About Us
The Grand Rapids Jaycees are a group of professionally minded young people between 21 and 40 years of age. Through active participation, Jaycees meet new people, network for business, help the community and build their personal and professional skills.
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.
The organization is governed by a 13-member board of directors. Biographies for the Grand Rapids Jaycees executive leadership team are below.
Executive leadership
- Matt Sernau - President
- Matt Sernau is a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial specializing in IRA rollovers and asset management for individuals and 401(k) plans for corporations. Matt served as the chapter's vice president of management in 2008 and chaired numerous projects since joining the chapter in 2004. Matt and his wife Terri reside in Comstock Park with their son, Brett.
- John Greko - Chairman of the Board
- John Greko is the controller for Trivalent Group, Inc., a leading systems and communications integrator. He previously served on the board of directors as the treasurer and vice president of individual development. John also has served as the chairperson of award-winning projects. He has been a member since 2000.
- Lisa Kludy - Management Vice President
- Lisa Kludy is a graphic designer for the in-house catalog department at Notions Marketing, a local craft wholesaler. Since joining in 2004, Lisa has served the Grand Rapids Jaycees as Newsletter Editor and Individual Development Vice President. Lisa has also served the Michigan Jaycees as Public Relations Program Manager and International Program Manager.
- Emma Baranowski - Community Vice President
- Emma Baranowski is an administrative assistant at American RV, one of the Top 50 RV dealerships in North America. Since joining the chapter in 2008, she has been involved with many projects and served on the 2009 Board of Directors as secretary.
- Eric Engelbarts II - Individual Development Vice President
- Eric Engelbarts is the events manager at the West Michigan Sports Commission, a newly formed non-profit organization, which is charged with bringing youth and amateur sporting events into the West Michigan area to impact the local economy through sports tourism. In 2009, Eric served as the chapter's director of management and co-chaired the Special Olympics of Michigan - State Basketball Tournament. Eric has been a member since 2007.
- Mindi Johnson - Membership Vice President
- Mindi Johnson is an attorney with Siebers Mohney, West Michigan's premier small business law firm. She is a member of the Michigan Jaycees' board of directors, serving as its legal counsel. Mindi previously served as the chapter's legal counsel. She has been a member since 2004.
- Marla Kloosterhouse - Secretary
- Brian Greko - Treasurer
- Brian Greko is a certified public accountant (CPA) at Plante & Moran, a CPA firm serving middle market clients in all industries. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Aquinas College. Brian has been a member of the Grand Rapids Jaycees since 2006.
The Jaycee Creed
by C. William BrownfieldWe Believe...
That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth's great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.