Our Staff
In her weekly column for the Manistee News Advocate, Executive Director Sarah Howard described her team in this way: "We had an amazing week at the senior center. There is always so much happening, and I am so proud of my wonderful colleagues. They are all eager to be helpful and kind. It warms my heart to see them hugging or visiting with our wonderful seniors, and I often hear them comforting those who are having a tough time. If you ever feel like you could use a pick-me-up, stop by the center, and they will make you feel like family." Let’s meet them here:
Sarah Howard, Executive Director
Email: mccoa.sh@gmail.com
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Family is what comes to mind for Sarah Howard when thinking of MCCOA/Wagoner Center. Everyone is a part of this wonderful family, and we all care and watch out for each other, she will tell you. Sarah’s role as Executive Director finds her responsible for ways to make the lives of the County’s Seniors even better. These include the activities, programs, special events and trips.
Sarah especially enjoys being part of the changes. The need and search (by a lot of great people) for a bigger building resulted in the Wagoner Center. When the Meals Program was dropped in our laps, Sarah viewed it as a great opportunity to try something new, figuring out how to run this huge government program with a small staff and do what was best for our Manistee County Homebound Seniors. Funding was secured and this was up and running – during a pandemic!
Additional words that demonstrate the kindness and care Sarah feels: Another part of my job I love is finding the help our seniors need to survive when times are tough. The kind words or lovely cards that come in show how we are making a huge difference in people's lives. Sarah believes that she is ultimately responsible for the good and the bad – doing whatever needs to be done. This leader of the Senior Center can be found shopping for the Food Bank, covering a meals route, hanging party decorations, shoveling snow, doing maintenance projects, attending meetings and cleaning toilets – to name a few of the (what seems like) 500+ tasks she completes weekly. Sarah’s family at home is comprised of Tony, her husband (married in 1986), three great grown kids and seven of the sweetest grandchildren. Sarah expressed her love for her grandkids, describing them as the best things that have ever happened to me – adding that they make her laugh and are always happy to see her. What should be mentioned here is that we all have Tony to thank for Sarah’s presence at MCCOA. In 2013, he proclaimed that he’d seen the perfect job for her (in the newspaper) and convinced Sarah to look. And in one of the fastest hires made, Sarah had just arrived home from her MCCOA interview when the call came with her Program Coordinator job offer. Within a year, she was made Executive Director. Clearly, they saw in Sarah what is witnessed daily by all of us with the good fortune to know her at Wagoner Center and beyond!
Jadeyn Kalasz, Operations Coordinator
Email: mccoa.jk@gmail.com
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Jadeyn Kalasz described her role at the Senior Center with these words: It’s about who you work with. Here, that’s a loving staff and the Seniors. Jadeyn’s first visit to the Center, was with volunteering as her goal. A welcoming Netters Cooper brought to mind for Jadeyn a fond childhood memory of a childcare provider – and a strong sense of feeling at Home in the Center. The Senior Center is fortunate to have Jadeyn on board, thanks to her passion for caring for others, particularly her grandmother. A video of the two of them exercising during Covid is something she treasures. Jadeyn said prayers were answered, as she feels a strong tie to this special moment with her grandmother and the opportunity to lead the Seniors in their Sit and Get Fit class. They keep me on track, she said with a smile. Also shared were the stories of her grandfather in the war – something my generation hasn’t experienced, Jadeyn thoughtfully added. Jadeyn grew up in Michigan and recently wed husband Daniel. His mom is a familiar face at Meijer, where she works and engages with many of the Seniors – and beyond. Jadeyn’s marketing background lends itself well to her role as Assistant to the Executive Director at the Center. Listening as she enthusiastically describes the many, many ideas she has to benefit the Seniors, you feel the excitement and are grateful for Jadeyn Kalasz and her colleagues.
Lindsay Meyer, RN Med Management
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​Lindsay Meyer arrived at the Senior Center in August 2022 and sets a fast pace to keep up with everyone. Talk about making good use of one’s time – while doing something you love! To name only two…every Wednesday there’s Lindsay’s hour-long blood pressure clinic at the Center. Then there are the home visits to the Seniors who wish to have support in the ordering, delivery and organization of their medications. Beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 2006 fueled her love of nursing. This led to a few years of study to earn her RN associate’s degree in 2011 from Westshore Community College and her bachelor’s degree in 2022 from the University of Texas at Arlington. Thankfully, her move to Manistee coincided with her nightshift work at the hospital, and an enjoyment for acute care. Because Lindsay appears to have the energy and enthusiasm of Tigger, she is currently working on her master’s at the University of Michigan to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. Lindsay is an adoptive mom to still-spry dogs Hannah and Sophie and to cat Tinkerbell. Her self-taught journey to learn Spanish is in its third year of consecutive days of studying. Add to that Lindsay’s weekly piano lessons and her enjoyment of creating jewelry with beads for family and friends. How grateful are we for Lindsay to have time for the Senior Center!
Nanette "Netters" Cooper, Receptionist
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Nanette “Netters” Cooper has always said she won the Lotto, when referring to Son Jamie (named for his late father) and Daughter Amber. With their degrees, jobs in IT and Accounts Receivable, respectively, were earned by each – with the bonus being that both reside in Manistee. They’re my world, this proud mom quietly states with a smile. Another large and important part of Netter’s World is the Senior Center, which gained this energetic, engaging and welcoming woman on September 15, 2021. She loves her work with Bingo, the Food Bank – and just greeting and helping all of the Seniors. How rare is it for one person to remember the names of all who enter and enjoy the Center each day? And many are unknown recipients of her flash prayers. “She brightens up your spirits,” was how Netters was described by a colleague. She does approach work with a sense of fun, as illustrated in her fond reference to the Center’s bookkeeper as “Checkbook Chickie.” The love and care for others began with Netters’ best childhood ever with her amazing dad and mom (who was confined to a wheelchair with Polio – yet lived as though no handicap existed) and her guardian angel sister. And so, Netters now finds herself in a place where she pays it forward each day.
Kristen Mezeske, Senior Nutrition Coordinator
Email: mccoa.km@gmail.com
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Kristen Mezeske is a humble person who will describe the special folks in her life before getting around to talking about herself. She’ll tell you she is very proud of, and happy for, her family. This refers to her husband of 23 years and their daughter, a college sophomore studying Business and Communications Administration – while a member of the school’s swim team. The first words from Kristen about her role as Nutrition Coordinator were: I have big shoes to fill – a tip of the hat to Hilary McKie, her highly-regarded predecessor. This role will find Kristen doing Client assessments in person and by phone, overseeing the mobile meals drivers, finding substitutes, providing training for the drivers, generating meal reports and much more. And in true Kristen-form, she credits, again and again, Meal Transporter Staci Johnson (more about her on this page) for Kristen’s arrival to the Senior Center and being a huge source of support in the job. Kristen set out to study Nursing, chose to marry the man of her dreams and devoted 12 years to the Manistee Area Public Schools District before MCCOA had the good fortune to meet and onboard her. She enjoys basketball, volleyball and all things water – including the backyard pool that provides countless gatherings of family and friends throughout the summer. We get the impression that Kristen enjoys family and friends year round.
Molly Cichy, Bookkeeper
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Molly Cichy began her fine work at the Senior Center the day after she was offered the job! That was Friday the 13th of July 2012. There’s nothing unlucky here! She will tell you she’s a part-time Bookkeeper who makes deposits, pays bills, oversees payroll, prepares for an annual audit and simply steps in to help, as needed. What you may not know is that Molly is a U.S. postage stamp enthusiast. When you’ve received mail from the Senior Center, your attention may have been drawn to the stamp’s artwork. Those are chosen with all of us in mind. How special is that? Molly has been involved in animal rescues since 1988. In 2014, Save a Buddy Fund was founded by Molly and Mike Fatke, her late husband, in honor of their beloved rescue dog Buddy (shown in the photo). Some of the costs to spay or neuter one’s dog or puppy are offset – thanks to this non-profit. Just one more reason to feel grateful to and for Molly!
Staci Johnson, Meal Transporter for Congregate Sites
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Staci Johnson’s smile and twinkle in her eyes greet you upon meeting. Her easy laugh soon follows – and rarely leaves her. She refers to her role, as Meal Transporter to the Congregate Sites, as a break in her day – where she loves meeting people. Speaking fondly, Staci relates how one Senior reminds her a great deal of her late mom. Supplying consistently, strong support for the Nutrition Coordinator, she easily steps into that role, when coverage is needed. Born to a nurse and factory worker, Staci and her three siblings were proudly raised in Manistee. She and her husband also have four children – an 8th grader, high school senior, college student and another son working locally. This cheerful woman devoted 25 years to teaching first and second graders in the Manistee Area Public Schools District. When she’s not providing food and joy to Seniors at the various sites, Staci can be found doing a Word Search, like her mom did, she will tell you. Reading is another hobby she enjoys and is known for the poetry she writes. In fact, a co-worker has encouraged her to pen a few to share publicly. We’ll see if Staci can find the time to share yet another talent!
Alice Clark, Part-time Assistant Receptionist
Alice is a solid fit with her caring, professional and kindhearted colleagues. This energetic Senior has such fond memories of her times volunteering, that she happily landed her current job. A typical day may find Alice greeting people, assisting one in finding their destination in the Center, answering the phone, keeping the coffee coming and treats available, checking in movie goers and supporting Bingo – which this upbeat woman said is a huge number who enjoy the game. As a Volunteer, Alice helps keep the library in order and Food Bank items organized. Alice said she enjoys the people – that they are “all so sweet.” She said that even one perceived as a possible “grouch” will leave with a smile on their face. We believe that Alice might have something to do with this positive sign. A “LifeSaver” during Covid was Teddy Louise, Alice’s “spoiled rotten” cat.” “But I’ll still keep her,” she was quick to add about this Homeward Bound rescue. Laughingly, Alice wondered aloud (and with tongue in cheek) about how one is able to return anything “spoiled” to the supermarket – and whether this might apply to Teddy Louise. Although Alice will tell you that she’s terrible with names, she will remember a face. Shared by her, were stories of Senior Guests who were checked on when they were no-shows at the Center. “This is what we do. We’re family.”
McKenzie Bramble - Meal Transporter
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It takes only a few minutes with McKenzie Bramble to understand that she cares about others well beyond her role as a Meal Transporter for MCCOA. She feels that this job was “meant to be” for her. The young woman added that she is “definitely blessed” and “thanks God all of the time” for her job. Originally from Manistee, McKenzie returned here after 12 years in California. Her parents are pastors, and McKenzie also enjoys serving the community. Mondays find her feeding the homeless and then some of her congregation’s members on Wednesdays. Additionally, she helps at the Lighthouse Pregnancy Center. And it’s no surprise that McKenzie gave her time to support her sister’s successful County Commissioner bid last fall. McKenzie fondly described caring for a 99-year-old woman in a home with no phone reception. The two read books and watched westerns together. A proud mom to her young son, McKenzie tells how the two love being active outdoors. Especially important to this mother is to ensure her schedule allows her to work while her boy is at school, so they can spend time together. McKenzie said that her vital role at MCCOA is where she’s “meant to be.” We would all gratefully agree.