Staff

Katelyn Bosch VerMerris 

Director

director@zeelandhistoy.org

Audrey Rojo 

Curator

museum@zeelandhistory.org


Board of Trustees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Debbie Albert, President

A retired educator with more than 30 years of experience, Ms. Albert now works as a horticultural therapist and is an active member of the Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Kenneth Kolk, Vice President

Mr. Kolk is a retired educator with 35 years’ experience teaching at Wayland Union Schools and over 10 years  at Kellogg Community College. He holds a Master’s of Education from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s of Arts in Military History from Western Michigan University.

 

Jody Rietsma, Treasurer

Ms. Rietsma currently works as the church secretary at Oakland Christian Reformed Church and has worked as an accounting associate for over 25 years.

 

Cherrie Weener, Secretary

Ms. Weener is an active Civil War reenactor and works as the referral specialist at the Brain and Spine Center.


TRUSTEES

Robert Swierenga

Dr. Swierenga is professor emeritus of Van Raalte Institute at Hope College. He is a decorated and productive scholar in Dutch immigration history with 10 books authored, 19 books (co)edited, as well as numerous awards including a Fulbright.

 

Sharon Hendrickson
A retired medical professional most recently employed by Fresenius Medical Care.

 

Andrea Dekker

Ms. Dekker serves as a special education teacher at Roosevelt Elementary.

 

Megan Heyl

 A professional genealogist with Master of Education from Grand Valley State University, Ms. Heyl is the owner of Hunting Down History and is active in many genealogy groups including the Association for Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society, Western Michigan Genealogical Society, among others.