FLOW is pleased to announce that Sarah Naperala has been elected to chair of its Board of Directors. Sarah has served on the board for nine years, and held the office of board secretary during her previous term.
Sarah is an organizational consultant with over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit, research, technology, and education fields. Most recently, she held leadership positions for over eight years as Human Resources Director and Special Projects Manager at Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC).
Today, Sarah supports non-profits as a consultant for various needs, including but not limited to: providing guidance and training to develop people and systems to help organizations meet their goals.
As FLOW’s new chair, Sarah brings decades of nonprofit expertise and passion to accelerate our Great Lakes work. I am grateful and delighted to partner with Sarah who is a strategic thinker, organizational guru, and natural leader. I also want to extend my deep gratitude to former chair, Douglas Jester, for his continued service on the board and dedication to our mission and the Great Lakes.
– Liz Kirkwood, FLOW Executive Director
In addition to her commitment as a member of the FLOW Board of Directors, Sarah volunteers in various roles for the Traverse City Area Public Schools, and is a community coordinator for the Orchard Heights Neighborhood of Traverse City. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan Technological University, and resides in Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, and two children.
“My nine years with FLOW have been deeply rewarding, and it’s an honor to serve as board chair in my final year. My leadership plan focuses on strengthening FLOW’s foundation, supporting succession planning, enhancing board building and development, and fostering strong partnerships with our dedicated staff. By prioritizing these areas, I aim to ensure FLOW is well-positioned to continue its vital work protecting the Great Lakes for future generations.”
– Sarah Naperala, Board Chair
Sarah is joined on the 2024-25 executive team by the following board officers:
Douglas Jester, Vice Chair: Douglas is the preceding FLOW boardchair, and is a partner at 5 Lakes Energy. Prior to joining 5 Lakes Energy, Douglas served as senior energy policy advisor at the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. Douglas holds degrees from New Mexico State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
Joel Evenhouse, Treasurer: Joel is a financial services professional and registered investment advisor at Betterment in Traverse City, Michigan. Joel is an outdoor enthusiast, and holds a degree in biology from Hope College.
JoAnne Cook, Secretary: JoAnne is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa/Chippewa Indians, and is from Peshawbestown, Michigan. She is a judge on the tribal appellate court, and holds a Business Administration degree from Ferris State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin School of Law.
