Board Members

JC Anderson

Chairman
J.C. has been on the LEF Board as Chairman since 2012. With a number of family members being involved in the teaching/education profession, the LEF provides him an opportunity to “give back” to the educational process that has been so intricate to his family structure. In addition, he wanted to help provide the best possible education for his grandsons who are in the Lakeshore school system. J.C. grew up in a small farming community in central Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University and Western Michigan University. J.C. has been involved with Young Life, Well of Grace, Rotary, SCORE Consulting, Advisory Board of First Church of God, Economic Club’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee for the Senior PGA at Harbor Shores, and a Reading Volunteer in Benton Harbor Elementary. In his spare time, J.C. enjoys exercising, playing golf, spending time with family and friends and volunteering.

Lori Marciniak

Vice Chair Projects
Lori is a native of Southwest Michigan and a graduate of Michigan Technological University. After 27 years in the engineering field, she is now the Executive Director of the Curious Kids’ Museum and Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone; which Lori is quick to point out, is the perfect “2nd career”! Lori has 3 children, Kane, Hannah and Amelia, all three Lakeshore graduates. She is honored to be a part of the LEF board and serve as the Vice Chair Projects, and very happy for the opportunity to give back to such a great school district and community. In her spare time Lori loves to be active, volunteer and spend time with her kids.

Julia Pechtel

Vice Chair of Grants
Julia is an alumnus of Lakeshore High School and has a BA degree from Western Michigan University.  Julia and her husband Mike have three children. Two of their children are graduates from Lakeshore, with one a recent grad from Michigan State University and the other currently attending MSU (go green!). Their third child is currently a junior at the high school.  Julia worked in the Information Systems area at Whirlpool Corporation for many years, stayed home for few years then returned to Whirlpool and currently works in the Marketing area.   In the past, she served on the Hollywood PTO Board as Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator and was the Garden coordinator for the Hollywood Garden.  She also served on the Middle PTO board as Treasurer and Vice-President.  During her “stay-at-home” years, she worked as a part-time as a substitute teacher and sub para-pro for Lakeshore.  Julia has been part of the grants committee since joining LEF, and recently has taken over as new Vice-Chair for Grants.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing with her pets and spending time with her family and friends.

Kathleen Wolf

Vice Chair Marketing
As the daughter of a hard-working teacher, Kathleen Wolf knows the importance of investing in education and supporting the staff who foster our students’ learning every day. Kathleen has two children, Brock and Kelsey, at Lakeshore High School. She serves on the LEF marketing committee, bringing her sales, marketing, branding and communications experience from her 25 years at Whirlpool Corporation. Kathleen has also been a part of a start-up brand experience agency before creating her own business, The Purpose Partners, where she consulted with individuals as well as small-to-medium businesses looking to take their capabilities to the next level by investing in purpose-focused branding, marketing and social responsibility efforts. 

Ludovic Beaufils

Vice Chair of Fund Development
Ludo grew up in Paris, France and has been a member of the local community with his wife and three children since they relocated to Stevensville in 2010. He is currently Vice President Product Marketing for Whirlpool’s North American business. His two sons graduated from Lakeshore in 2015 and 2019 respectively, while his daughter is in the class of 2026. Ludo joined the LEF Board in 2018 as a way to give back to and support a school system that has been and continues to be critical in enabling his family to settle in the US successfully. He is an avid guitar player and snowboarder and loves traveling around the world with his family.

Jim Roberts

Vice Chair of D.E.I.
Jim is the CEO of Jim Roberts Enterprises LLC and Jim Roberts Investment Advisors LLC. He is also co-owner of the Lake Company LLC.  Jim has a civil engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Michigan State University.  At Michigan he served as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineering Council, President of the Engineering class of 1983, and was also inducted into the Vulcan’s.  Michigan State University selected Jim as a Distinguished Executive MBA Alumnus.  He has served on several boards and has won many regional and national business awards. His daughter (Morgan) and son (Connor) both attended Roosevelt Elementary, Lakeshore Middle School and Lakeshore High School.  The LEF is pleased to have Jim serving on the Fund Development Committee.

Kate Beckrow

Secretary
Kate grew up in Berrien Springs and graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) with a BSN and a MS in Epidemiology. She served as the Project Coordinator for a federally funded breast cancer study at MSU for many years, and as Executive Director of an oncology practice. Kate and her husband, Jason, relocated to Stevensville in 2009 to be closer to family. Their son is a 2019 graduate of Lakeshore and now at Kalamazoo College, and their daughter is a student at Lakeshore High School. They have been thrilled with Lakeshore Schools and this wonderful community! In her spare time, Kate enjoys being involved in many activities and giving back to the community through her involvement with several local organizations.

Jennifer Powers

Treasurer
Jennifer grew up in a suburb outside Chicago and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, after her family relocated to Florida while she was in high school.  In 2018 she was recruited by Whirlpool for the role of Treasurer and then relocated to Stevensville with her husband, 4 children and their 3 dogs.  With all 4 children in the Lakeshore School District, she wanted to join the LEF Board so she could help support the school district in providing the best education and experience possible for her children and for the community.  In her spare time, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family  — especially when it includes skiing, running, and dining out.

Leslie Arbanas

Trustee
Leslie is a proud graduate of Lakeshore High School and grew up here in Stevensville. She attended Lake Michigan College where she obtained an Associate Degree of Applied Science specializing in Radiologic Technology. After working in Grand Rapids at Spectrum Health and then going back to college to specialize in Ultrasound, Leslie has been working as a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer for over 20 years. After having worked as a traveling technologist for some years and had the chance to see different parts of the country, she knew without a doubt where she wanted to settle down and start her family, right here in southwest Michigan.

Leslie had the opportunity to serve as secretary with the Hollywood PTO during her daughters’ elementary years giving her an even greater appreciation for the education system and realize how grateful she is of the dedicated staff and support system within the Lakeshore community. The LEF has helped fund multiple learning opportunities, one of which Leslie’s daughters was lucky enough to be a part of, “The Leader in Me” program at Hollywood Elementary. This program teaches leadership skills as well as instilling good habits at early ages. Leslie believes in the work of this foundation and its commitment to education; she is honored to be invited onto the LEF board and hopes to make an impact towards providing the best possible education for all lakeshore students.

Leslie and her husband Joel, an AEP electrician and Baroda volunteer firefighter, along with their two daughters, Chloe and Josie (both Lakeshore High students), enjoy living a bit of the country life on their five acres in Baroda. You can usually find Leslie on the sidelines of her daughter’s tennis or volleyball matches or appreciating the beautiful area she lives in, whether it be gardening, hiking, biking, or skiing in the winter.

Ryan Arnt

Trustee
Ryan Arnt has called Southwest Michigan home for over 35 years and was a student at Lakeshore. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. Ryan returned to Southwest Michigan in 1998 and has been a REALTOR for 24 years, currently the Real Estate Broker & Owner of Keller Williams Realty. Ryan serves as the President of the St. Joe Kickers Club and chairs the Public Policy Committee for the Michigan Association of REALTORS. He was also a past President of the Lakeshore Rotary Club. Ryan & his wife Gretchen have two children. They enjoy watching their kids participate in all kinds of activities from travel baseball to gymnastics, as well as boating, cooking great BBQ, golfing, and skiing. Ryan & Gretchen have supported Lakeshore football radio broadcasts for many years, plus basketball, wrestling, golf, choir, band, and many other Lakeshore programs.

Sophie Bauchet

Trustee
Sophie was born and raised in Paris, France and moved to the United States to attend business school at Indiana University. She and her husband, Eric, came to this area in 1994 when he began working at Whirlpool. The Bauchets have two children: Stephanie is at Michigan Tech and Maxim is attending Inflight Pilot Training. For the last 20 years, Sophie has been an active volunteer in several different areas including Lakeland Hospital, the YMCA, Stewart PTO, Lakeshore Middle School PTO, and the Lakeshore Band, while staying at home with her children. For fun, she loves traveling, reading, and being by (or on) the water.

Chad Deja

Trustee
Chad has been an LEF trustee since 2008. He is a Lakeshore alumnus and wanted to continue to support Lakeshore in any way possible. After graduating from Lakeshore, Chad attended and graduated from Michigan State University. Chad and his wife, Lori, (also a Lakeshore alumnus) have three children in the Lakeshore School System. Chad is Branch Manager for Schultz Roofing Supply in St. Joseph. He likes spending time with his family, coaching, family vacations, hunting, fishing, and golfing. Chad is currently serving as the Lakeshore Alumni Association President.

Zeb Deitrich

Trustee
Zeb serves as Investment officer at LPL Financial, overseeing the management of all client assets. He also assists in Wealth Management and Financial Planning for high net worth families.  Zeb obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 2000. He is very involved in the community and has a passion and love for sports. He loves spending time with his family, his wife Stacy and kids who attend School in the Lakeshore School District.  Zeb is excited to be a part of LEF and values the positive results that this fine organization has giving back to the community.

Greg Eding

Trustee
Greg Eding began as Superintendent of Lakeshore Schools in 2021, coming into Lakeshore with 21 years of experience in school administration.  The most recent experience having served for five years as Principal of Zeeland West High School.  Greg holds an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree from the University of Michigan, Master’s Degree (MA) from Western Michigan University, and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Hope College.

Greg and his wife, Erica have four children.  Gerrit is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University and is currently working as an Assistant Baseball Coach for Saginaw Valley State.  Rileigh is a graduate of Albion College and is currently in the Doctoral program for Physical Therapy at Grand Valley State University.  Evan is a student at the University of Detroit Mercy, studying mechanical engineering.  And Audra is a student at Hope College, studying elementary education.

Janine Harrison

Trustee
After graduating from Michigan State University in 1988, Janine began a 30-year career in education. She taught first and third grade at Stewart Elementary and spent six years coaching the girls’ varsity tennis team. During her time at Lakeshore, she completed her Masters in Education at Western Michigan University.

She has played an active role in the community over the years volunteering on committees such as Relay for Life, March of Dimes, Lake Michigan College Winners Circle Auction, and the United Way. Janine and her husband Bob have two children, who both graduated from Lakeshore High School. Janine enjoys playing tennis, gardening, walking their family dog (Izzo), and spending time with family and friends.

Gyl Kasewurm

Trustee
Gyl Kasewurm, a lifelong resident of Michigan’s Great Southwest, earned her Doctorate in Audiology degree from Central Michigan University and has owned and operated Professional Hearing Services (PHS) in Saint Joseph, Michigan for many years. The unique practice is known within the industry as a benchmark for the patient experience. Dr. Kasewurm is a well-known author and speaker and has earned many honors, but is most proud of the designation of being a Distinguished Alumnus of Lakeshore High School.

Elizabeth Meeth

Trustee
While Elizabeth is relatively new to the area – she is no stranger to the sunset coast. The Detroit native grew up coming to the Lakeshore community to visit close relatives, who also happen to be Lakeshore grads! It was no wonder that when given the option relocate, Elizabeth, her husband Jay, and their two children jumped at the chance. Elizabeth graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and spent the better part of her career working as a News Anchor and Medical Reporter in various markets throughout Michigan and Illinois. She transitioned her love for medicine into starting her own healthcare marketing business, Rip Current Creative. Elizabeth has been dedicated to many causes, like the March of Dimes, and American Lung Association –  but none has struck as close to home as the Lakeshore Excellence Foundation. Elizabeth looks forward to supporting the organization’s mission, so her children, and others like them, receive an education that helps them thrive for years to come.

Phil Molloy

Trustee
Phil works for Whirlpool as a Product Development Director. He graduated with a BSME from the University of Notre Dame and completed his MBA at Ashland University. Phil’s interest in LEF stems from his desire to help the Lakeshore school system and students achieve their full potential. He sees LEF as an established and effective organization with a track record of making a difference. Phil’s previous Board experience includes Marion Goodwill Board of Directors and Palace Theater Board of Directors. Youth development experience includes many years of coaching Little League baseball, music instruction, and supporting church youth activities.  Phil and his wife, Melissa, have lived in Stevensville since 2007 and their children (Nick, Anna, and Lydia) are all Lakeshore graduates. Phil enjoys spending time with family and friends, working outdoors, playing drums, community service, and watching Notre Dame sports.

Bill Scaletta

Trustee
After graduating from Michigan State University, Bill Scaletta began a 39-year career in education. During those years, he was a teacher, counselor, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal in Muskegon, Manchester and Marcellus. During that time, he completed his Masters in Education at Western Michigan University. In 1991 Bill became the principal of Lakeshore High School where he stayed until his retirement in 2011. He was President of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals in 2002-2003 and served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Secondary School Principals from 2008-2012. He was also Board Liaison for the National Association of Student Councils in 2011-2012. Bill is a former treasurer of the Marcellus Community Foundation and currently a member of the Lakeshore Rotary and Advisor for the Rotary Interact Club. He and his wife, Linda, have three children (Dana Mikel, Jennifer and Derek), three grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.

Lewis C. Scott

Trustee
Lewis C. Scott is the vice-president, senior community development officer with Horizon Bank located in Michigan City, IN.

Prior to joining Horizon Bank, Lewis worked at Allstate Insurance Company for five years and worked at American Express Corporation for four and half years leading a team of B2B sales professionals in the very competitive payment solution industry.

Lewis spent 20 years with the FCA Corporation. While at Chrysler, he held various sales leadership positions in an assortment of different locations all over the country.

Lewis earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and earned an undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University in Business Communication and Marketing. In addition to his studies, Lewis played basketball for Eastern Michigan University throughout his four years as an undergraduate.

Lewis resides in St. Joseph, Michigan. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he still refers to as home, despite relocating several times throughout his corporate career. Lewis is the father of three children, two girls, and one boy. His oldest daughter, Lauren Scott, attended Michigan State University, his middle child, Lindsay Scott, attended Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. The youngest child, Nathan Scott, is a graduate student athlete attending Eastern Michigan University.

Heather Valenziano

Trustee
Heather is a graduate of Hartford High School and the University of Michigan. She has enjoyed a 30-year career in corporate events and communications, organizing and leading large programs for Fortune 50 companies around the world. She was a board member for We Care, Inc. and President of the St. Basil Catholic School Board before moving to St. Joseph in 2012 with her family. Her daughter, Francesca, is a senior at the University of Michigan and son, Jack, a junior at Lakeshore. They all love living on the shores of Lake Michigan and the lifestyle this area provides. When not away for business you’ll find her in the yoga studios, walking and exercising with friends and family, attending Jack’s athletic events, reading or cooking. Heather is honored to have been invited to the LEF board and looks forward to becoming involved to support Lakeshore Public Schools.

Lori VonKoenig

Trustee

Lori is an alumna of Lakeshore High School and has a BA from Western Michigan University in Music Education and a MA in Counseling and Educational Psychology. Lori and her husband Edward have two children, Ben and Elise, and three grandchildren. Ben is a 2006 graduate of Lakeshore, served in the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Elise is a 2010 graduate of Lakeshore and is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Lori just retired from Lakeshore Public Schools after 32 years as the Director of Bands. Before coming to Lakeshore she taught at East Grand Rapids and Forest Hills Public Schools. She is a licensed professional counselor and is currently employed as a therapist at Centered on Wellness. She is also a music education consultant and clinician for the Marshall Music Company. Under Lori’s leadership the Lakeshore Lancer Marching Band earned eight State Championships and traveled extensively. In addition to teaching music Lori served as the Lakeshore CTE Director for 10 years and started the Lancer Link counseling program in 2019. Lori’s first involvement with LEF was in their 1999-2000 inaugural theatrical production of “Wind in the Willows.” Lori enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, and spoiling her grandchildren and golden retrievers.

Missy Emery

Secretarial Assistant
Missy has been the Secretarial Assistant for LEF since 2010. She wanted to be part of LEF because of their wonderful outreach in the community and their pursuit of higher education in Lakeshore Public Schools. She attended Buchanan High School and Beloit College. Missy and her husband Jason have lived in Stevensville since 2000 and have had the pleasure of being involved in many community activities. They are the parents to one son, Brock, who graduated from Lakeshore in 2015. When the Emery family is not at a sporting event, you can find them on their ATVs, on the water, sitting around a campfire, snow skiing…. or doing just about anything outdoors. Missy is also the Secretary at Roosevelt Elementary. It is her pleasure to assist Lakeshore families and make sure Roosevelt children are happy, healthy and safe.

Kimberly Risk

Data Manager
Kimberly served as an LEF trustee from 2006 to 2016. She enjoys getting to know the passionate people involved with LEF who help Lakeshore students and staff “Reach Higher” in every way. Kimberly grew up in Fort Wayne, IN and went to Homestead High School. She obtained her degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and currently works for Candlewood Suites. Kimberly and her husband, Scott, have two daughters who attended Lakeshore Public Schools from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade and were involved in the outstanding band program. She likes to spend her spare time traveling to historical places and national parks. The Risks love living in this area with excellent schools and the most supportive community they’ve ever known.