Turning Point is grateful for the committed individuals who volunteer their time on our Board of Directors. Their dedication and expertise aid us in serving survivors, supporting employee wellness, and promoting organization resilience.
Liz Darga, Chair
Company: Macomb County Sherriff’s Office
Liz is the Undersheriff of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. Liz started her career in 1987 as a corrections officer and has worked her way up through the ranks. Liz received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 1986 from Wayne State University and her Master’s Degree in Administration in 1995 from Central Michigan University. Liz’s thesis was on the prevalence of domestic violence in Macomb County. Liz has always been a staunch advocate for domestic violence victims and has continuously supported the efforts of Turning Point.
Ilene Bischer, Immediate Past Chair
Company: Retired
Biography: Ilene Bischer is a third generation owner and VP of Great Lakes Recycling. She is married with 4 children and has resided in Macomb County her entire life. She supports many local charities and is a recent graduate of Leadership Macomb. As the mother of 3 daughters, Ilene feels strongly that Turning Point provides women a safe and secure environment to heal and to put their lives and their children’s lives back together again.
JD Wilt, Vice-Chair Operations
Company: GRIT Technologies
Biography: JD Wilt is an information technology (IT) leader with more than 15 years of experience. JD is currently a Partner and Chief Operating Officer at GRIT Technologies where he is responsible for shaping the company’s product development and technology strategy. Prior to joining GRIT in 2015, JD was the Director of Information Technology at Enertron, LLC and the North America Information Technology supervisor for Nisshinbo Automotive. JD attended Lawrence Technology University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He also holds a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Certification.
Catherine Bulgarelli, Vice-Chair Development
Company: Home Wise Works
Leslie Sheidler, Vice-Chair Human Resources
Company: Kelly Services
Biography: Leslie Sheidler is senior director for mergers and acquisitions in the Corporate Development & Strategy Department of Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB). Ms. Sheidler joined Kelly in 1995 with ten years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to Kelly, Ms. Sheidler served as vice president and trust officer for Comerica, in Detroit, Michigan. She was also employed by KPMG and Pittsburgh National Bank. Ms. Sheidler holds a bachelor’s degree in French and German from Middlebury College in Vermont and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), a former board member and past president. She is currently a mentor for Women of Tomorrow, an organization which provides mentors to high school girls in the Detroit area.
Teresa Fiehn, Treasurer
Company: Lakeshore Legal Aid
Biography: Teresa Henson Fiehn (“Terrie”) joined the Turning Point Board in November 2018 and currently serves as Treasurer. She is employed as the Chief Financial Officer at Lakeshore Legal Aid where she has spent three decades supporting advocacy in civil legal issues including domestic violence and sexual assault for the poor and senior populations in the community. Safety and security are two of the most critical components of a healthy society, and Terrie is committed to the work of Turning Point in empowering and assisting survivors to be safe and secure in their environment and relationships.
Cindy Bala-Brusilow, Secretary
Company: Retired
Biography: Cindy Bala-Brusilow serves on the Board as Secretary. Cindy earned her BBA from Eastern Michigan University and MPH from the University of Michigan, PhD, Wayne State University. Cindy joined the Board “because their work is so important and impacts so many. Domestic violence and sexual assault wreak havoc on the lives of thousands of women and children in Metro Detroit. I love volunteering for an organization that is working to both support survivors and victims of these crimes as well as working to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault through education and advocacy.”
Sue Blanchard, Board Member
Company: Anton Sowerby Associates
Biography: Sue has been a lifelong resident of Macomb County. She attended Trinity Lutheran School, graduated from MCCC and attended Concordia College. Sue started in banking in 1974 as a bookkeeper and worked her way up the corporate ladder to Vice President. She retired from banking in 2011 and was immediately approached by one of her clients, Anton Sowerby & Associates, to take a commercial real estate sales position. Sue credits her background experience in relationship banking for laying the foundation for her achieving the firm’s title of top salesperson since 2015. She has been a lifelong member and volunteer at Trinity Lutheran Church Utica. Since 1998, her community involvement also includes serving as Treasurer and fundraiser for the Clinton Valley Kiwanis. Sue has been married to her husband, David, since 1977 and they have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Sue’s faith and belief has been that our mission is to help others.
Lauri Catenacci, Board Member
Company: PNC Bank
Biography: Lauri is the Assistant Vice President / Senior Branch Manager with PNC Bank. She has been an officer for PNC Bank for over 3 years and in the banking business for a over 11 years. Lauri was born and raised in Detroit and has two children, and if anybody knows her, she loves being a mom. Lauri serves on several Boards, and truly enjoys travel, volunteering, financial education and developing people. Lauri loves to help people find a drive and passion for success in many areas such as career, personal and financial.
Ruth Davis, Board Member
Company: Retired
Biography: Retired after 30+ years as an automotive manufacturing IT leader, Ruth Davis serves on the Turning Point Board to leverage her career-to-date skills and achievements toward Turning Point’s critical mission. Ruth’s alma maters are Kettering University and Georgia Tech. She augments her background by being active with personal interest groups and volunteering.
Julie Huttenlocher, Board Member
Company: Retired
Charley George Jackson, Jr, Board Member
Company: ARMY Contracting Command-Warren
Biography: Charley is the grandson of a former Macomb County Sheriff deputy. He grew up in Warren and Eastpointe; now he resides in Shelby Township. Charley began his professional career at Chrysler LLC in the Procurement and Supply Management organization from May 2006 until November 2008. In 2009, Charley went to work for TACOM. Currently, he is a Contracting Officer for the Army Contracting Command (Warren) at TACOM, where he is responsible for procuring services for the U.S. Army. Charley began law school at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills as a part time student in May 2008 and he graduated in January 2013. Besides working and going to school, Charley believes it is important to give back to the community.
Stephanie Marianos, Board Member
Company: Adient plc
Biography: Stephanie Marianos serves as VP of Internal Audit for Adient plc, a publicly traded tier one automotive supplier. She has over 25 years of finance experience in the automotive manufacturing and insurance industries and is a certified public accountant. Stephanie is married with three sons and has lived in the metro Detroit area over 25 years. Stephanie supports Turning Point to raise awareness of domestic violence and to support women restoring and improving their lives.
Dr. Carl Pesta, Board Member
Company: Surgical Consultants PLLC
Biography: Dr. Pesta was born at the hospital in which he still practices; then Mount Clemens General Hospital, now McLaren Macomb. He grew up in new Baltimore Michigan, attended Anchor Bay high school then completed his university studies at Michigan State University. From there Dr. Pesta went directly to medical school at Michigan State, and surgical residency at McLaren Macomb hospital. He’s been in practice since 2001 as a general surgeon with subspecialties in bariatric surgery, cosmetic surgery, and trauma surgery. Dr. Pesta has been married 22 years to his wife Lori and they have four children.
William Potthoff, Board Member
Company: Edward Jones
Biography: Will Potthoff came to Turning Point in the beginning of 2019. He is supported in everything by his wife Ella and enjoys nothing more than watching his three sons learn and discover the world around them. Professionally, he is a fully licensed Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He manages and operates his business out of his office in Mt Clemens. In addition to this, he serves as a Maintenance Officer with the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Fighter Wing out of Selfridge ANGB. Lt. Potthoff has severed his country in the combined enlisted and officer ranks for 19 years. His other philanthropic works include the Kiwanis of Mt Clemens. He is passionate about positive energy and leading by example.
Dawn Tylkowski, Board Member
Company: Huntington Bank
Biography: Dawn is Senior Vice President, Regional Director of Branch Banking in Michigan for Huntington National Bank. She oversees 291 branches across the State of Michigan. Dawn joined Huntington in 1997 in the retail branch network. She serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees at Michigan Women Forward and is a member of the Huntington Bank Womens Network, serving on the Top Talent Committee. Dawn is a 2022 graduate of Consumer Bankers Association – Executive Banking School. She was born and raised in Macomb County, where she currently resides.
Lindsay Wysocki, Board Member
Company: The Giving Block
Biography: Lindsay brings extensive project management and business transformation experience to organizations. She is currently the Director of Project Management at The Giving Block, a mission-driven startup that helps nonprofits diversify revenue streams. Prior to joining The Giving Block, Lindsay led innovation initiatives at General Motors. Lindsay holds a Master of Social Work degree focusing on nonprofit leadership and community development. During her educational journey, she interned at Turning Point and then continued her commitment to Turning Point’s mission by volunteering as co-chair for the annual Survivors Golf Outing. Lindsay strongly believes Turning Point and its community of advocates empower survivors, and inspire change towards a just and equitable society.