Kate Purvis
PresidentA native Michigander, Kate found a true calling working for nonprofits while living in the Chicago area. She developed a deep passion for charitable work and giving back to the community during her tenure on the other side of the lake. Having recently returned to Kent County, Kate was determined to see that Dolly Parton's Imagination Library became available for her daughters. One small inquiry has dominoed into this larger quest to bring The Imagination Library to all of the children of Kent County. When she's not slinging books, Kate can be found tending to her vegetable garden with her girls.
Kate's favorite children's book is The Gruffalo. Lindsay Parker
TreasurerLindsay is a behavioral health program manager with a specific focus on suicide prevention. She is dedicated to increasing early intervention and prevention efforts. Lindsay is also the co-owner of Kona Ice of West Grand Rapids, supporting her husband in the business endeavor which spreads smiles and brings fun to the communities they serve. Lindsay has lived in Kent County her whole life and is very passionate about enriching Grand Rapids and their local community.
In her spare time, Lindsay loves playing catch and card games with her two young boys. Some of her favorite moments with her children involve reading books together and watching their love for reading grow. Lindsay’s favorite children’s book is Love You Forever. Dr. Carlos Rodriguez
DirectorBorn and raised in Southern California, Carlos’ parents taught him to speak in English and Spanish as a way to stay connected to his Mexican and Ecuadorian roots. He shared his father’s love of reading and his mother’s deep empathy for others and utilized these values to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at USC. His dissertation focused on improving health literacy about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias among Spanish-speakers. He continues to serve English and Spanish-speaking communities as a Neuropsychologist at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids. Carlos is excited to help expand access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the diverse multilingual communities of Michigan.
Carlos' favorite children's book is The Giving Tree. Danielle Nauta, CPA
DirectorGiving back to the community through local service projects has always energized Danielle. After graduating from Davenport with her master’s and obtaining her CPA certification, she wanted to use her technical training and skills to support her community. When she learned about Early Bird Books and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she knew she had to get involved. Reading wasn’t something she enjoyed doing while growing up. However, as an adult she now loves to read and wants to share the love of reading with her community. When Danielle is not at work, she loves to kayak, hike, camp, and go on lots of adventures with her husband Ben.
Danielle’s favorite childhood book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. |
Whitney Wildeboar
Vice PresidentWhitney is a former French teacher turned IT professional who finds her true passion in working part-time at an independent bookstore. It was there that Whitney met Kate and learned of the opportunity to get involved with Early Bird Books and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Sharing her love of reading brings Whitney the ultimate joy and she is excited to give back to the Kent County community in this way! When she has the opportunity, Whitney loves to travel with her husband. But most of the time you can find her out trying a new Grand Rapids restaurant, running, or curled up with a good book and her two cats.
Whitney's favorite children's books are the Miss Flora McFlimsey series. Lisa Rodriguez, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
SecretarySince she was a child, Lisa has always been an avid reader and developed a passion for learning. This love of learning guided her through college, leading to a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Education. She is currently a Behavior Analyst and a case manager who works with individuals with traumatic brain injury. As a case manager, she has a deep understanding of the challenges of connecting families to resources, and how best to prioritize the most impactful work. When she’s not helping the families of West Michigan, Lisa enjoys meandering at the local parks with her husband, their son, and their dog Poquito.
Lisa's favorite children's book is The Cat in the Hat. Damion Parker
DirectorDamion is a former Law Enforcement professional, who turned in his badge and found his true passion as the owner of Kona Ice of West Grand Rapids. Running his own business has allowed him to touch the lives of many families and children in his community. Damion also finds true joy in volunteering at his children's school where he reads books to many students. So when Kate introduced him to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, he couldn't help but get involved!
Damion has lived in Kent County for over 20 years where he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing Fantasy Football, working in the yard, and watching his two children play sports. Damion's favorite children’s book is The Poky Little Puppy. Katie Baker
DirectorKatie is a former museum and nonprofit professional who is currently spending quality time with her kids. With a background in development and marketing, Katie connected with Early Bird Books during community events and quickly got involved. While she grew up in Grand Rapids, Katie came to Rockford via Minneapolis, MN. Her love of reading was instilled as a child from her parents and has passed that on to her two children. When not reading to her kids, Katie enjoys her golden retriever, crocheting, and gardening.
Katie's favorite children's book is Bob is a Unicorn. |
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