Our Governing Board

Executive Director
Margaret Kyser

Executive Committee:

President
Rick Jones

Vice President
Honorable Julie O’Neill

Secretary
Jim Pike

Treasurer
Mark Hughes

Executive Committee at Large
Cindy Martens


Board of Directors

Rick Jones
President

Rick is a former State Representative and State Senator for Michigan.  He is married to Charlene and has two children.  Rick holds a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and has had training in Executive Management, Law Enforcement, Crisis Management and Correctional Management.  He spent over 30 years in law enforcement including that of Sheriff of Eaton County. He has been an active Eaton Community Palliative Care volunteer since April 1997.  He has provided direct patient care, assisted with fund raising and has been a strong advocate for Eaton Community Palliative Care.

Honorable Julie O’Neill
Vice President

Judge O’Neill took office as the District Court Judge in Eaton County on January 3rd, 2017.  Prior to taking the bench, Judge O’Neill had a distinguished career in private practice for over 14 years throughout the state.  Judge O’Neill also practiced in federal court and was a member of the United States Court, Western District of Michigan, Federal Defender’s Office.  Judge O’Neill was also an Adjunct Professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School for over ten years teaching Trial Skills.  Judge O’Neill graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2002.  Judge O’Neill is a former graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Criminal Justice, Specialty in Juvenile Delinquency.  She worked as a Youth Specialist for 3 years before attending law school. Judge O’Neill graduated from Eaton Rapids High School and is currently residing in Charlotte, MI with her 3 children. 

Mark Hughes
Treasurer

Mark was born and raised in Charlotte and currently lives on the Ingham County side of Eaton Rapids.  He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1986 and is a 1987 graduate of Lansing Barber College.  He served the Charlotte community for over 31 years as a barber and currently works for the State of Michigan Correctional Facility in Jackson.  Mark learned first hand about Eaton Community Palliative Care and the services they provide for the very ill when his father was a patient here. 

Jim Pike
Secretary

Jim resided in Grand Ledge for 75 years before moving to Charlotte.  He retired from General Motors after 50 years.  His first connection with Eaton Community Palliative Care  was through our Grief Support Group after the death of his wife.  He started volunteering in 2013 doing maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, thrift store pick-ups, electrical repairs and whatever else needed to be done.  He was a member of the Grand Ledge Methodist Church and helped with the Wednesday night suppers until they discontinued the dinners. He currently is a member of the Eaton Rapids First United Methodist Church and the Eaton Rapids Medical Center Auxiliary. 

Cindy Martens

Executive Member At Large

Cindy lives in Charlotte and has been on the Eaton Community Palliative Care Board since 1995.  Since becoming an Eaton Community Palliative Care volunteer in 1992, she has been actively involved in direct patient care as well as helping in the office, fund raising and preparing meals as needed at the Hospice House.  In 2017, Cindy and her husband Butch, assumed the management of the Hospice Christmas Store.  Cindy is an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Charlotte and is a retired Real Estate Agent. 

Dawn Christenson, M.Div.

Dawn Christenson lives in Williamston.  Dawn’s professional journey has spanned the last 40 years as a Licensed Veterinary Technician.  For most of her professional life she was an educator in the Veterinary Technology Program in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University.  She is published through Elsevier and in the final stages of producing the third edition of her textbook – Veterinary Medical Terminology.  She has retired from MSU. Dawn’s faith journey began in her hometown of Sparta, MI with Peach Lutheran Church, ELCA.  After college, she moved to Charlotte, MI and in 1992 joined First Congregational Church, UCC.  She has served her faith community in many capacities, including numerous boards and committees, Moderator and Licensed Minister.  Dawn currently serves as Pastor at Bostwick Lake Congregational Church. She was a patient care volunteer for Eaton Community Palliative Care for 11 years and served for nearly 2 years as Assistant Director.  She is currently serving as a Supply Pastor within the Covenant Association of the MI UCC.   Dawn is also very active with the Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater Lansing. 

Annette Flood

Ann is a member of the State Bar of Michigan as well as a Registered Nurse.  Ann currently serves as the assistant Executive Director of Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association.  Previously she was principal owner of Clinton Flood Insurance Consulting.  Former Governor Rick Snyder appointed Ann to serve as Director of the Department of Insurance and Financial Services and Insurance Commissioner for the State of Michigan. Ann has also served as the Chief Deputy Commissioner for the State of Michigan, Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation, the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for Capital/American Physicians Assurance Corporation, Chief Operating Officer for MEEMIC Insurance Company, Senior Vice President & Corporate Secretary of Legal Counsel for PICOM Insurance Company, Vice President of Legal Services for Lansing General Hospital and Associate Attorney for Dykema Gossett.  Ann has volunteered evenings doing direct patient care and is a strong supporter of our program. 

Mark Hughes

Mark was born and raised in Charlotte and currently lives on the Ingham County side of Eaton Rapids.  He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1986 and is a 1987 graduate of Lansing Barber College.  He served the Charlotte community for over 31 years as a barber and currently works for the State of Michigan Correctional Facility in Jackson.  Mark learned first hand about Eaton Community Palliative Care and the services they provide for the very ill when his father was a patient here. 

Rob Piercefield

Rob is a resident and Village President of Mulliken. He owns Swedes Restaurant, which has been family owned for 31 years. He is in charge of the “Community Dinners” in Grand Ledge, Sunfield and Mulliken, donating both his time and cooking skills. He is past chair of the Capital Area Substance Abuse and has been on the Eaton County Substance Abuse Board as well as the Eatran Board. Rob provides food for the Hospice Picnic and Christmas Party, as well as frequently dropping off meals for the hospice house.

Mollie Stevens

Mollie has been a volunteer since March of 1996. She resides in Bellevue, is married to Douglas and has 2 daughters. Mollie owned and operated a beauty shop for 13 years. She has been a 4-H leader and president; she participated in the American Cancer Society Fund drive and was Eaton County Extension President. Mollie is a Competency Evaluated Nursing Assistant (CENA) and is owner/operator of “Mollie’s Caregiver Services”, private pay home care service utilizing her hospice background. Mollie also holds an Associates Degree in business communications.

Ava Towns

Ava was born and raised in Eaton Rapids where she raised three sons, coached soccer games and sailed the Great Lakes with her family.  Over the past many years, she has volunteered for Eaton Community Palliative Care preparing for the annual barn sale, helping with parades, stuffing envelopes and filling in as secretary.  She retired from Lansing Community College after 42 years as a secretary/administrative assistant.  She has held several positions in the union including President.  Ava enjoyed being involved in LCC special projects including the 1999/2000 Software Transition Team for Y2K, Commencement Coordinator for 12 years and serving on special assignment to LCC Board of Trustees as Secretary for the Presidential Search.

Jeremy Whittum

Jeremy is a lifetime resident of Eaton Rapids.  Educationally, he earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration and has legislative experience. He possesses a working knowledge of township government from when he was a township supervisor. He has been a congressional staffer, legislative staffer and a city planning commissioner.   Jeremy currently serves as Chair for the Eaton County Board of Commissioners and is an Economics Professor at Kellogg Community College.  He was a former member of the United States Army National Guard and the Michigan Army National Guard.

Donna Wright

Donna is a lifelong resident of Charlotte.  She graduated from Charlotte Public Schools in 1979 and has worked at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, now known as Sparrow Eaton Hospital for 40 years.  Donna’s association with Eaton Community Palliative Care began in 2014 when her stepmother passed at the Hospice House.  She attended the Grief Support Group with her father and later became the group leader.  Donna also helps with fundraising and works in the office every Wednesday.  She and her husband have 1 daughter.