Leadership

Board of Directors

Kalamazoo Collective Housing is led by a Board of Directors (elected by the membership) that is responsible for planning, fundraising, policymaking, and other administrative tasks. The Board is composed of KCH members and community trustees.

Ujwal Rangaswamy
Member Representative

Martha Cavazos
Member Representative

Emily Fraser, President
Member Representative

Joanna Randazzo
Member Representative

Edie Smith-Trent
Member Representative

Chris Moore, Western Michigan University
Community Trustee

Thom Phillips, Michigan Habitat for Humanity
Community Trustee

Staff

Matt Lechel, Executive Director
Contact Matt

Matt Lechel joined KCH as its Executive Director in 2011. Matt also works as the Kalamazoo Neighborhood Safety Initiative Coordinator for Volunteer Kalamazoo, and as adjuct faculty for Western Michigan University. He brings leadership, organizing, and fundraising experience to KCH from his time as a campaign manager for State Representative Sean McCann, a fundraiser at Girl Scouts, and a Director of Outdoor Education at the YMCA. Matt serves on local Board of Directors at the I.D.E.A. Association, The People's Food Co-op, Great Lakes Peace Jam/Seeding Change, and the Kalamazoo County Parks Commission. In 2008 Matt graduated from Western Michigan University with a Master's of Public Administration (Nonprofit Leadership). Connect directly with Matt at director@kalamazoo.coop or on Twitter: @Mlechs. 

Michael Gregor, Special Projects Director
Contact Michael

Michael began serving as a staff member in 2009. He has been working in community organizations and nonprofit development for over ten years. He brings a passion for urban justice and community economics to KCH. Michael studied public policy, nonprofit leadership, and environmental policy at Western Michigan University. He currently sits on Board of Directors at North American Students of Cooperation and previously served on the Board of Kalamazoo Metro Transit. In 2008, Michael was named a Morris K. Udall Scholar. In 2009, Michael was inducted into the NASCO Cooperative Hall of Fame.

Michele Peters, Grassroots Goods Manager
Contact Michele

Michele joined our staff in 2011 as the manager for Grassroots Goods, which sells organic apparel to raise funds for Kalamazoo Collective Housing. She brings with her management, marketing, design, fundraising, and volunteer coordination skills. She has been involved in the cooperative movement for many years and formerly served as the Deli Manager at the Peoples Food Co-op in Kalamazoo. Michele's passion for the sustainability and buying local lead her to run her own sustainable clothing company prior to joining Grassroots Goods. She earned a degree from Western Michigan University in Sociology and Social Work.

We're seeking new Board members

We are seeking a Community Trustee to fill an open seat on our Board of Directors. We're looking for leaders who have expertise in any of the following areas:

• Real estate
• Property management
• Finance
• Social justice education
• Community development

Board members are expected to attend at least one monthly meeting and actively support our governance process. If you are interested, please contact Matt Lechel.