MEET THE HCCF BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Individuals who share their time and talent with the foundation!

Craig Osentoski, I was born in Huron County, raised just south of Ubly and attended Ubly High School.  I went to the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy and obtained a B.S. degree in pharmacy in 1992.  I returned to the Thumb after graduation and have been a community pharmacist ever since, employed at the Wal-Mart Pharmacy in Bad Axe.

Brent Wehner, Bad Axe, is the Sales Manager of Thumb Cellular, with offices in Bad Axe, Caro, Pigeon and Sandusky.

I am excited to be able to serve on the Foundation.  My grandparents, aunts and uncles and parents all grew up in Huron County and as my wife and I raise our four kids here, I hope I can be a small part of making a brighter future for our youth.  The Foundation can be so many things to so many people, and if I can in some way facilitate a better way of life, I would be honored.

Christopher Boyle, Port Austin, is a partner at the Law Firm of Tom Collon & Chris Boyle, P.C. in Bad Axe and a small business owner in Port Austin.

There are many great projects and programs in Huron County working to make our community a better place to live.  The Foundation manages funds to support these projects and programs financially.  In addition, the Foundation manages funds that provide financial assistance to students that go on to higher education.  As a father of four young children I believe it is important to do everything possible to strengthen our community and support education.  This is why it is my pleasure and honor to serve as a member of the Huron County Community Foundation.

Clark Brock, Kinde, is the HISD Career Education Director/Principal of the Huron AreaTechnicalCenter. 

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Huron County citizens as a board member of the Huron County Community Foundation.  As an educator, I believe the future is our youth and the HCCF provides the ability to help provide financial opportunities to our youth through educational scholarship programs and financial grants to nonprofit organizations that support the youth of Huron County.  It is important that we take an active role in providing our citizens a rewarding community to grow, live, and prosper.  My family has been blessed to be members of this wonderful county, and I look forward to providing others the similar prospects.

Dr. Nancy Bischer-Macchiarella, DO FACOG, Bad Axe

My main motivation for joining the foundation was the people of Huron County. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from many different parts of the world and the opportunity of visiting several states and countries. I have always enjoyed traveling but came to realize one common theme:  It is good to be home. The people of Huron County are one of the most caring, considerate, versed and generous population I have encountered.  Thus, I felt it a duty to give back to the people by joining the Foundation.  In any manner, I hope to help others realize the opportunites that exist to better those who reside in Huron County. 

Allan Nietzke, Sebewaing, is a certified public accountant, associated with Nietzke & Faupel P.C. 

I think the Huron County Foundation has the potential to help move our county forward and I would like to participate in that effort. The foundation is already very involved in education and working with young people. The foundation administers a number of scholarships and other youth oriented programs. I think that the next step for the foundation is to find ways to encourage our young people to return to the Thumb to provide a talent base for existing and potential employers to tap into. Other possible activities for the foundation include programs to assist the existing residents of our county, participation in economic development activities and to provide support for local programs in the arts and recreation areas. 

 

John Moore, Kinde, is a retired educator.

I continue to serve on the Huron County Community Foundation board because I see it as an opportunity to assist in providing for our future generations. My wife and I, both natives of the county, raised three children here. I was fortunate to have been able to make my living here. We are now witnessing another generation of the family being nurtured here. The foundation was founded to improve the quality of life for the residents of the area, and I am proud to be a small part of that effort.

Melissa Guza, Ruth, is the communications manager of Northstar Bank.  

 

 

 

Tom Kreh, Pigeon, is the vice president of agricultural loans and security officer at Northstar Bank.

I am motivated to serve on the Huron County Community Foundation board because of the benefits it offers the people of Huron County. It is an organization that is going to be here to address the needs of the people  whether those are environmental issues or literacy concerns - through grantmaking, for good for ever. It's just going to make a positive impact that is going to make Huron County a better place to live and raise families. As a family man and lifelong resident of the Thumb, just as my father before me, that is important to me.

Marvin J. Kociba, Harbor Beach, is a retired farmer, Huron County Road Commissioner and bank director.

My motivation to serve on the board of the Huron County Community Foundation is that we all need to serve our community. What better way than to serve the county as a whole, and all generations through grant making?

The impact is on the entire county with worthwhile projects that serve all ages. HCCF is a means to manage funds for many interests, such as scholarships or donor advised funds, funds designated for a particular purpose or field of interest and unrestricted funds, which allows for our grant makers to use discretion in addressing community needs, translating in more good for ever.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Lowell McDonald, Bad Axe, operates McDonald's Food and Family Center. He serves on the asset development committee and was a trustee from 1994 through 2009.

I serve the foundation because I am concerned that the Huron County Community Foundation be able to grow funds that will support a staff that has the time to go out into the community, to further build the foundation. If I can be of some help by making contacts to potential contributors, that's what I want to do.

The first step was establishing the foundation and getting it up and running. Then we reached a milestone in meeting National Standards. Now we need to grow the foundation. The administrative endowment needs to be built up to help support our operations.

The foundation will continue to have a positive impact on the people of Huron County because as it grows more money can be granted back into the community. If we follow through in our part of building the foundation I see it benefiting the lives of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, because it is for good, for ever.

Kelly Jo Osentoski, Ubly, serves as Sigma Alpha Sorority Administrative Assistant & Database Manager, Sigma Alpha Sorority Educational Foundation Board Treasurer, Ubly Community School Board President, 4-H Leader and Camp Coordinator, Scout Leader.

I was honored to be asked to serve on the Grant Making Committee for the Huron County Community Foundation.  I believe that my experience in determining grant and scholarship recipients will enable me to be an asset on this committee.  I firmly believe in the principles of our community foundation and the benefits it provides.  The continual growth of this foundation is a solid reminder of the commitment of our community to the future of our beautiful county and to those that reside here.  I am proud to be part of this community and thankful I am able to serve in this capacity.

  STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Karl E. Kraus, Bad Axe, began his tenure as Executive Director of the foundation in 2009.  Kraus retired as the Huron County District Court Judge in January of 2008. He had served on the bench for 18 years. He was the Huron County Prosecuting Attorney before that for 9 years. He had been in the private practice of law in Huron County since 1974. Kraus was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Janice reside in Bad Axe.

"I became involved with the Foundation because I believe we all need to contribute to our community and there is no better way to do so than FOR GOOD FOR EVER."

 

Amy Braun, Harbor Beach, has served as Operations Manager of the foundation since 2004.  Braun continues to manage the daily operations of the foundation office.

As the years go by, I am encouraged to see some of the existing funds grow and many new funds become established. Our donors, as a whole, have a growing understanding of just how strong the PERMANENCE of the foundation is and how their contribution will be in the county for good...for ever. 

PAST TRUSTEES & COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jeanette Hagen, Ubly, was a trustee and YAC Advisor for the HCCF from 2006-2010.

I believe it is an honor to sit on the board and to work toward the future of our community and our county. I think about what this foundation can come to be for this area - a savings account, a rainy day fund - for needs that are neglected or are not covered by other monies that are out there.

So many folks say spend your money locally why not apply this idea to our charitable works? There is an old saying that charity begins at home, so why not give your charity time and money locally to stay locally? Our dollars are hard earned and we should try to keep it as local as we can. Hence, the Huron County Community Foundation makes complete sense to me.

Debbie Oglenski, Harbor Beach, served as the Executive Director of the foundation from 2006-2009 and the marketing committe through 2011.

 

Jane Mayes, Port Austin, served on the Grantmaking Committee through 2010.

 

 

 

 

Susan Meyersieck served on the HCCF Board through 2009. From  Pigeon, Sue is co-owner and office manager of the Meyersieck-Bussema Funeral Home in Pigeon. Susan serves on the marketing committee.

My motivation to serve on the board is having the opportunity to make a difference in the life of Huron County.

I see the Huron County Community Foundation as an incentive for improvement in all walks of life in the county as it continues to grow and as a means of assisting those who might not otherwise have the opportunity
to achieve their maximum potential.

We should all remember that the future of Huron County is dependent on all of us, and that our contributions have the ability to make a difference for generations to come.

.