War Memorial welcomes new Board of Directors
The new Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association Board of Directors has taken its place.
July 31, five new board directors participated in their first meeting of the governing body for the Grosse Pointe Farms nonprofit organization.
At the meeting, the positions of board chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer were filled. Those spots are filled by Donna Hoban, Amy Chesterton, Alicia Nicholson, and Ed Russell, respectively.
Incoming board directors are Dr. Jodie Rappe, Rick Swaine, Jessica Taub, Terence Thomas and Aaron Turk. The War Memorial would like to congratulate the outgoing board members for their service - Betsy Creedon, Ted Everingham, Mary Lamparter, Ed Lazar, and RJ Wolney. The five combined to serve on the board for over 40 years.
“Many board members stayed on for extra terms during the pandemic and construction. I am truly grateful for that level of dedication and commitment,” Maria Miller, interim president & CEO of The War Memorial, said.
What excites Miller about the new board members and beginning to work with a new Board of Directors is strategizing with them for The War Memorial’s forward vision.
“What do the next one to three years look like?” she asks. “Together we can accomplish so much.”
Creedon, who spent over 10 years on the board, said the organization went from a quiet and nice place, to making a statement about the country, democracy, and the arts.
“The forward and open-mindedness of what we’ve done is what is really important,” she said.
In response to how she would summarize her time on the board, Creedon said she is very proud of what’s happened to The War Memorial.
Turk, of Grosse Pointe Park, is currently the director of corporate strategy at General Motors. He served in the U.S. Navy for nearly a decade, including several combat deployments as a Naval Flight Officer and a staff tour at the Pentagon.
“As a community member the last nine years, I’ve engaged with The War Memorial and cultivated a brief relationship with the former CEO Charles Burke,” Turk said. “As a veteran, I find value in the mission and history and what The War Memorial represents.”
Turk worked at the Pentagon, the headquarters building of the Department of Defense, from 2010-2012. He was assigned to the Navy Foreign Liaison Office, part of the Chief of Naval Operations staff. He described his time at the Pentagon as more of a diplomatic role, maintaining the relationships with all the foreign chiefs of Navy.
Rappe is the chief medical officer at Corewell Health. Previously, she had a career in the Navy, training as a family medicine physician. She served in several key clinic and hospital leadership positions in Washington, D.C., California, and Japan. Rappe formerly was the medical director and associate program director of the Beaumont Grosse Pointe Family Medicine Residency program.
Swaine is the chief financial officer for the University of Toledo Medical Center. He has worked there for four years and is responsible for the operations of this $400 million business. He was previously employed by Beaumont Health for over 34 years. Positions there included vice president of finance, and president of the Grosse Pointe hospital for a decade.
Taub works as associate general counsel for PVS Chemicals, Inc., a global manufacturer, distributor and marketer of chemicals and related environmental and transportation services. Prior to joining PVS, she worked for the Michigan Attorney General’s Office in its Licensing and Regulation Division, and for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in its Major Drug Unit.
Thomas is the co-founder of Thomas Group Consulting, Inc. and Activate Detroit, and is a senior equity and engagement advisor. As a trained lawyer and business leader, Thomas has over three decades of community engagement experience with more than a dozen devoted to healthcare outreach and service within the city of Detroit. In 2008, Crain’s Detroit Business named him one of Southeast Michigan’s “40 under 40” to watch. Among other boards, Thomas is a City of Grosse Pointe council member.
Chuck Huebner, Scottie Knight, Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen, Stephanie Nicholson and Kelly Walsh make up the rest of the 14-member Board of Directors.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms is an experiential space open to everyone. For over 70 years, The nonprofit has served as a patriotic, cultural, and community center. Its unique environment attracts more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually while offering premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings. Its diverse lineup of innovative programming includes live and virtual engagement experiences for adults and children. At its core, The War Memorial celebrates the ideas of American democracy while honoring those who have defended those ideas with tireless effort and personal sacrifice. Numerous patriotic and veterans’ events are held as well as history and civics offerings on the origin, traditions, and challenges facing American democracy. The War Memorial remains committed to serving the community as a unique, dynamic, and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Manager of Communications
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org