Board of Directors
The NEF Board of Directors consists of Northville community members fully committed and dedicated to the vision and mission of the Foundation to inspire Northville Public School students to ignite their curiosities and explore their passions with pride and purpose.
Daniel Ferrara
President
Dan has been a member of NEF's Board of Directors since 2017. He is an alumni of Northville High School and has two children in Northville Public Schools. Dan has been active in the community as a business owner as well as a soccer coach, former member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce board of Directors and the Northville Kiwanis Club.
J.R. Mills
Vice President
JR and his family have resided in Northville for 14 years, with two daughters attending Hillside and TC. He has been a dedicated member of the NEF board for over 5 years and has played a pivotal role in the executive team for the last 3 years. JR is passionate about ensuring the district maintains its high-quality programming, even in the face of potential financial challenges. He views NEF as a vital avenue for the community to provide additional support and funding to the district.
Beth Reepmeyer
Vice President
Beth has been a member of the board since 2020. Originally from Nashville, TN, the midwest has become her home - completing her BBA at the University of Notre Dame and MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and then settling in Northville, MI, with her husband and three children. Prior to becoming a mom, she was a consultant for McKinsey & Co and later Bayer Business Consulting in Germany.
Bryan Valentini
Treasurer
Bryan has been on the NEF board since 2020. Bryan is originally from Northville but lived in Southern California for 15 years where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Concordia University, Irvine and met his wife, Kristi. They moved back to Northville in 2005 when they currently are raising their two daughters.
Anthony Sciara
Secretary
Anthony Sciara has been a member of NEF's Board of Directors since 2020. He was raised in Ohio, lived in Chicago for a decade, and relocated with his family to Northville nearly nine years ago. Anthony is the Chief Legal Officer for Royal Truck & Utility Trailer, which is a consistent supporter of NEF and has its corporate office in downtown Northville. He has two children in Northville Public Schools.
Alan Blosl
Director
Alan joined the NEF Board of Directors in 2022 after serving as the committee chairman of the golf outing. He is married with a son and a daughter in elementary school in the district. Alan is a professional in the field of consulting, specializing in customer strategy.
Leslie Cardenas
Director
Leslie has lived in Northville for over 18 years after moving to Michigan from southern California. She was an elementary teacher for 9 years. She has two children in high school who have been in NPS since kindergarten. Education is very important to her so it’s exciting to be part of NEF to keep enriching our Northville schools and involving our community. She has been active with the PTA for over 8 years and believes volunteering helps make a difference.
Matt Devey
Director
Matt is married with two boys who are in elementary school. Matt is an automotive marketer and solution finder. Matt brings his skills to the board because he wants to ensure the Northville school district is the best in the state for years to come.
George Fekaris
Director
Waldo Galan
Director
Roland Hwang
Director
Roland is a new member of NEF's Board of Directors. He has a son and daughter both of whom went through Northville Schools. Roland is active in the community, as a board member at Northville Art House, as a commissioner on the Northville Arts Commission, and as a trustee on the Northville School Board for two terms.
Angela Jaafar
Director
Caroline Keros
Director
Caroline has been a member of NEF’s Board of Directors since 2022. She has two children that attend Northville Schools. Caroline is a native to the Detroit area and attended the University of Michigan where she received her Bachelors and MBA degrees. She has been active in the NPS community for several years and previously served on the PTA Executive Boards for Amerman and Winchester Elementary schools, along with the Northville Council of PTA’s primarily focusing on fundraising activities.
Zach Paquette
Director
Zach Paquette has been a member of NEF’s Board of Directors since 2020. Zach is a graduate of UofM and has two children in Northville Public Schools. Zach has lived in Northville for 12 years and considers it his forever home. He is active in the community as well as a coach for both his kid’s soccer teams.
Michael Rivet
Director
Michael joined the NEF Board of Directors in 2022. Michael has been a Northville township resident since 2018 and has three boys that will attend the Northville Public School system. He is educated in engineering and business and currently leads DTE’s organization focused on planning, design, and execution of new solar and wind developments. Michael is involved in the community as a t-ball coach and as an active member of First United Methodist of Northville.
Jodie Roden
Director
Jodie has served on NEF's Board of Directors since 2018 and currently holds the position of PTSA President at Northville High School. With two children, one having graduated from NHS in 2023 and the other currently a junior, Jodie is deeply involved in the school district and community. Her commitment is evident through active participation in various committees and initiatives, reflecting her passion for contributing to the local educational environment.
Stephanie Smith
Director
Stephanie Smith has been a member of the NEF board since 2020. She has three children in Northville Public Schools. Stephanie is an active member of the Northville community and has served as President of the Winchester PTA. She has also serves on the Main Street League board since 2016.
Kate Mitchell
Executive Director
Kate has been at the helm of NEF as the Executive Director since January 2022. Before assuming the role of Executive Director, she served as the Assistant Director starting in September 2019. With a personal connection to the district, Kate is a parent to three children, one of whom graduated in 2023, another currently a senior at NHS, and an eighth-grader at Hillside. Beyond her leadership role, Kate served on the Amerman PTA Board, and volunteered through various committees. Presently, she also dedicates her time as the 7th-grade volleyball coach at Hillside Middle School.
Would you like to join the NEF Board of Directors?
Are you passionate about our community's future and interested in becoming part of the NEF Board of Directors?
We are currently accepting applications for New Board Members for the term spanning from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. If you would like to apply, please download and submit the New Board Member application. For any inquiries about NEF or the application process, feel free to reach out to us at contact@supportnef.org. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2024.
If you are eager to get involved but unsure of how to contribute, we welcome the opportunity to connect with you. Reach out to Kate at contact@supportnef.org, and we will gladly discuss the various ways you can actively participate and make a difference.
“As a board member, I am actively involved with the schools’ leadership and directly impact our students, teachers, and district through the various programs and grants funded by the NEF.”
— J.R. Mills, NEF Vice President
