About our Staff


		Position: Executive Director Bio: Kevin Bavers, a Northern Michigan native, has spent the majority of his life in the Northwest Michigan area, relocating to Traverse City in 2009 to assume the role of Executive Director for the Northwest Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross. Formerly a small business owner, he joined the Red Cross as a volunteer in 2006 so that he could help make a difference in the lives of others. After only a short stint as a volunteer, he became intrigued with the Red Cross and shortly thereafter, was employed as the Director of Disaster Services in Petoskey, Michigan. Having served on two national disaster assignments, one in Texas during the floods of 2007 and the other in Michigan�s Upper Peninsula, working on the Sleeper Lake Fire, Kevin discovered just how quickly any community can be ravaged by disaster. During both experiences he served in managerial roles and was able to learn the keys to orchestrating a large scale disaster response on a local level and how being prepared makes a difference. An alumnus of Lake Superior State University, Kevin graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration and minors in Public Relations and Human Services Administration. He is a member of the BPO Elks Lodge #323 and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals. In his free time he is an avid photographer and outdoor adventurist, enjoying hiking, golf and scuba diving.
	Kevin Bavers

		Position: Office Manager Bio: Kit Hinz is the Office Manager for the NW MI Chapter of the American Red Cross. Kit has been with the American Red Cross since August of 2005. She began her career as a volunteer with the Ann Arbor, MI Chapter. After moving to Traverse City, Kit completed a year of service under the AmeriCorps program. Once this year was complete, Kit was hired on as a part-time employee. Kit is a CPR/FA/AED Instructor for Lay responder CPR as well as CPR for the Professional Rescuer. She is also certified to teach a number of basic, as well as advanced disaster courses. Kit has been on 2 national disaster assignments since starting with the Red Cross in 2005 and has been put through extensive training to become a Kitchen Manager. Kit is currently a college student at NMC working towards a Liberal Arts Degree. Once this is complete, Kit plans on pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Non-Profit Management or Emergency Management. Kit has lived in Traverse City for about 3 yrs. She lives with her fianc� and 4 dogs. Kit loves to be outside enjoying nature and spending time with her family and friends.
	Kit Hinz

		Position: Administrative Assistant Bio: Krista L. Zientek is the Administrative Assistant and bookkeeper for the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan. She has been with the Northwest Michigan Chapter since September, 2005. The Red Cross is very important to her at a personal level because of her son. He had open heart surgery when he was 1 week old and needed 7 blood transfusions. �Everyone should learn CPR and give blood; you never know when it�s needed.� Krista has lived in the Grand Traverse area for 39 years. She is a 1986 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and attended Northwest Michigan College. Krista lives in Leelanau County with her husband and their two sons. She enjoys camping, traveling, boating, and most of all being with family and friends.
	Krista L. Zientek

		Position: Health & Safety Instructor Bio: Mary Fischer is an instructor with the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan. She teaches CPR and First Aid, Babysitter�s Training, Pet First Aid and Disaster classes. She has been an instructor with the Red Cross for over 20 years.
	Mary Fischer

		Position: Aquatic and Safety Training Coordinator Bio: Meghan Walls is currently the Aquatic and Safety Training Coordinator at the chapter as well as chairing the Instructor Trainer Committee. She is also an instructor for the chapter in a variety of disciplines including CPR, First Aid and Lifeguarding. Meghan began as an instructor in 2005 and an instructor trainer in 2007 while she was a student at Northern Michigan University. As a student, Meghan also began working in the Central Upper Peninsula Chapter Office as a volunteer. After completing her BSN, Meghan moved to Traverse City and began working at the chapter here.
	Meghan Walls

		Position: Volunteer Disaster Services Human Resource Manager Bio: Dick Kay has been with the Red Cross for 7 years and is a retired school counselor...
	Dick Kay

		Position: AmeriCorps Team Member Bio: Misty Youngson began working at the American Red Cross in September 2009 as an AmeriCorps Team Member. She is a former educator who has worked in many school districts in the northwest Michigan area as a long term guest teacher. Misty has a Bachelor�s of Science degree in elementary education, with a major in science, language arts, and reading. She has been married to Jon for 18 years and they have three children, Madeline, Jonathan, and Hayden. In her spare time she enjoys playing games with her kids, reading, camping, hiking, and collecting antiques. Misty�s favorite part about working at the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan is meeting a diverse group of people who are united in their goal of providing Red Cross services to northern Michigan.
	Misty Younson

		Position: AmeriCorps Team Member Bio: Jeremy Metcalf is one of the AmeriCorps Team Members assigned to the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan. Jeremy serves as the Coordinator of Emergency Services as well as handling the Chapter�s Information Technology needs. Jeremy coordinates the policies and procedures governing Chapter local disaster response, interfaces with other local public service agencies, teaches Health and Safety and Disaster Preparedness classes, among many other tasks. Jeremy comes to the American Red Cross with six years� experience as a Firefighter / EMT. Jeremy holds Michigan state certifications in Hazardous Materials Operations, Company Officer, Incident Management, as well as a number of other certifications and experience that serve to benefit the American Red Cross. When not serving with the American Red Cross, Jeremy devotes his free time to spending time with his toddler, Clark.
	Jeremy Metcalf

		Position: Volunteer Office Clerk Bio: Brian McDuffie is an office clerk at the American Red Cross in Traverse City with responsibilities for general office work and janitorial duties. Prior to working for the Red Cross, Brian had his own business running Michigan Vistas, a tourist web site which he owned and operated. He has also worked as a behavioral science specialist for the U.S. Army, taught Music Education in Utah and Michigan, and worked as a staff writer for a cultural magazine in New Mexico.
	Brian McDuffie

		Position: Volunteer Receptionist Bio: Susan Mitchell works at the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan. Susan serves as a part time receptionist and also performs various office duties, such as registering students into the many classes that the Red Cross offers (including a CPR and First Aid class that she herself took). Before coming to the Red Cross, Susan had retired from IKON Office Solutions, where she worked for several years as the Office Coordinator. Susan enjoys people, nature, her family and, especially her position at the Red Cross.
	Sue Mitchell

About our Staff

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