Staff Members
Jena Johnson, Executive Director
With a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Public Relations and 15 years of experience in nonprofit and government work, Jena has a background leading communications, community development, marketing, and fundraising. She most recently worked as the Director of Brand Strategies and Community Engagement with the Glenview Park District, a recreation agency north of Chicago. In her role there she launched a comprehensive sponsorship program, served as an advocate and representative within the community, assisted with long-term and short-term operational and strategic planning for the organization, and implemented internal processes that vastly improved the organization’s capacity for new projects. Jena is a dedicated member of Al Anon here at the club and said she was enthusiastic for this opportunity to serve the club because of her personal experience in transformational change, thanks to the 12-step recovery journey. Jena lives on the west side of Grand Rapids, and in her free time she likes to go hiking or camping with her husband and her dog or spend time soaking up the sun at the lake.
Megan Gogo, Operations Manager
Megan Gogo is our Operations Manager at The Alano Club of Kent County. She has been involved in her recovery since 2018. Like many in the program, she did not come here on a winning streak. She got a nudge from the judge. She found that people here were pleased with themselves and their lives. After a couple of months, Megan was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. It is there where her passion started. After finishing her hours, she was offered to join the team. Now, she oversees the community service program and the club operations. Megan can oversee as many as 150 community service clients per week. When Megan is not working at the club, she continues her passion for recovery. Megan has completed the Addiction Studies Program at Grand Rapids Community College and wants to further her knowledge and education. She is very involved in Alcoholics Anonymous. Like many women, Megan has fought hard to be where she is today and, like most, has been able to be there now for her 11-year-old son. When she is not helping women in the program, Megan likes to spend her time either at home with her son and her fat cat, Monkey, or tending to her many houseplants. She is a true testimony that the program works.
Board Members
Brad Rose, Board Chair
Term ends December 2026
Brad has worked in the lumber industry for 29 years now. He is responsible for roof design and engineering support for one of the largest builders of manufactured housing and modular home in the United States. His role includes engineering support for multiple manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. As part of the industry, Brad has worked hard to communicate technical information in an easy-to-understand format while promoting and implementing safety in the workplace and has served on many technical groups and industry-standard committees. Brad has been in recovery since 2012, beginning at the Alano Club. By serving on the board, he hopes to improve on the existing solid foundation and help ensure that this club is around for years to come. In his spare time, he enjoys staying active in A.A. by attending meetings at the club and in the GR area, cycling, sailing, and relaxing while enjoying the many opportunities sobriety has brought him.
Hannah Chee, Vice Chair
Term ends December 2025
Alano Club of Kent County is the main pillar of Hannah's recovery community. She says it has provided a safe space for personal growth that she had not anticipated when she arrived in early 2021. The facilities and the staff have each contributed to this fruitful environment. The recovery communities that utilize the Club facilitate integral conversations and community events that are necessary for individuals in recovery to thrive. Hannah is the Chair and a faithful member of the 5:30 pm Friendship Group at the Club. She frequents the South Club and has started a weekly meeting with another AA Member. She enjoys bringing overlapping groups of AA together. All of Hannah's management experience impresses upon her the knowledge that this important recovery work can only be done when the needs of the building are met with efficiency, clarity, and professionalism. Clean and fully functioning facilities, prompt and clear communication with outside vendors and stakeholders, kitchen procedures, and keen menu management, each play an integral part in maintaining an environment where recovery communities can grow. At the end of the day, in order for the Alano Club to best support both people seeking help and people seeking to aid those battling addiction, she believes our Club should function operationally at its most efficient. There are many unique individuals and recovery groups that the Alano Club welcomes each year. Her upbringing on the Navajo Reservation and her Navajo Tribal Membership contributes to her unique connection with diverse communities and points of view. Hannah is proud to extend her experience and enthusiasm toward keeping our Club a welcoming and foundational place for people to find refuge and community.
Michael Jasperse, Board Treasurer
Term ends December 2025
Michael is a West Michigan native, who returned to the US in 2005 to help turn around a family business that was failing. He was in Poland doing business start-ups and capital investment operation start-ups for 12 years before that, which included starting a small chain of restaurants and coffee shops. Since returning, he has operated an LED lighting business for the last 15 years, serving the West Michigan commercial market in lighting retrofits and energy savings. Michael has also been involved in a few other start-ups tying back to my connections to Poland, in reaction to the COVID pandemic, and the area of motorcycle safety, which is a passion of mine. Michael has been a participant at the club for about 5 years now. He has a Bachelors degree from Calvin and an MBA from Grand Valley. Michael was brought on the board because it is also a bit of a turnaround situation – challenges he has seen in the past, and he looks forward to getting to work.
Kevin Rogers, Board Secretary
Term ends December 2026
Kevin's life started in Grand Rapids where he attended K-12 in Forest Hills along with most of his 8 siblings. After graduation, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing at Michigan State, followed by his Masters of Jurisprudence in Legal Doctrine and Analysis. Kevin graduated magna cum laude with his Doctorate from Michigan State College of Law, and has been a practicing attorney since 2016 with a focus on consumer protection litigation and fraud prevention. In addition to being a Member of the Alano Club, Kevin is also a Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the purpose of which is to detect and deter fraud. When he is not focused on work or Club activities, he is spending time with his two children.
Michael Spielmacher, Board Member
Term ends December 2026
Michael became a member of the Alano Club of Kent County in 1981 and has maintained his membership ever since. He previously served as Vice President for two consecutive terms on the Alano Club of Kent County Board of Directors. His wife, Michele Moore is also a long-time member of the North Alano Club. Michael was employed at General Motors for over 30 years and retired in 1996. While employed he was a Local 167 union representative. Having fulfilled that responsibility, he became the plant photographer and videographer and served on various committees throughout my employment. After retirement Michael became a volunteer in the recovery community. He was co-chair of a step study group at the Jellema house in Grand Rapids. Later on, he was hired by Wild Boar Harley Davidson for the position of customer service manager. Michael says recovery is the number one thing in his life and serving the recovery community is a top priority.
Bob DeYoung, Board Member
Term ends December 2027
Bob is a long-time (23 years) attendee of meetings and functions at the Alano Club of Kent County and recognizes the value of this organization to the Kent County community broadly, and specifically to those most directly impacted by the diseases of addiction and alcoholism in their individual lives. He supports and believes in the Mission of ‘the Club’ as a place that “Serv(es) those affected by life-threatening addiction,…(and) is a welcoming place supporting meetings and fellowship.” He has experience as a healthcare professional in non-profit organizations that, like the Alano Club of Kent County, must place an emphasis on the best stewardship of limited resources to achieve such important goals. He has also served two terms on the Board of Directors for Guiding Light Recovery in recent years. As a Board Member, Bob would work with the Board, leadership, and members to make sure that those who come to the Alano Club of Kent County continue to find encouragement, safety, empowerment, confidentiality, and respect as the demonstrated foundations guiding the Club’s services, actions, and direction.
Tami Roth, Board Member
Term ends December 2027
Tami has been a sober and active member of Alcoholics Anonymous since April 27, 2014. She has two Home Groups—the Women’s Serenity Group which meets on Sundays at Calvary Church, and the Women’s Keep on Growing Group at the NAC. Tami has been married to her husband, Shawn, for 22 years, and together they have 3 children, 2 daughters in college and a 9-year-old son. Their children have attended Catholic School K-12th grade, and Tami serves as an active volunteer and member of the PTA Board at Assumption School in Belmont. Tami is a graduate of Ferris State University and has worked part-time as a Registered Nurse in outpatient surgery for 23 years. Tami has attended meetings regularly at the North Club since getting sober in 2014. She says her home groups and the North Club have given her a sense of community and belonging, which she didn’t even know she wanted. Tami said the vision statement for the North Club, “Rebuilding lives, healing families, and strengthening communities with the goal of ending the generational cycle of addiction and its devastating impact on society,” encompasses why she would like to serve on the board. She is passionate about sobriety and working with others, especially women with young children. Tami said being sober has changed her life and she’s so grateful she didn’t miss it! Serving on the board would provide the opportunity to give back what has so freely been given within the program.
Regina Salmi, Board Member
Term ends December 2027
Regina works as the Communications Director at Network180 –the Kent County Community Mental Health Authority. Earning an M.A. in English from Western Michigan University and completing postgraduate work at Michigan State University, Regina has 20+ years’ experience in communications, marketing, and public relations for non-profit, and public entities. She also spent 15 years as an adjunct professor teaching Writing and Literature courses at several area colleges and universities. She is skilled in writing, print and web design, audio and video production. She held board positions with Grand Rapids Community Media Center, Grand Rapids Pride Center, and was on the Marketing Advisory Council of Our Hope Association. Having walked through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous 10 years ago, Regina knows the important role the Alano Club of Kent County fulfills in our community and understands the need to ensure that anyone who “has the desire” is welcomed and offered a seat at the table.
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