Our Board of Directors

Kiana Zadarej, Vice President

I grew up in Pueblo, Colorado and have lived in Grand Rapids for nearly 5 years with my husband, Carl, and our 4 fur children, Sasquatch, Moose, Gremlin, and Nessie. This neighborhood was one of the areas we visited on our search that truly felt like home. We did a walk-through of our house on a chilly September afternoon, and closed on our home by November.

The neighbors are the best part of being in this community; so many of you have extended a helping hand, stopped by to chat, or just smiled and waved - which I've now learned in common in the Midwest - I enjoy those smiles, though I'm still learning to adopt the smile and wave habits as a baby Midwesterner.

Our adult trees are also a huge favorite of mine; the shade they offer during the hot summer days, and the change of colors during our transition to fall will forever be one of the most enjoyable experiences. In my free time, I enjoy a variety of craft projects, being outdoors, thrift shopping, talking with neighbors, or soaking up the sun by our many nearby lakeshore beaches. 

During the day, I work at First Steps Kent as the Vice President of Community Investments where I am tasked with administration of Michigan's first Early Childhood Millage. You can find me speaking with local leaders, state representatives, or familiarizing myself with legislation, research, and policy briefings related to early childhood, education policy, and community outcomes.

I'm excited to represent this amazing community as a board member because of my love for each of you as my neighbors and to bridge my expertise in public administration with advocacy for our community so each of us can feel represented.