About Us

Mr. Cuevas is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. He oversees all revenue generation activities, member experience and marketing efforts to help move business forward and create an environment where all businesses can thrive.

Thomas DeJonge serves as Superintendent of Grand Rapids Christian Schools, a private, faith-based school system that enrolls 2,350 students in Preschool – 12th Grade on five (5) campuses located throughout the Grand Rapids community. He has held that position since 2004. Prior to serving as GRCS’ Superintendent, Mr. DeJonge served for 25 years in building-level and central administrative and teaching positions in public schools located throughout West Michigan, including serving two years as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, three years as Director of Community and Human Relations, 13 years as an elementary principal, and seven years as an elementary special education and early childhood classroom teacher.

Under his leadership as superintendent, Grand Rapids Christian Schools has:

• raised and invested more than $70 million in new capital construction and facility renovations at each of Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ five campuses in order to ensure facilities align with and support its broad range of educational programs and instructional priorities;

• increased the Grand Rapids Christian School Foundation from $4 million to nearly $23 million;

• doubled the Schools’ annual fund, which provides resources for financial aid and educational programs, to $1.7 million per year; and

• aligned Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ Articles of Incorporation, governing bylaws, governance structures, and policy handbook in order to strengthen its strategic position within the community.

Mr. DeJonge resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, Jacquie, a School Psychologist. He has two adult children: Leah DeJonge Rinker, a teacher at Wheaton Academy, a faith-based high school located in suburban Chicago; and Austin DeJonge, Associate Creative Director, at The&Partnership, an advertising and marketing agency located in New York City.

Lisa Freiburger recently retired after a distinguished career as GRCC's Vice President for Finance and Administration. In this role, she oversaw the college’s Finance, Human Resources, Facilities departments, and the GRCC Police, as well as the Grand Rapids Promise Zone, managing a budget exceeding $112 million.

A Certified Public Accountant, Lisa began her career in public accounting in 1989. She then dedicated 25 years to education, starting with Grand Rapids Public Schools in 1995, where she rose to deputy superintendent and chief financial officer. She joined GRCC in 2011.

Lisa is widely recognized for her leadership in West Michigan and the educational community. In 2016, she was honored with the prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. Locally, she served on several boards, including the GRCC Foundation Board and the Grand Rapids Smart Zone Authority Board.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University.

Nate Gillespie is an entrepreneur and investor. He works on the M&A team at Auxo Investment Partners, a Grand Rapids-based private investment firm focused on partnering with industrial manufacturing and service companies. Nate is also the founder and president of 616 Service, a non-profit focused on building community through service. The organization is working to address the opportunity of under-volunteerism in the West Michigan-area through recurring small group service programs called service pods.

 Additionally, Nate started and currently leads an educational, training, and volunteer group of young (under 45-year-olds) public service inclined individuals. This group includes future / current candidates for office, elected officials, policy and philosophy-focused individuals, and business leaders civically engaged in various public service-related capacities.

Nate is passionate about the power of education to create opportunity for all throughout our wonderful Grand Rapids community. He holds a BBA in Economics and Finance from the Grand Valley State University Seidman School of Business and graduated from the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Nate was also a Peter C. Cook Fellow as an undergraduate at GVSU. He currently resides downtown Grand Rapids with his wife and puppy. 

Sarah Grey is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which serves over 6,400 students across 31 schools. A proud “Triple Domer,” she holds three degrees from the University of Notre Dame, including two through the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) and the  Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program (RLP).

Sarah spent 15 years in the Archdiocese of Denver, where she served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. In 2020, she and her family relocated to Grand Rapids. She served as Assistant Superintendent for four years before being appointed Superintendent.

Rooted in a deep commitment to faith, leadership, and academic excellence, Sarah brings a passion for strengthening Catholic education at every level. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and their three daughters.

J.C. Huizenga is an entrepreneur, education reformer, and business leader. He is the chairman and founder of Huizenga Group which operates seven diverse manufacturing companies, a commercial contracting firm, and a consumer products packaging company. Mr. Huizenga also began National Heritage Academies, now serving over 54,000 students and launched a high school initiative, PrepNet, which serves over 2,000 students in Michigan. Both companies have been listed in Inc. Magazine’s “500 Fastest Growing Private Companies.”

Mr. Huizenga serves on various boards: Mackinac Center, Acton Institute, Seidman School of Business, Grand Valley State University Foundation and Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. Mr. Huizenga has also chaired the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Huizenga earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and his MBA from Michigan State University. J.C. and his wife, Tammy, live in the Grand Rapids area.

Holly Johnson was named President of the Frey Foundation in August 2018. Holly leads the Frey team and directs a grantmaking program awarding over $6 million annually to non-profit organizations throughout West and Northern Michigan. Based in Grand Rapids, the Frey Foundation is one of West Michigan’s largest family foundations.

Holly has spent her career in community based philanthropy. She has previously led campaign efforts at Greater Ottawa County United Way and, most recently, has had leadership roles at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation serving as Vice President of Development for five years and President for six.

Holly has been actively involved in many community organizations: Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance, Council of Michigan Foundations, Council on Foundations, Association of Fundraising Professionals, West Michigan Planned Giving Group, Lake Michigan Estate Planning Council, and Lakeshore ATHENA. Currently, she is a Trustee on the Grand Valley State University Foundation Board, serves on the Board of Lakeshore Advantage and is a member of the Spectrum Health Finance Advisory Committee.

Holly has been named to the top 200 list of the most powerful business leaders in Grand Rapids as well as the top 50 list of the most influential women in Grand Rapids.

Holly splits her time living between Grand Rapids and Spring Lake with her husband, Erick, and they have two adult children – Madelynn and Ian.

Holly earned a BA in English from Hillsdale College and an MPA from Grand Valley State University.

David LaGrand was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Calvin College and earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1992. When David returned to Grand Rapids, he served as an Assistant Kent County Prosecutor before entering private practice in 2000.

David has also been active in the West Michigan business community. David, his wife Melissa and two college friends opened Four Friends Coffee Shop in downtown Grand Rapids, at the leading edge of what has been a rapid revitalization of downtown, and later opened the Wealthy Street Bakery. In 2013, the LaGrands and partners opened Long Road Distillers, which operates a distillery and restaurants in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven.

David served as Grand Rapids City Commission for the Second Ward and as a member of the Grand Rapids Public Schools board. He served as a State Representative between 2015 and 2022, where he authored and introduced Michigan's Clean Slate Laws and reforms to Child Protective Services.

David lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Melissa and his mother Virginia. Melissa and David have four children, John, Issac, Helen and Julia, and two grandchildren, Fred and Peter. He and Melissa are members of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

Jerry McComb served as a classroom teacher for ten years and a principal for twenty years with the Grand Rapids Public Schools, retiring in the spring of 2019.

During his career received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Educator Award from the Grand Rapids Foundation, Leadership from Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Leadership 1, 2, and 3 from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. These honors acknowledged Mr. McComb’s positive impact on the future of his community and his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

Mr. McComb holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rust College (HBCU) in Holly Springs, Mississippi and a Master of Education from Grand Valley University in Allendale, Michigan.

Dr. Leadriane Roby (pronounced Lee-dree-in), the superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools since July 2020, is an experienced and reflective educator with a 27-year history in public education. She began her career as an elementary classroom teacher, advancing to other roles including instructional leader, mentor, elementary and secondary principal and district leader in school districts in Michigan and Minnesota.

Leadriane has always been determined to make a difference in the lives of students. She deeply believes quality teacher preparation shapes the academic experiences and students benefit by having caring, strong and engaged adults who believe in them. She continues to be a strong advocate for educational equity, access, and excellence for all learners and has facilitated initiatives to positively transform preK-12+ education systems.

Dr. Roby and her husband, Steven, are excited to be active members in the Grand Rapids Community and to call Michigan home once again.

President and CEO
LEAD 616
4766 Chalet Lane S.W.
Wyoming, MI 49519
(616) 706-9534

Teresa Weatherall Neal serves as the President and CEO of LEAD 616, a leadership development company. She provides professional development, leadership coaching, group facilitation, strategic planning, organization audits, and community networking sessions. She serves as an instructor and coach for the Michigan Superintendent’s Leadership Academy. Teresa Weatherall Neal recently retired as the Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent (January 2012 – June 30, 2019). Teresa served the GRPS district for 43 years, in a variety of positions. Prior to becoming the Superintendent of GRPS, she served as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet for 12 years. She is dedicated to enhancing and empowering members of the educational communities and its stakeholders.

Teresa has received two Honorary Doctoral Degrees for her leadership in education, one from Grand Valley State University and one from Ferris State University. In addition, she holds a Master of Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University, and an Associate Degree from Grand Rapids Community College. She has a certification in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy, extensive course work and educational sessions with Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Adaptive Leadership with Cambridge Leadership Development, and Institute for Learning through the University of Pittsburg. Her professional training includes 20 years of grant and compliance development with state and federal programs, community and family engagement training, organization analysis, strategic planning, and leadership development.

Teresa is very active in her community and has been instrumental in establishing the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority, serving as the chairperson for two years. She is currently a very active member of the GRPZA and serves on numerous additional boards, including Helen Children DeVos Hospital, President Gerald R. Ford Foundation (national), KConnect Community Board of Trustees, Kent Count Opportunity for All, and the Van Andel Education Institute. Formally, she has served on the State of Michigan Governor’s Educational Committee. She has received recognition and awards by local, state, and national organizations for her leadership accomplishments.

Prior to retirement, Teresa served as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools for over seven years. She specializes in organizational growth, leadership development, and system-wide transformational change. During her tenure, Grand Rapids Public Schools served 18,000 public, private, and charter students and managed over 3,000 employees and an annual budget of over 300 million dollars. During her tenure she:

• advanced private/public partnerships

• stabilized and grew an urban school system

• decreased chronic absenteeism

• increased community engagement and involvement

• increased academic achievement

• instituted a district wide school uniform policy for students

• increased dual enrollment

• increased the graduation rate,

• opened new schools

• passed a $175 million dollar bond, A+ bond rating

• was instrumental in creating the Grand Rapids Promise Zone

In addition to overhauling GRPS’ performance metrics, Teresa and her team worked to change the culture of the district. Her leadership style focused on the system and all of its stakeholders—staff, community, family, and children.