Board & Staff

Our organization is guided by compassionate and experienced leaders from across the community.

Our Staff

Tom Nobel

Founder/CEO

After several years in the assisted living industry, Tom noticed that seniors living in his communities were often asked to leave when financial hardship struck. Tom recognized the need for a program that enables seniors to make their home with the assurance that they could stay even in times of financial or medical hardship. In 1997, he founded Baruch Senior Ministries, with the goal of providing permanent homes for seniors. He places a strong emphasis on providing excellent care not only for seniors’ physical well-being, but also for their emotional and spiritual well-being.

After 19 years serving as the owner and CEO of Leisure Living Management, Tom shifted his full-time efforts to Baruch Senior Ministries in 2014. Prior to1996, Tom was the Executive Vice President of Hospice of Michigan (1994-1995) and Executive Director and CFO of Hospice of Western Michigan from 1990 until 1994. Before working with Hospice, Tom, a CPA, spent twenty years with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young servicing healthcare organizations, privately held businesses, and several SEC-registered corporations.

Mitch McNeal

President

Mitch McNeal joined Baruch Senior Ministries in January, 2011 as its Community Outreach Manager, and in 2014 was named Vice President of Business Development. He was appointed President in November, 2018. Immediately prior to joining Baruch, Mitch was employed in the oil and gas industry as an independent Landman in Michigan and North Dakota. Mitch also spent over 20 years as a co-owner/officer of Gus Macker Basketball, conducting multiple grassroots charity basketball tournaments throughout the United States and Canada. Throughout the years, he has been involved in all aspects of business management including personnel management, sales and marketing, contract negotiation, operations, financial management, new market development and event management. Mitch holds an undergraduate degree from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Connie Clauson

Vice President Operations

Connie joined Baruch Senior Ministries in September 2000 as the Administrator of FountainView Assisted Living in Coopersville. Prior to Baruch, Connie worked for a large community healthcare system for five years, serving on the Leadership Council, integrating marketing and operation strategies, providing day-to-day oversight/guidance, and serving as the voice of the customers. Twenty additional years in the healthcare industry has prepared Connie for the responsibilities of sales/marketing, operations, training, and fundraising for the Baruch facilities. She has an extensive background in both profit and non-profit environments, with a track record of generating growth and retained earnings. In 2002, Connie transitioned to Regional Operations Director to service the continued growth of the Baruch Communities and in 2012 became Vice President of Operations.

Joan Cornelison

Vice President of Spiritual Care & Church Partnerships

We would like to give a warm welcome to Pastor Joan Cornelison as our new Vice President of Spiritual Care and Church Partnerships. Pastor Joan will be leading the effort to carry the Baruch mission and philosophy of spiritual care throughout the organization. This includes the management of our Chaplain program and further development of local church partnerships and other programs to ensure that we are meeting the spiritual needs of our residents, families, and staff.

Pastor Joan holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, Master of Literature Degree, Certificate in Christian Ministries, and a Master of Divinity Degree. She served for 15 years as the Executive Director of Pastoral Services for Hope Network, a Michigan organization that serves those with disabilities and disadvantages. She is also the Founder of Esther’s Hope Ministries, which educates and mentors underprivileged young women in Africa. Pastor Joan furthermore served on Baruch’s Board of Directors prior to starting this new role in September of 2020.

Christopher P. Murphy

Vice President Advancement

Christopher Murphy joined Baruch Senior Ministries as a full-time employee in January of 2017 after years of service to the organization on its Board of Directors in the role of Secretary and Treasurer, and through contracted financial management services to Baruch in the role of Controller/CFO/Treasurer for Leisure Living Management. Serving Baruch from the very beginning of the organization has provided valuable insight and has nurtured the current feeling of finally being home. Chris enjoyed a 19 year career with Leisure Living Management, Inc., a retirement community management company providing services to for-profit and non-profit assisted living communities throughout Michigan, serving in the capacities of Controller, CFO, and VP-Treasurer.Prior to his roles in the assisted living business, Chris spent 16 years working in the banking industry serving multiple banks in the areas of Retail Banking, Lending, Internal Audit and Loan Review, and finally holding the position of Vice President and Controller. Chris holds an undergraduate degree in Business from Davenport University as well as a graduate degree in Audit Management from The School for Bank Administration at The University of Wisconsin.

Ben Krombeen

Vice President Finance

Ben Krombeen joined Baruch Senior Ministries in March 2017 as the Vice President of Finance. Previously, Ben served in a similar capacity for 10 years at a non-profit community development organization. In that role, Ben provided financial and strategic leadership in a multi-faceted setting that consisted of large and small-scale real estate development projects, as well as property management and social services. In addition, Ben has many years of experience working in the manufacturing industry in financial management roles. Some of his specific areas of leadership include systems implementations, strategic planning, investment management, best practices and process improvement.

Ben volunteers with various mission-oriented organizations and appreciates the opportunity to help them thrive and grow in the communities they serve.

Our Board

Matt Wieringa

Chairman of the Board

Matt Wieringa is the President/Owner of Kent Home Services, a family-owned business headquartered in Byron Center, MI that serves homeowners, homebuilders, and property managers. He has a BA from Calvin College and an MBA from Indiana University. Matt is married to Melissa and has three children. In his free time, he enjoys coaching and refereeing soccer.

Ken Drenth

Board Member

Ken Drenth is a retired public school superintendent. He is very involved in the Les Cheneaux Community located on the North Shore of Lake Huron, serving as the chair person of the local Great Lakes Boat Building School and the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation. For 10 to 12 weeks per year he and his wife move to Arkansas where they donate their time to a world hunger project entitled “The Heifer Project.” Ken received his doctorate in Educational Administration from Western Michigan University and was inducted into the Michigan Association of School Administrators Hall of Fame in 2009. He resides in Cedarville with his wife Sue, also a retired educator. They have two sons. Ken’s interests include fishing, hunting and working for his community.

Matt McGowan

Board Member

Matthew McGowan is a Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo Bank in Grand Rapids, MI. Matthew is responsible for managing a portfolio of middle market companies based in West Michigan. Through previous business relationships, Matthew has been involved with Baruch since 2011 and joined the board in 2015. In addition to board responsibilities with Baruch, Matthew also serves as a co-chair of Wedgwood Christian Services’ NextGen Council, whose mission is to extend God’s love to youth and families through professional counseling and educational services. Matthew graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in finance. Matthew and his wife, Susan, are parents to three daughters. When away from work, Matthew enjoys spending time at the cottage with his family, working on home renovation projects and CrossFit. Matthew and his family attend Crossroads Bible Church.

Scott Zylstra

Board Member

Scott Zylstra is the Vice President of Finance for Automatic Spring Products Corp, a manufacturing company based in Grand Haven, MI. Scott previously served on the Baruch board from 2008-2016 after Baruch purchased several properties from his family. Scott graduated from Calvin University with a B.S. in Accountancy. He and his wife Anna are parents to two children. In addition to Baruch, Scott also serves on the Board for Treetops Collective, a non-profit organization focused on connecting new Americans with people and opportunities in our community.

David Koetje

Board Member

David Koetje served as President/CEO of Christian Schools International and is now retired. He currently serves as chair of Grand Rapids Community College Board as well as Haiti Foundation Against Poverty. He is also currently a consultant for Sim Com LLC: “Simplifying Complexity,” focusing on education and service industries. David and his wife have three adult children as well as eight grandchildren.