Data at Work
Combining Hi-Tech and Hi-Touch to Achieve Results
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Staff
Berkowitz-Chartkoff, Shelby
Senior Researcher, Community Research Institute
As Senior Researcher at CRI, Shelby Berkowitz is responsible for applying
innovative quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation methods to
community issues. Shelby brings to CRI a breadth of experience in
community-based research and consulting and a passion for working with
community organizations to translate research knowledge into practice. Her
own research interests revolve around promoting the capacity of communities
to respond to complex, interrelated social problems. To this end, she
studies the dynamics of learning and action in community service systems and
the evaluation of multifaceted interventions for high-risk populations. Her
areas of expertise include community development and community change
strategies, coalition and nonprofit organizational effectiveness,
place-based interventions, and maternal-child health. Shelby received her
Master's Degree and is currently completing her doctorate in Community
Psychology at Michigan State University.
Bleckley, David, A.B., M.P.A.
Research Coordinator, Community Research Institute
David Bleckley is Research Coordinator for the Community Research Institute. Some of his primary roles at CRI are data collection, data analysis, and research surrounding community indicators. David has worked on several of CRI's signature projects including the Michigan Nonprofit Compensation and Benefit Survey and the Greater Grand Rapids Community Survey.
David has worked in the nonprofit and public sectors and is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a former AmeriCorps Member. A West Michigan native, David is committed to and concerned about the community in which he lives and works.
Church, Joshua, B.S., M.S.
Web Developer, Community Research Institute
Joshua is a Web Developer at CRI. He keeps himself busy with maintaining the CRI website as well as developing various web applications for non-profit organizations. He works closely with CRI researchers and the clients to insure product satisfaction.
Prior to coming to CRI Joshua attended Ferris State University where he received his Masters in Information Systems Management. While at Ferris he worked at the Volunteer Center where he built a system to connect students with volunteering opportunities and included management tools for staff. Before leaving he helped develop a system to record Co-Curricular Transcripts. He also worked at the Graduate Programs as a web developer and tech support.
Gajewski, Maria, B.A., M.P.A.
Research Coordinator, Community Research Institute
Maria Gajewski is Research Coordinator for the Community Research Institute. Her duties at CRI include conducting community-based research and program evaluations. Some recent projects include Giving & Volunteering in Kent County 2005 and the ongoing evaluation of Central City Weed & Seed.
Maria holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University. Before joining the Johnson Center in 2003, she was Development Coordinator for Milestones of Southwest Michigan, and is an Americorps alumnus. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Hoffman, Mark, Ph. D.
Associate Professor: School of Public and Nonprofit Administration, CRI Consultant
Mark C. Hoffman is Associate Professor of Public Administration. He received his Ph.D. from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. His research interests include the progressive-era development of public administration theory and the uses of public data and GIS technology for local community building. Dr Hoffman is on the editorial Board of Public Administration Review. He received the 2002 William and Fredrick Mosher Award for best article by an academician appearing in Public Administration Review. Dr. Hoffman teaches general public administration courses and information technology / geographic information systems courses.
Maciak, TJ, B.S.
Programmer, Community Research Institute
TJ is a programmer and administrator of free and open source based technologies. He overlooks
a virtual server which provides web utilities such as a wiki for the Community Research Institute, a surveying
system based off of phpSurveyor, a mySql database and various other open source based applications that
CRI utilizes every now and then. He also works in the GIS arena with mapserver, openlayers and quantum GIS
desktop application. His favorite programming languages are Java and Perl and he is a big fan of the Eclipse
IDE.
In 1999 TJ earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and a minor in
Business from Grand Valley State University.
McDonald, Mary, B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Director, Community Research Institute
Director of CRI- Mary joined the staff of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership as the Senior Researcher in 2003 and became the director of CRI in 2005. Her duties with CRI include managing the over all work of the institute as well as designing, conducting and supporting applied research and relevant use of data. Mary is responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships between CRI and various constituent communities including neighborhoods, cities, regions and various nonprofit organizations.
Dr. McDonald has worked in nonprofit organizations in a number of capacities, most recently serving as the Director of the Muskegon Family Coordinating Council. She was the Director of Every Woman's Place in Muskegon where in the mid-eighties she conducted a successful capital development and was the Development Manager at Hackley Hospital, also in Muskegon. She received her Baccalaureate Degree from Eastern Michigan University, Masters Degree from Western Michigan University and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Her research interests include nonprofit management, philanthropy and community development.
Ottenwess, Korrie, B.A., M.P.A.
Research Manager, Community Research Institute
Research Manager As the Research Manager for the Community Research Institute at Grand Valley State University, Korrie Ottenwess conducts community-based research and program evaluation for nonprofit and public organizations throughout the community including organizations such as Spectrum Health, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Heart of West Michigan United Way. Mrs. Ottenwess has been with the Johnson Center for Philanthropy since 2001.
Ottenwess has a B.A. in Communications and a Master's in Public Administration degree from Grand Valley State University. Prior to joining the Community Research Institute in 2001, her worked in fundraising at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids and at Aquinas College. She also has spent time working with township planning and zoning and youth programming.
Pyne, Jeremy, B.S., M.P.A.
GIS Specialist, Community Research Institute
Jeremy Pyne is a GIS Specialist for CRI where his specialty is demographic mapping and community based research. He has earned his Masters of Public Administration and Bachelors of Science in Geography and Planning degrees from Grand Valley State University - Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Rashid, Ammar, B.S., M.S CIS
Systems Analyst, Community Research Institute
As a Systems Analyst for the Community Research Institute at Grand Valley State University, Ammar provides expertise in Analysis, Design, Development and Deployment of web/windows and GIS applications. He also administers the web, database and GIS servers.
Ammar received a Masters in Information Systems from Grand Valley State University. In addition, he holds a certification in Object Oriented Analysis and Design from the Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore.
Rotondaro, Gustavo, B.A., MUPPD
Associate Director and GIS Manager, Community Research Institute
Gustavo Rotondaro is the Associate Director and GIS Manager at CRI. In that capacity, he is responsible for data partnerships, management and distribution of the Community Information System data content. He also coordinates the development of interactive tools for community analysis, data display, and dissemination. Prior to joining CRI, Rotondaro worked for the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization in Cleveland, Ohio and for the Northern Ohio Data and Information Services (NODIS) at the Urban Center at Cleveland State University conducting GIS analysis, data distribution, and map production.
Gustavo received his Masters of Urban Planning Design and Development (MUPDD) from the Maxime Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and Geographic Information Systems certifications in MapInfo and ESRI products.
Students
Ames, Ryan
Research Assistant
Ryan Ames is working as a research assistant for Community Research Institute while completing his Bachelor's of Science in Sociology at Grand Valley. He has a passion for community development, especially with marginalized populations. He is currently undergoing research on the low-income housing situation in Grand Rapids as well as a part of an ethnography team studying the link between farmer's markets and the community in West Michigan.
K, Arul
Web Developer
I am a graduate student pursuing my Masters in Computer Information Systems at Grand Valley State University. I did my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India. At CRI work as a graduate assitant, I help in design and develop websites.
Becky Twing
Research Assistant
Becky Twing is working as a graduate assistant for CRI while she completes her Professional Science Master's degree in Biostatistics at GVSU. She graduated from Grand Valley in 2005 with a Bachelors Degree in Statistics. Becky works on various projects for CRI utilizing her statistical background.
Emily Vander Woude
Research Assistant
I am a graduate student in the Masters of Public Administration program with an emphasis in Health Administration. I currently work as a graduate assistant in the Community Research Institute. I hope to change the world and eventually become president of these here United States of America. Or just work in a hospital somewhere.
George Wietor
Web Designer/Developer
George Wietor is a graduate assistant at the Community Research Institute currently working to finish up his Masters in Public Administration. At CRI George helps out with the website and sometimes gets to make some maps. George is currently gearing up for a Master's thesis on Psycho/Neogeography and is involved with far too many local arts-based initiatives.
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