Grand Rapids Community Media Center announces new, returning board members

Grand Rapids Community Media Center (CMC) has announced its newly elected and appointed board members for terms beginning July 1.

New to the board is Karisa Wilson Sprite. Sprite is a Grand Rapids musician who has performed her blend of indie folk, jazz, and blues throughout the area for nearly two decades. She is also a classically trained violinist, music teacher, WYCE Jammie awards winner, and General Manager at the Bitter End Coffee House.

“As the outgoing board president, I am delighted that Karisa Wilson Spite has been appointed to the GRCMC board of directors,” said CMC board president Jeannie Lemmon. “A musician, business owner, parent of young children, and life-long resident of Grand Rapids, Karisa will bring a wealth of connections and creativity to the board.”

“She joins a rock star team, including four returning board members, Jason Wheeler, Mark Smith, Sean Kenney, and Shirley Griffin,” she added. “I look for great things in our next fiscal year, especially as we begin to fully reopen.”

Wheeler, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Wheeler Development Group, has served as board vice president this past year. Smith, attorney at Rhoades McKee, is current board treasurer. Kenny is a Ph.D psychologist and Griffin is SBA Product Specialist at Fifth Third Bank and Festival Director at Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival.

CMC also says goodbye to a long-time board member. After nearly nine years of service, Jane Hofmeyer, attorney at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, retires from her role on the CMC board, having served in several leadership positions.

Continuing their service on the CMC board of directors are: Mel Atkins, Deputy at Kent County Sheriff’s Office; Juan Daniel Castro, Community Programs Specialist at Spectrum Health; Gabriella de la Vega, Healthcare Interpreter at AMN Healthcare; Jesse Holcomb, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Communications at Calvin College; Edye Evans Hyde, executive director and founder of Ebony Road Players; Quinn Mathews, General Manager at Listening Room; Regina Salmi, Public Relations & Communications at Network180; Michael Van Denend, executive director of World Affairs Council; and Margie Zylstra, retired from the property/casualty insurance agency.

CMC is a multimedia community services organization that has helped individuals and nonprofits in the Grand Rapids area tell their stories for more than 40 years. CMC provides and supports a variety of community resources, including WYCE 88.1fm, Wealthy Theatre, The Rapidian, a nonprofit Web Development team, and GRTV, with broadcasts on Comcast channels 24 and 25, and media classes for students of all ages and abilities.

CMC continually gathers new tools and knowledge to teach, problem-solve, and serve the media and technology needs of residents, organizations, neighborhoods, and local collaborations. Its Bridge St. NW space reopened to the public this month following the loosening of statewide COVID-19 restrictions and rising vaccination rates.

Walk-in hours at CMC are 10am-6pm Monday through Friday, with GRTV’s in-person services currently available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 8pm.

A past performance by Karisa Wilson for WYCE’s Songs From the Second Floor series is available to watch on GRTV’s Vimeo page.