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Team + Board

Meet KConnect's Changemakers

KConnect brings together system-level leaders and content experts across Kent County and beyond to create lasting community impact. Our backbone staff and board work together to connect systems that improve the lives of children and families in Kent County, Michigan.

Meet Our: Backbone Staff, Board of Trustees

Diverse team at non-profit youth organization collaborating with sticky notes and laptops. "CONNECT" banner visible on planning board in modern workspace.

Our Backbone Staff

These dedicated professionals support our nonprofit partnerships, providing essential services that transform collaboration into community-wide impact.

Salvador Lopez
President & CEO
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Mark Woltman
Vice President of Strategy & Learning
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Dr. Shayla Young
Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, & Community Engagement
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Maegan Frierson
Director of System Building
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Katie Adrianse
Director of Communications
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Stephanie Salamone
Director of Operations
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DeShawn Pope
Administrative Project Manager
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Dr. Christopher Cadogan
KConnect Fellow
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Yara Barbosa
KConnect Fellow
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Lauren Conrad
Senior Consultant at ConnectUS
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Our Board of Trustees

Our Board unites leaders from education, healthcare, business, and non profit organizations to create lasting impact for the children and families of Kent County.

Jamon Alexander
President & CEO

West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology

Kate Berens
Deputy City Manager

City of Grand Rapids

Andrew Brower
Program Officer

W. K. Kellogg Foundation

Vanessa Greene
Chief Executive Officer

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

Dana Linnane
Foundation Liaison

Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison

James Logan
President and CEO

Wege Foundation

Jacob Maas
Chief Executive Officer

West Michigan Works

Kevin Polston
Superintendent

Kentwood Public Schools

Stacy Stout
Director of Family-Centered Philanthropy

Steelcase Foundation

Michelle Van Dyke
President and CEO

Heart of West Michigan United Way

Finance Committee

Michelle Van Dyke
Krista Flynn

Executive Committee

Jamon Alexander
Andrew Brower
Michelle Van Dyke
Stacy Stout

Nominating Committee

Andrew Brower
Stacy Stout

Salvador Lopez
President & CEO

Salvador facilitates place-based, cross-sector collaboratives for social transformation. As the President of KConnect, a collective impact organization based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he develops system-level strategies to address racial and economic disparity gaps and ultimately improve outcomes for all. Salvador is also an elected Board Trustee for Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and the Board Co-Chair for Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education (Alsame).

Salvador is influenced by his experiences growing up in Salinas, California, before moving to West Michigan during high school. He understands failure, motivation, and success. His message is simple: “Exposure can change a life.” Salvador is passionate about empowering others, and his personal story of struggle, grit, and perseverance motivates him to positively impact his community. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and three children.

Mark Woltman
Vice President

Mark takes complex data and makes it accessible and understandable to a wide-range of audiences. As a systems thinker and analyst, he has a talent for identifying issues and moving groups to practical solutions. He believes that quality data helps illuminate a community’s successes and opportunities and is the foundation needed to solve complex social problems.

Mark finds inspiration in helping communities, governments and organizations become more responsive to their constituencies through outcome-based problem solving.

Mark has a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in social policy from the University of Michigan. He joined KConnect in 2014 following over 10 years in policy, advocacy and social service in New York City.

Dr. Shayla Young
Vice President

Dr. Shayla Young is one of the two Vice Presidents at KConnect, a collective impact system building organization serving Kent County, MI and beyond. In her role, Dr. Young leads the organization’s policy and advocacy initiatives, as well as community engagement efforts; working to create systemic change while amplifying lived experience expertise and collective action. Her leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to serving others and her professional and personal drivers are her faith in God, strong family values, and belief in the power of collective action.

Dr. Young received her Doctorate in Education from Michigan State University, A Master’s in Education from Purdue University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University. As a Gates Millennium Scholar, Shayla completed all of her college degrees for free, completing one scholarship application that afforded her ten free years of school. Dr. Young is a faith-driven leader who believes in uplifting others through collaboration, empathy, and purposeful action. Her work is deeply informed by her lived experience, and her ability to connect with those that she serves and work alongside. When she’s not working towards systems change, she serves her household as a loving wife and mother to three beautiful girls.

Maegan Frierson
Director of System Building

Maegan brings a wealth of experience and a robust professional background in working with youth and families. With a diverse career spanning behavioral health, higher education, and the nonprofit sector, she has demonstrated a commitment to fostering equitable outcomes for all.

As the Director of System Building at KConnect, Maegan spearheads the coordination of cross-sector leaders, facilitating collaborative efforts to drive systems change. Through action teams, she guides strategy initiatives aimed at advancing equitable outcomes along the entire continuum from prenatal to career.

Prior to joining KConnect, Maegan served as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Grand Valley State University, where she played a pivotal role in recruitment efforts, expanding access to post-secondary education for underrepresented youth. Additionally, her partnerships with programs such as Fostering Laker Success and the Oliver Wilson Scholars underscore her dedication to supporting students facing unique challenges, including those who have experienced foster care and homelessness. In addition, her previous nonprofit work in Prescott Valley, AZ, and Sheridan, WY, highlights her commitment to implementing programming and services tailored to the specific needs of the communities they serve.

Maegan remains steadfast in her commitment to advocating for equity and inclusion for marginalized populations through her active engagement in various community initiatives. She lends her expertise and leadership to committees such as the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative, To College Through College Leadership Council, and Experience Grand Rapids’ Diversity Advisory Committee.

Maegan has a Master’s in Higher Education from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Western Michigan University.

Katie Adrianse
Director of Communications

Katie is a dedicated advocate for individuals in our community who are most affected by systemic inequities. She is deeply committed to KConnect’s mission and works to further equity by supporting its network and backbone team. As the Director of Communications, Katie plays a key role in highlighting the disparities that children and families face in our area. She tells the stories of community efforts to create more equitable systems and develop strategies that promote justice. Through her work, Katie aims to raise awareness about the systemic changes needed to improve outcomes for everyone.

Katie has over 15 years of experience working in local nonprofits, including in the areas of basic needs and homelessness. She has a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit leadership and an associate’s degree in early childhood education. She recently graduated from Michigan State University with a master’s degree in Strategic Communications with a focus on organizational leadership. She is also a proud member of the Grand Rapids Pride Center board.

In her spare time, Katie enjoys being out in nature—either on the beach, hiking through the woods, or camping. She loves exploring Michigan’s beautiful scenery with her blended family and their dog, and she has a special fondness for the Upper Peninsula.

Stephanie Salamone
Director of Operations

With over a decade of experience working in fast-paced office environments, Stephanie is vital to the success of the KConnect backbone team. She ensures that the organization runs smoothly thanks to her organizational skills, attention to detail, and robust knowledge of office management. Stephanie consistently goes above and beyond to fill in the gaps and make the team stronger, thanks to her hard work and dedication.

Stephanie attended Grand Valley State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art. She recently returned to GVSU to complete a certificate program in Data Analytics. She went on to work at North Carolina State University before heading back to GVSU to work in their admissions office. Stephanie most recently worked at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital as a Senior Administrative Assistant to the Chief Medical Officer.

Stephanie lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two dogs. When she isn’t working, Stephanie and her husband enjoy live music and attend multiple music festivals every year. She has a healthy obsession with plants and has more than 50 in her house (they are slowly making their way to the KConnect office!) She studied interior design for two years, and it’s still something she’s passionate about.

DeShawn Pope
Administrative Project Manager

DeShawn Pope is a dedicated administrative and project management professional passionate about advancing equity, collaboration, and operational efficiency in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. With extensive experience in strategic communications, community engagement, and project coordination, DeShawn has contributed significantly to organizations that drive social impact.

In previous roles with organizations such as the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Inner City Christian Federation, and more, DeShawn has led volunteer programs, coordinated large-scale community initiatives, and strengthened partnerships to align projects with community needs.

DeShawn’s leadership extends beyond professional roles, having served as Co-Chair of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids (YNPN-GR) and as a Committee Member for the Council of Michigan Foundations’ Annual Conference Program Committee.

With a Master of Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology from Western Michigan University, DeShawn brings a strong analytical foundation and problem-solving mindset to every project. In her spare time, DeShawn enjoys reading, which she says has sharpened her skills in organization, strategy, and problem-solving.

Dr. Christopher Cadogan
KConnect Fellow

Chris Cadogan is a Black cisgender male educator who is deeply committed to education justice. Driven by his social justice commitments, which were deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, Chris began his career as a seventh grade math teacher in Wisconsin, where he taught for three years. Chris later relocated to teach high school social studies.

In an effort to further affect greater systemic change, Chris transitioned to school leadership. Chris currently works as a building principal at an elementary school. Chris has been heavily influenced by the works of scholars like Gloria Ladson-Billings and Muhammad Khalifa and identifies himself as a culturally responsive leader. 

Yara Barbosa
KConnect Fellow

Yara Barbosa is an English teacher at East Kentwood High School, where she teaches both general education students as well as multilingual learners. Yara actively advocates for equity and inclusion of MLs in all classrooms, and helps lead the Latino Student Association club.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, and raised in Chicago, Yara graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BA in Secondary English Education and recently earned a Master’s in Teacher Leadership from Mount Holyoke College.

Yara volunteers for the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Frederik Meijer Gardens, and local community cleanups. Yara is an avid hiker and camper, enjoys live music and concerts, and supports small businesses in Grand Rapids. 

Lauren Conrad
Senior Consultant at ConnectUS

As a collective impact facilitator and consultant, Lauren works to hold the big picture while identifying actionable, strategic steps to move complex work forward. She brings over 15 years of experience designing and leading initiatives that improve outcomes for families and communities through collaborative leadership, policy advocacy, and mental health-focused program design. Lauren is driven by a commitment to making systems and policies work for everyone.

Before joining KConnect, Lauren supported community-based initiatives as an independent project manager and consultant, with projects ranging from ethnographic research with families in rural Wyoming to leading the collaborative development of a comprehensive training program with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. Earlier in her career, Lauren directed statewide workforce programs at Climb Wyoming – recognized by the Aspen Institute for its 2GEN model – and led community development work in Costa Rica and Ecuador focused on women’s empowerment and early education. She currently serves as Board Chair of Steepletown Neighborhood Services and holds a Master of Social Work from Grand Valley State University, where she received the Faculty Recognition Award for Macro Practice.

Lauren resides in Grand Rapids, where she stays busy keeping up with her two little kids.

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