Marshall Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

MARSHALL, MICH.—The Marshall Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently approved new members, Andrew Karr, Matt Seibert and Lori Watson Gardner, to its ranks.

Karr has more than 40 years of experience in the field of human resources, and is currently serving as the senior vice president of human resources and training for Goodwill Industries of Central Michigan’s Heartland in Battle Creek. He earned a bachelor’s degree in personnel administration from Michigan State University, is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM Senior Certified Professional designations. Karr is a longtime member and chair of an MCF Scholarship Committee. He and his wife, Pat, reside in Marshall.

Upon graduating from Marshall High School, Watson, earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, and her Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. After practicing law in Boston for a number of years, she and her husband, Mark Gardner, returned to Marshall, seeking a shared sense of community and to be closer to family. She currently serves as vice president of claims for ProAssurance Insurance Company of America, leading their Innovative Specialty Team in managing the claims of its podiatric, chiropractic, dental and legal lines of professional liability insurance. She serves as a member of an MCF Scholarship Committee, and her children, Camden and Greer, both served as members of the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council.

Siebert is also a graduate of Marshall High School, and has earned additional degrees from Olivet College in integrated science and secondary certification, and Western Michigan University in K-12 principal leadership. After serving as a science teacher at Marshall High School for several years, he was appointed to the position of Marshall Middle School assistant principal where he oversaw student records and discipline referrals, worked with teachers to maintain high classroom standards, and established a student success program titled RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety and Empathy.) This fall, Siebert accepted the position of assistant principal at Marshall High School. He also currently serves as a member of an MCF Scholarship Committee. He and his wife, Danielle, recently welcomed twins into their family.

Karr, Siebert and Watson round out the Foundation’s 12-member Board, joining the following Trustees in service to the community:

Marguerite Davenport, Chair
Jay Larson, Vice Chair
Frank Boley, Treasurer
Sandra Dobbins, Secretary
Heather Luciani
Jack Reed
Kate Stewart
Patty Williams
Wendee Woods
Youth Advisory Council representative, Elliana Ebner
and Trustee Emeriti Rev. Richard Gerten, Dr. Lynne Haley and Mark Stuart, J.D.

“For more than 50 years, the Marshall Community Foundation has served as a conduit of local generosity for Marshall and our surrounding communities,” said Davenport. “The Foundation’s Board is deeply committed to the continued success of this organization. We know the work we do today will impact countless generations.”

The mission of the Marshall Community Foundation is to help make the Marshall area an even better place to live, work and raise a family. It does this by attracting permanently endowed funds from a wide range of donors, serving as a facilitator for special projects, distributing grants in support of innovative programs, while always being mindful to carry out the intentions of donors.

As the leadership body for the Foundation, the Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing organizational policies and resolutions, strategic and organizational planning, ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management, and approving and monitoring the ongoing success of the Foundation’s services.

For more information – or to make a donation to one of nearly 160 of the Foundation’s component funds – individuals can contact the Marshall Community Foundation at (269) 781-2273 or [email protected], or visit its website at www.marshallcf.org.