PRESIDENT

Rachael is passionate about the growth and development of her local community. Rachael and her partner chose Eastown as their home because of the community’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, support of local businesses and community events. Rachael is a professional in the finance and accounting field. When she is not working she and her partner are taking care of their 1910’s home, gardening, walking their golden retriever and playing golf.

VICE PRESIDENT / CHAIR, BRICKS

Jordan is passionate about community and helping others. He and his wife Ali moved to Eastown in 2021 to start a family. In his free time, Jordan coaches lacrosse & volunteers his time teaching high school students the fundamentals of strength training. You can find Jordan and his family walking their Boston Terrier, Murphy, all around Eastown. They are passionate about supporting the local businesses, connecting with their neighbors, gardening, & maintaining their 100 year old Craftsman home. Not surprisingly, then, he also serves as the Chair of the Bricks & Mortar Committee.

SECRETARY

Anne has lived in her Eastown home for the past nineteen years with her husband Chris. Together they have raised two children, Jack and Alice, and many animals. She is a small business owner with an office in Cedar Springs. She loves the parks and walkable neighborhoods of Eastown. When not at work you can find her walking the, eating at her favorite Eastown restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends. Anne is passionate about community events, small business development, and loves planning anything that involves people. She is most excited about the opportunity to be of service to her neighbors in whatever way she can.

TREASURER / CHAIR, GARDEN

Originally from Houston, TX, Steven moved to Grand Rapids in 2007. He lived in Eastown for the first time nearly a decade ago and rereturned in early 2021 to open his first restaurant, Basalt. His restaurant serves modern tex-mex cuisine with a focus on building community through food. Steven sees his business as an opportunity to create an inclusive and welcoming culture of people who are eager to contribute to the growth and success of their community and the local food ecosystem. When he’s not in the kitchen Steven enjoys watching TV with his cats and dog, playing video games, the occasional sci-fi or fantasy novel, and starting a new conversation just after saying goodbye.

Matt and his wife have lived in Eastown for almost fifteen years. Matt has always had a desire to contribute to positive changes in the community. Although Matt has a personality that is quiet and reserved, Matt wants to show his children the importance of community and action. He wants to help others in the community connect and act because we are all in this together.

Originally from Holland, MI, Kelly first discovered her love for Eastown during her college years. After living in California for several years, Kelly and her husband Trent returned to Michigan and bought a house in Eastown in 2020. She has been a HR leader in the hospitality and retail industries for over 10 years. She is organized and loves any excuse to throw a party. As a result, she is the go-to for friends and family when it comes to planning events, trips, or anything else that needs organizing! Kelly is thrilled to lend her planning prowess to serve this community. She also has a passion for the performing arts as well. Kelly is thankful to raise her boys (Hank 3, Charlie 4 months) in this unique and vibrant neighborhood.

Originally from Evanston, Illinois, AJ moved into a house in Eastown in 2017. Starting at the Post Office in 2019, they were exposed to nearly every neighborhood in the area and quickly learned that Eastown was the best of the bunch. Then, in 2021, they secured a permanent route in Eastown. AJ offers a community face to their 600 homes and serves as a point person for new residents. AJ also converted their partner Annika to the Eastown life, convincing Annika to move from Lansing to Grand Rapids. Now they are on a quest to finally decide who has the best pizza in Eastown. When AJ isn’t delivering the mail on the south side of Eastown, you’ll see them walking with Annika and their dog, Squarsh Dog (yes, that is his real name), who is learning to love Eastown, too.

Like so many, John first moved to Eastown in his early twenties. He and his wife Melissa’s first apartment as a married couple was in Eastown and the connection they feel toward this community has only grown since then. After spending several years in Washington, D.C., John and Melissa returned to Eastown to raise their family. John is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors and loves to help others find their dream home in Eastown (or elsewhere, if needed). John, Melissa, Theo, and Eleanor love strolling the neighborhood and discovering all the new things the community has to offer.

CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS

Meaghan’s love of Eastown began in her early 20’s when she started working at Billy’s Lounge. A decade and a half later, after living in the suburbs for a few years and not quite feeling at home, Meaghan purchased her house in Eastown in 2019. Meaghan recently took over leadership of her father’s company, Builder Track Reports. She also creates and sells her own art, jewelry, and home décor under the name Scarab House on Etsy and as a local booth vendor. Being an artist living in Eastown and having history within the service industry has given Meaghan the opportunity to get to know a lot of Eastown’s most creative people. She is passionate about bringing together people in different stages of life in a way that promotes friendship, compassion, and motivation for everyone. When Meaghan isn’t busy with her three bonus kids, she can be found at Mulligan’s for trivia on Monday nights or out working in the yard, getting to know her neighbors.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Derek moved to Eastown with his wife Megan in 2020. Derek is putting down roots in Grand Rapids - he and his wife had their first child, Adelaide, in January 2023. Derek is a management consultant and a small business owner. He works for Holden Advisors, where he advises commercial teams at B2B companies on sales and pricing strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Columbia University and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management. When not working, you can find Derek watching Cleveland sports, playing with his daughter, or walking his puppy Montana around Eastown.

CHAIR, EVENTS

Hal is a native of Grand Rapids and has wanted to live in Eastown because it's the best neighborhood in Grand Rapids. In 2020 he was thrilled to buy a house in Eastown. He is passionate about his community and values the diversity present in Grand Rapids. He joined the board in order to help continue the tradition of fostering the friendliest, weirdest, and most fun place to live. You'll see him walking his dog Blue in the neighborhood every day. If you see him, say hey! He loves a good chat.

Ron is a native Grand Rapidian who spent the last 35 years in the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood adjacent to ECA. Walking routes frequently took him through the ECA neighborhood; breakfast found him at Brandywine or Wolfgangs. Though now a resident of Cascade, Ron attends Calvin Church which has long had an affiliation with ECA through board representation, neighbors who attend and financial support. Ron's career in social work and fundraising along with board experiences offer background that will shape his commitment to and involvement with ECA. Ron currently facilitates a group at Calvin Church that is committed to greater neighborhood awareness and engagement.