Events

Ron Rhynard has been around maple syrup production since he was a child.  Ron is past president and current board member of Shepherd Sugar Bush Corporation in his home town of Shepherd Michigan.  Shepherd Sugar Bush Corporation is a non-profit organization which utilizes all volunteer labor to produce maple syrup and other maple products, with all proceeds going back into the community.  Ron and his wife have been owners of Green River Maple Camp in Mancelona Michigan since 2019. 

Joe serves as the development director for Love for a Child.  He has been working with kids, students, and young adults in some capacity since 2013.  He is married to Taylor and they have 3 children together - Jaxon (boy 8), Blake (girl 6) and Crew (boy 1).  In his spare time, Joe enjoys grilling, trying new coffee shops, and watching all sports. 

Renee is a fellow Rotarian, Past District Governor and Rotary Relations Manager for ShelterBox. Renee is passionate about service and is involved with her community not only with Rotary but as an elected official, and in many other ways.  She is a mother of two and has two, soon to be three grandchildren.  Renee's mission is to be a positive impact to her local and global community; her vision is to be the change she wants to see; and her core values are belief, responsibility, life-long learning, empathy and service.

Fr. Tim McCabe joined the Pope Francis Center (PFC) as executive director in 2015 and was named president and CEO in 2023. A native of Ferndale, Michigan, he has spent more than 40 years advocating for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, shaped by his early involvement in the Catholic Worker Movement and Jesuit traditions. He holds degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy, Loyola University Chicago, and Santa Clara University, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 2015. Under his leadership, PFC’s Day Center has grown significantly, now serving more than 230 individuals daily with essential services. He also led the development of the $40 million Bridge Housing Campus, a first-of-its-kind facility in Michigan providing housing and comprehensive support services.Fr. Tim McCabe joined the Pope Francis Center (PFC) as executive director in 2015 and was named president and CEO in 2023. A native of Ferndale, Michigan, he has spent more than 40 years advocating for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, shaped by his early involvement in the Catholic Worker Movement and Jesuit traditions. He holds degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy, Loyola University Chicago, and Santa Clara University, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 2015. Under his leadership, PFC’s Day Center has grown significantly, now serving more than 230 individuals daily with essential services. He also led the development of the $40 million Bridge Housing Campus, a first-of-its-kind facility in Michigan providing housing and comprehensive support services.

Julie Ptasznik has been with Gleaners for 28 years. She has worked in Development and Operations and is currently the Special Event Volunteer Coordinator. In this role she works to recruit volunteers to help with special events and projects, along with long term volunteer roles that are important to the operations of Gleaners. She also maintains and updates the volunteer database.

Rich Wieske is a long-time beekeeper and president- emeritus of the Michigan Beekeepers Association (MBA) and bee advocate with Bee Curious, the children's educational project of the MBA. He maintains beehives for the Belle Isle Nature Center and Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.

Courtney Morrow is the development director at Kintsugi Village Detroit and is excited to help launch the organization for long-term impact. Prior to joining Kintsugi Village in Detroit, she served for 5 years as the Development Director at United Community Family Services, an organization providing wrap-around services to immigrants and refugees. She's passionate about building community, giving people a chance to contribute to something important, and she's grateful for the opportunity to do that with the Birmingham Rotary Club!

Danielle Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of Make Food Not Waste, a Michigan-based nonprofit she launched in 2017 to advance practical, community-driven solutions to food waste. Under her leadership, the organization developed the Upcycling Kitchen in Detroit, a community meal production program, and launched Every Bit Counts, an initiative focused on cutting Michigan’s food waste in half by 2030. Danielle is a frequent local and national speaker on food waste reduction and systems-level sustainability. Prior to founding Make Food Not Waste, she spent more than 15 years in business development and marketing. She holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.Danielle Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of Make Food Not Waste, a Michigan-based nonprofit she launched in 2017 to advance practical, community-driven solutions to food waste. Under her leadership, the organization developed the Upcycling Kitchen in Detroit, a community meal production program, and launched Every Bit Counts, an initiative focused on cutting Michigan’s food waste in half by 2030. Danielle is a frequent local and national speaker on food waste reduction and systems-level sustainability. Prior to founding Make Food Not Waste, she spent more than 15 years in business development and marketing. She holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a BA from the University of Michigan.