The Gray Center News

Visit our office to speak with our staff or peruse our bookstore or resource library. Please check our online calendar for a listing of our summer hours. Click here to access our GRAY CENTER CALENDAR. (If you would like to arrange to visit at another time, please contact annmary@thegraycenter.org or call 616-954-9747. If you wish to return library materials when our office is closed, you may use the box located outside our office door).

LOCATION: 4123 Embassy Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI  49546

We’ve added several NEW resources to our ONLINE STORE! Click here to shop. You can also download our order form to be printed here.
If you have benefited fromThe Gray Center's programs and resources, we encourage you to show your support by making a tax-deductible donation! Click here to donate safely and quickly online.
Do you ever SHOP ONLINE? Now your purchases can benefit The Gray Center! Join at NO COST at www.iGive.com/graycenter, and up to 25% of your purchases will go directly to The Gray Center to enable us to provide information and support to those affected by ASD! (Don't forget to log on through that page whenever you do your online shopping!) First-time purchases (made within the first 45 days after registering) through this program enable The Gray Center to receive an additional $5.00!

 

The Gray Center Staff & Volunteers

(Names are listed alphabetically. Click on a name to send an e-mail. For a list of whom to contact about specific questions, click here.)

Alisa Duthler
Business Manager

 

Alisa is a busy mom of four wonderful boys, who still finds time to ship all of our books and materials all over the world. Most recently she has also taken on the responsibility for managing receivables and payables and for assisting the Executive Director with the management of the finances of The Gray Center. Alisa's efficient and accurate work is as appreciated as her problem-solving abilities and her delightful sense of humor!

 

Ann Mary Dykstra
Community Coordinator

Ann Mary helps to coordinate communications between The Gray Center and area individuals and organizations known as our Community Network. She leads our Social Understanding groups for children and young adults, assists in facilitating our Young Adult Network, and coordinates the efforts of the leaders of all of our Networks.

Ann Mary received a BA in education from Calvin College, and did graduate work in reading at Western Michigan University. She recently completed 13 years in the Educational Support Services at Sylvan Christian and Grand Rapids Christian Middle Schools. This involved working with middle school students with a variety of disabilities, including ASD.  

Ann Mary and her husband have four grown children and two delightful granddaughters and one grandson. She enjoys pottery, gardening, reading, and traveling.

 

Robin Mitsos Easley

Program Coordinator

Working Closely with the Executive Director, Robin helps develop and oversees the Gray Center's programming, including the annual conference, workshops, and Parent Network. She also maintains the Gray Center database and assists with general office administration.

Robin is a Hope College graduate (Holland, MI) and has earned an MBA from Western Michigan University. She works part time and is an active volunteer at her son's school. Robin is married to Rob and has an 11-year-old son, Marshall, who has Asperger's Syndrome. Her interests include gardening, traveling, hiking, camping, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Christy Gast

Events and Publications Coordinator


Christy is in charge of our conference and event planning, and she is a co-editor of the Social Stories™Quarterly. She coordinates and facilitates our Young Adult Network and Network of Parents of Young Children. She helps to coordinate scheduling for presenters, including Sondra Williams and Nick Dubin. Christy is endorsed by Carol Gray and The Gray Center to provide Social Stories(TM) presentations and trainings.

 

Christy graduated from Colorado State University with a Human Development Degree and Elementary Teaching Certificate. She continued at the University of Northern Colorado where she received a master’s degree in reading. She taught elementary school for 16 years and worked as a school librarian for a year.

Christy enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, ages 6 and 3. Her oldest son has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Her other interests include reading, traveling, and collecting children’s books.

Marcia Hill
Sales Coordinator


Marcia processes all of our product orders, and manages receivables and payables.

 

Marcia graduated from WMU in 1980 with a BA in Sociology. She worked at Steelcase for 9 years after graduating from Western Michigan University, met her husband Chris there, and then "retired" after the birth of their first daughter Caitlin. They've been blessed with 3 girls in their 18 years of marriage; Caitlin - 16, Colleen - 14, and Calla - 10.

 

In her spare time Marcia loves to read, garden, stamp, and work with the children's choirs at church.

Karen Hilverda
Program Assistant
 
Karen assists with book-keeping, and co-facilites our Spouse Network and Grandparent Networks.
 
A graduate of Calvin College with degrees in Business and French, Karen has spent 15 years in bookkeeping and business management, mostly in the non-profit sector.  She is busy outside of work with a husband and three adolescent children.  Her hobbies include reading, shopping and baking.
 

Laurel Hoekman 
Executive Director, Board Member, Webmaster


Laurel is in charge of overseeing our staffing, publicity, fundraising, and program and project development. She has helped to publish or produce all of our Gray Center publications, and has been instrumental in designing and maintaining our web site. She also enjoys presenting at area conferences or for staff trainings for various schools and other organizations.

 

Laurel graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previously, she taught first grade at Hudsonville Christian School. In addition to her work with the Gray Center, Laurel is associated with Early On of Kent County, serving on the Local Inter-Agency Coordinating Council. Laurel has three wonderful children, who keep her life full of laughter, learning, love, and endless activity.

Laurel is the author of The Good Food Cookbook For Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diets, and a co-editor of The Social Stories™ Quarterly. She has most recently authored and produced ASD to Z: Basic Information, Support, and Hope for Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Laurel has been endorsed by The Gray Center and Carol Gray to provide Social Stories(TM) trainings. She also presents frequently on topics such as social understanding, the autism spectrum, and finding ways to enable those with disabilities to use their gifts as members of a church. (Click here for a list of presentations available).

Contact Laurel by e-mail at laurel@thegraycenter.org. Sign up to receive her weekly newsletter at www.thegraycenter.org!

Dr. Dale Ranson 
Social Coach

Dale is the father of a 26-year-old son. He has 15 years teaching experience, 8 years with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, the remainder with individuals with Emotional Impairments, Learning Disabilities, and general education.

He spent eight years as an elementary principal, which included responsibility for administration of a center program for children with autism spectrum disorder. He also spent two years as a Special Education Director for Grand Haven Schools.

In addition to teaching, Dale spent five years outside of education at Grandville printing Company as customer service representative, salesperson, sales manager, and Vice-President.

Currently Dale is a high school special education teacher.

Beth VanWoerkom

Program Assistant

 

Beth began her involvement at the Gray Center by volunteering to coordinate summer events during the summer of 2004.   Now she assists Ann Mary Dykstra in facilitating our Social Understanding Groups for children. 

 

Beth graduated with a BA from Calvin College in 2004.  Just after graduating, she spent 10 months in Honduras, Central America teaching Kindergarten at a Bi-lingual school.  After teaching for the year, she has decided to return to Calvin College to attain her Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education (K-12).

 

Outside of the time she spends studying and at the Gray Center, Beth enjoys camping, drawing, cooking, knitting, running, and riding her bicycle.

We love our volunteers—

Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us!

Jane Krug
Volunteer


Jane has been assisting at The Gray Center for over two years. She provides childcare for meetings of parents of young children, and has been helping to develop and improve our resource library. She is also a co-editor of The Social Stories(TM) Quarterly.

Jane Krug is a speech-language therapist who has focused on serving children with autism spectrum disorders and their families since 1997. She is currently employed with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District where she conducts evaluations and provides therapy to children who are showing signs of autism or who have received a diagnosis.

Jane, and her husband Brian, enjoy taking day trips and playing board games. In addition, they are the proud aunt and uncle to 27 nieces and nephews, and have recently welcomed their first child into their home!

Nelson Grit
Volunteer

Nelson has volunteered with the Gray Center since 2004 as both a facilitator of the Young Adult Network and the network of parents of the young adults. He works full time for Michigan Disability Rights Coalition as a Housing Coordinator, cataloging statewide resources for affordable and accessible housing for persons with disabilities.

Nelson and his wife Betty are grandparents of two children identified as being on the spectrum.

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