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Our Team

Expanding West Michigan Trails. Join us in our continued efforts to connect our communities to the trails!
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Our Staff

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John Morrison

Executive Director

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Jennifer Antel

Program Manager

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Emerson Rosenberg

Communications Coordinator

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Our Board

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John Arendshorst

Board Chair

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Mara Gericke

Board Vice-Chair

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Barb Brown

Board Treasurer

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Erin Gordon

Board Secretary

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Lorena Aguayo-Marquez

Board Member

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Kevin Cusack

Board Member

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Heather LaHuis

Board Member

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Dale Manske

Board Member

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Michael McGraw

Board Member

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Jill Myer

Board Member

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Scott Post

Board Member

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Chris Zull

Board Member

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Our Committees

Committee Board Application

Governance

We believe extraordinary governance serves as a foundation for connection and community growth. Our Governance and Nominating Committee is where thoughtful leadership takes shape—a gathering place where ideas, experience, and vision come together to guide our shared journey.

Finance

Just as our trails connect communities, our Finance Committee connects vision with reality. This group of dedicated pathfinders includes at least three members walking alongside our Executive Director, with our Board Treasurer helping navigate the journey.

Development

Support is built on the relationships we nurture together. Just as our world-class trail network connects neighborhoods and strengthens communities, our Donor Engagement Committee creates meaningful pathways between passionate supporters and our mission.

Outreach

We believe that connections are built through sharing our story. Our Outreach Committee ensures these stories reach joggers exchanging friendly waves, families from different neighborhoods, and everyone who benefits from our local trail economies.

Program

The committee provides recommendations, oversight, and strategic guidance to ensure that key initiatives align with the organization’s mission, resources, and regional trail development goals.

Sound Interesting?

If you are interested in serving on one of our Committees, please use the “Contact Us” button below to get started.

Contact Us
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John Morrison

Executive Director

With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector—including roles in public television and radio—John Morrison brings passion, vision, and deep regional commitment to his leadership at West Michigan Trails. At WMT John has found the ideal intersection of his interests in trails, alternative transportation, and community connection. John blends strategic leadership with a genuine love for the outdoors: he is an avid cyclist, and can often be found exploring West Michigan’s trail network firsthand.

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Jennifer Antel

Program Manager

Jennifer has served in local government for over 30 years as an administrator, elected and appointed official, and volunteer. She and her husband, Ray, started the friends’ group that is now working on the River to River project. Jennifer is currently the Mayor of the City of Wayland, and also serves on the city’s DDA and City Council. In addition, Jennifer also serves as a Trustee on the Michigan Municipal League. Jennifer loves the outdoors and is passionate about trails. She and her family enjoy exploring trails and parks wherever they travel.

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Emerson Rosenberg

Communications Coordinator

Emerson graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. She began her time with West Michigan Trails as a communications intern during her senior year and quickly became passionate about the work and impact of the organization.

With a lifelong love for the outdoors—especially walking, hiking, and biking—working at WMT felt like a natural fit. Emerson enjoys helping share the stories behind the trails that connect and benefit so many communities across the region.

She enjoys traveling, paddleboarding, skiing, spending time with friends and family, and catching a good sunset whenever she can.

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John Arendshorst

Board Chair

John is a partner at Varnum LLP with ten years of experience in employee benefits, executive compensation, and corporate law. John lives in East Grand Rapids with his wife Liz and their two daughters, and is a member of the East Grand Rapids Planning Commission. When he’s not working, John enjoys road and mountain biking, hiking, sailing, and skiing with his family. He enjoys volunteering for WMTGC because he believes,

“Trails are a distinguishing feature of West Michigan, and connecting the various trail systems adds value to all of them. I love the Mission of increasing accessibility, trail use, and community connections.”

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Mara Gericke
Board Vice-Chair

West Michigan Trails is excited to welcome Mara to the Board. Her experience on the Metro Council’s Nonmotorized Transportation Plan Steering Committee will provide WMT the perspective on current nonmotorized initiatives and priorities through the region we serve.

Mara has lived in Grand Rapids since attending and graduating from Grand Valley. She enjoys mountain biking, gardening, and spending time at Lake Michigan. Mara believes trails are important because they allow people to connect with nature, other people, and other places in a space that is comfortable, peaceful, and safe.

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Barb Brown

Board Treasurer

West Michigan Trails is honored to have Barb join our Board after serving on our Governance Committee. A retired eye doctor, university employee, and fundraiser, Barb comes to us with extensive experience in non-profit work.

Following her retirement from the UMSL – College of Optometry, she moved from Missouri to Michigan. She got involved with West Michigan Trails because she believes that having excellent multi-use trails for use for all ages and abilities keeps our hearts young.

Barb rides the Grand Haven-Saugatuck Connector trail the most but her favorite trail is the White Pine. “Although I have only biked 82-miles on the White Pine, I have fallen in love with it. I am looking forward to biking it all.”

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Erin Gordon

Board Secretary

Erin joins the Board having served on our Governance Committee. As a corporate governance professional, Erin was a great addition to our Governance and Recruitment Committee and her unique perspective as a corporate governance lawyer will be a huge asset to the organizational side of our Board.

Erin is passionate about the continued growth and success of the West Michigan trail system. She sees how trails draw people from all over and how that draw enhances the local economy. Erin believes that trails make a community. “Trails provide so many opportunities for people to exercise, meet people, adventure, and try new things. If a community has a trail, it has a way to connect people with others within the community and to other communities.” Erin added. Her favorite trail is the Kent Trail because she grew up running and biking on that trail, so it is a special place to her. She also loves the White Pine Trial and the Lakeside Trail round Spring Lake.

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Lorena Aguayo-Marquez

Board Member

West Michigan Trails has been thrilled to welcome Lorena Aguayo-Marquez to our board. Lorena’s passion for education, social justice and the outdoors has led her to different undertakings. Lorena is an active community member in West Michigan, serving on the board of the Latina Network of West Michigan, Finance Council for St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine and active member of Latino Outdoors GR.  She was a critical thought partner in the creation of La Lucha Fund and has volunteered as an application reviewer for the fund.  She holds a master’s degree in education from Grand Valley State University with her day job being with Grand Rapids Community College, where she has held a variety of positions supporting students in her 14-year tenure.  She currently works as the Program Manager for Strengthening Community Colleges in Healthcare Grant, responsible for building capacity in the healthcare industry workforce. She enjoys spending time with her family/friends, reading and being outdoors. You might see her walking in her neighborhood, biking, hiking, or taking in the sun rays at one of the many beaches of Lake Michigan. 

Lorena is excited to be part of West Michigan Trails. She believes trails are important because they connect you to mature nature, friends, family, and the community.  Lorena is looking forward to working with the board and the community to connect people to the trails and create a welcoming space in nature where everyone feels they are safe and belong.

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Kevin Cusack

Board Member

Kevin is passionate about the trail system in West Michigan. He believes that the trails are an equal opportunity for everyone: runners, bikers, walkers, or anyone who wants to be outside. “There is an adventure at every turn, “adds Kevin. He has been active in running, riding, mountain climbing, and Nordic skiing all his life and has had the opportunity to ride bikes on every continent in the world, including Antarctica (pictured). Kevin is excited to see the expansion of trails in West Michigan, hoping to help connect and expand the network.

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Heather LaHuis

Board Member

Heather is a lifelong West Michigander. She comes to us with expertise in the finance world from a career in the construction industry and a hometown perspective of how the trails shape our communities! Heather’s love for trails started on the Kent Trails, where she and her (at the time, younger) kids were learning to ride bikes. From the Byron Center entrance all the way to where their training wheels would tap out, Heather cherished every part of that wobbly journey that wheeled her all the way to us now! She still enjoys getting outside and using her own wheels, preferably rollerblades, but hopes to bike from Vermontville to Middleville, with the Pere Marquette State Trail still on her trail-bucket list too. In Heather’s words, “I hope I can be an asset to West Michigan Trails while we expand existing trails and blaze new ones.”

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Dale Manske

Board Member

Dale is Director of Finance and Technology for Viking Products, earning his CPA from Western Michigan University. Dale is an avid cyclist and enjoys biking the various trails in West Michigan. In his spare times he also enjoys reading. Born in Kalamazoo, Dale grew up in Spring Lake and Grand Haven. With his passion for cycling and 25 years of business consulting he will be an asset to the WMTGC Board. He enjoys giving back to his community and believes trails add to the region by adding tourism, increasing property values, and providing opportunities for healthy living.

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Mike McGraw

Board Member

Mike brings a unique perspective to the board as a land developer and residential community builder. He seeks to represent the thoughts and concerns of the underserved with respect to trail networks. He is interested in helping to provide connectivity between residential areas and recreational areas. Mike is an avid outdoors advocate. He enjoys running, biking and walking with his family and dogs on trails. “I am a very active person and I’d call myself an advocate for encouraging people to just get up, get outside, and move. Whether on food, on a bike, or a trike – activity has a positive psychological impact on happiness,” Mike shared. He believes trails provide a safe place for individuals and families to get out and do something fun together.

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Jill Myer

Board Member

Jill is a recently retired health education specialist who dedicated 25 years of work at the Kent County Health Department to establish lasting change, specifically in the Grand Rapids community, by leading the community wellness and chronic disease prevention initiative. Jill’s
path crossed with West Michigan Trails while attending a National Trails Conference, and she has been an engaged trail supporter ever since! Now on the board, Jill looks forward to being involved with the wayfinding guidebook and is passionate about “continuing the scope of work and connecting with more people and communities.” When she’s not walking, biking, snowshoeing, or even golfing in local parks, she’s dreaming of biking the Lakeshore Trail.

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Scott Post

Board Member

Scott is a civil engineer at Prein&Newhof with over 21 years of experience in the industry. For the past 18 years his career has primarily specialized in the planning, design, and construction oversight of nearly 200 miles of non-motorized trails and pathways in Michigan, including the White Pine Trail and trailhead in downtown Comstock Park, the Fred Meijer CIS Trail, the Fred Meijer River Valley Rail Trail, and many others. Scott has presented on the topic of non-motorized trails to numerous groups including MDOT, MDNR, and the Institute for Transporation Engineers. In addition to serving as Vice President for WMTGC, he is a past President of the Western Michigan Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is a graduate of Calvin College.

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Chris Zull

Board Member

Chris is a registered professional civil engineer with extensive transportation experience in West Michigan working for Progressive AE as their Transportation Practice Leader. Prior to his current role, Chris worked as the Traffic Safety Manager for the City of Grand Rapids for 15 years, having established over 80 miles of on street cycling infrastructure since 2010. His experience with operations, maintenance, and infrastructure provides a valuable perspective for trails and greenways. Chris joined the board in 2016 and regularly enjoys outdoor sports and coaching his two sons.