Jody Herrelko, Executive Director
Jody was named executive director of The Little Red House in 2005 after serving on the board of directors. A lifelong Spring Lake resident, Jody earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education from Michigan State University’s College of Business in 1977.

Jody’s career in business spans more than 30 years. She joined the IBM Corporation in 1977 as a marketing support representative. In 1982 she was promoted to systems engineer, then in 1986 to account executive--assigned to the Health Care Unit—in which position she called on executives in large hospitals in West Michigan. In addition to bottom line responsibility, Jody’s work included IBM product launches and event management. She received professional education in such topics as consulting to executives and financial consulting, was a known leader in diversity training, and a top sales performer.

In 1995 Jody joined BI Performance Services—a highly respected marketing services firm, winner of the Minnesota Quality Award 1996 and the Malcolm Baldridge Award 2000—in the position of account executive with account responsibility for Whirlpool Corporation. While at BI, Jody worked closely with experts on staff to learn sales force motivation and change management consulting skills.

As executive director at The Little Red House, Jody oversees daily operations, supervises staff, attends to fiscal matters, and reports to the board of directors and the various agencies, foundations, and community groups that partner with and support The Little Red House. She takes a lead role in annual fundraising events and is a frequent community speaker and presenter on behalf of The Little Red House. Jody takes pride in being an advocate for our community’s seniors and their caregivers.

Email: jody@thelittleredhouse.org

Joan Wills-Birch, CNA, Operations Manager
Joan has been with The Little Red House almost from the moment we opened our doors in 2000. A trained and experienced accountant, she is also a certified nursing assistant and is therefore uniquely qualified for her multiple roles as activity director and volunteer coordinator—planning and organizing all the daily activities, field trips, and visitors our participants enjoy at The Little Red House—as well as her newest role as office manager, assisting the director with all the details of recordkeeping and reporting involved in operating a community healthcare nonprofit that serves a vulnerable population.

Email: joan@thelittleredhouse.org

Jim Powers, ACSW, Caregiver Support Group
Every Thursday morning at 11:00 at St. Mary's Parish in Spring Lake, a unique group of local citizens meets to discuss their common experience as caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive limitations. The group is led by Jim Powers, ACSW. Jim earned a master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University and has practiced counseling and social work in clinical outpatient settings since 1976. From 2000-2005, Jim was a clinical social work therapist with Veterans Affairs, so he is especially helpful in guiding people through the qualification process for Veterans’ benefits.

The weekly support group is free and open to the community. It is provided through a grant from Senior Resources of Muskegon. Jim Powers is available by phone any time a family member of a caregiver needs advice and support.

Cathy Weideman, Movement Therapist
At The Little Red House, our participants don’t spend their time sitting still – they move and groove to music old and new during dance movement therapy sessions led by Cathy Weideman. Like many of the facets of our program, dance movement therapy began as a gift and grew from there. An adjunct professor of dance at Muskegon Community College, Cathy was completing a Master’s Degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Counseling at Columbia College of Chicago in 2003 and needed an internship. “I wanted it to be near home,” said the Grand Haven resident, “and I wanted to work with the elderly.” So she launched a dance movement therapy program at The Little Red House as a graduate student intern and, after completing her degree requirements in 2005, stayed on as a contract employee, providing therapy sessions twice a week. Cathy Weideman married into a musical family, “The Weideman Family Singers,” who are well known throughout West Michigan and beyond. We are fortunate to have her spirit, energy, and skill available to our participants.

Theresa Murphy, RN
Carrie Huyser, Direct Care Assistant
James Obertello, Jr., CNA
Courtney McClellan, CNA
Renee Griebe, CNA
Jerry Foster, CNA
James Ward, Transportation
Ken Gleason, Transportation
Joe Feuerborn, Transportation