Meet The Board
Steve Rodia, Chairman of the Board:
Steve is passionate about supporting the Portage community, as evidenced by his active involvement in various organizations, such as the Portage Rotary Club. As a long-time member of the Portage Senior Center, Steve joined the Friends of the Portage Zhang Senior Center Board in late 2023 and is currently the Board Chairperson.
As an experienced IT consultant, he has a proven track record of solving problems and navigating complex systems for small businesses and individuals. Additionally, his experience serving on the Portage District Library Board and the Moors of Portage Homeowners Association Board allows him to contribute strategic thinking and governance expertise. Steve has a long connection to the United States Tennis Association and Michigan High School tennis as a competitor, coach, and administrator.
Steve and his wife, Sue, have lived in Portage for four decades. Sue recently retired from her career as a Human Resources Benefits and Wellness manager. She enjoys traveling to State and National Parks, California, and Europe.
Arun Tandon, Vice Chair:
Arun is a registered pharmacist and the owner of Advanced Health Pharmacy in Portage, Michigan. After working and managing the Meijer pharmacy for 21 years, he opened his own pharmacy in 2010. This is where he truly has been practicing his trademark “compassionate care” in an old style neighborhood pharmacy. He has extensive knowledge of the intricate relationship between body, mind and the spirit. Paired with his simple yet powerful holistic approach toward health makes him a great teacher. Arun is well regarded and recognized for his humility and love for humanity.
In addition, he serves as an adjunct faculty member of Ferris State University, College of Pharmacy. He is an excellent speaker on the topic of stress management, health and wellbeing.
Mickey Huang, Treasurer:
Mickey joined the Portage Zhang Senior Center in the summer of 2022, just a few months after moving to town. Impressed by the facility, staff, and programs – and eager to support the Center as a valuable resource for the community – he joined the Board in 2023. Prior to retiring and moving to the area, Mickey lived in Chicago where he was a marketing copywriter for Alexander + Roberts, a boutique touring company that offers luxury journeys throughout the world. Now he also volunteers with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU and continues to work part-time as a freelance copywriter.
Mickey and his husband Keith met at Kalamazoo College in 1982 and are delighted to have come full circle. They now live in Portage and still travel as they are able: Jordan, Patagonia, Vietnam, and New Zealand are all high on their bucket list. In his spare time, Mickey enjoys reading, working in the yard, spending time with family—and playing pickleball at the Portage Zhang Senior Center!
Robert (Bob) L. Perkins, Acting Secretary:
Bob joined the Board in December 2013. He has worked on several of the FPSC committees and spearheaded the marketing efforts over the past several years. He served as Board Chair in FY 2022- 23. He has actively engaged in working on the annual golf outings and purse sales. He currently is Acting Secretary for FY 2024-25.
He retired from running his own consulting business, Aperks International, since 1996, focusing on international business development, organizational development, and leadership. Additionally, he started Eurovix USA in 2005; a new company that imported and marketed enzymatic/microbial formulations from Italy to address a number of environmental issues. Previously, he had spent over 28 years with The Upjohn Company working in International Marketing Research and International Animal Health. He worked in Canada for 10 years for the International Animal Health Division.
Bob has been an active volunteer and Board Member with the local Chapter, American Red Cross, from 1997 to 2010. He held a number of volunteer positions within the Chapter, including Board Chair, and focusing on fund development activities. He continues to volunteer with the Kalamazoo/Southwest Michigan Chapter, Score, where he is a Certified Score Mentor, and had served as Board Chair for three years. He also is active with 1 Million Cups/Kalamazoo as coach for the speakers, an entrepreneurial organization in Southwest Michigan. He has a BS degree in Business Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; MBA in Marketing from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI; and completed an MBA Update Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Bob and his wife, Ann, have resided in the Kalamazoo area since 1969, but with a break in 1977 moving to Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They returned to the Portage area in 1986 and have resided ever since.
Kathy Barnitz:
Kathy is a Senior Real Estate Specialist with Jaqua Realtors. She works primarily with people downsizing from family homes and with the sale of estates. It is the combination of personal, technical skill, and analysis required for her job that keeps her excited for each new workday. Kathy worked at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services before joining the Jaqua team.
Prior to working in real estate, Kathy was a massage therapist at the West Michigan Cancer Center where she had the privilege of learning firsthand the value of living in the moment and not waiting to get started on an idea. She brings that thoughtful spirit to her work every day and will be forever grateful for her experiences with her patients.
As well as serving on the board of the PSC Kathy is on the board of the Antwerp Township Tax tribunal. She is a network participant in Professionals Focused on Aging and a member of the Science Club. Kathy enjoys long-distance biking and hiking with her husband Nick. They have lived in Lawton for 25 years and have 2 children and 2 grandchildren who live in Southern California. Despite the distance, they are a close-knit family and get together often.
Linda Scannell:
Linda joined the Board at the end of 2022. She is a native Michigander, having grown up in Kentwood. She has her BA in Business and Management Development. She has lived in the Kalamazoo area for 27 years. Linda practiced real estate for eight years and is now happily retired!
Linda is an avid tennis fan and actually plays tennis on two competitive travel teams through the YMCA. She has been an active volunteer through the years, including the YMCA, Portage Zhang Senior Center, 12 Baskets, and Portage Public Schools, along with experience coordinating blood drives for the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors. Linda has also volunteered for the USTA Boys’ 16 and 18 National Championships for many years, most recently as the Chair of the Player Card committee.
Linda and her husband, retired as a professor and Chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at WMU, love to travel. In her spare time, she loves baking homemade goodies for the people she cares about, reading, golfing, going to the movies, gathering with friends, going to the beach, walking, and spending time with family, especially her two grandchildren who live in the Lansing area.
Gina Tuttle:
Gina Tuttle is a retired Vice President from Bosch Automotive Service Solutions and Sturgis Molded Products. For over 30 years of her career, she provided leadership to sales and services teams in the automotive and plastic injection molding industries. She has been on the Friends Board since early 2023.
Since retirement, she has established her own consulting business, ConsultMe2, where she provides strategic business consulting to both private and public business owners. Her desire to help those in need has reached across the community with her volunteer activity with Urban Alliance, Inc. She provides mentoring and support for marginalized individuals to help them embrace their full potential and build the confidence needed to pursue opportunities to live a safe, healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.
When not seen at the PZSC fitness center with her husband, she can be found with her parents, children, and grandchildren watching a baseball game, skiing, boating, at the beach, or simply enjoying family time.
Jaimie Hageman:
Jaimie is the Banking Center Manager for 1st Source Bank. She manages both branches in the Kalamazoo market. Jaimie is responsible for managing resources and staff in delivering outstanding customer service to all clients in the greater Kalamazoo area. Jaimie handles relationship management activities with new and/or existing clients, which include retail, business, and nonprofit clients. She has been with 1st Source Bank since 2013 and has gained a wealth of knowledge in all different types of banking needs working at a full-service bank, including deposit accounts, loans, and many e-services.
Jaimie Joined the board in June of 2023. Jaimie lives in Portage. Jaimie has been a resident of Portage for most of her life. Jaimie enjoys traveling and spending her free time with her family and friends.
Cheryl Harris:
Cheryl is a Senior Living Advisor and Owner of Senior Living Family Advocate, bringing over a decade of expertise in senior care services. Prior to founding her consultancy in 2022, she spent 10 years as a Community Relations Director at a local assisted living and memory care community. Drawing from this extensive experience, she now guides families through critical decisions about aging in place or transitioning to assisted living and memory care facilities.
Active in the Kalamazoo community, Cheryl has served on various committees and maintains a strong commitment to non-profit work. She believes deeply in the power of volunteerism to foster gratitude and create positive change. Based in Portage, Michigan, she shares her home with her newly adopted German Shepherd puppy, Mia. Her son Nicholas has recently moved to Grand Rapids to start his career. Cheryl loves to socialize and spend time with family and friends.