Staff

Deb Atwood is the energetic Executive Director of D&HHS and first joined the organization as a volunteer before becoming a paid staff member in 2006. As the Executive Director she has a whole host of duties, everything from overseeing all the administrative functions, and the entire suite of D&HHS programs, to big-picture strategic and mission-related decisions and direction-setting. In addition, fundraising, marketing and community outreach are all part of Deb’s duties and vital to the success of a small nonprofit that depends heavily on donations to provide the many programs and services it offers. Deb says that making a positive difference in someone’s life is a huge motivator, especially when it is a first life-experience such as a Deaf child communicating with a Deaf Santa for the first time. Her connection to Deaf culture began when she and her husband fostered and then adopted a relative who is Deaf. “He brought new meaning to our family,” she recalls, “and opened our eyes to a whole new world.” A Douglas, Michigan, native, Deb says her family is her life, adding that she loves boating, gardening and playing with her grandkids but that her husband is her best friend!

Denise Stephenson is the D&HHS Accountant, a post she began in 2017. Among her many duties are accounting (of course), hearing assistive devices, ASL class registration, training presentations for Hard of Hearing and “various other things.” She loves many aspects of her job but says there is a special joy in “showing a Hard of Hearing person a pocket talker and watching their face light up and get tears in their eyes because they can hear me talking to them.” Despite not having a connection to the Deaf community before joining D&HHS, Denise says now that the position has turned into “way more than just accounting.” A West Michigan native, Denise raises foster puppies for Paws with a Cause to become assistance dogs for the Deaf, physically disabled, and children with Autism. She also loves to travel with family and friends, and says Michigan summers are her favorite season, a time to hang out by the pool with a good book!

Nancy Piersma is the Community Education & Advocacy Coordinator for D&HHS but also teaches and tutors, does Cultural and Sensitivity Training, is a Native Deaf Facilitator and much more. In her words: “A little bit of everything.” But, she says, she loves the variety her work gives her and loves serving the many different clients D&HHS partners with. Born Deaf, Nancy, a Grand Rapids native, uses oral and sign language and joined D&HHS in the spring of 2012. In her free time, she crochets, watches movies and enjoys bike riding and walking. She notes that she has two beautiful children and is a proud mom, adding: “I cannot forget one more is my cat, Suki. She keeps me company when my two young adults are away.”

Bethany Faulkner is an Interpreter Services Specialist at D&HHS and has been with the organization in varying capacities since 2007. She schedules interpreters, does some advocacy and community education, liaises between customers and interpreters, answer phones, makes referrals to appropriate staff members and more. “I love partnering with Deaf co-workers to make something good happen for an individual or a community of individuals,” she said. “I also love learning from the vast and various experiences of our contractor interpreters.” Bethany said that a childhood interest in ASL met opportunity when she met her adoptive mom who pulled her towards the Deaf community where “I found I never wanted to leave.” Born and raised in Grand Rapids, her hobbies and interests include singing, acting, music, anything Celtic, self-improvement and food as medicine.

Erica Chapin is the Community and Partnerships Manager at D&HHS, having begun with the organization as an intern in 2019 and transitioning to full-time employee in January 2020. Among her significant responsibilities are coordinating events, creating marketing materials, working on development activities such as grants and donor relations, coordinating Cultural and Sensitivity Training, building relationships with partner organizations, organizing youth program happenings and more. She says she loves “seeing individuals we serve at community events where they are included and can participate fully. Especially seeing children involved in the Youth Program able to have fun and socialize because they are given access to communication.” She adds that it’s an honor for her to hear stories about how people’s lives have been changed through the work done by D&HHS. Born and raised in Midland, Michigan, Erica moved to Grand Rapids where she attended Grand Valley State Univerisity. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, puzzles, tea and music.

Brianna Beck is the Interpreter Services Coordinator for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services and began her work with us in May 2022. She says most people call her Bri, so if you have a chance to connect with her, feel free to use Bri! Her role is an important one as she works with our customers to schedule and place interpreters for the Deaf community. That also includes an education component as she works with businesses on their responsibilities to provide access. She was thrilled to join a team at D&HHS that provides access and a goal going forward for Bri is to become a certified interpreter, so she really appreciates “being able to have an inside look at the administrative side of how it all works.” She is a graduate of the Interpreter Training Program at Lansing Community College and a native of Grand Rapids. In her free time she loves being outdoors, traveling, reading and tacos!

Kelly Glass is the Tuesday Group Coordinator and teaches ASL classes for D&HHS, joining in 2020 to teach and in 2023 as Tuesday Group Coordinator. She said she loves both opportunities, and her goal in all that she does is to help people feel comfortable, safe, and confident. Born in East Grand Rapids, Kelly, who is Deaf, was raised in Kingsley near Traverse City, went to a mainstream school in Traverse City until 1992, moved to Cedar Springs, and then went to Northview High School, graduating in 1997. She said she enjoys creative crafts, knitting, Bible study, and walking dogs. And, she added, living with a Deaf-Blind roommate has sparked in her a deep desire to understand communications and access for that community.

Pat Hoogewind is the Hearing Assistive Technology Specialist for D&HHS, and she has been working with the agency since August 2018. In her role, Pat works with those in need of hearing aids to connect them with the appropriate resources, whether it be through D&HHS or another assistance program. She also works with other nonprofits who might provide assistance, organizations like the Lion’s Club, Quota and more. She loves lending a hand and helping people accomplish their goals, especially folks who might have a harder time navigating some of the complex systems that sometimes prove to be a barrier. Born and raised in West Michigan, in her free time Pat likes running, hiking, being outdoors, quilting and crocheting.

Jennifer Kolhoff is the Workshop Coordinator for D&HHS, a position she has held since 2016. Her role provides important resources for what working interpreters want and need to maintain their certifications in the state of Michigan and for their continued learning in the field. She coordinates workshops for interpreters, Deaf community members and students on a regular basis, covering topics that fall under the main categories of interpreting and locates presenters for these workshops, finds locations to hold the presentations, applies for CEU sponsorship and approval and more. She says she loves having the opportunity to work closely with people to find out what they want and need to improve their profession and their community. A Michigan native, Jen is an educational interpreter and runs the D&HHS Facebook page. In her free time loves to bake, loves the beach, camps and fishes, and enjoys cards, books and jigsaw puzzles.

Linda Bylsma is the Volunteer Coordinator at Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, a critical function she has filled since 2016. She not only trains volunteers for various assignments, but she also maintains current paperwork on volunteer activities and keeps busy with numerous projects inside and outside the office. She says she loves “using my energy in a great place, with a great staff, to do work for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in our community.” Her youngest daughter is deaf and was adopted at the age of three with her hearing difficulties not known to Linda and her husband. “We sure learned a lot,” recalls Linda now of the journey their family had, adding that her daughter is now 29 and has a wonderful Deaf community surrounding her in Flint, Michigan. A northern New Jersey native, Linda likes to babysit her grandsons, read and do word puzzles in her spare time. As a retired nurse who mainly worked in surgery, she notes that she loved that life but really loves her current season of life too.

Phil de Haan is a Communications Consultant for D&HHS and began in that role in the fall of 2019. Owner of de Haan Communications, Phil helps D&HHS with storytelling on the website and with general communications strategy and tactics, working closely with executive director Deb Atwood, with marketing coordinator Erica Chapin, with Facebook admin Jen Kolhoff and with many other members of the D&HHS team. A native of Exeter, Ontario, Phil enjoys hockey and pickleball in his free time and loves working with his nonprofit clients and telling their amazing stories.