Introducing our New Executive Director
January 21, 2020
We are so excited to announce today that our Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of Kurtis Kaechele as our next Executive Director.
Kurtis will be taking leadership in our organization’s first full-time position beginning February 17. With the continued growth of 10 existing programs and planned expansion into new offerings for our community, the time is ripe for Streams of Hope to invest in a full-time leader. Our former Executive Director Paul Holtrop, who has helped lead the organization since its inception in 2006, will be ensuring a smooth transition with Kurtis.
“I’m excited to have Kurtis starting soon,” says Paul. “He is an enthusiastic leader and faithful Christian who will continue to emphasize community building at Streams of Hope.”
Kurtis is a native of Caledonia, Michigan and lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and young daughter. He spent the past 15 years as a brand and marketing strategist, most recently as the Marketing Director for Nexstar Media, the parent organization for WOOD TV8 locally. Kurtis holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State in Communications and Media, and has been instrumental in planning and promoting the popular Maranda Park Parties in West Michigan. His background in communication and strategic planning is a wonderful fit for Streams of Hope, which has been a staple of the Townline community for the past 12 years.
“Streams of Hope is well established, and it’s just starting to build on a really solid foundation,” shares Kurtis. “I’m really impressed with what they offer and the good work they’re doing in our community, and I look forward to sharing that story with others.”
Our organization is fairly young, but we have been blessed with a significant, long-term impact on this community. Our focus is healthy schools, neighborhoods, and families. Through a variety of programs we touch almost 600 neighbors each month. Supportive services like the Food Center, an onsite medical clinic, fitness and cooking classes, and after-school programs for students help foster a healthier community.
Under Kurtis’s leadership, we plan to continue expanding our programs to reach more neighbors. In 2019, Streams of Hope had a $1 million economic impact on our community. We are looking forward to increased growth!
“God has truly blessed me with this incredible opportunity,” says Kurtis. “I am excited to bring my passion, experience, and fresh perspective to this amazing team of staff and volunteers. Together we’ll build upon Streams of Hope’s successful history of positive, sustainable change in our community!”
Looking for ways to get involved at Streams of Hope? Check out volunteer opportunities here and sign up for our newsletter here.
