JOANNA SHIELDS

Founder & Executive Director

Joanna Shields and her husband live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They are the parents of four children and have two grandchildren. Joanna co-founded the Mother to Mother mentoring organization, served as a leader for a small group women's ministry, provides tutoring to children through Kids Hope, and continues to be active in local community organizations. Prior to her full-time commitment to Jericho, Joanna was a Sales Director for an international cosmetic corporation. She makes bi-annual trips to BiH and stays in touch with her "Bosnian family" via Skype when back in the US.

BILL TRAYWICK

Board President

Bill Traywick, resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his wife. His focus on the Board has been in strategic planning and establishing the Foundation Endowment. His professional experience in sales management includes a 32-year career with Procter and Gamble and the Kellogg Company. Bill traveled to BiH in 2013 and 2016 to be part of the student leadership seminars. He also has extensive volunteer experience with Kentwood Public Schools. Bill is involved with Jericho because he believes we are making a difference by helping young people achieve a college education. These young people will become the future leaders of this recovering war-torn country.

DAVE HOEKSTRA

Board Vice President

Dave Hoeskstra and his wife Ginny live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They are the parents of three children and eight grandchildren. Dave is employed at Ship-Pac as a Food Packaging Manager and has been involved with the Kalamazoo Township Fire Department for 28 years. He has also been involved in many outreach programs at Westwood Christian Reformed Church including their youth group spring break mission trips all across the United States. Dave was first introduced to the Jericho Foundation in 2006 through the Project Hope trip and has been giving his time, talent and resources ever since.

DR. SIME CURKOVIC

Board Director of Outreach

Dr. Sime Curkovic is a U.S. born citizen of Croatian descent and attends St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Portage, Michigan. He is a Professor of Supply Chain Management at Western Michigan University who received his undergraduate degree in Management Systems from Kettering University and his Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University. He has been at WMU for 15 years and has taught several courses in sourcing, operations, logistics, process, environmental, and multinational management. He is currently the director of the business college's supply chain management program which is ranked 12th nationally. He has been a member of Jericho's Project Hope Team traveling to BiH in 2009. After returning from that trip, he was motivated to contribute to the Jericho mission to restore HOPE to children in BiH and joined the Jericho Board.

IGOR ZNIDARCIC

Board Member

Igor was born in Mostar, BiH. When he was six years old, his life tragically changed as the war tore his country apart. His family escaped but still paid a high price in losing their home, jobs and the country they loved. His family eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Igor attended Western Michigan University, earning his BA in Business Management and Spanish. Igor currently lives in Portage, Michigan with his wife and daughter. He is employed with the US Social Security Office.

LINDSEY WEGELER

Board Treasurer

Lindsey and her husband Jordan live in Mattawan, MI. She graduated from Western Michigan University earning a degree in Personal Financial Planning. She's been working for Plante Moran as a financial advisor since 2017. Lindsey's family has supported Jericho from the beginning and Lindsey traveled with Jericho to Bosnia back in 2013. Lindsey is excited to continue her support by joining the Jericho Board in 2020.

KELLIE SIMMONS

Board Secretary

Kellie lives in Kalamazoo with her 2 sons, late husband’s grandmother, and 2 very spoiled dogs (because of the mentioned grandmother). In 2014 she decide to make a career change and offer her 20+ years of office administration/staff training/management experience, to a virtual assistant to help other companies. KK Virtual Assisting is the result of that decision. Her guilty pleasures are a good cup of coffee, chocolate (not bias), riding her motorcycle, dance music - has been known to still bust a move even though mentioned sons will roll their eyes. Kellie was part of the 2019 Fall Summit team where she saw the impact the students could have in making a change for generations. 

KALYN HOFFMAN

Director of Marketing and Communications

Kalyn lives with her husband, Erik, in Kalamazoo, MI. She graduated from Western Michigan University earning a Masters Degree in International Development Administration. Kalyn joined the Jericho family in 2013 with our Project HOPE Team. Her love for the students and belief in God’s unconditional love has kept her returning to BiH ever since.

ANN DRAKE

Director of Finance

Ann and her husband Mark live in Portage, Michigan. They have two grown children and three adorable grandchildren. They have been in the financial service industry since 1985. Ann has been employed at Primerica Financial Service as an administrator and a financial administrator/administrative assistant at Southridge Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. In the spring of 2013, she felt called to commit more time to the family business and her grandchildren, so she resigned from her position at Southridge. "My flexible schedule, my heart for serving God and a great cause, brought me to the team at Jericho."

MIRELA HADZIC

BiH Education Program Manager

Mirela lives in Sarajevo, BiH, with her husband, daughter and two cats. She got her bachelor's degree in Philosophy and is currently finishing a Life Coaching training program at Coach U. Before her job at Jericho, she worked as a Project Manager at a Christian organization called CRU. Her passion is helping young people to see their full potential and make a difference in their cities. Her other passions include singing traditional Bosnian Sevdah, psychology, spending time with her friends and raising her daughter Eva.