Meet our Board of Trustees

Col. Frank J Walker was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1950. He is a long-time residence of Hickory Corners. He served his country for 40 years as an enlisted and officer of the USAF and Air National Guard. He attained his Associate’s Degree from Kellogg Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Resource Management from Spring Arbor College. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Command and Staff College and Air War College.). 

Col. Walker retired with the Michigan Air National Guard after 40 years of service. Col. Walker held the rank of Colonel. Col. Walker served in numerous leadership roles during his tenure with the military. He served as Commander and Director of Support/J-4 for the Michigan Army and Air National Guard. He served as the senior Air liaison officer for the Ford Funeral. Col. Walker was deployed to Kuwait where he traveled throughout CENTCOM to include Afghanistan and Iraq. In this assignment, he traveled and worked with soldiers, sailors, airman and marines in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Djibouti. He has been awarded numerous military medals to include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Although retired he continues to serve as an Academic Liaison Officer with the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado and is an instructor for the Civil Air Patrol at their annual encampment (cadet training) and a member of the Hooligans Flight team. 

He serves as board member and advisor to the Battle Creek Chamber, Military Affairs Committee, member of the Fort Custer National Cemetery Advisory board, Vice Chair of the Calhoun County Red White and Blue Foundation, VA Volunteer, President of the National Military Support Group.  He is a member of National and local Military Officers Association. Volunteer for Talons Out and the Villages Fl Honor Flight. He is a member of the Battle Creek Central High School Hall of Fame. He was awarded the 2010 Community Service Award by the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce. He has chaired the local Combined Federal Campaign and LFCC numerous times as well as a United Way Campaign Chair and cabinet numerous times. Col. Walker is a veteran advocate and frequently is asked to speak/emcee at numerous military/veteran’s functions. He is recognized as a long-time master of ceremonies for the Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies at Fort Custer National Cemetery, the Chamber Armed Forces Day, Veteran’s Appreciation Luncheon and the VAMC Valentine for Veterans Concert where he emceed for concerts by Lee Greenwood, BJ Thomas, and Matt Girard. He was the Master of Ceremonies of the Vietnam Walls that heals that was in Richland. He speaks at schools, churches, Senior Adult Living Facilities and veteran and civic organizations. He has also spoke at numerous Military Reunions for Discover Kalamazoo. He recently served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Barry County/Calhoun County Vietnam Era Veteran Lapel Pinning Ceremony.   

Col. Walker is a proud patriot and American who believes that if not for the sacrifices of military and their families we would not enjoy the freedoms of the great nation! He has been married to his wife Sheila for over 50 years and they are members of Living Hope Community Church.

General Secrist was born in Muscatine, Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA degree in mathematics and the University of South Dakota with a MA degree in mathematics and completed additional graduated studies in mathematics and computer science. 

General Secrist joined the Iowa Army National Guard as a high school junior.  After serving 4 years as an enlisted soldier, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineer in November 1960.  Three years later he transferred to the Field Artillery, subsequently serving in most artillery battalion command and staff positions, culminating as battalion commander in 1979 - 1982.  Twice he was awarded the General McDonald Award for Outstanding Unit Leadership and batteries he commanded received the General Eisenhower Trophy, the General Loveland Award, and the Superior Unit Award twice.  General Secrist graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College and in 1982 he became the first Michigan National Guard officer selected for the resident US Army War College.  He served five years as commander of the 72nd Support Brigade and served as Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver of the 38th Infantry Division.  General Secrist retired from the US Army in 1999 after 43 years of service. 

 General Secrist has received numerous military awards and medals, including induction into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor. 

In 2008, General Secrist retired from Kellogg Community College after 43 years as a mathematics professor.  Still active, he owns a mathematical tutoring business.  The general lives between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek with his wife Vicki.  He has two daughters Susan and Vicki.  

Dave Morgan is the President of Morgan Properties of Michigan and Arizona. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan and a 1982 graduate of Pennfield High School. He also attended Kellogg Community College, Air Force Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Chadwick University, and Olivet College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science as well as a Bachelor of Science Business Administration Degree. Morgan went on to graduate from the Michigan Police Academy and later served as a Police Officer for the City of South Haven, Pennfield Township, and Prairieville Township.
Morgan served a combined 11 years in the United States Armed Forces which includes the Michigan Air National Guard, United States Air Force and the United States Air Force Reserves. He was transferred into a IMA position where he served in a support role with the Presidential Security Force at Homestead AFB under President George H.W. Bush, and later in a support role with the United States Thunderbirds at Nellis AFB. Morgan graduated from the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy and finished his military career with the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Morgan went on to have a 25-year career at Amtrak which began working in On Board Services at the Los Angeles, CA Crew Base. He was promoted into operations where he moved from Assistant Conductor, Conductor, and then followed in his father’s footsteps and became a locomotive engineer. He served 13 years in Amtrak management throughout the country including Road Foreman of Engines in El Paso, TX, Phoenix, AZ, and Battle Creek, MI. Morgan also served as Operations Manager for the Sunset Limited based in Los Angeles, CA. In 13 years, Morgan’s Team did not have either a rule violation or injury which was the best record in the system. For 9 out of 13 years Morgan’s Crews were nominated for the coveted Presidential Award as best in the system, with his El Paso, TX Crew Base being selected in 2003. As a manager in Los Angeles, Morgan also started the Wishes on Rails Foundation. This foundation brought Private Rail Car owners as well as private sector companies such as Paramount Pictures together to provide special trips from Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA for children facing life threatening medical conditions.
Morgan believes a veteran’s service never ends.   Dave lives at Sun City, Arizona and has one amazing daughter Jayden, who attends the University of Arizona.

Jonathon was born and raised in Battle Creek, graduating from Lakeview High School with the Class of 1995. In 1998, Jonathon graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. Receiving his mortuary license in 1999, Jonathon remained in the Greater Chicago area until joining the staff at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home in June of 2003.

Jonathon is a member of the Woodland Church of Battle Creek. He has an active music ministry that allows him to travel to various area churches, believing the vocal gift God gave him should be used to tell others about Him.
Jonathon and his wife, Allison (Buck), live in Battle Creek with their two young boys, Thomas and Joseph and their English Bulldog, Archie.

A true sports enthusiast, Jonathon is a Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Michigan State University and Detroit Tigers & Red Wings fan! His true passions in life are his wife and children, and spending as much time with family as he possibly can.

Jonathon benefited greatly from the Shrine Hospital for Children in Chicago, Illinois. He therefore has a great passion for helping others in need and is very active in Community Service. Jonathon is an Imperial Ambassador for the Shrine of North America, Past-President of the Cereal City Lions Club, a Past-Master of Battle Creek Lodge #12 F&AM, member of the Battle Creek Shrine Club, Chief Ambassador of the Saladin Shrine Temple in Grand Rapids and a member of many other Masonic Organizations. He is also a Past-Commander of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron #298 where he also served on the Make-A-Wish committee for many years, and is also a member of the American Legion Riders, Post 298. A true advocate for our military, veterans, and first responders, Jonathon is the current secretary of the Calhoun County Red White & Blue Foundation and Committee Chair for the Ride For Heroes.

Jean Wixson is a veteran of the Army Reserve, having deployed with Operation Enduring Freedom.  Beyond her own service, Jean has dedicated her life to supporting service members and their families.  Married for over 30 years to her husband from Pennfield, she intimately understands the challenges of military life, supporting his career and their children through numerous deployments.  After several years in Battle Creek, the couple settled in mid-Michigan. Jean has spent over a decade as a civilian with the Michigan National Guard. For the last 9 years, she served as the Airman & Family Readiness Program Manager in Battle Creek.

Thomas R. (T. R.) Shaw Jr. is the CEO and Co-Founder of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan. He is a published author of, DEFY THE IMMEDIATE, A Journey of Failure, Perseverance and Success, a motivational memoir, and an active speaker. He served more than 30 years as fourth-generation funeral director owning and operating the Shaw Funeral Homes, in Battle Creek and Bellevue, Michigan. He became a licensed funeral director in 1989.

He served on active duty in the U. S. Navy from 1982-1987 in the Atlantic Fleet, and with NATO. He retired from the U. S. Navy Reserve as a public affairs officer at the rank of lieutenant commander in 2005. Active duty service included USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113). Reserve duty included AMPHIBIOUS CONTRUCTION BATTALION TWO (Det 213); DESTROYER SQUADRON ATLANTIC (Det 313); SUPREME ALLIED COMMAND ATLANTIC (Det. 113); NAVY INFORMATION BUREAU (Det 613) and SUPREME ALLIED COMMAND-TRANSFORMATION (Det 113). Shaw also performed special reserve duty for ship commissioning ceremony, aboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76). His awards include the Joint Service Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals, and various other service medals. He is a past commander-in-chief of the honorary Commanders Club of Michigan, and a former Blue and Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy.

Shaw graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, Kellogg Community College, Central Michigan University, Wayne State University, and has completed coursework at the National Defense University.Shaw is chairman of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and is president of the Battle Creek Council of the Navy League of the United States (NLUS).

He is past board chairman of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, and is trustee emeritus of the Battle Creek Community Foundation. He presently serves on the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field (KBTL) Advisory Board, and on the board of the Battle Creek Regional History Museum.
Professionally, he has served on the board of Michigan Funeral Directors Association representing seven counties in Southwest Michigan.
He is past president of the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Club; and past trustee of Rotary's District 6360 Foundation, and serves on the District 6360 Membership Committee. He is also active in the Nottawa Trails Council, serving in development and on the BSA Eagle Review Board.

Other memberships include Sigma Chi Fraternity, Central Michigan and Wayne State University Alumni Associations, American Business Clubs (AMBUCS), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Reserve Officers Association (ROA) and the American Legion, Post 257. He married to Kathy Banfield, a native of Marshall. She is a partner in Shaw Communication.

Steve Frisbie, a Colon native, began his career as a new paramedic at LifeCare Ambulance in 1984 after obtaining his paramedic certification at Davenport College in Grand Rapids.  He has lived in Pennfield Township since 1984.

In 1986 Steve began is ascension in the EMS management ranks beginning as a supervisor and since 2018 has served in the role of Vice President.  He remains a licensed paramedic and continues to operate as a member of an ambulance crew when needed. Frisbie is also a licensed Instructor/Coordinator in the EMS field.

Steve began his political career in 2010 when he was elected as a Calhoun County Commissioner, now serving in his 6th term, the last 4 years as the Board Chair.

Steve is married to Lorene and they have four adult children.

Frisbie was a paid, on-call firefighter in Colon and Pennfield Township from 1981 until 1999.  He was a member of the Pennfield Exchange Club and the Pennfield Schools Educational Foundation.Additionally, he was an adjunct instructor in the EMS Dept at Kellogg Community College from 1989 until 2012.  He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from The Robert B. Miller College in 2009.

Del Kilbourne owns Owner Heights Construction Unlimited LLC (General contractor). He is active in veterans’ organizations, including commander of the Sons of the American Legion, a director American Legion Riders, and a board member of Talons Out Honor Flights. He is on the Battle Creek History Museum Board. He is a Shriner and Mason. His wife Julie and family live in the Battle Creek area.

Charles Solano is a local entrepreneur in Battle Creek. Charles was born in Saginaw, MI and he’s a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Packaging Engineering. Charles is a veteran of the US Marines Corps Reserves. He served from 1994 – 2002 as a Combat Engineer out of Battle Creek, MI.

Charles started off his professional career as a Packaging Engineer working in Chicago in the Pharmaceutical Industry. In 2003, Charles accepted a position as a Packaging Engineer working at the Kellogg Company where he met his wife, Jessica. Charles then accepted a position as a senior Packaging Engineer at Post Foods.

In 2015, Charles was informed his position at Post Foods was being eliminated. It was during that time the decision was made to start his next chapter as a franchisee with Biggby Coffee. Charles now has 5 Biggby locations in the Battle Creek area.

As a business owner, Charles enjoys inspiring and developing his leadership teams to thrive both personally & professionally. Charles also enjoys being active in the community as part of the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Club, Ambucs, Chamber of Commerce, as well as he serves in a few groups with the BC Community Foundation.

With a business partner, Charles formed Rhodium Leadership Academy and runs it out of one of his Biggby locations. Charles cycles his own teams through the academy as well as other employees of small businesses throughout the community. The goal is to help create more leaders in the Battle Creek area.

In 2024 Charles broke two Guinness World Records for chin-ups that had been standing since 2016. He currently holds the 8hr & 12hr records with Guinness. 

Charles’s next challenge is in business. He currently has his sights on opening a chicken wing restaurant in Battle Creek bringing more jobs and leadership to our community.

Charles lives in Augusta with his wife Jessica and his daughter Kaia.

Beer is an accomplished professional with over twenty years of experience in leading collaborative change and innovation at the organizational, institution, and community level. Her career spans the fields of Chamber of Commerce, non-profit, higher education, fundraising, community development and relationship building. I am continuously striving for the best opportunities that will utilize my skills and abilities to strengthen and collaborate as a community leader. Beer has an energetic and dynamic personality with a passion for leadership and helping others achieve success in a community setting.

Beer is active on a number of local, state, and national professional boards and committees, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, Institute of Organization Management - Winter Institute Board of Regents, Promise Zone (state appointed), Calhoun County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Battle Creek Rotary, BC Vision Small Business Action Team, BC Vision Steering Committee, BC Vision Large Business, Battle Creek Unlimited Board of Directors (2012-2018), BC Vision Workforce Development Team, Regional Joint Integration Board (JIB), Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals (past chair), Michigan Chamber of Commerce Board (past), Red White and Blue Foundation and many more.

Under Beer’s overall vision and leadership, she has been able to lead the organization to its second and third consistent five-star accreditation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The nine areas of best practices accredited: Governance; Finance; Human Resources; Government Affairs; Program Development; Technology; Communications; Facilities; and Benchmarking.