Jody Herrelko, Executive Director
Jody was named executive director in 2005 after serving on the board of directors. A lifelong Spring Lake resident, Jody walks to work from her home on Prospect Avenue, less than a block from The Little Red House. Jody earned a Bachelor’s Degree in finance from Michigan State University in 1976. Her career in business spans more than 25 years--as a systems analyst and then account executive for IBM Corporation and account executive for BI Performance Services with account responsibility for Whirlpool Corporation. As executive director, 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 our annual fundraising events and is a frequent community speaker and presenter on behalf of The Little Red House.

Email: jody@thelittleredhouse.org

Joan Wills-Birch/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

Chris Schuh, R.N., Nursing Director
Chris monitors the health of all of our participants and communicates with their families regularly. She administers medications as needed and provides most of the optional personal care services that participants require, such as bathing, shaving, and other grooming services.

Chris graduated from the University of Texas in 1983 with a degree in journalism/public relations. She worked for the Dallas Times Herald for eight years, then returned to the University of Texas and earned a bachelor of nursing degree in 1992. She joined the staff of The Little Red House as Nursing Director in 2005.

Chris has a special fondness for seniors and tries to help all participants at The Little Red House to maximize their physical and mental health. She has received special training in care of the elderly, dementia, and in assisting families with aging adults.

Email: chris@thelittleredhouse.org

Jim Powers, ACSW, Caregiver Support Group Leader
Every Thursday morning at 11:00 at Christ Community Church 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, M.A., 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.