Meet The Team!
Meet the team and board at Kenzie’s Be Cafe, a place dedicated to providing meaningful employment and workforce development training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our team is made up of passionate individuals who are committed to our mission of creating a more inclusive and supportive community.
At Kenzie’s Be Cafe, our BEristas are at the heart of what we do. They are the ones who make our cafe a warm and welcoming space for everyone who walks through our doors. Our team works tirelessly to provide them with the training and support they need to succeed in their roles and in their future employment opportunities.
Our board members are equally dedicated to our mission, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to help us achieve our goals. They provide guidance and support to our team, ensuring that we stay focused on our mission and continue to make a positive impact in the lives of our BEristas and the community as a whole.
Our team and board members are excited to meet you and share our passion for creating a more inclusive and supportive community. Come visit us at Kenzie’s Be Cafe and experience the positive impact we are making firsthand.
Kenzie's Be Cafe Staff
Alex Thelen
Dream Job: Run my own craft store.
Ash M.
Dream Job: Working at a coffee shop!
Ben C.
Dream Job: Someday, I would like to work in a restaurant as a chef.
Matthew W.
Dream Job: In the future I'd like to go back to school and become a history teacher.
Becky S.
Dream Job: Horse therapy with individuals with disabilities
Shannon O.
Working her Dream Job as a Bartender at Off the Chain Brewstillery Saturdays!
Laura M.
Dream Job: I want to be a famous TV Star!
Sammy R.
Dream Job: I want to be a childcare worker.
Jessa R.
Jessa is living out her dream at Kenzie's Be as a BErista.
Heather P.
Dream Job: I would like to be a banker, I want to put change in paper sleeves!
Morgan R.
Dream Job: Working at Kenzie's Be Cafe.
Julia S.
Dream Job: Working at Kenzie's Be and Miller-Knoll and also have my own business.
Becca L.
Dream Job: Working at a Cafe just like Kenzie's!
Kylee V.
Dream Job: I want to work in a toy or book store.
Grace W.
Dream Job: Working in a greenhouse!
Kenzie's Be Cafe Management Team
Erin Lyon
Gwen Thelen
Kris Bettisworth
Jennifer Gill
Clara Thelen
Kenzie's Be Cafe Board
Bill Cousins
Bill Worked in various areas of local government in Michigan, retiring as a City Manager in 2013. During the next ten years, he served five communities as an Interim City Manager for terms of 4 months to one year each. He has been a member of the Grand Haven Township Planning Commission since 2015. Bill's primary retirement plan has been to give back to the area as he can. In addition to serving on the Board of Kenzie's, Bill is a volunteer worker at Humanity For Prisoners and is a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society.
Stefanie Herder
Stefanie was born and raised in Spring Lake and has a deep passion for her community. Her professional background includes hospitality & tourism management, event planning, destination marketing, non-profit management, and community development. Most recently, she became part of the marketing team for EV Construction in Holland, Michigan. Stefanie has served on various boards and committees including the Spring Lake Rotary Club, Grand Haven Musical Fountain, The Chamber, Grand Haven Main Street DDA, The Momentum Center, and Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Stefanie and her husband Josh live in Spring Lake with their tuxedo cat, Panda.
Melisa Miller
Melisa has been in finance most of her career. Currently she is the Member Experience Manager for Lake Trust Credit Union in Grand Haven for the last 16 years. She very passionate about her community service and involvement in her community. Melisa is married with two children and a mini dachshund named Mabel. She loves to Tavel and explore as much as she can.
Sarah Streng
Sarah Streng has been an Occupational Therapist for over 12 years with a strong focus on community-based therapy and inpatient rehabilitation. She currently works at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation as an inpatient Occupational Therapist and as a Resident Assistant for Gracious Grounds. Sarah has a passion for working with adults with disabilities and giving back to the community that helped raise her. She spends most of her free time with her two dogs Birdie and Bentley, keeping up with her numerous family members and focusing on building community with her residents at Gracious Grounds.
David Burdo
David's professional career has included more than 15 years of leadership and law practice in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including time as the Executive Director at Gracious Grounds and as a Director at the Tri-Cities Fmaily YMCA. David lives in the Spring Lake area with his wife, Gina, their two kids, Ethan and Emma. In their spare time, they love to camp, travel, and spend time with their family and friends. David is a big believer in impacting the community through volunteerism and coaches youth hockey with the Lakeshore Jr. Lumberjacks.
Jacob Streng
Jacob Streng has been a dentist in West Michigan for over 8 years. He is the owner of Lake Michigan Family Dental in Norton Shores. He is passionate about giving back to the community. He is a volunteer dentist at Love Inc. in Grand Haven. He, his wife and son reside in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Natalie VanderZwaag
``Natalie serves as Branch Manager for Lake Michigan Credit Union at the Grand Haven – Robbins Road branch, bringing over 25 years of financial and leadership experience. Her mission is to take each opportunity to inspire and make a difference in the lives of those around her. She has a strong passion for giving back and has served the community in various capacities with multiple non-profit organizations both personally and professionally. Living in Grand Haven for most of her life, Natalie graduated from Grand Haven High School and is proud to call the community home. She and her husband, Will, have two children: Justin, and Makayla, and two grand-children. Outside of her professional life Natalie enjoys walking, boating, and cherishing time with family and friends.
Katie Cole
Katie has worked at Leppink's Grocery for 21 years and also writes as a full time columnist for The Grand Haven Tribune. She serves on the Advisory Board for Camp Sunshine. Katie is active in her church and Special Olympics. She also attends Noorthooke Acadamy for college courses. Katie is also affiliated with Gracious Grounds. Katie loves spending time with her friends and boyfriend, crafting and enjoys reading books.
Ben Knight
Ben is a librarian, currently working for Grand Rapids Public Library. He has also been connected with libraries all over Ottawa, Muskegon and Kent counties. Ben also served as a library liasion for the City of Grand Haven's Human Relations Commission. Ben is married to his husband Keith, and, when not working, he can be found being pulled around Grand Haven by his dogs (Gher & Harrah), playing board games and video games and catching up on his to be read pile.