Community Foundation Welcomes New Directors

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce the election of five new Directors to its Board: Bart Blystone, Karmen Fox, Sherry Knight, Ryan Longoria, and Terrie Zitzelsberger.

Bart Blystone is a Partner at Blystone & Bailey, CPAs where he oversees audits, compliance, and internal control services, as well as tax planning for businesses and individuals. Blystone has been active in the community since he moved back to his hometown in 2017. He serves on the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce Board and the Renaissance Public School Academy Board, as well as the GI-Tech Center Accounting Business Advisory Board. Blystone has been active on the Community Foundation’s Finance Committee and Scholarship Committee for the last several years. A 2010 graduate of Alma College, Blystone lives in Mt. Pleasant with his wife and daughter.

“The Community Foundation is a great asset to the Mt. Pleasant area,” he said. “I am honored to be part of an organization that focuses on so many key issues in our community.”

Karmen Fox is the Executive Health Director for Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center, located on the Isabella Indian Reservation. A member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Fox is passionate about her family, community, and pursuits of the greater good for the citizens of Isabella County. She has served on the Girls on the Run Executive Board, Saginaw Chippewa Tribe’s Higher Education Board, the Society of Public Health Executives Board, Central Michigan University’s Public Health Program Advisory Board, and is a past member of the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees. Fox enjoys volunteering and has shared her time and talents serving the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival, Girls on the Run as a Coach and Mentor, and the Isabella County Restoration House.

"I'm excited to be part of the Community Foundation Board and its newly established Community Leadership Committee,” she said. “I look forward to helping unite various institutions and resources in our community that, together, can create a significant and positive impact.”

Sherry Knight returned to her alma mater, Central Michigan University, in 2012 as Associate Vice President of University Communications. In this role, she became reacquainted with Mt. Pleasant and forged relationships with many individuals who work to shape the community for the benefit of its residents, businesses and visitors. Knight and her husband, Jim, now lead Paladin Communications, a marketing and communications firm. She serves on the boards of Renaissance Public School Academy, and the MountainTown Singers, the local Barbershop Harmony Society chapter that has a championship men’s chorus and a family chorus open to all. Knight previously served on the board of United Way and helped to spearhead CMU’s annual campaign. She will continue as a member of the Community Foundation’s Community Relations Committee and has joined the Community Leadership Committee as well.

“The Community Foundation helps local charitable organizations expand their capacity and impact. It is an honor to serve on the board and to join with the hundreds of donors and volunteers supporting initiatives that improve lives,” Knight said.

Ryan Longoria joined the Mt. Pleasant community in 2015 as the Director of Recreation and Sports for the City of Mt. Pleasant. He is active in the Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club and serves on the Mt. Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Longoria previously served on the Isabella County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. He will continue as a member of the Community Foundation’s Community Relations Committee and has joined the Community Leadership Committee as well. Longoria has a bachelor’s degree from MSU and a master’s degree from CMU, where he currently teaches in the Sport Management Program. He is also active on a number of regional, state, and national advisory groups, committees, and boards. When he is not working, Longoria enjoys watching and attending sporting events and concerts, spending time with his nieces and nephews, and staying involved in his various community commitments. 

“Mt. Pleasant is a very special place and I look for every opportunity to surround myself with the people and organizations who are committed to keeping it that way,” he said. “Community advancement and betterment is a collective effort. I love being involved in community groups and organizations that are continually looking for ways to improve the quality of life for area residents and make the Mt. Pleasant area a great place to live, work, and play.”

Terrie Zitzelsberger is a Certified Financial Planner and co-owner of Total Investment Planners, Inc. with her husband, Mark and son Chad. Her past community involvement includes service to the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Sacred Heart Parish, Art Reach of Mid Michigan, and United Way. Zitzelsberger is currently the Treasurer of Isabella County Restoration House, as well as a member of St. Joseph the Worker Pastoral Council. She and her husband have three children and five grandchildren.

"I am excited to serve again as a Trustee for the Community Foundation after 2 years away,” Zitzelsberger said. “I am impressed with how the organization is able to help so many local charities improve the quality of life in our community.”

Blystone, Fox, Knight, Longoria, and Zitzelsberger join nineteen other Directors leading the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity founded in 1990. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come, by attracting and holding permanent endowed funds from a wide range of donors, addressing needs through grantmaking and providing leadership on key community issues. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.mpacf.org.