeRoo came to Grand Rapids to attend Calvin College. ... read more
Co Executive Director
Darel Ross II Email
Darel Ross II has been living in and serving the Grand Rapids community his entire life. Upon graduation from Ottawa Hills High School, he attended Alabama A&M University where he received a degree in Finance in 1995. Feeling a strong ... read more
Director of Economic Development
Jorge Gonzalez Email
Jorge, a Grand Rapidian, grew up by Division and Pleasant on the South East side of Grand Rapids, graduated from Union High School and went on to Grand Valley State University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Public Administration ... read more
Director of Neighborhood Services
Ana Doonan Email
Ana has been the Director of Neighborhood Services since early 2011. Prior to that Ana was our Grants Administrator for five years. Ana has provided management and leadership in various capacities for LINC, including fund development, grant compliance, media relations ... read more
Director of Resident Services
Venessa Remo Email
Venessa provides leadership and direction through the management of the Department of Housing Services. Her primary responsibilities include operations, programs, and funding for maintenance and development of the Housing Services programs. Housing Services Programs include: Acquisition, Development & Resale (ADR), ... read more
Executive Assistant
Erica Hooser Email
Erica joined the team in September of 2008 as a LISC/AmeriCorps member. Erica grew up on the southeast side of town and is "excited to see its transformation to a place that is improving so much. There is a difference from ... read more
Accounting Manager
Ramy Ibrahim Email
Ramy Ibrahim is originally from Egypt. He moved to the US in May of 2006. Ramy has his bachelor’s degree and an additional two-year post-graduate degree in accounting from Suez Canal University. He was hired by LINC in September 2006 ... read more
Operations Assistant
Andrew Graham Email
Andrew Graham has his Bachelors of Arts Degree from Western Michigan University with a major in Economics and a minor in General Business.
Originally from the Kalamazoo area, Andrew joined LINC in August 2011 and serves as the Operations Assistant. ... read more
Communications Coordinator
Kari Bergman Email
Kari worked with LINC as an intern in 2009 and became a part of the staff in June 2010. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in the Spring of 2010 with a Bachelors in Public and Nonprofit Administration. Her ... read more
Financial Coach
Alisa White Email
Alisa has been with LINC since February 2007 and provides various levels of support to the Resident Services department. Prior to joining the LINC team, Alisa processed loans for Centex Home Equity for two years and worked for a collection ... read more
Financial Coach
Jose Davis Ledesma Email
Jose joined LINC as a financial coach in August 2011. He has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and has worked in the Financial Services sector for local banks for 15 years. Jose is fluent in Spanish and English, allowing him ... read more
Intake/Supports Specialist
Ashlee Cunningham Email
Originally from Detroit, Ashlee has been lving and giving back to the Grand Rapids community for 5 years. She started at LINC in January 2011 as an intern and became a part of the LINC staff in September 2011. Ashlee ... read more
Resident Services Program Assistant
Keisha Lewis Email
Keisha joined the team in May of 2011. Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas she has lived in Michigan since November 2009. Keisha admits it was a "culture shock" moving from warm weather to extremely cold weather. Arkansas shuts ... read more
Real Estate Development Manager
Adam VanderLaan Email
Adam joined LINC in June 2008 and has been involved with the Lead Hazard Control Program in the City of Grand Rapids for the past 4 years, working with several contractors to help make hundreds of homes healthier and ... read more
Housing Rehab Specialist
Debra Wadlington Email
Housing Rehab Specialist
Scott Jewell Email
Scott was born in Grand Haven Michigan. He has worked in a variety of construction areas from a traveling construction company, to the local carpenters union and running his own business. His experience has involved residential and commercial jobs. His ... read more
Property Coordinator
Takara Taylor Email
Takara Taylor joined the LINC Team as the Community Liaison for the Neighborhood Services Department. She possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and over the past 8 years she has developed a background in the areas of Human Services and Real ... read more
Maintenance
Darryl McIntosh Email
Neighborhood Services Program Coordinator
LaKiya Jenkins Email
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a product of Creston High School, LaKiya has always had a desire to give back to her community. Over the past 7 years LaKiya has been active throughout the community serving in area ... read more
Neighborhood Services Project Assistant
Jay Niewiek, LLMSW Email
Jay completed his Masters of Social Work in the spring of 2011 and started working at LINC in May. Before being at LINC, he interned at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy for a year. At LINC, Jay is a project ... read more
Southtown Community Liaison
Javonte Tubbs Email
Resident and native of Grand Rapids, MI for 30 plus years, Javonte Tubbs is not only a deeply rooted member of his community, but a very passionate and active advocate for it. As a graduate of Alabama A&M University, Javonte ... read more
B2B Central Community Liaison
Willie Patterson III Email
Willie L. Patterson III, was born and raised right here in Grand Rapids, where he now lives with his wife of ten years and daughter. He has always had a strong love for people and community, this foundation has helped ... read more
B2B Central Natural Helper
Montel Pierre Email
Montel is originally from New Orleans, LA, but has resided in Muskegon for the past 17 years. He graduated from Muskegon High School and later attended Baker College of Muskegon, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management ... read more
B2B Central Natural Helper
Tova Mays Email
B2B Central Natural Helper
Victor Williams Email
B2B West Community Liaison
Staci Nichols Email
Staci Nichols moved to Grand Rapids from her native Chicago in the early 1990s. She graduated from Creston High School and will be returning to school to pursue a degree in Communications. Staci enjoys traveling and is a member of ... read more
B2B West Natural Helper
San Juana Guillermo Email
B2B West Natural Helper
Omar Gonzalez Email
Omar was born in Grand Rapids, MI and Graduated from Grand Valley State University where he received his Bachelor's degree in International Relations with a minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Omar is very passionate about giving back to the community and ... read more
B2B West Natural Helper
Hugo Claudin Email
Hugo Claudin is a Natural Helper for the Believe 2 Become West Zone. He is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Grand Rapids to study fine arts and design. He has worked as a community health worker, a promoter, ... read more
