Mr. David Ballard has a BS in Agricultural Engineering Technology from MSU. Since college he has worked on and now owns his family farm in the Eaton Rapids area. Dave has won several state and national awards including Pork All American and Master Pork Producer. Off the farm, Dave is a member of the First United Methodist Church and was elected to the Hamlin Township Board, serving 8 years as trustee and 8 years as supervisor. While on the township board, Dave chaired the committee which created the first Eaton Rapids Area Master Plan. Dave also chaired the group who created the Teen Space, and Chair the ERCA Board of Directors from March of 2017 through the end of 2021.

Mrs. Joanna Ballard, Secretary of the ERCA Board. Joanna has a BA in History from MSU, and after college she and her husband Dave made their home on the Ballard family farm. They have lived in Eaton Rapids their entire lives and have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Joanna is a member of the First United Methodist Church, currently serving as their Lay Representative to the Michigan Annual Conference. Joanna is one of the founding members of the Teen Space and continues to volunteer there, monitoring our students and also bringing in food on a regular basis.

Mr. Michael DeGrow, retired owner of DeGrow & Associates.  In addition to his business, an association management and multi-client lobbyist group, Mike spent twenty years as a volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He worked with youth on various levels including Scoutmaster, District Chairman, and board member of the Tri-County BSA Council. He also established the Eaton Rapids Community Foundation and helped form a Youth Advisory Council within the foundation. Mike recently served as the Chair of the Eaton Rapids Medical Center board for nine years and presently serves on the Eaton Community Health Board. In addition to having coached boys’ basketball and his past scouting experience, Mike now enjoys working with youth and helping shape their future as a member of the ERCA board.

Mr. Robert Gruesbeck, I am a lifelong resident of Eaton Rapids and just recently got involved with the ER Teen Space as a volunteer serving at the Teen Space on Friday afternoons. I also just recently joined the ERCA as a board member with primary duties serving on the building committee for the design & construction of the new Teen Space building.

Mr. Derek Lounds, Principal of the Eaton Rapids High School, serves on the ERCA board. He has a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Administration. Derek is an active participant in the planning and oversight of activities involving the Teen Space and has provided the partnership necessary to build the student base for those that attend after school and in the summer. 

Mr. Matthew Marriott, Principal of the Eaton Rapids Middle School serves on the ERCA board. Matt has a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Administration. He continues to be an advocate for the Teen Space and has developed partnerships with his teaching staff and opportunities that the Teen Space offers the students in his buildings. He understands that the more we can tap into our youth at their level allows us to build relationships and can improve overall student outcomes. Mr. Marriott has been a voice with the community as the Teen Space has developed over the years, and continues to help oversee implementation of age-appropriate programming. 

Dr. Sarah Parker is the Chair of the Board of Directors, and is employed as Director of Special Education Off-Site Programs for Eaton RESA. Sarah has over 23 years of education experience spanning from birth to college age students. She created and developed the preschool plus before-and-after-school programming for Island City Academy in the early 2000’s. Sarah has also sat on committee’s with MDE to review grants. She was the grant manager for several grants at ICA and will oversee this grant if awarded. She has been actively involved with youth including owning her own daycare for 8 years In her home. Sarah has teaching certifications in early childhood, music, science, and special education. Sarah has lived in the Eaton Rapids community for 21 years.

Mr. Steven Peters, joined the ERCA board in 2023. He is retired from PNC Bank, NA, where he had been a fiduciary advisor for 28 years and held the position of Senior Vice President and Fiduciary Market Director for the Midwest upon his retirement in 2019. Before joining PNC, he practiced law in Eaton Rapids for eight years. Mr. Peters received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. He currently serves on the board of the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan where he is chair of the Investment Committee. Mr. Peters has served as a director and board chair for Eaton Rapids Medical Center as well as a director and board secretary for the Kiwanis Spring Brook Non-Profit Housing Association in Eaton Rapids. He was also a member and chair of the Eaton Rapids Downtown Development Authority for 14 years.

Mrs. Cheryl Wichman was the Chair of the Board of Directors from 2021 to 2025. Cheryl has over 32 years of experience working with teens. She has taught in regular education, special education, and residential treatment. She holds a BA in education, an MA in special education, and many certifications which allow her to have a broad understanding of teens’ social and emotional needs. Cheryl has developed programs that address social-emotional growth through group as well as community activities. Cheryl also has served on many community boards and committees: First United Methodist Church Children’s Ministry, Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs, Eaton Rapids Choir Boosters, Women Working Wonders, Siren Eaton Shelter Board of Directors, and various Eaton Rapids School Improvement committees. Cheryl has been married to her husband for over 40 years, and together they have 4 adult children and 11 beautiful grandchildren.