HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Tulip Time Festival officials have announced three new board members: Jodi Owczaeski, Rosemary Ervine, and Leesa Schram.
Ervine has worked as an educator for more than 40 years and is now a consultant. Her family has been in Holland for more than 25 years.
“It’s an amazing city as the community appreciates and supports the arts, education, growth, innovation, and family friendly events” she said.
Ervine has been involved with Tulip Time for many years, as a West Ottawa Public Schools educator. She is a former Park Township planning commissioner and served on the Mosaic Counseling board.
“Tulip Time is a celebration that takes vision, leadership, planning and preparation,” Ervine said. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with the other members to continue and refine the traditions, programs and opportunities to showcase our hospitality and the great city of Holland.”
Schram, a Holland native, has a rich history of Dutch descendant, and, with and her husband, Jon, owns and operates ProFuse Health. She’s participated in Tulip Time Festival starting with the Kinderparade and continued until she was an Alumni Dutch Dancer. Schram’s grandfather immigrated from the Netherlands to Holland and started Zwiep’s Greenhouse. She spent many of her younger years planting tulip bulbs.
Schram has served in various leadership positions at Christ Memorial Church, and currently serves on the Washington D.C.-based Museum of the Bible’s women’s advisory board; as secretary for the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club; and on Words of Hope’s board of directors.
“Tulip Time has always had a special place in my heart,” Schram said. “It’s exciting to see the hundreds of thousands of visitors come to our beautiful community year after year to experience our warm hospitality, our rich traditions, and of course our beautiful tulips!”
Owczaeski, the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce’s vice president, oversees events, human resources, accounting and finance functions, manage the facilities and operations and directs the West Coast Leadership program. Owczaeski has also served on boards for Ready for School; Association of Leadership Professionals; Institute of Organization Management; Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and volunteers with several organizations throughout the Holland/Zeeland community.
“I don’t remember a time when Tulip Time was not a part of my life,” Owczaeski said. “The opportunity to be a part of this incredible organization is really a life-long dream. I look forward to providing input and helping shape the strategic direction for this incredible organization.”
Matt Holmes joins the executive committee, whose members now include:
- Chair Ada Delgado, Macatawa Bank
- 1st Vice Chair Jennifer Fellinger, Hope College
- 2nd Vice Chair Matt Holmes, Home & Company
- Treasurer Anne Porter, DeBoer Baumann & Co.
- Past Chair Tim Vreeman, Langeland-Sterenberg & Yntema Funeral Homes
The 2020 Tulip Time Festival board of directors has three new members: Rosemary Ervine, educational consultant, Leesa Schram, community member; and Jodi Owczaeski, Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce
- Beth Blanton Lakeshore Advantage
- Liz DeLaLuz Greater Ottawa County United Way
- Mark Dykema BIGGBY Coffee
- Matt Helmus Windmill Island Gardens
- Grant Hirst Courtyard by Marriott
- Tim Vagle City of Holland
Festival officials included in their announcement thanks and good wishes to wishes to outgoing board members Kim VandeVusse, and Priya Gurumurthy.
The 91st annual Tulip Time Festival is set for May 2 through 10, 2020. Detailed program and event information is online at tuliptime.com, where tickets for shows can be purchased online. The Tulip Time Festival box office is at 42 W. Eighth St. in Holland, Michigan; call (800) 822-2270.
