Board of Directors

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Gary Miller

 Residing in the Vicksburg area for over 31 years, Gary has been involved in coaching, guiding, and encouraging youth in many activities, including coaching Battle of the Books teams, volunteering for many school activities, coaching Rocket Football teams, coaching Math Counts teams, and assisting to build sets for the Vicksburg High School theater department. He has also served on the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency (KRESA) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Agriscience Advisory Committee, as well as the St. Joseph County CTE Agriscience Advisory Committee.

Gary is very involved as a volunteer and employee in Scouts BSA, having held many positions in the last 21 years. He is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Troop 251 and Girl Troop 251 in Vicksburg, and Scout Roundtable staff for Pathfinder District. Gary has served as Course Director for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), as well as four years on Camp staff at Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation as Cub Scout Program Director, Reservation Engineer, Program Director, and Assistant Camp Director.

Gary has served on the Brady Township Planning Commission for over 25 years, and is currently its chairperson. He is also serving as Acting Chairperson on the Brady Township Zoning Board of Appeals. In the early 1980’s he was one of the founding members reestablishing the Sturgis Jaycee Chapter.

Gary grew up on a farm near Centreville, Michigan, where he developed his interest in plants.

He earned an Associate of Science degree at Glen Oaks Community College, and attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University.

Gary is a registered Professional Engineer in Michigan. He has practiced primarily civil engineering in both the public and private sectors, including owning his own consulting firm. Gary is currently employed in nursery sales at Wedel’s Garden Center in Kalamazoo. He is a Certified Green Industry Professional (CGIP) through the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA).

Gary has been married to his wife Sue for over 37 years. They are proud of their two daughters (both Girl Scout Gold Awards) and a son (Eagle Scout in Troop 251, Vicksburg). Gary enjoys gardening (especially heirloom vegetables), woodworking, antiques, hiking, camping, reading, and history.

Troy Smith

Born & raised in Vicksburg, Troy is a 1983 graduate of Vicksburg High School, an Eagle Scout, member of Scouts BSA Troop 251, and lifelong alumnus of Camp Char Le’ Maude, at Barton Lake.

Troy’s involvement in serving, educating, and encouraging our areas youth spans several decades, across several organizations, including: as a USA Hockey Coach with the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association, multiple leadership positions with the Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America, leadership roles with both of Vicksburg’s very own Scouts BSA Troop 251 Boy & Girl Troops, participating with the St. Joseph County 4-H program and Howardsville 4-H Club, Post Advisor for the Fire Fighting Explorers Post, and as a Range Safety Officer with the Schoolcraft High School Clay Target Team.

He also served our local community for many years as an on-call Firefighter/EMT and Lieutenant/Training Officer with the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority, ultimately finishing his part-time career in public safety as a Captain and Training Officer with the Kalamazoo County Fire Academy.

Troy attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College & Saint Louis University and works at PactivEvergreen/Fabri-Kal in Kalamazoo, as a Corporate Engineer & Program Manager. Additionally, Troy spent 26 years as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor with KVCCs Engineering Dept., and is currently an Advisory Board Member for Western Michigan University’s EDMT Department.

Troy enjoys Gardening, Shooting Sports, Hockey, and along with his wife Alecia, exploring Lake Michigan’s shoreline, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Matt VanderMeulen

Matt has lived in the Vicksburg area since 1996 with his wife, Karen (Hayward) VanderMeulen, a Vicksburg native. They have two sons, Cole (24) and Mitchell (18), who both attended and graduated from Vicksburg Community Schools.

Matt has been involved with youth activities in the community, serving as Scout parent and leader for nine years, as well as Little League Coach and Vicksburg HS Band enthusiast & supporter.

Originally from Hinsdale, IL., Matt, at age 10, moved to Kalamazoo with his family. He attended Kalamazoo Public Schools. Upon graduation from Kalamazoo Central HS, he began working in the printing trade. Since 2002, Matt has been employed by RiverRun Press in Parchment, where he is a sales consultant.

 “I feel there is a tremendous need for more outdoor opportunities to be offered to our young people. That is why I strongly support this organization and our mission to do our best to provide a safe and inclusive space featuring natural beauty, fresh air and an accessible facility that will help create meaningful experiences dedicated to enriching the youth of Vicksburg and the surrounding area. With community support, the awesome property on Barton Lake has the potential to make a difference in so many lives. Many local folks have fond memories of camping, fishing and swimming at ‘The Cabin’ for many decades. I hope this wonderful facility can be promoted and improved so future generations can enjoy it.” 

Dave Anderson

   Dave is a retired Senior Systems Analyst living in Schoolcraft. He and his cherished wife Terry have been married 47 years and have four children and four wonderful grandchildren.

Dave was raised in Kalamazoo. He graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 1971 and then attended Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned a BS degree in Computer Science in 1975.

He spent the first 10 years of his professional career working in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia developing and testing advanced military command and control systems for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy. He and Terry moved the family back to Michigan in 1986 to be closer to his parents; and with the hope of establishing a less hectic lifestyle for raising the family. However, with all 4 kids involved in multiple team sports, Scouting, KAMSC, and one being a State Champion competitive gymnast, they soon learned what “hectic” really was!

Dave spent the remainder of his career as an independent computer consultant to a wide variety of large corporations and local businesses. Helping them all navigate a very rapidly changing technological and data processing business environment.

Dave brings to the Board of FoVY over 30 years of Scouting and outdoor experience. He has served as Scoutmaster of three successful troops over the years, as well as many other positions on troop committees, leadership training courses, teen mentoring, and counseling teams, Woodbadge training staff, Outward Bound staff, wilderness First Aid instructor, and a Junior Achievement mentor in both Portage and Schoolcraft Schools. He also has several years of High School coaching experience in tennis and softball at both the JV and Varsity levels.

Dave has an extensive background in backpacking (including 9 Philmont treks, many segments of the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, and extended trips to the Wind River Range and Grand Tetons wilderness areas). He is an avid fisherman and canoeist, and enjoys recreational and competitive sailing (including Olympic

Trials and ocean cruising. Other interests include photography, gardening, and birdwatching.

Goals/Wishes for his Friends of Vicksburg Youth opportunity: “I hope to share my love of nature; pass along some of my knowledge and outdoor skills; and foster a love of outdoor adventure in area youth. I look forward to working with the talented members of FOVY to develop outdoor programming that informs and enriches everyone involved.”

Angie LaVoy

I am originally from Ithaca, Michigan. We moved to the Portage area in 1999 after serving as a military spouse. My son Kristopher graduated from Vicksburg Community Schools and earned his Eagle Scout from the Vicksburg Boy Scout Troop 251 in 2012.

I am a recent graduate from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors of Science degree with a concentration in Business & Holistic Health. I received my associates of business degree from Lansing Community College in paralegal studies.

Having raised a special needs son; working with youth in the community and seeing them become successful members of society is something I am passionate about. 

Over the years I have been involved in local organizations such as:

*Vicksburg Cub Scout Pack 251 Secretary 2002-2007

*Vicksburg Boy Scout Troop 251 Treasurer 2008-2013; 2017-2019

*WMU Hockey Blue Line Club Board Member 2017-2019

*Friends of Vicksburg, Inc. Treasurer 

2018 - Current

*Vicksburg High School Band Boosters Treasurer  2021- 2024

*American Livebearer Association, Inc. Treasurer 2023 -Current

Danny Gettle

Danny has been a Vicksburg resident since 2002. As a youth he was heavily involved in both Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 251. He earned his Eagle with Troop 251 the same year he graduated from Vicksburg High School, in 2015.

After Graduating, Danny enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay. During his time of service, he achieved the rank of Sergeant and served as a Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defense Specialist. Through his service as a youth in scouting, in addition to his time in the Marine Corps, he has come to realize the tremendous positive impacts of growing up surrounded by friends in the outdoors. 

Currently Danny is a student at Western Michigan University where he will obtain a BA in Economics and Environmental Sustainability. He enjoys any outdoor activity one can think of, in addition to reading and maintaining his physical fitness. 

“I seek to maintain, preserve, and uphold the same opportunities I was afforded as a youth to engage with wilderness, while making great friends along the way.”