Board Elections Notice & Candidates 2026–2028

TO THE MEMBERS OF FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE

December 12, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that board elections will be held following the final meeting of the Board of Directors on January 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom meeting [registration required if you wish to attend]. This meeting of the members will be held for the purpose of considering and acting upon a slate of member representative nominees for election to the Friends of the Rouge board of directors.

Any FOTR member in good standing is entitled to one vote in person at the meeting or by proxy (maximum two (2) votes per member household).

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How to Vote – Election Details

The Friends of the Rouge invite dues-paying members to cast their vote for the 2026 Board of Directors election.

If you are a member in good standing, please look for your ballot in your inbox or mailbox, as per your communication preferences. Questions about your membership? Email Liz at elewandowski@therouge.org with the Subject line: Membership Question

Members will be asked to fill out an electronic ballot by no later than January 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Completed electronic ballots will be automatically counted. Your name will be cross-checked with our membership data. Alternatively, you may request a paper ballot to be mailed in directly. To request a mail-in ballot and return address, please contact Mike McNulty via email:

Director, Mike McNulty at mmnulty@therouge.org with the Subject line: 2026 FOTR Board Ballot

Paper ballots will be accepted via drop-off or mail THRU THE MORNING OF January 14, 2026.  Ballots not in the mail room or dropped off at the office by 2PM on January 14 will be void.

If you wish to join the FOTR Zoom meeting, please register beforehand. If you do not register, you will not be admitted.

Final votes will be counted and announced at 6:30 p.m. that day.

Additional candidates may be added to the website during the voting period, however, they will need to be written in on member ballots to be considered for a position. Members may write in a nomination, but the candidate must consent in writing to the nomination to be considered. That consent must be emailed to Mike McNulty before Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Member households and corporate members are only allowed two votes per household or per corporation.

View 2026 Board Candidate Bios below.

We are looking forward to another great year of board development and support for Friends of the Rouge in 2025! Thank you for your participation as a member of Friends of the Rouge!

Warm wishes,
Friends of the Rouge, Board Nomination Committee

If you have any questions, please e-mail Mike McNulty at mmcnulty@therouge.org for more information.

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2026-2028 Friends of the Rouge Board Election Nominees

Jessica Eiland Anders

Jessica Eiland Anders is a Senior Portfolio Manager for Ballmer Group’s Southeast Michigan team, developing and managing local and regional investments across several impact areas. She brings over 15 years of experience in community development and philanthropy, including roles as Michigan Program Director for Enterprise Community Partners and Special Projects Manager at The Skillman Foundation in Detroit. Previously, she spent a decade in St. Louis, serving as President of Northside Community Housing, Inc., and Project Manager at Rise Community Development.

Jessica has a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, urban/community studies, and African & African-American studies from the University of Michigan.

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Gerry VanAcker

Mr. VanAcker brings over forty years of accounting, hospitality, real estate, and business experience to Friends of the Rouge. He is retired. Before retiring he last held the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Detroit Zoo. In this position, he oversaw 450 employees during peak season and a budget of $20 Million. He was responsible for Facilities, Human Resources, Guest Relations, Sustainability, Rides and Attractions, Park Safety, Food and Beverage, Construction Projects, and Sales and Marketing. He was also responsible for $100 Million of new construction projects during his tenure.

He had worked in various positions for Marriott Hotels for 27 years. Most recently he was the General Manager of the Livonia Courtyard, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the property as well as capital upkeep. Prior to his position as General Manager, Mr. VanAcker was Owner and Managing Partner of The Good Bread Company LLC. This corporation owned, developed, and operated 5 Au Bon Pain restaurants in the Detroit market under a master Franchising agreement that he owned from Au Bon Pain. The locations were: Campus Martius Park, Renaissance Center, Detroit Medical Center, Dearborn Performing Arts Center, and Dearborn Michigan Avenue.

Mr. VanAcker’s background also includes several Hotel Controller, Director of Human Resources, and General Manager positions with Marriott Hotels. He was the first General Manager at The Detroit Downtown Courtyard Hotel, a position that he held for 5 years. After that position, he held a position at The Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center as Director of Catering for 2 years.

Mr. VanAcker holds a B.S. in Accounting from Michigan State University. He was a licensed real estate broker in the state of Michigan. He is an active member of Our Lady of Victory parish in Northville, MI. He is married to Sharon VanAcker and resides in Northville. He is the proud father of 3 children. Ryan, who completed a Bachelor’s degree in Photography at Columbia University, is a Photojournalist. Meredith is a graduate of DePaul University, a Master’s graduate at Yale University in the Forestry department, and most recently a Ph.D. graduate from Columbia University in Infectious Disease. She is employed by the Smithsonian Institute doing research in Africa. His third child Nadeline is also a graduate of DePaul University and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico doing freelance work. Mr. VanAcker enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and retreating to his Lake Michigan cabin on Beaver Island and home in Harbor Springs with his family.

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