Campaign Phone
616-901-3117
Age
32
Candidate Information
My wife (Emily), daughter (Lena) and dog (Charlie) have lived in Zeeland for 4 years and I have run a business (Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy) in town for 3. We attend Family Church Grace Campus in Zeeland. My company also supports other local businesses and sponsors downtown events such as the Zeeland Zoom. We love living in a small town with an amazing community.
My wife and I have lived in Zeeland for 4 years and have loved every minute of it. I started a business in the city 3 years ago and have grown it from 2 employees to 16 in that span. In doing so, I have learned the hard work, humility and compassion that is required to be a leader. I believe in open communication and transparency from a leadership standpoint and that most, if not all decisions made should positively impact the employee/ citizens: even if it has a somewhat negative impact to self. Being in the healthcare field, I have also learned that asking many questions and remaining curious before speaking or assuming is imperative to leadership and learning about people. Running a small business from the ground up has taught me fiscal responsibility and budgeting skills that are hard to gain elsewhere. I plan to be a good steward of all tax money and promote equity of funds throughout the city without focusing on one particular corridor.
Infrastructure upgrades throughout the city including fiber optic internet, power line removal, sidewalk additions and snowmelt expansion per the masterplan
Preservation of historic homes, churches, businesses, and neighborhoods
Fiscal responsibility relating to increasing home values and therefore increased property taxes as well as equitable allocation of funds to all areas of the city
Encouraging citizens to get involved is an important facet of community support as well as input. Without citizens attending the citizens academy or city council meetings, it is difficult to disseminate information as well as hear the desires of the citizens. Zeeland is a small town. Council members should also be in their communities discussing city plans. Social media is also an important feature that needs to be utilized effectively in order to spread information as efficiently and broadly as possible.
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Candidate Information
I've held a Zeeland address nearly my whole life. My husband (Thomas) and I have lived in town since getting married in May 2020 and added two little boys (Lewis and Tully) along the way. We are constantly reminded how blessed we are to have the opportunity to raise our family here. It would be an honor to serve my city as councilwoman and continue the humbling work of sustaining a community rich in values, opportunity, neighborliness and, of course, ZEEL!
I’ve had a Zeeland address nearly my whole life, something I’m incredibly proud of. (I even have a middle school diary entry about the original launch of the “Feel the Zeel” campaign to prove it!) My background as a Zeelander paired with my professional career in communications and Public Relations makes me a candidate well-equipped to approach a variety of issues with accountability and tact. Years of learning how to conduct thorough research, ask meaningful questions, develop complex strategies and effectively listen to others are crucial reasons my community will find me a dependable decision maker- regardless if the topic at hand is big or small. I am an active volunteer at the Zeeland Historical Society, spent time working for one of Zeeland's largest employers (MillerKnoll) and have been diligently attending Council meetings and work sessions to engage with the current council and observe the issues they are working on. I also believe my perspective as a young mother living in Zeeland would be a strong asset to the council, as none of the current seated members represent that demographic.
Zeeland’s current chapter is one many cities would envy-a competitive housing market, robust employment and abundance of job opportunities, thriving community culture with popular events that have become annual staples, noticeable beautification, and improvements on everything including better accessibility with snowmelt and new sidewalks to the remodeling of a popular playground. However, there are many ways a city can choose to invest time, money and resources—just because the opportunity is there, doesn’t mean we should pursue it. Despite our positive momentum, we must avoid distraction. We must ensure all strategic planning and the critically needed development of an updated Zeeland Masterplan stay focused on prioritizing the most beneficial ways to attract and come alongside residents, businesses and visitors in our area for continued future success. I believe these areas include protecting and growing our residential availability (including a focus on more affordable options), ensuring beautification, infrastructure, and accessibility projects truly match the top needs and desires of our community members, and continuing efforts to make downtown a destination for residents and visitors alike.
I will advocate as we make decisions, especially long-range ones such as the masterplan, that there are ample opportunities to hear from the community, ask questions, and use research whenever possible to drive truly informed decision making. I believe individually it’s impossible to know the needs and opinions of every street in Zeeland but by prioritizing well-rounded, multi-faceted input, we can facilitate an environment that validates we are staying on track with the desires of our town and protecting our future adaptability as a community. I would love to see strengthened communication focused on ensuring citizens know about current projects and encouraging engagement through resources like public comment, surveys and meetings. I aim to be an approachable councilmember seeking opportunities to listen and ensuring concerns are appropriately addressed throughout deliberations and decision-making processes (particularly from areas that don’t have a councilmember in close proximity to their homes).
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