Lori Balow is the CEO of the Atonne Group, the parent organization managing a diverse group of family-owned businesses. A 1986 graduate of Central Michigan University, Lori began her career in the residential real estate industry. Upon earning her Michigan real estate broker license in 2005, Lori shifted her focus to commercial real estate sales, property development and property management. Lori accepted her current position as CEO of the Atonne Group in 2010, serving as chairperson of both the Atonne Operating Companies and Family Board of Directors. Lori works closely with other board members to provide assistance and solutions that satisfy the unique demands found within a highly diverse group of companies, while ensuring their corporate cultures and performance match the overall vision and mission of the family. In addition to her responsibilities with Atonne, Lori spearheaded the creation of the Jack and Aletha Goodale Family Charitable Foundation, and currently serves as chairperson.

Lori has been an active supporter of the Mental Health Foundation for many years, having served on various subcommittees prior to joining the Board of Directors in 2018. Lori maintains a strong belief that mental health affects not only our personal lives but also our professional lives, each and every day. Her position with Atonne affords her a unique perspective in support of this belief, and drives her passionate faith in the mission of the Mental Health Foundation. Lori is married and she and her husband Craig enjoy traveling, riding motorcycles, and visiting their three children who are busy creating wonderful lives of their own.

With more than 36 years of experience in the mental health field, Christy’s passion for transforming and saving lives through mental health education led her to develop two mental health and suicide prevention programs - be nice. and be nice.extension (formerly Live Laugh Love).

Since 2006, she and her staff have passionately presented to over 300,000 people in West Michigan on mental health awareness, bullying, and suicide prevention. She has been the keynote speaker at many events and regularly delivers speaking engagements to community and business groups on mental health awareness.

Christy’s determination to make mental health a part of the conversation has led to her involvement with numerous community organizations and coalitions along with becoming a certified instructor for QPR and Mental Health First Aid, for which she has been recognized as one of the Top 100 instructors in the country.

Christy has been awarded wonderful honors for her work including the American Red Cross Hometown Hero Award, 50 Most Influential Women In West Michigan, Daughters of the American Revolution Women In History Award, and was honored as a finalist for the Brilliance Awards Woman of the Year.

Of all of her accomplishments, her family brings her the most joy. She earned the title of yiayia two years ago and now has three beautiful grandchildren, and is the proud mom of Demetrios, Katerina, and Isabella with her hubby Tim.

Christy protects her mental health by dominating in trivia every Wednesday night with her friends and spending time at her second home in Manistee, Michigan. She is a proud graduate of Michigan State University (Go Green!) and is a devoted member of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Brian recently retired as the superintendent of Holland Public Schools. This longtime HPS leader transitioned into a leadership role with the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA).

Brian will bring with him expertise in Social Emotional Learning, Diversity and Inclusion, and school finances/funding. HPS has been a part of be nice. since 2013.

Calvin recently retired as the superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools. Under De Kuiper’s leadership, Zeeland enrollment has increased by over 730 students. He led the district through the passage of a $53.5 million bond proposal in 2015, which addressed security issues, enrollment growth and technology needs. ZPS has been part of be nice. since 2015.

Nancy offers the organization more than 35 years of marketing, communications, and board governance experience. She also is a member of the board's marketing committee.

"I believe that mental health is the fundamental issue of our day. My personal experiences with battling depression and anxiety, both myself and in my family, have taught me that education is vital to creating mentally healthy communities.

Larry Hines, President of Hines Corporation, a holding company located in Spring Lake, Michigan, was born and raised in lowa and holds a BS in Business Administration from Drake University. Larry coordinates all activities at Hines Corporation, focusing on operational issues and acquisition strategies and sets the company's long-term strategic focus.

Larry began his career with White Consolidated Industries in several finance positions and has held executive positions with divisions of McGraw Edison Company, including Speed Queen, Bussmann and President of Clarke Floor Machine.

Larry is a visionary who is a charismatic, committed, focused and involved leader. He has always made it clear that being a successful company means giving back to the communities where we conduct business. Larry sets the example by supporting civic, cultural and professional institutions. He has served on the boards of the Muskegon Museum of Art, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, West Michigan Symphony, and the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. In recognition of Larry's outstanding service to these organizations and our community, he was awarded the 2017 Governor's Service Award, the "Lifetime Humanitarian Award."

Larry states, "I am proud to be a Mental Health Foundation Board member. I have seen first-hand the impact mental health issues have on families, friends, employees and the community. I'm determined to do what I can to help promote the organization's mission. I feel we all need to do our part to help those who struggle with these issues by generating a greater level of awareness, communication, and acceptance."

Krista Paulin is the Vice President of Marketing and Community Affairs at Huntington National Bank, a position she has held since September 2021. There, she directs the corporation’s community engagement dollars into meaningful impact and collaborative efforts. Additionally, she manages all regional marketing and communications in West Michigan.

Krista has 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, with the last 8 years leading the statewide Development team for Special Olympics Michigan. Notably, Krista led Special Olympics Michigan through the largest growth initiative in its history with the acquisition of a $3.5 million facility called the Unified Sports and Inclusion Center. This property is not only the largest Special Olympics facility in the world but it is now home to nine other non-profits, which also serve the special needs and mental health community, all operating in a first-of-its-kind collaborative model to save costs and optimize programming across the board. The model is so unique that it was chosen by Steelcase as a global research focus studying the impact of inclusive design. A published study coming soon …

Krista serves on the Boards of the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, Athena Council through the Grand Rapids Chamber, and is a Community Trustee graduating from Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2020. She holds a B.S. from Grand Valley State University and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Central Michigan University.

In her spare time … Krista is also the Owner of Edible Grand Rapids, a micro-influencer social media platform promoting local foodie destinations to West Michiganders. She and her fiancé, Nathan, live in Lowell and have three dog children. She enjoys international travel, jazz, biking in all contingencies, camping, reading, and spoiling her poochies.

Kristen has partnered with MHF since 2018, serving on the Board in 2019. Kristen is a Registered Nurse at Spectrum Health, leading the system’s Value Analysis program. As an RN, Kristen is committed to promoting holistic health and wellness. Both mental health awareness and suicide prevention are personal passions for Kristen; a desire to end the stigma that can often surround these topics is what led her to work with MHF.