First Steps Kent Commissioners

First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit organization founded more than ten years ago.

Learn more about the history of First Steps Kent and the Early Childhood System in Kent County.

First Steps Kent Commission

The First Steps Kent Commission is committed to making Kent County a community in which all young children and their families can thrive. The Commission serves as our Board of Directors.

Kate Pew Wolters
Co-Chair, Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation
Hanna C. Jaworski, MD
Co-Chair, Corewell Health
Josh Sayles
Secretary-Treasurer, Ernst & Young
Awilda Diaz
Bilingual Project Manager
adiaz@firststepskent.org616.528.4559
Carter Goldstein
Funding Administrator
cgoldstein@firststepskent.org616.632.1001
Elyse Greene
Outreach Manager (& Rx Kids Pointperson!)
egreene@firststepskent.org616.528.4658
Stephanie McKendry
Grant and Program Manager
smckendry@firststepskent.org616.528.4548
Calvin Nguyen
Funding Administrator
cnguyen@firststepskent.org616.632.1004
Kristen Sobolewski
VP of Early Care and Education
ksobolewski@firststepskent.org616.632.1011
Megan Streng
Communications Director
mstreng@firststepskent.org616.528.4552
Jasper Tinoco
Data Specialist
jtinoco@firststepskent.org616.528.4626
Daniel VanderMolen
VP of Impact
dvandermolen@firststepskent.org616.528.4560
Kiana Garcia Zaderej
VP of Community Investments
kzaderej@firststepskent.org616.528.4616

Daniel VanderMolen

VP of Impact

dvandermolen@firststepskent.org 616.528.4560

Year I joined First Steps Kent:

2020

What I do at First Steps Kent:

As the Vice President of Impact at First Steps Kent, I focus on reviewing and incorporating local and national policies into our mission to enhance early childhood systems in Kent County. By supporting parent leadership and identifying funding opportunities, I work with the Impact team to advance policies and initiatives that improve outcomes for children and families.

I do this work because:

In the words of the late, great Whitney Houston, “I believe the children are our future.”

When the day is done I:

Relax with my family, work on a side project, watch House Hunters International and convince myself that I totally COULD drop everything and move to New Zealand to pursue my dream of becoming a Hobbiton tour guide, and (if time allows) read something not backlit by blue light before I go to bed.

My favorite local business is:

Schuler Books. We try to get there weekly so my wife and I can drink coffee while our kids pick out a book!

My favorite thing about my job is:

Getting to work with an amazing team and network of community partners in the pursuit of real, tangible change for our community.

My favorite childhood memory is:

Going to baseball games at old Tiger Stadium.