Board of Directors

Karen is a seasoned C-Suite executive with over 25 years of strategic and operational human resources experience. Her curious nature and creative mind are skills highly sought after by our clients. Karen has led teams to maximum efficiency while fostering and creating a collaborative and accountable workplace.

Karen is a master negotiator with over 60 contracts settled throughout her career. She also has experience in the areas of employee relations, benefits administration, talent acquisition, leadership learning, wellness, and overall operational strategy.

Karen began her career in manufacturing for a private fastener company. The company was acquired by a publicly traded company, and Karen was promoted to Director of Organizational Development and was a key player on the organization’s M&A team. This is also where Karen began her lifelong career as a negotiator. She changed industries into healthcare and then government/municipality and, ultimately, higher education as the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources at Oakland Community College.

Karen is an active member of our community and has served as an adjunct faculty member for over 18 years, teaching students the fundamentals of management, human resources, and communication. She has served on the boards of the Martha T. Berry Foundation, Winning Futures, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, Wounded Warriors
and Turning Point.

Karen is the founder and President of OakMac SHRM, Michigan’s 19th SHRM Chapter

My name is Natalie Bolvin, and I am the branch manager of the Clinton Township branch of First State Bank. I’ve been in the banking industry for five years, most recently working with businesses.

I was born and raised in Macomb, and I currently reside in Clinton Township with my husband and two children. Outside of work, I spend time with my family and friends, and I enjoy volunteering my time to stay active within my community.

G. Patrick Thompson is the Senior Chaplain for McLaren Hospice in Port Huron and serves as pastor of the historic Sturges Memorial Congregational Church. He came to ministry following a career in administrative law and directed the Unemployment Insurance Clinic for the International Union, UAW. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Ecumenical Theological Seminary.

Dr. Thompson formerly served as president of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. He has served several congregations in southeast Michigan and is in his eleventh year as Grand Chaplain of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Michigan. Thompson is a member of the Advisory Board for Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (St. Clair County). He has been married to Lorraine Thompson for 50 years and has two adult sons.

Jon O’Hara, his career in funeral service began quite by accident. As a teenager, he found a job at a funeral home parking cars and cutting grass. In a turn of fate, a random summer job became a lifelong profession for Jon. He has made it his life’s work to provide the highest level of care, whether he’s meeting with a family, providing customer service to clients, or parking cars at the funeral home. During his time in funeral service, Jon realized that there is a gap in care for families. There is a great need for a better preplanning experience, and this has become Jon’s passion. He wants to redefine preplanning. In doing so, not only will families have a better, more healing experience, but preplanning professionals will naturally grow their businesses. Jon is known for his honest, straightforward, and passionate approach to his work with clients. Jon lives in Richmond, MI with his wife Michelle. They have two sons, Henry and Teddy, and their Labradoodle, Sydney.

Dana serves as the Revitalize and Thrive Campaign Coordinator with the Macomb Family YMCA, she is responsible for securing major gifts from corporations, the private sector, and community organizations. She has spent the last twenty five years involved in non-profit fundraising. She has been a public servant for over fifteen years. As a Founder and Fund Development Specialist for Care House in Macomb County her accomplishments over the past twenty two years included: the initiation of services, start-up funding, and the continued procurement of financing for the non-profit corporation.

For over 18 years Patrick has been an elder law attorney. He has dedicated his legal career to Elder Law and has assisted hundreds of families in planning for their future, protecting their assets and receiving available financial and medical benefits. Patrick has conducted numerous seminars/workshops throughout the State of Michigan as well as nationally to help educate communities about Elder Law, Financial Planning, Medicaid and the VA Benefit Aid & Attendance.

Janice is a graduate of the University of Detroit (B.A. 1970). She was the President of Chene Machine Repair, Inc. for over 30 years. Janice is currently the President of Nearon Consulting, LLC. Janice is the Vice-Chair of the St. Clair Shores Women’s Civic League. She also holds an appointment on the Board of Canvassers, and the Michigan Women’s Commission, and the Department of Human Services.

With over 45 years of Nursing and Healthcare and Marketing experience, I am currently employed with Bay Nursing, Inc., a homecare company founded in 1992 providing Homecare and Hospice services to our aged and frail elderly throughout southeastern Michigan. As a Transitional Care Nurse, I have facilitated patient care placement and have earned promotion to my current position as Nursing Support Services Manager.

My expertise includes marketing, sales, and service positions in Homecare, Hospice, Rehabilitation Services, Hospital Outreach and Clinical Laboratory. Educational achievements and personal advancement have earned positions in Marketing Management, Nursing, Nursing Home Administration, and as Corporate Trainer for the Dale Carnegie Sales and Personal Development programs. Following advancement to Fellow with the American College of Health Care Administrators and receiving the President’s Award, I served as President of the Michigan Chapter, Governor of Region VII and been bestowed the honor of Foundation Life Member and Member Emeritus while serving on the National Advisory Committee. Personal activities include 30-year active participation as a basketball official, currently serving the Michigan High School Athletic Association as a Certified Clinician, Trainer, and Mentor of high school basketball officials.

David Vale graduated from Wayne State University (B.S.C.E. 1983) and Florida Institute of Technology (M.S.M. 1999). David is also a retired Naval Reserve Officer. He worked and traveled for many years overseas, including Europe, Israel, Afghanistan, Nepal and Africa. He retired after 34 years of Government Service. His work and travel overseas enabled him to experience many different cultures and societies.

David believes in the saying, there by the Grace of God go I. He believes if we have been fortunate to be successful then we should give back to the less fortunate, not only monetarily but through volunteering our time and expertise. We should all help the less fortunate why else are we here.