Board Member Bios

Yacht Basin Marina (President) – Full service marina with slips, in/out racks, storage, conference center, ship’s store, service, and vacation rental accommodations.

Zeeland Public Schools Board of Education (currently serving as Vice President) re-elected in 2014 to a six year term.

Zeeland Education Foundation (currently serving as President – have served in that capacity since its inception in 2005.)

Chemical Bank Michigan, Holland Community Board Member – Joined this board May 2014.

I am a West Ottawa Graduate but after marriage, my wife and I decided to move to Zeeland with schools being the biggest deciding factor.   We have a daughter and a son who attend ZPS. 

I started in the investment world through a high school internship and never left.  I continued interning through college and graduated from Grand Valley.  I have now been a financial advisor for over 10 years, achieved the title of Managing Director, recognized through Wells Fargo’s premier Advisor program and also been recognized by Forbes two years in a row as one of America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors.

I currently serve on the board of directors for Camp Sunshine as well as volunteer periodically for Kids Food Basket.

Outside of work, I enjoy boating with family and friends, snow sports, coaching rec sports and enjoying West Michigan.

Andy is a father of three ZPS students, all of whom attend Adams Elementary.  He has a passion for early childhood education, and is proud to be a part of ZEF and the positive impact the foundation has on the students of Zeeland.  Andy is a CPA and a partner with Geenen & Kolean PC in Holland.

Chris Pollack has been an active member of the ZEF since 2013. He works for Gentex Corporation as an Engineer Director for Mechanical Engineering and has been an employee since 2007. Chris and his wife Becky reside in Zeeland, with their two sons, Jacob (16) and Luke (14). Both boys are students at Zeeland West High School and are active members of the Zeeland Swim and Dive Team.

Currently, Jim serves as President/CEO of Zeeland-based Creative Dining Services that provides hospitality and dining services to over 80 clients in 12 states while employing over 2000.  In his 36 year career, he has serviced in executive leadership roles at the University of Phoenix, Sallie Mae, Help One Student to Succeed (HOSTS) and ServiceMaster. Jim is a Hope College graduate.

Gary Feenstra has spent 40 years in public education with approximately half of them serving as the superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools.  He serves on a few non-profit boards in the West Michigan area and is involved in many community activities. He is current chairman of the Chemical Bank Regional Board – Holland. He is the current Executive Director of Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference in Norton Shores, Michigan. He is married to his wife, Diane, for over 45 years and has three married children and eleven grandchildren.

Amy Nash graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and an Elementary teaching certificate.  She went on to teach middle school science in Zeeland for 15 years and coached volleyball, cross country and track and field. Amy, her husband Kevin, and their 4 children live in Zeeland and attend Creekside Middle School and New Groningen Elementary.  Amy loves helping children, teaching and impacting kids positively, and through the foundation has found a way to continue to contribute to those things since retiring from teaching in 2016.

Jim Schoettle spent 39 years in the world of elementary education.  The last 24 years he was fortunate to work as principal of New Groningen in Zeeland.  After leaving New Groningen he spent 5 years with the Chamber of Commerce. His current community involvement includes the Boards of Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, Harvest Stand Ministries, The Salvation Army and the Zeeland Educational Foundation.

Mary Beth Timmer is a ZPS staff member serving on the Education Foundation Board.  She has been part of the Education Foundation since its inception. Mary Beth has worked for Zeeland Public Schools in various positions for 23 years and is also a Councilwoman for the City of Zeeland.

Richard Van Dorp III is a life-long resident of Zeeland and a graduate of Zeeland Public Schools.  After graduation he studied business management at Davenport University.

He is currently working as an Account Manager for Michigan West Shore Nursery which is a horticultural wholesaler located in Zeeland.

Additionally, Richard is a member of the Zeeland City Council where he has served for the last 14 years.  As part of those duties he is also a member of the Zeeland Recreation Advisory Board where he currently holds the office of Board President.

Richard and his wife Kerri have 3 children, a son Jacob 8 (2nd Grade at Lincoln Elementary), daughters Elsa 5 (Kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary) and Mabel who is 2.

Dr. Mendham is Superintendent for Zeeland Public Schools. She spent five years as an elementary teacher at Baldwin Community Schools before moving into administration. Upon leaving the classroom, she served as a School Improvement Director and later as an ISD Consultant for West Shore ESD. Before serving Lake, Mason, & Oceana counties as a consultant, she served nationally as a Site Developer for Atlas Communities based in Cambridge, MA. This work allowed her to provide school reform support across the United States. In addition, Dr. Mendham served as a Field Supervisor for student teachers at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and has provided consultant support to various ISD’s throughout the state of Michigan as well as local districts. Dr. Mendham has presented extensively throughout the state and has been honored to serve as a keynote speaker for her colleagues based on her doctoral research in the field of technology and early childhood. She was honored by her alma mater in April 2018 as GVSU’s Outstanding Alumni Leader.