Meet The Board
Molly Williams, Chairman of the Board:
Molly Williams joined the board in the Fall of 2018. She has been working with the aging population since becoming a nurse in 2005. She has a passion for helping people, especially the geriatric population. Molly is currently the nurse liaison for Borgess Place (formerly Borgess Gardens). She has been employed there since Fall of 2017. She assists in reviewing medical information for potential patients/residents for admission at the center. She also handles all sales and marketing aspects for Borgess Place. Molly lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and son. She spends her free time enjoying golfing with her husband and gardening.
Danielle Wedel, Treasurer:
Danielle Wedel is a Wealth Advisor for TCF Bank. Danielle recently obtained her Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designation (CTFA®) by completing three years of prerequisite study through Cannon Financial Institute. Her responsibilities include administration of personal trusts, estate administration, and new client acquisition throughout the South Region’s footprint. Danielle’s office is located in beautiful, downtown Kalamazoo.
Danielle joined TCF Bank in 2015 and has over 19 years of experience in the areas of brokerage firm operations, administration, and management. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, double majoring in Legal Studies and Marketing Management.
Danielle is a Board Member of Friends of the Portage Senior Center; Board Member of Kalamazoo Gospel Mission; Committee Member of Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition, Kalamazoo County; member of Calhoun County Estate Planners Council; and Treasurer of Schoolcraft Scout Pack 250. She and her husband, Andrew, live in Schoolcraft where they are raising their 10-year-old son. Danielle is passionate about helping others and frequently participates in group missions work and community volunteering.
Amanda Willer, Secretary:
Amanda joined the Friends board in the fall of 2018. Amanda has worked serving the aging community of Greater Kalamazoo for 7 years and has experience in the skilled medical sector, at a long-term care and rehab center, skilled home care and continuum services, and assisted living. Amanda’s latest role is with Heritage Community of Kalamazoo as a Sales Counselor for Independent Living and serves a guide for those considering lifetime healthcare benefits to living in a continuum at Kalamazoo’s only non-profit CCRC.
Working with the aging population is much more than a job, it’s more of a personal passion for Amanda. There is much fulfillment in helping individuals age with dignity and independence–and it feels amazing to help someone do that every day. Amanda graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors in Communications in 2013. She and her husband met in their days at Western Michigan University, while working for a local, family-owned and operated restaurant, Bravo! and they love to call Kalamazoo their true “home.” Outside of work, Amanda enjoys time spent with her husband, son, and family–which also includes a long list of family dogs.
Bill McCarty:
Bill McCarty is a retired Finance & Commercial Law professor from Western Michigan University. He has been on the Friends Board since 2008 and is also a volunteer legislative advocate and state executive council member for AARP Michigan. As an attorney, he continues to provide estate planning services and is a member of the elder law section of the Michigan Bar Association. Occasionally he can be found on the Kalamazoo area golf courses and enjoys working with Senior Center volunteers and staff on projects like the annual Friends golf outing.
Bill is a strong supporter of both the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. Bill and 3 of his 5 children graduated from U of M. Bill served on the WMU Emeriti Council until 2012 and his wife Alma is a WMU grad. They have lived in Portage for over three decades. Their children and grandchildren, who live in various locations in the U.S., enjoy their visits to the McCarty’s Portage home.
Kimberly Middleton:
Kimberly’s passion is working with the older adult population. Gerontology was her specialty while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University. With over 20 years of experience, Kimberly has earned a reputation as a devoted advocate and educator for this population. For the last 13 years, Kimberly’s position as Community Relations Coordinator with Life EMS Ambulance, has allowed her to work directly with the aging population in Kalamazoo and surrounding counties. As the largest user of emergency medical services, she has established an extensive network of resources within the aging field.
In addition to the Friends of the Portage Senior Center, Kimberly also serves on the board of Lending Hands of Michigan, a nonprofit, volunteer agency which takes in gently used medical equipment, cleans and repairs it, and lends it out on a free and temporary basis to those who cannot afford their own. The underprivileged are especially close to her heart.
A native of Bronson, Michigan, Kimberly now resides in Mattawan with her husband, four children and one chocolate lab. As a true Michigander, Kimberly appreciates the four seasons but fall is her favorite. During the summer, she and her family can be found enjoying leisurely afternoons on their pontoon or camping in northern Michigan.
Arun Tandon:
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 trade mark “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 towards 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 and is a founding member of Power of Breath. This is a non-profit organization that has a mission of teaching people the techniques of yoga breathing, stretching and meditation. He is an excellent speaker on the topic of stress management, health and wellbeing. Through this organization he has taught these techniques to more than 10,000 people Arun has been serving the Portage/Kalamazoo area for the last 25 years which makes it easy to see why he calls it home.
Robert (Bob) L. Perkins:
Bob joined the Board December 2013. He is currently developing a new business venture, Eurovix USA, importing enzymatic/microbial formulations from Italy to manage a number of environmental issues. Previously, he spent twenty-eight years in various positions with The Upjohn Company, International Animal Health Division. He also has created and managed an independent consulting practice, Aperks International, focusing on organizational development and leadership.
He has been an active volunteer and Board Member with the local chapter, American Red Cross, since 1997. He has held a number of volunteer positions within the chapter, including Board Chair, and focusing on fund development activities. He has a BS degree in Business Management, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Il and an MBA, Marketing, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. He completed an MBA Update Program at the University of Minnesota.
Bob and his wife, Ann, have resided in Kalamazoo area since 1969, but with a break in 1977 moving to Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They returned to the Kalamazoo area in 1986 and now reside in Portage.
Marianne Love:
Marianne began her career at Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. as the Intake and Community Outreach Coordinator in 2015. In that role, she accomplished record setting enrollments by helping older adults within the community benefit from the outstanding services provided by Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E.
In 2017 she was promoted to Day Center Department Leader in the Kalamazoo center where she managed staff members in Physical Therapy, Recreational Therapy, and Transportation. In 2018 Marianne was promoted to Center Manager of the Portage center where she managed the day to day operation of the center. In 2019 she accepted the role of Manager of Enrollment and Eligibility Services. In that role, she gives managerial oversight to the team of Enrollment and Eligibility Specialists across all the Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. centers covering all of Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties and portions of Van Buren, Allegan and Barry counties.
Educationally, she holds a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. Prior to her career at Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. Marianne served as the Referral Manager and Director of Provider Relations at Tendercare Nursing and Rehab as well as Program and Membership Manager at Burnham Brook Community Center (now known as The Kool Family Center) in Battle Creek.
Jeanne Case:
Jeanne joined the Friends board in 2020. Jeanne Case is a Financial Advisor and Wealth Management SpecialistSM at Raymond James’ downtown Kalamazoo branch. She works for individuals, families, and small business owners. Her clientele consists of small business owners, blue-collar retirees from many of the factories in the Greater Kalamazoo area, and single women recently widowed or divorced.
Jeanne’s related work experience prior to joining Raymond James includes being a financial advisor with Edward Jones. In addition, Jeanne has over 20 years’ experience in health care including work with Heartland Hospice and management at Three Rivers Health. Jeanne feels her healthcare background is an asset for helping her clients, especially retirees, with their longevity planning. She has a deep understanding of longevity planning.
She holds Series 7 and Series 66 Licenses, and Life, Disability and Long Term Care Licenses, Jeanne has earned the designation Wealth Management SpecialistSM from the College for Financial Planning. Jeanne and her husband are natives of Battle Creek and have lived in Kalamazoo for over 20 years. Their two children attend Portage Northern High School. Jeanne is an active member of the community and enjoys playing soccer, pickleball, and hiking with her dogs. She also enjoys volunteering (and often includes her family) for Girl Scouts, the YWCA, and Professionals Focused on Aging.