McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation
About Us

Leadership

Board Officers

Scott S. Stewart, Chair
The Huntington National Bank

Rick Wendorf, PhD, Vice Chair
Community Philanthropist

Jay Peitsch, Secretary
Chase Investments

Sarah L. Jennings, CPA, CFE, CAE, Treasurer
Maner Costerisan

Board Members

Lauren Aitch
Human Base

Sharon Conti
McLaren Greater Lansing
Volunteer Liaison

Sara Dolan, CPA, MBA
MSU Federal Credit Union

Jessica Fleet, CPA
Maner Costerisan

Brenda J. Geoghegan
The Hungtington National Bank

Susan Hengesbach
H Business Development and Consulting

Rachel Sampson
Smalley Investments

Melissa Yutzey McKinley
Kelley Cawthorne

Nancy Meddaugh, PhD
McLaren Greater Lansing Volunteers

Kirk M. Ray, MBA
McLaren Greater Lansing
President & CEO

Ralph M. Shaheen
Hospital Board Chair
McLaren Greater Lansing Board of Trustees

Charles J. Taunt, Jr., DO
Michigan Ortopedic Center

Rafid Yousif, MD
Lansing Institute of Urology

Darin White
Townsquare Media

Edwar Zeineh
Zeineh Law

Lyn Donaldson Zynda
ZHV Properties LLC

Trustee Emeriti

Jim Beck
KCWY

Seong H. Chi, MD
Retired, Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Shelley Davis Boyd
LAFCU

Salvatore J. Durso
The Centennial Group

Nancy A. Elwood
Merrill Lynch

Thomas E. Hoffmeyer
Retired, Gorsline Runciman

Theresa A. Hubbell
Retired, Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood

Becky Beauchine Kulka
Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds & Fine Jewelry

Chuck L. Lasky
Lasky, Fifarek & Hogan, P.C.

Darrell A. Lindman
Fraser Trebilcock David & Dunlap, P.C.

Ralph M. Shaheen
Shaheen Chevrolet, Inc.

Jeffrey S. Williams
Williams AutoWorld

Staff

Shelly Houston
Foundation Manager

Mollie Bort
Marketing Specialist

Nicole Hankwitz
Major Gifts Officer

Rachel Sampson
Philanthropy Officer

Courtney SIlverthorn
Annual Giving Specialist

Rachel Turek
Special Events Coordinator

Board Biographies

Scott S. Stewart, Chair

As someone who has lived in the Greater Lansing area nearly all of his life, Scott believes strongly in supporting the local community. The Michigan State University graduate joined the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation Board of Trustees in 2007 at the urging of one of his mentors, who told him “there were a lot of good people there doing a lot of good things.” He has particularly enjoyed resurrecting, and then serving on the Business Partners in Health Committee because of its connection to what he does in his job as vice president of business banking at The Huntington Bank in East Lansing. He believes strongly in McLaren Greater Lansing’s focus on patient care and comfort, and says “putting the patient at the center of everything the hospital does” is the right thing to do. Scott’s work keeps him “in perpetual

motion.” But he knows how to relax, often spending his Saturday afternoons in the fall with his feet propped up while watching college football.

Favorite Quote:  Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -- Winston Churchill

Back to Leadership List

Rick Wendorf, Ph.D., Vice Chair

One of the board’s longest serving members, Rick is excited about the direction the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation is headed. He has seen some big changes at the hospital since he joined the board in 2007, and strongly supports the Foundation’s efforts to help McLaren Greater Lansing continue to be the most compassionate and patient-centered healthcare facility in mid-Michigan. He has served as a co-chair for the Annual Gala fundraising event four times, and takes great satisfaction in the support the Foundation gives the hospital via grants to various programs and departments. The Eaton Rapids native does not mince words when asked about the importance of philanthropy, stating those “who have been given much in life” have a “social obligation” to give back. In the early 2000s, that philosophy led the Olivet College and Michigan State University graduate to strongly encourage his parents to become donors to organizations and causes in whose mission they believed. Away from his duties on the Foundation board, Rick is an opera singer, a voice coach who runs Bel Canto Studio, and a part-time realtor.

Favorite Quote:  May all that has been reduced to noise in you become music again. -- David Teems

Back to Leadership List

Jay Peitsch

Jay became interested in serving on the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation board because he wanted to be part of a team that “betters the community.” He feels it is his “responsibility to be a steward of our community and help it achieve important milestones.” He views the replacement hospital as a great opportunity for McLaren Health Care to strengthen its close relationships with Michigan State University’s colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, and to increase its visibility in the area. After first serving on the Foundation’s Philanthropy Advancement Committee (PAC), Jay wants to help the board “tap into” more young professionals and increase funds raised from annual events by 10-15 percent each year. The Trenton (N.J.) native is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and attended Lansing Community College to take the required classes to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination. Outside of his job as a private client advisor with JPMorgan Chase, Jay enjoys golfing, hiking, hunting, and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Quote:  When the going gets tough, the tough get going. – Knut Rockne

Back to Leadership List

Sarah L. Jennings, CPA, CFE, CAE, Treasurer

Time is precious and selecting organizations to give that to is not done lightly – it is done with great care ensuring passion for the vision and mission of the organization. That has been the case for Sarah when it pertains to her time on the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation Board of Trustees. She joined the board because she wanted to be involved in an organization outside her field of expertise, and says it is an “honor” to be part of it. She has enjoyed being engaged in the local healthcare community and is one of three at-large members on the board’s Executive Committee. She believes strongly in McLaren Greater Lansing “taking the level of service and care of its patients to the next level,” and is excited about the Foundation’s role in making that happen. She also likes the Foundation’s involvement in events that benefit the Greater Lansing community. A native of Perry, Sarah is a principal in Maner Costerian’s Accounting and Outsourced Solutions Department, with much of her work focused on fraud detection and prevention, and overall organizational process improvement and oversight. The Illinois Wesleyan University graduate resides in the Lainsburg community with her husband and son.

Favorite Quote: I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. -- Maya AngelouBack to Leadership List

Sara Dolan, CPA, MBA

Sara is a firm believer that giving back is a social responsibility. If you have success in life, it is important to pay it forward, as the expression goes. That’s a big reason why she sits on the board of trustees of the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation and is involved with several other organizations at the board or membership level. The thing she enjoys most about being on the Foundation board is getting to hear about the positive impact awarded grants have had on various departments in the hospital. Seeing how the Foundation’s funds are used to help others makes “her heart happy.” She also takes pride in being part of an organization that plays a big role in the Greater Lansing area, saying it is important to create “positive environments” in the community. Outside of her volunteer responsibilities and her job as the chief financial officer of the MSU Federal Credit Union, Sara is the mother of four. The MSU and Western Michigan University graduate does not have any current hobbies, as most of her spare time is spent with her family and supporting her kids in whatever activities they are involved.

Favorite Quote:  Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be criticized anyway. -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Back to Leadership List

Brenda J. Geoghegan

Diversity and respect for one another are big strengths of the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation Board of Trustees, according to Brenda. When a board is comprised of individuals with a variety of skill sets, it can lead to different ideas being proposed in regard to projects or events. And when everyone’s opinion is valued, ideas flow freely and increased creativity can be the result. Brenda is energized by the level of commitment of her fellow board members, saying their compassion for the hospital and the Greater Lansing community is “contagious.” She also feels her own leadership skills have improved by working with such an engaged group of local supporters. Brenda enjoys the sense of “pride and identity” that comes with volunteering, and adds that doing good things for others gives her a feeling of “accomplishment.” Aside from volunteering and her job as a private banker for The Huntington Bank, the Owosso native enjoys golf, running, yoga, and cooking. Brenda earned a degree at both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, but roots for MSU when it comes to college sports.

Favorite Quote:  You get what you focus on. -- Mark Dantonio

Back to Leadership List

Susan Hengesbach

Susie is a lifelong resident of Westphalia and has a great affinity for Michigan’s capital city. Her dad worked at the Oldsmobile headquarters here in Lansing. She held a great variety of jobs during a 37-year career with the State of Michigan. “Lansing has always had a special place in my heart,” she said. “I want to keep giving back because I love the city.” Susie first became involved with the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation in 2016 and gladly accepted an offer to join the board of trustees this year. “The leadership is incredible,” she said. “Everyone is involved and I am looking forward to supporting our vision and helping build a stronger future for the region.” As someone who has served on numerous organizations, Susie believes positive relationships are the backbone of a flourishing community. She is also confident her passion for embracing challenges and reaching out to others will benefit the foundation raising funds for a new hospital and cancer center on land adjacent to Michigan State University. “McLaren Greater Lansing is so wonderful,” she said, “and I can’t say enough about the leadership there.” Outside of her job as proprietor of H Business Development and Consulting, Suzy enjoys spending time with her family, vacationing at their summer cottage, and hanging out with her girlfriends.

Favorite Quote:  A team aligned behind a vision will move mountains. -- Kevin Rose

Back to Leadership List

Rachel Sampson

The “Butterfly Effect” is often associated with the modern field of Chaos Theory. But for Rachel, it refers to the chain reaction that occurs when one person does something “great” for someone, and that individual does likewise for another. Helping people is important to the Michigan State University graduate and it is one of the reasons she was happy to become a member of the McLaren Greater Lansing board of trustees this year. “To be part of a group of leaders who really care about the community is something I am looking forward to,” she said. Rachel’s relationship with the Foundation began in 2016 when the former Big Ten Conference women’s individual golf champion volunteered to take shots for foursomes participating in the Jack Breslin Golf Classic. She has stayed involved with the annual outing, and in 2019 served on the Foundation’s Philanthropy Advisory Committee (PAC) and co-chaired the State of the State of Healthcare event. She is excited about the construction of the new hospital and cancer center on land adjacent to MSU and calls it an “absolute game changer for our community.” The Fort Wayne native and mother of two is a client ambassador with Smalley Investments and also serves as board president of The First Tee of Mid-Michigan.

Favorite Quote:  Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. -- Mother Teresa

Back to Leadership List

Melissa McKinley

Melissa has a strong relationship with McLaren as she was born in the main hospital in Flint and the lobbying firm for whom she is a partner has represented the health system for many years. She is excited about the new hospital’s expected opening in March of next year because it will offer new opportunities of care for members of the Greater Lansing community while serving as an economic engine for the region. Melissa is focused on helping the board meet its fundraising goals but also wants to help the Foundation strengthen its relationships with organizations and individuals in the area. Volunteering and philanthropy are “extremely important” to her because they play critical roles in “helping organizations thrive.” She also feels strongly about “giving back to the community you live in.” She has previously raised funds for several local organizations and is one of five founders of a nonprofit called Capital Area Women Who Care. Outside of her volunteer work and her job as a lobbyist with Kelley Cawthorne, the Michigan State University graduate enjoys golfing, skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, and traveling with her husband, Otie.

Favorite Quote:  Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Back to Leadership List

Nancy Meddaugh, Ph.D.

As president of the volunteers at McLaren Greater Lansing, Nancy holds a designated seat on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. However, her ties to the hospital are extremely personal as her mom was a patient here for four years while being treated for tuberculosis. Nancy was nine months old when her mom was admitted to the hospital, which eventually became McLaren Greater Lansing, and nearly five years of age when she was released free of TB. During that time, Nancy could speak with her mom through a window in her room, but she was not allowed inside the hospital due to the highly contagious nature of tuberculosis. Although her mom lived for nearly 50 more years after her release, Nancy’s experience led her to view hospitals as places of “life and death.” And that what happens in them is “very important.” Nancy is impressed with the way in which hospital staff interact with patients, as well as their families. “You’re treating the patient both physically and emotionally,” she said. “But you also need to treat the families emotionally.” A Lansing native and Michigan State University graduate, Nancy had a 37-year career in education as a teacher and administrator, with her last 19 years coming as principal of C.W. Neff Elementary School in Grand Ledge.

Favorite Quote: Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. -- Alfred Lord Tennyson

Back to Leadership List

Ralph Shaheen

Ralph’s connections to McLaren Greater Lansing run deep as he first served on the Foundation’s board of trustees from 2002-08, has sat on the hospital board since 2009, and began his tenure as chair in January. He is proud that the Chi Heart & Surgery Center was built during his first stint on the Foundation board and looks forward to the construction of a new state-of-the-art hospital that will provide compassionate care to those in the Greater Lansing area. He views volunteering and being philanthropic as his civic duties and “just something I do.” When it comes to the hospital, he has been a financial supporter since 2000 and is a big fan of its nurses because they are “such noble people” who bring “great comfort” to their patients. He speaks from experience as he has undergone several surgeries at McLaren Orthopedic Hospital. Outside of giving back to the community and his job as president of Shaheen Chevrolet, the Flint native and Michigan State University graduate likes to play hockey, hunt with his golden retrievers, attend MSU football and hockey games, and spend time with family, especially his granddaughter.

Favorite Quote: That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do has increased. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Back to Leadership List

Charles Taunt, Jr., DO

Chip likes to see the fruits of his labor. Whether improving the quality of someone’s life by replacing their knee or hip as an orthopedic surgeon, or helping the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation decide where to award its grants, he enjoys seeing tangible results. He said it’s “super satisfying” for he and other board members to see money raised by the Foundation going back to the community. Helping the hospital “be a better place is very appealing” to him. Chip’s father was his role model when it came to serving on boards as he was involved with numerous organizations at both the charitable and business level. Chip likes the energy level of the Foundation board, saying trustees can be counted on to step up or pitch in when it comes to a project or event. Outside of work and serving on the Foundation board, the University of Notre Dame graduate spends a lot of time coaching youth lacrosse; he believes sports can teach young people how to “carry on when confronted with adversity.”

Favorite Quote: Toughness is about making the play that needs to be made, regardless of the circumstances. -- Kevin Corrigan

Back to Leadership List

Darin White

Darin learned about the importance and benefits of giving back to the community as a kid by watching his mom raise funds for the March of Dimes, and volunteer at a local nursing home and the church his family attended. His involvement with the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation started several years ago when he helped attain sponsors for the Jack Breslin Golf Classic. The Annual Gala was later added to his fundraising responsibilities. As a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees, he is focused on helping secure the funds needed to make the new hospital and cancer center as effective as they can be. “In order to provide the best care to more people in a timely fashion, you need the best facilities,” he said. “Being effective and efficient in the way you care for people is very important.” Darin also wants to help educate people in Greater Lansing about the ways the Foundation supports the community. Outside of his job as the general sales manager and digital sales manager for Townsquare Media, the University of Michigan-Flint graduate also teaches marketing classes for Kettering University and Baker College. He lives in Burton with his wife, Megan, and likes to golf, hunt, and fish in his spare time.

Favorite Quote: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways -- Chardonnay in one hand -- chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming. . . . WOO HOO! What a ride! – George Carlin

Back to Leadership List

Rafid H. Yousif, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Yousif is all for advancing medicine in the region and gladly accepted an offer to join the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation board of trustees this year. He believes McLaren’s construction of a new hospital and cancer center on land adjacent to Michigan State University will raise the level of health care throughout the region. “I believe in competition,” Dr. Yousif said. “I believe it makes for better care in a community when there are two or more hospitals competing against one another.” He also thinks the new hospital’s proximity to MSU will make for even closer ties between the two organizations. Dr. Yousif has earned degrees from MSU, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. He was born in New York City, but also lived in Ann Arbor, London, and Baghdad before returning to Michigan in the early 1980s. He has been an urologist with Lansing Institute of Urology since 2001, is an assistant clinical professor in MSU’s College of Human Medicine, and was instrumental in bringing robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedures – with a special interest in urologic oncology – to the Greater Lansing area. Outside of work, the father of three enjoys soccer, hiking, and traveling.

Favorite Quote: Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine -- Bob Carter

Back to Leadership List

Edwar Zeineh

Edwar knew of the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation through friends’ involvement with it. But his “passion” for serving on the board took root after he witnessed the services and “kind treatment” his father received while he was hospitalized at McLaren Greater Lansing in 2017. Edwar, who served on the Foundation’s Philanthropy Advancement Committee (PAC) before joining the board, wants to help the Foundation and hospital continue to strengthen their ties to the community. He is excited about the construction of McLaren’s new acute care medical center adjacent to Michigan State University and says its impact on the Greater Lansing area will be “breathtaking.” Giving back to the community is a high priority for Edwar, who hopes his volunteering and philanthropy serve as “moral lessons” to his children. Outside of his job as an attorney and owner of Zeineh Law, the Flint native and graduate of MSU and Thomas M. Cooley Law School likes to travel internationally as he enjoys “exploring new cultures.”

Favorite Quote:  I am still learning. – Michelangelo, age 87.

Back to Leadership List

Lyn Donaldson Zynda

Lyn is the president of ZHV Properties, a real estate LLC. Yet “philanthropist” is the title with which she identifies most. Her interests lay with the arts and children. She also supports the Greater Lansing Food Bank, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and not surprisingly, McLaren Greater Lansing. A physician at the hospital, and his wife got Lyn interested in joining the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation Board of Trustees in 2012, and she has enjoyed being part of it. She has met some “marvelous and really talented” people who are committed to the mission of the Foundation, and not just using their membership as a “resume builder.” She is excited about helping to raise money for programs at the hospital, and energized by the direction it is moving. She also underwent knee replacement surgery at McLaren Orthopedic Hospital in July of 2017, and experienced the first-class, compassionate care for which the hospital is known. One of two army brats on the board, Lyn was born in Munich, and has also lived in Japan, Texas, Illinois, and Indiana, in addition to Michigan. Although her philanthropic endeavors currently take up much of her time, she hopes to do more traveling and crafting in the future.

Favorite Quote: To whom much is given, much will be required. -- Luke (12:48)

Back to Leadership List

E. James Barrett

After a 37-year career with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and a five-year run as president of Management & Marketing Advisory Services, Inc., Jim retired from full-time work in 2013. However, he has been anything but idle since, currently serving on the boards of numerous organizations, including the McLaren Health Care Corporation, McLaren Greater Lansing, and McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation. Jim, who was president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce from 1976-2008, says he and his family have been “blessed,” so now is the time to do as much as they can in the way of volunteering and supporting good causes. When it comes to the Foundation board, he is excited about the broad representation from the community in terms of background and experience, the quality of its members, and the “wonderful opportunities” the Foundation has to improve health services in the Greater Lansing area. Away from volunteering and some part-time consulting work, the Lansing Community College and Michigan State University graduate enjoys golf, travel, and attending MSU football, and men’s and women’s basketball games.

Favorite Quote:  Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. -- Winston Churchill

Back to Leadership List

Shelley Davis Boyd

Shelley served on the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation Board of Trustees from 2010-14 after previously volunteering on several hospital committees. The Lansing resident was compelled to do so because it’s “important to have high-quality health care in the area.” She enjoyed learning about “all the hard work that goes into the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment” while on the board. She also takes pride in having been the chairperson of the Annual Gala in 2011 and ’12, when its proceeds benefitted orthopedics and its theme was “The Hippest Party in Town.” She credited a “great group of people” on the Gala organizing committee for producing a pair of events that were “fun, entertaining, and something everyone could be very proud of.” Outside of her job as a corporate marketing strategist for LAFCU, the Baker College and Northwood University graduate has a busy schedule that includes caring for her children and attending early-morning Bikram yoga classes three days a week.

Favorite Quote:  Live my life without regrets. – Shelley Davis Boyd

Back to Leadership List

Salvatore Durso

After growing up financially with little, but with a strong family foundation, Sal feels a “responsibility to give back to the community to make it a better place.” That was one of the reasons the CEO of The Centennial Group served on the Foundation board from 2002-12. It was also why several years ago he, his wife Marcie, and Centennial CFO David Fitch founded a non-profit called All of God’s Children, an organization that strives to make “a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children.” Sal takes great pride in the way the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation helps the hospital compassionately serve so many people in the area. He points to construction of the Chi Heart and Surgery Center as an important project that benefitted from the Foundation’s generosity while he was a member of its board. Outside of his job and philanthropic interests, the Lansing resident and Utica (NY) native enjoys traveling, boating, golfing, skiing, hiking, and riding all-terrain quad motorcycles.

Favorite Quote: Life is a marathon, not a sprint; pace yourself accordingly. – Amby Burfoot.

Back to Leadership List

Thomas Hoffmeyer

Whether serving on the board of trustees of what was then known as Ingham Medical Center from 1988-98, or what is now called the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation from 1998-2006, Tom has always felt trustees are responsible for working together so “everybody’s collective effort and wishes” are best used to contribute to the “quality of services the hospital provides.” He feels blessed to live in the Greater Lansing community and through the years has supported many organizations that contribute to the betterment of life in the area. Tom firmly believes if a lot of people give a “little here and a little there,” whether through volunteering time and effort, or making contributions, they can make a big difference. He learned the value of teamwork from the late Ed McRee, who served as president and CEO of what is now McLaren Greater Lansing from 1961-94. Tom retired in 2014. He was the former managing partner and president of the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes for more than 40 years, and was employed by the company for over 50 years. The Michigan State University graduate resides in Bath with his wife, Lynne, and enjoys being outside and spending time with family.

Favorite Quote: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. – Luke (6:31)

Back to Leadership List

Theresa Hubbell

Theresa enjoyed many aspects of serving on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 2000-06, including fundraising. She found it invigorating to ask people to support the hospital’s work, and was particularly heartened when “people would come through and be financially more generous than expected.” She has served on many boards in the Greater Lansing area over the years, and she and her husband Bob supported many organizations because it’s “important to give back, and volunteer time and money to strengthen your community.” Theresa worked alongside Bob in the real estate field for 37 years before Bob retired in December of 2017 and Theresa followed in January of 2018. Unfortunately, their retirement together was limited, as Bob was diagnosed with bone cancer in May of 2018 and passed away a month later at McLaren Greater Lansing. Theresa greatly misses her husband of 33 years, but is grateful for the compassionate care he received at the hospital. “Saints administered his care,” she said. “I can’t believe the sincerest passion each person gave for his comfort and health care.”

Favorite Quote: Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. – Jose N. Harris

Back to Leadership List

Becky Beauchine Kulka

Becky enjoyed serving on the Foundation’s board of trustees from 2003-11 because she “loves the feeling” she gets when she does “something positive for the community.” On the board, she worked with like-minded people to support the hospital, and in turn, benefit the Greater Lansing community. Becky says one of the great things about philanthropy is the “trickle-down effect” that can occur when you have a group of donors who want to help an organization such as a hospital. She notes how numerous gifts pooled together can fund a new wing in a hospital, which can lead to improved patient care. She fondly recalls the Foundation’s Festival of Trees, which she chaired in 1996. She also co-chaired that event’s successor, the Annual Gala, in 2007 and ’08. She “loved” doing that because proceeds from those events supported the hospital, and that “helped the community.” Outside of work -- she owns a diamond and jewelry business that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018 – and supporting non-profit organizations, the Haslett resident enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Quote:  She believed she could, so she did. – R.S. Grey

Back to Leadership List

Charles Lasky

Camaraderie and a sense of purpose are two things Chuck valued about serving on what is now the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation board of trustees from 2000-08. He considered it a privilege and an honor to serve as both a board member and chairman of the board. Giving to -- and volunteering on behalf of -- the Foundation were important to him. But working with a group of people he greatly admired was what he valued most. “We attended board meetings because it was one of our responsibilities,” he said. “But it was never work – we enjoyed them.” He is proud the Chi Heart & Surgery Center was constructed at the hospital during his time on the board, and calls it an example of how philanthropy can “pull a community together.” Outside of volunteering and his job as an attorney at Lasky Fifarek, P.C. in downtown Lansing, the Boston University and Cooley Law School alumnus enjoys boating, cycling, golf, tennis, and pickle ball. He notes he has done so in a pain-free manner after undergoing hip replacement surgery at McLaren Orthopedic Hospital in February of 2018.

Favorite Quote:  We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Back to Leadership List

Darrell Lindman

Darrell has numerous ties to the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation and the hospital. In the late 1980s, he began serving as pension counsel for the two Lansing hospitals that would eventually merge and later become what is now McLaren Greater Lansing. He and his wife Susan, have supported the Foundation since 1988, and he served on the organization’s board from 1999-2007 and from 2012-14. He also underwent radiation treatment at the hospital in 2003 after having a cancerous tumor removed from his neck. Darrell says it is important for the Greater Lansing community “to have access to high-quality health care.” He is proud the Chi Heart and Surgery Center was constructed during his first tenure on the board and is excited about McLaren Health Care’s plans to consolidate McLaren Greater Lansing and the McLaren Orthopedic Hospital into one medical facility on land adjacent to Michigan State University. Away from his job as an attorney with Fraser Trebilcock, the East Lansing resident and graduate of Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan Law School enjoys listening to classical music, spending time on Mullett Lake, traveling, and reading.

Favorite Quote: True greatness is achieved by making a difference in other people’s lives. – Matthew Kelly

Back to Leadership List

Ralph Shaheen

Ralph’s connections to McLaren Greater Lansing run deep as he first served on the Foundation’s board of trustees from 2002-08, has sat on the hospital board since 2009, and began his tenure as chair in January. He is proud that the Chi Heart & Surgery Center was built during his first stint on the Foundation board and looks forward to the construction of a new state-of-the-art hospital that will provide compassionate care to those in the Greater Lansing area. He views volunteering and being philanthropic as his civic duties and “just something I do.” When it comes to the hospital, he has been a financial supporter since 2000 and is a big fan of its nurses because they are “such noble people” who bring “great comfort” to their patients. He speaks from experience as he has undergone several surgeries at McLaren Orthopedic Hospital. Outside of giving back to the community and his job as president of Shaheen Chevrolet, the Flint native and Michigan State University graduate likes to play hockey, hunt with his golden retrievers, attend MSU football and hockey games, and spend time with family, especially his granddaughter.

Favorite Quote:  That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do has increased. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Back to Leadership List

Jeffrey S. Williams

Jeff’s ties to the Foundation are particularly strong as he made his first gift to support it in 1983 and served on its board of trustees from 1999-2010. He was chair of the board for six years and says the camaraderie he had with “some really good people” was key to raising money for the hospital. The opening of the Chi Heart & Surgery Center in 2007 was very satisfying to him as it continued the hospital’s tradition of delivering cutting-edge cardiac care to its patients and offering “the best care possible in our local community.” Jeff’s parents, Wayne and Darlene, instilled a sense of philanthropy and volunteerism in him and his two younger brothers by telling them there was more to life than just “take, take, take.” That a time would come when they would need to “give back to the community any way they could.” Away from philanthropy and his job as co-owner of Williams AutoWorld, the Muskegon native and Michigan State University graduate likes to play hockey, fish, hunt with his golden retrievers, ride motorcycles, and tailgate at MSU football games.

Favorite Quote:  If you never concern yourself with who receives credit, you will always achieve greater results. – Maj. Richard Winters

Back to Leadership List

Lynn Griffor, Vice President, MPA

Griffor has led the fundraising efforts for the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation since May of 2019. Under her direction, the Foundation has made steady progress toward meeting a $10 million fundraising goal to support a new hospital in Lansing that is scheduled to open in March of 2022. Griffor began working for McLaren Health Care in 2015 when she became the executive director for the foundation at the hospital in Port Huron. During her time there, she successfully implemented a strategic plan that raised $5 million to support an inpatient tower expansion, as well as the creation of a Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute cancer center. Before coming to McLaren Port Huron, Griffor was vice president of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for more than seven years. Her responsibilities included securing significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations. She also established a planned giving program that resulted in $30 million in commitments to the organization. Griffor received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan–Dearborn and was awarded a master’s degree in public administration management from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She also has a master certificate in executive healthcare leadership from Cornell University.

Favorite Quote: And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good. – John Steinbeck

Back to Leadership List

Shelly Houston

Shelly is the super-vet amongst the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation staff as she started working here in 1998. She figured she would be in her administrative assistant role for a few years before moving on to somewhere else. However, she soon realized she enjoyed the fundraising process and a work atmosphere she described as “hard, but energetic and fun.” She also “fell in love” with the hospital itself after seeing the compassionate care its staff gave to her late husband Mike over a 15-year period. Shelly likes her job because no day “is ever the same,” and there are always new challenges. She also enjoys the people she interacts with, whether they are co-workers, members of the Foundation’s board of trustees, or patients at the hospital. A native of Haslett, Shelly has earned three degrees, including a master’s in data analytics from the University of Maryland University College. Outside of work, Shelly is passionate about animal rescue. She enjoys walking her two dogs in a nearby park and along the Lansing River Trail, as well as building 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles.

Favorite Quote: Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God. – Ronald Reagan

Back to Leadership List

Mollie Bort

Mollie calls her job with the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation a “blessing” that she “lucked into.” First exposed to the work of the Foundation when she volunteered at the 2014 Annual Gala, Mollie applied for her current position the following year after learning of the opening through her husband, a member of the hospital’s Marketing Department at that time. Mollie enjoys the variety of design opportunities she has in her role and knowing the materials she creates will help to benefit the healthcare available to the Greater Lansing community. She calls it, “designing for a cause.” Outside of work, Mollie volunteers with the Alpha Phi chapter at Michigan State University. The sorority played a positive role in her life when she attended Bowling Green State University and she wants others to have a similar experience. The Holt native and mother of two also enjoys playing board games, attending trivia nights, and spending time with friends and family.

Favorite Quote: Say yes, and you'll figure it out afterward. – Tina Fey

Back to Leadership List

Courtney Silverthorn

Courtney is excited about raising funds for an organization that supports “those who are on the front line saving lives or doing the research that can save lives.” She was the director of development for the College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University prior to joining the Foundation staff in September of 2018, but applied for her current position because she views annual giving as the “life blood” of a nonprofit. She is enjoying bringing her experience with direct mail fundraising and e-philanthropy to the Foundation. Although she has never had a “brain for medicine,” she has always been moved by the “people-helping aspect” of health care and is excited about combining that passion with her skill set. Outside of her job, the Shepherd native and Jackson Community College and Central Michigan graduate is an “avid” sports fan who enjoys following college football, college basketball, and the NFL with her husband, and spending time with family and friends. They live in Shepherd with their two sons.

Favorite Quote:  I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

Back to Leadership List

Rachel Turek

It is important to Rachel that she work for a business or organization that is looking to make a difference in the world. She would also like her place of employment to be filled with people that she enjoys being around. Her job with the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation enables her to meet both of those requirements. She is particularly fond of working with the WeCare Committee, a group of employees who encourage their peers to take part in annual events that have some type of charitable and/or volunteer aspect to them. She also takes a lot of satisfaction in helping to organize the Annual Gala, one of two major fundraising events the Foundation stages each year. Rachel can vouch first-hand about the quality of care given to patients at McLaren Greater Lansing, as health guidelines required her to undergo a series of rabies shots in 2016 after she was awakened one night by a bat flying around her bedroom. Outside of work, the Grand Rapids native and Michigan State University graduate annually participates in Operation Good Cheer, a holiday program in which people donate toys to children in foster care.

Favorite Quote: Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. – Danny Kaye

Back to Leadership List