Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

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Betsy Smith, Board President

Betsy Smith, Board President

Graham Forsey, Board Vice President

Graham Forsey, Board Vice President

Mickey Carolan, Board Treasurer

Mickey Carolan, Board Treasurer

Born to deaf parents and raised in a rural environment Mickey learned to lead and communicate early in life.  Mickey stumbled across Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services in 2009 while searching for an agency to designate his United Way donation towards.  Ultimately, Mickey felt moved to do more.  In 2015 he joined the board and brought his business acumen to the Board Treasurer role.  During his time on the board the agency has right-sized their solvency and liquidity.  

With over 17 years of logistics and transportation experience, he is currently the Major Account Area Sales Manager for West and Southwest Michigan at UPS.  He has an MBA from Amberton University and his BS from Calvin College.  He and his family reside in Byron Center, Michigan. 

Jessica Miller, Board Secretary

Jessica Miller, Board Secretary

My name is Jessica Miller. I am a public school teacher who works specifically with students who are at risk and are performing below their grade level in reading and math. My husband Dan and I have three children: Nathan, Aaron, and Reagan. Aaron and Reagan were each born with a severe to profound hearing loss. They were each enrolled in Northview Public School’s Total Communication program when they were 3 months old. Our family began learning sign language to communicate with them. When they were 15 months and 14 months respectively, they received cochlear implants.

I first became involved with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services when the first Kids Kamp was held. When my husband and I first learned of Aaron’s diagnosis, we found many services for deaf and hard of hearing adults, but there were none in our area that served children, outside of the school programs. Kids Kamp was the first activity that involved supporting deaf and hard of hearing children, as well as their parents. It connected the community to the children. It was the one place where being a hearing person was different. Over time, the Kids Signs committee was formed and joining that committee began my volunteering at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

Today, both kids are fully mainstreamed and use interpreters in their classes. I moved from volunteering on the Kids Signs committee to the Board of Directors. Being on the Board helps me know what is happening to support the deaf and hard of hearing community, as well as find ways that may help my children be more included in the world we live in.

Kristie Cornell, Board Member

Kristie Cornell, Board Member

Heather Derrick, Board Member

Heather Derrick, Board Member

Heather Derrick has been a board member at D&HHS since September 2016. Heather grew up in a small town in Ontario, Canada with a large residential Deaf school and she became connected to the Deaf community as a child. 

 

Heather works as a health administrator locally. She completed her Masters of Health Administration at Grand Valley State University and has a Bachelors of Social Work from Cornerstone University. Previously, Heather worked as a licensed social worker and provided case management services for adults with intellectual disabilities. Heather also worked for several years in Romania for a non-profit residential program for teenage mothers and their children. Heather is passionate about social justice, children, education, and establishing sustainable funding sources. 

 

In her spare time, Heather enjoys working on home improvement projects, learning languages, baking, and travelling.

Roman Karpinski, Board Member

Roman Karpinski, Board Member

David VanderKolk, Board Member

David VanderKolk, Board Member


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3680 44TH ST SE - SUITE 201

KENTWOOD, MI 49512

DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES

© 2017

PH: 616-732-7358

VP: 616-828-0186

F: 616-732-7365