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.
Arthur (Art) Roberts:
I am a 50+ year resident of Portage, and I have been married to the light of my life, Betty Lujan-Roberts, for 52+ years. Together, we have visited 6 of the 7 continents. Our travels have included 3 times to Australia, 2 times to China, and 2 times to Venezuela. My personal favorite would be Fiji and Greenland.
I retired in 2001 after 37 ½ years with the U.S. Postal Service (24 years as Postmaster in various communities in Southwest Michigan). I am very proud of the ability to raise, along with postal employees from all over SW Michigan, $15,000 for the American Cancer Society in 1999.
Since retirement, I have continued to volunteer on boards throughout the community, such as the Portage Community Center, Shepherd’s Center of Greater Kalamazoo, Lending Hands of Michigan, Portage Zhang Senior Center Advisory Board, and since 2024, The Friends of the Portage Zhang Senior Center.
Rick Garlick:
Rick has worked in healthcare for roughly 40 years, spending the first 20+ years in the pharmaceutical industry in sales, sales training, and management. Since 2009, he has worked in Home Care, Home Health Care, Hospice, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. He is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and currently works at North Woods Village Memory Care.
He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 37 years and have four children (three boys and a girl). In his spare time, he enjoys disc golfing with his sons, working out, and anything that involves spending time with his family.
Renee Fahs:
I joined the board in January of 2025. I have spent most of my life in Portage, having attended Portage Central High School along with my husband and 3 kids.
I spent many years in Portage Schools as the classroom mom, treasurer of Portage Wrestling Club, volunteer for Portage Rocket Football, and volunteering through all of our kids’ endeavors (wrestling, cheerleading, football, golf, etc).
For almost 10 years, I was a Sales Field Executive for The Estée Lauder Companies covering all of West Michigan. Since then, I have been a Development Advisor for The Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and I recently started at Kalamazoo College as the Kalamazoo Promise Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator.
I am enjoying a little more relaxed time with my husband, Fadi, our 3 kids, their spouses, and our 3 grandchildren.
Beth Covey:
Beth Covey is a longtime Portage resident with deep roots in the community she proudly calls home. A graduate of Portage Central High School, Beth went on to raise her two children in Portage, where they followed in her footsteps and also graduated from Portage Central.
Beth graduated from Ohio Northern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, with minors in Mathematics and Science. During her time at Ohio Northern, she was actively involved in campus leadership and was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She also participated in Track and Field and Tennis, continuing her lifelong involvement in athletics and developing the leadership, teamwork, and dedication that would become hallmarks of her career.
Beth has dedicated her adult life to a career in education, making a lasting impact on students and families throughout her 40 years of service. Her connection with students extended beyond the classroom, as she also served as a women’s basketball coach at Portage Central and Paw Paw Public Schools. Coaching allowed Beth to combine her passion for education with her lifelong love of sports.
Beth has also demonstrated her commitment to the community through her involvement with the Junior League, the Portage Soccer Club Board, and the Portage Athletic Foundation Board. Through these organizations, she has supported local families, youth athletics, and community initiatives, contributing her time, leadership, and experience to help strengthen the Portage community.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Beth is always ready for a good game and is an especially devoted fan of University of Michigan athletics and the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Pistons and Red Wings. Whether it’s football, basketball, or another Michigan matchup, you can count on Beth to be cheering for her teams. Her competitive spirit continues today through her active involvement in the pickleball community, where she enjoys both the competition and the friendships that come with the game.
Outside of sports, Beth loves to travel and create new memories with the people she loves most. Some of her favorite moments are spent with her grandson and with her sister’s puppies, who always bring plenty of joy and entertainment.
Whether she’s cheering on Michigan, competing on the pickleball court, planning her next adventure, serving local organizations, or spending time with family, Beth brings energy, dedication, and a genuine love for her community to everything she does.