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In the Community
Read about Lighthouse's staff service days and other activities we are involved with in the community ... read more
Local News
- Lighthouse Communities and Urban Pizza
Uptown Incubator, Urban Pizza to open April 1. - Madison Square Business Incubator
Madison Square business incubator has community backing for $1.7m project. - Flips Foreclosed Homes
Lighthouse Communities has several homes throughout Kent County that they are revitalizing. The positive investment and development of these properties will likely stabilize property values of the entire block, bringing vitality and prosperity to our communities. - Bringing in NSP funds to address foreclosures and blight in southeast Grand Rapids
Garfield Park and Madison Square neighborhood will benefit from an $820,000 investment in NSP funds allocated by the State of Michigan. Watch the video online. - Countrywide Settlement Funds allocated to housing agencies
Lighthouse Communities and other local housing agencies will receive funds to continue to stabilize the neighborhoods hardest hit by foreclosures in Grand Rapids. - Fighting foreclosures with Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds
Read about the effects of foreclosure in our communities and how Lighthouse will help tackle this issue through the NSP program by making improvements to foreclosed properties and returning them to homeownership. - Madison Square business district
Madison Square business district another step closer to becoming Grand Rapids' second CID
From the years 2002-2010, Lighthouse is projected to help make 700 homes and apartments lead safe.
- Lighthouse Communities' 5th Anniversary Report, page 8
Our Staff
Lighthouse Communities' work is reflective of a rich organizational culture represented by the different ideas and talents that our staff bring to the team. We take pride in the diverse history, backgrounds and skills of our staff.
Lighthouse's staff come from 4 different countries, speak 3 different languages, and have had very divergent career and life tracks.
Read about our team members below.
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Executive Director
Jeremy De Roo Email
Jeremy DeRoo has his Master's in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and has been with Lighthouse Communities since 2002. DeRoo has spent most of his time at Lighthouse Communities as Operations Director where he oversaw the daily activities ... read more
President
Darel Ross II Email
A successful business owner, Darel joined the Lighthouse team as President in July 2008. He served on the Lighthouse's Board of Directors for six years as Treasurer and has been an active member in the southeast community. Darel is a ... read more
Grants Administrator
Ana Aguilar Doonan Email
Ana is a native of Venezuela and came to Lighthouse in the spring of 2006 as an intern through Grand Valley State University's public administration graduate program. Her internship soon transitioned into her job as the Grants Administrator for the ... read more
Neighborhood Services Coordinator
Erica Hooser Email
Erica is the Neighborhood Coordinator of Lighthouse Communities and is the liaison between various resident groups and community organizations and Lighthouse. She joined the team in September of 2008 as a LISC/AmeriCorps member. Erica highlights that "growing up on the ... read more
Director of Housing Services
Venessa Remo Email
Venessa provides leadership and direction through the management of the Department of Housing Services. Her primary responsibilities include operations, programs, and funding for maintenance and development of the Housing Services programs. Housing Services Programs include: Acquisition, Development & Resale (ADR), ... read more
Housing Services Coordinator
Alisa White Email
Alisa has been with Lighthouse Communities, Inc. since February 2007 and provides various levels of support to Housing Services. Prior to joining the Lighthouse team, Alisa processed loans for Centex Home Equity for two years and worked for a collection ... read more
Rehab Specialist I
Adam VanderLaan Email
Adam joined Lighthouse in June 2008 and has been involved with the Lead Hazard Control Program in the City of Grand Rapids for the past 4 years, working with several contractors to help make hundreds of homes healthier and ... read more
Scott Jewell Email
Scott was born in Grand Haven Michigan. He has worked in a variety of construction areas from a traveling construction company, to the local carpenters union and running his own business. His experience has involved residential and commercial jobs. His ... read more
Operations Coordinator
Ramy Ibrahim Email
Ramy Ibrahim is originally from Egypt. He moved to the US in May of 2006. Ramy has his bachelor’s degree and an additional two-year post-graduate degree in accounting from Suez Canal University. He was hired by Lighthouse Communities in September ... read more
Receptionist
Jean Slaughter-English Email
Jean is the Receptionist/Administrative Assistant at Lighthouse Communities and joined the team in October of 2006. When describing her duties, Jean says, "I wear several different hats during the course of the day here at Lighthouse Communities, but the most ... read more
Maintenance
Jason Wiltjer Email
Lead Specialist II
Debra Wadlington Email
Community Liaison
Takara Taylor Email
Takara Taylor has recently joined the Lighthouse Team as the Community Liaison for the Neighborhood Services Department. She possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and over the past 8 years she has developed a background in the areas ... read more
Foreclosure Counselor
Giovanni Edwards Email
Intake Specialist
Tyrese Hussey Email
Originally from South Bend IN, where at an early age I was taught the core values of giving back to your community. I am the proud daughter of a man that dedicates his life to his community by working closely with ... read more